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Bring Me to Ruin
The Haunted Hollow ~ Book One
“You and he are fated to love. Nothing in this universe can stand between that kind of attraction. It crosses time, space and everything else in between… Love is a force of nature.”
The last thing Thea Maloney expects the day after her first love, Gerard Wyatt, is executed for a crime he didn't commit, is a chance to travel to the 22nd Century to a place called the Haunted Hollow. There time has splintered into hundreds of timelines and a savage ghost war has ravaged the planet. One man stands between what remains of the human race and extinction, a man known only as The General. A man who also happens to be another version of Gerard. Thea’s mission in this haunted place is to solve the riddle of the broken timelines and show the General the power of love before he makes a choice that will doom them all. But how do you convince a man who already thinks you’re the enemy and who’s known only horror his entire life that you’re his soulmate?
Raised in the trenches of the Great Ghost War, the General lives and breathes only one thing. Death. His enclave of ghost hunters and refugees is all that’s left of the human race and he will do anything to reverse humanity’s fate, even if it means rewriting history in a bold gambit to turn back time. What he doesn’t count on is the arrival of Thea Maloney, a woman who makes him feel things he’s never experienced before. He knows he should keep his distance from her, but it gets more difficult with each increasingly sensual encounter. Was she sent to seduce and spy on him, or worse, sabotage the enclave from the inside? Or could she be the one person who can save them all?
“You and he are fated to love. Nothing in this universe can stand between that kind of attraction. It crosses time, space and everything else in between… Love is a force of nature.”
The last thing Thea Maloney expects the day after her first love, Gerard Wyatt, is executed for a crime he didn't commit, is a chance to travel to the 22nd Century to a place called the Haunted Hollow. There time has splintered into hundreds of timelines and a savage ghost war has ravaged the planet. One man stands between what remains of the human race and extinction, a man known only as The General. A man who also happens to be another version of Gerard. Thea’s mission in this haunted place is to solve the riddle of the broken timelines and show the General the power of love before he makes a choice that will doom them all. But how do you convince a man who already thinks you’re the enemy and who’s known only horror his entire life that you’re his soulmate?
Raised in the trenches of the Great Ghost War, the General lives and breathes only one thing. Death. His enclave of ghost hunters and refugees is all that’s left of the human race and he will do anything to reverse humanity’s fate, even if it means rewriting history in a bold gambit to turn back time. What he doesn’t count on is the arrival of Thea Maloney, a woman who makes him feel things he’s never experienced before. He knows he should keep his distance from her, but it gets more difficult with each increasingly sensual encounter. Was she sent to seduce and spy on him, or worse, sabotage the enclave from the inside? Or could she be the one person who can save them all?
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 12, 2016
3 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Tess Rider
3 books41 followersTess Rider writes romance at the crossroads of the paranormal, science fiction, and fantasy. She lives with her wonderfully eccentric husband in an equally quirky Victorian in the San Francisco Bay Area. An avid cat lover in search of her next cat, Tess is a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayerand Doctor Who. She’s an accountant by day, a novelist by night, and an artist at heart 24/7.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 27, 2016
A trip through time that is unbelievably awesome!
I don’t think I’ve read a book in quite some time this involved and intense with plot twists and different elements… elements that totally rocked. Besides the time travel / time dimension aspects, you have the core involvement of the paranormal and fantasy with the zombie-like ghost army, fae, witches, gods, and magic. That alone would sell me on the story, then Ms. Rider introduced the 22nd century with its cybernetically enhanced survivors of the shattered timelines. The residents of the Haunted Hollow time bubble are a mishmash from different timelines. And they all have one thing in common… they were saved from the ghost army by the General. But war hasn’t been kind to the General and as things become direr he seems to lose what little humanity he was born with.
Abandoned in the mines beneath the Hollows at the age of four, Gerard aka the General hasn’t had an easy life. His life has revolved around fighting the ghost war and saving as many people from his timeline ventures as he can. He pretty much runs the Hollows with the help of a council of original Hollows descendants. But don’t tell anyone, the General is suffering from some major mommy issues. He keeps the men in his army and the men on the council totally in the know… not so the women. His secrets machinations abound and he suspects everyone. When Thea Maloney lands in the Hollow she becomes the center of every one of his suspicions. She’s also the center of every one of his desires.
Thea Maloney absolutely loved the Gerard in her timeline. He was her best bud since childhood and watching him be falsely accused, sentenced then executed for a crime he didn’t commit left her with an overwhelming grief and sense of guilt. Being a mystery writer, Thea is devastated that her detecting abilities failed her when it came to proving Gerard innocent. But before she’s allowed to wallow in her guilt and misery she’s sent to the future to save the shattered dimensions and humankind from annihilation. And what a mission she’s been given… teach the Gerard of the 22nd century to love and heal the rifts in time. Can anyone say “tall order?” How in the world do you teach an apparently unfeeling, domineering, tyrant to love? But the more she gets to know the General the more she comes to realize that the exterior package in no way represents the whole of the man.
Bring Me to Ruin is a powerhouse of action, danger, exceptionally deep characters in a blend of subgenres that will totally ensnare you. The romance that builds between Thea and the General is emotional and hot. I have to admit with the chemistry between these two I couldn’t help wondering how the heck Thea and her timeline Gerard ever remained best friends only. This is one read I truly couldn’t put down. I lost just a bit of sleep with my emotions fully engaged and a deep-seated need to know what would happen next. You’re really gonna like Bring Me to Ruin if you like stories that twist and turn, keep you on the edge and constantly guessing. And if you like books that defy narrow definitions then you’ll definitely love this one.
*****Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions*****
I don’t think I’ve read a book in quite some time this involved and intense with plot twists and different elements… elements that totally rocked. Besides the time travel / time dimension aspects, you have the core involvement of the paranormal and fantasy with the zombie-like ghost army, fae, witches, gods, and magic. That alone would sell me on the story, then Ms. Rider introduced the 22nd century with its cybernetically enhanced survivors of the shattered timelines. The residents of the Haunted Hollow time bubble are a mishmash from different timelines. And they all have one thing in common… they were saved from the ghost army by the General. But war hasn’t been kind to the General and as things become direr he seems to lose what little humanity he was born with.
Abandoned in the mines beneath the Hollows at the age of four, Gerard aka the General hasn’t had an easy life. His life has revolved around fighting the ghost war and saving as many people from his timeline ventures as he can. He pretty much runs the Hollows with the help of a council of original Hollows descendants. But don’t tell anyone, the General is suffering from some major mommy issues. He keeps the men in his army and the men on the council totally in the know… not so the women. His secrets machinations abound and he suspects everyone. When Thea Maloney lands in the Hollow she becomes the center of every one of his suspicions. She’s also the center of every one of his desires.
Thea Maloney absolutely loved the Gerard in her timeline. He was her best bud since childhood and watching him be falsely accused, sentenced then executed for a crime he didn’t commit left her with an overwhelming grief and sense of guilt. Being a mystery writer, Thea is devastated that her detecting abilities failed her when it came to proving Gerard innocent. But before she’s allowed to wallow in her guilt and misery she’s sent to the future to save the shattered dimensions and humankind from annihilation. And what a mission she’s been given… teach the Gerard of the 22nd century to love and heal the rifts in time. Can anyone say “tall order?” How in the world do you teach an apparently unfeeling, domineering, tyrant to love? But the more she gets to know the General the more she comes to realize that the exterior package in no way represents the whole of the man.
Bring Me to Ruin is a powerhouse of action, danger, exceptionally deep characters in a blend of subgenres that will totally ensnare you. The romance that builds between Thea and the General is emotional and hot. I have to admit with the chemistry between these two I couldn’t help wondering how the heck Thea and her timeline Gerard ever remained best friends only. This is one read I truly couldn’t put down. I lost just a bit of sleep with my emotions fully engaged and a deep-seated need to know what would happen next. You’re really gonna like Bring Me to Ruin if you like stories that twist and turn, keep you on the edge and constantly guessing. And if you like books that defy narrow definitions then you’ll definitely love this one.
*****Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions*****
April 13, 2016
Thea Maloney has just lost her lifelong best friend Gerard Wyatt after he was executed for a crime he didn't commit. Drinking at the local bar trying to forget her pain she ends up in a bar fight only to have the owner stop time and freeze everyone in the bar but the two of them. Cole has always been like a father to her but now she finds that he actually controls time and on top of that Thea is needed to help repair the timelines and save the world from a savage ghost war.
Traveling to another timeline Thea meets The General, another version of Gerard that has been the hero of the ghost war and saved all the lives in the camp there that have come from all different timelines. Finding that everyone has doppelgangers of themselves existing in other timelines Thea finds that her mission is to help The General regain his humanity and learn to love again after only knowing war as Thea and The General are soulmates in all timelines.
Bring Me to Ruin was an extremely complex story line bringing all kinds of interesting elements into the mix. A somewhat mix of sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, dystopian, and a bit of romance it certainly had a lot of great moments and a great mix of intensity and action.
One thing though with so much going on I felt it was a bit slow paced for me trying to make sure I understood everything being brought into the story. We have all the elements of time traveling, separate dimensions, time travel, doppelgangers, fae, ghosts, witches, gods, oracles, advance robotic technology and I almost think the way the virus/resurrection process was described that the "ghosts" sounded more like a version of zombies. Definitely not a dull moment involved in this read and I've probably forgotten to even mention a few things.
Starting off I had a bit of a disconnect with the characters too as I think I was just a bit overwhelmed with the activity going on. The General seemed almost robotic somewhat reminding me of the Terminator when described as having this red computer eye so it took me a while to associate him as even being human but that's actually somewhat how he's supposed to come across so I'm not sure that was actually too bad of a thing because he's in danger of losing his humanity to the war.
Overall, I enjoyed this extensive and complex world the author has built, it certainly kept me on my toes having so much action going on in one read. I would warn though there are some erotic sexual moments also involved in case that's something that a reader wouldn't like.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Traveling to another timeline Thea meets The General, another version of Gerard that has been the hero of the ghost war and saved all the lives in the camp there that have come from all different timelines. Finding that everyone has doppelgangers of themselves existing in other timelines Thea finds that her mission is to help The General regain his humanity and learn to love again after only knowing war as Thea and The General are soulmates in all timelines.
Bring Me to Ruin was an extremely complex story line bringing all kinds of interesting elements into the mix. A somewhat mix of sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, dystopian, and a bit of romance it certainly had a lot of great moments and a great mix of intensity and action.
One thing though with so much going on I felt it was a bit slow paced for me trying to make sure I understood everything being brought into the story. We have all the elements of time traveling, separate dimensions, time travel, doppelgangers, fae, ghosts, witches, gods, oracles, advance robotic technology and I almost think the way the virus/resurrection process was described that the "ghosts" sounded more like a version of zombies. Definitely not a dull moment involved in this read and I've probably forgotten to even mention a few things.
Starting off I had a bit of a disconnect with the characters too as I think I was just a bit overwhelmed with the activity going on. The General seemed almost robotic somewhat reminding me of the Terminator when described as having this red computer eye so it took me a while to associate him as even being human but that's actually somewhat how he's supposed to come across so I'm not sure that was actually too bad of a thing because he's in danger of losing his humanity to the war.
Overall, I enjoyed this extensive and complex world the author has built, it certainly kept me on my toes having so much action going on in one read. I would warn though there are some erotic sexual moments also involved in case that's something that a reader wouldn't like.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
April 22, 2016
From steam punk to just plain steamy, this debut novel will have readers positively riveted. Tess Rider does a phenomenal job of hooking her audience & has no trouble reeling them in. Brimming with vivid detail and characters who will positively steal your heart, Bring Me to Ruin is one action-packed paranormal romance you won't want to miss! This one gets two thumbs way, way up!
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May 7, 2016The existence of humanity is threatened in a future earth. In 2147, a small group of humans is holding out against Scheherazade and her army of ghosts. Vastly outnumbered, they are protected by a time bubble that is powered by a the last living time mage, Cole. But time has splintered and Cole is dying. The protection of the bubble is threatened and the people that live there are looking to the General to keep them safe.
But the General is running out of resources and time. He is the leader the Cazadores de los Muertos, the Dead Hunters, and with them, he protects the community from the ghosts. When Thea Maloney shows up from 1969, he is immediately suspicious of the stranger as any good leader would be. But he is also immediately attracted to her. This will be a dilemma for the General.
Thea is scared. Thrust into a situation stock full of unknowns and facing a man that looks exactly like the dead man she was in love with, she has no idea how to accomplish her mission: find out who is responsible for messing with time and trying to kill Cole – and – teach the General how to love.
It is quickly evident that Thea and the General are the essential characters in this intricate plot. The fact that Thea was sent to the future by a future version of herself makes her presence in 2147 prophecy-fulfilling and her relationship with the general just another part of the vision. In fact, elements of prophecy revealed bit by bit throughout the story will do nothing to lessen the goddess- and god-like personae these two main characters eventually take on. Despite how they are viewed by the people of Haunted Hollow, they are just a woman and a man trying to survive in a very scary situation. The attraction is there, but so is distrust, making their alliance both amazing and tenuous. I really liked that both Thea and the General alternatively struggled to avoid each other and to make the relationship work.
Secondary characters like Thea’s Aunt Tempe (“potion slinging witch”), Ava (“Machines are my thing.”) and Cazadores Luke and Eric Severin (XO and tech genius respectively) all have important and interesting roles. I liked the ensemble feel to the group of characters and knowing that Bring Me to Ruin is the first in a series, I hope that some of these characters will get their own starring role in a future story.
A few characters were what I call ‘throw away characters’. That is, they are given a name only to serve a very small purpose. One example is a character who ‘comes to life’ after she dies, in order to be eulogized by the General in a very moving ceremony. She was used only to make the hard-nosed, ultra logical General seem more human and her existence added a certain choppiness to the story. I would have appreciated the General’s humanity more if the woman had ‘lived’ before she died. There were other characters/elements that felt uneven – like they just got dropped into the story. Enough to make wonder why, but not enough to seriously detract from my reading enjoyment.
Because I always appreciate a well developed villain, I will tell you that Scheherazade is one interesting witch. Just when you think you might have figured out something about this evil-bringer, bang!, you learn something new. It is entirely possible, there is even more to learn in future books.
Religion plays a big role in Bring Me to Ruin. Though not specifically named Voodoo provides the guiding tenet. Gods, symbols and ceremonies are brought into the story. I actually found this part very interesting, especially when Thea starts talking to Baron Samedi. However, the connection between what I consider to be a Haitian religion and Northern California is barely even hinted at. I would really like to know more about how that happened.
Bring Me to Ruin is a tale of a future earth that may very well be at the end of its life. With a rich texture, this complex story is sometimes lush and romantic, sometimes dark and horrible. With Steampunk, SciFi, Paranormal, and Fantasy elements, its genre is difficult to pin down, but the lack of genre does not in anyway detract from the well told story. If you enjoy any or all of those genres, Bring Me to Ruin will fit on your bookshelf.
ARC provided by The Killion Group.
Originally posted at Smart Girls Love SciFi Romance.
But the General is running out of resources and time. He is the leader the Cazadores de los Muertos, the Dead Hunters, and with them, he protects the community from the ghosts. When Thea Maloney shows up from 1969, he is immediately suspicious of the stranger as any good leader would be. But he is also immediately attracted to her. This will be a dilemma for the General.
Thea is scared. Thrust into a situation stock full of unknowns and facing a man that looks exactly like the dead man she was in love with, she has no idea how to accomplish her mission: find out who is responsible for messing with time and trying to kill Cole – and – teach the General how to love.
It is quickly evident that Thea and the General are the essential characters in this intricate plot. The fact that Thea was sent to the future by a future version of herself makes her presence in 2147 prophecy-fulfilling and her relationship with the general just another part of the vision. In fact, elements of prophecy revealed bit by bit throughout the story will do nothing to lessen the goddess- and god-like personae these two main characters eventually take on. Despite how they are viewed by the people of Haunted Hollow, they are just a woman and a man trying to survive in a very scary situation. The attraction is there, but so is distrust, making their alliance both amazing and tenuous. I really liked that both Thea and the General alternatively struggled to avoid each other and to make the relationship work.
Secondary characters like Thea’s Aunt Tempe (“potion slinging witch”), Ava (“Machines are my thing.”) and Cazadores Luke and Eric Severin (XO and tech genius respectively) all have important and interesting roles. I liked the ensemble feel to the group of characters and knowing that Bring Me to Ruin is the first in a series, I hope that some of these characters will get their own starring role in a future story.
A few characters were what I call ‘throw away characters’. That is, they are given a name only to serve a very small purpose. One example is a character who ‘comes to life’ after she dies, in order to be eulogized by the General in a very moving ceremony. She was used only to make the hard-nosed, ultra logical General seem more human and her existence added a certain choppiness to the story. I would have appreciated the General’s humanity more if the woman had ‘lived’ before she died. There were other characters/elements that felt uneven – like they just got dropped into the story. Enough to make wonder why, but not enough to seriously detract from my reading enjoyment.
Because I always appreciate a well developed villain, I will tell you that Scheherazade is one interesting witch. Just when you think you might have figured out something about this evil-bringer, bang!, you learn something new. It is entirely possible, there is even more to learn in future books.
Religion plays a big role in Bring Me to Ruin. Though not specifically named Voodoo provides the guiding tenet. Gods, symbols and ceremonies are brought into the story. I actually found this part very interesting, especially when Thea starts talking to Baron Samedi. However, the connection between what I consider to be a Haitian religion and Northern California is barely even hinted at. I would really like to know more about how that happened.
Bring Me to Ruin is a tale of a future earth that may very well be at the end of its life. With a rich texture, this complex story is sometimes lush and romantic, sometimes dark and horrible. With Steampunk, SciFi, Paranormal, and Fantasy elements, its genre is difficult to pin down, but the lack of genre does not in anyway detract from the well told story. If you enjoy any or all of those genres, Bring Me to Ruin will fit on your bookshelf.
ARC provided by The Killion Group.
Originally posted at Smart Girls Love SciFi Romance.
November 14, 2016
This was the kind of book where I would put it down and still find myself thinking about it throughout the day. The story line is fairly complex--there's a lot going on--and there is a large cast of characters, but Tess does such a good job creating dynamic profiles of them all, that I never found myself saying, “Wait, who’s that?” Bring me to Ruin was refreshingly unique to me because it was a little Sci-Fi/Time Travel, a little Fantasy (Evil Fae!), part action, part romance with this apocalyptic Walking Dead feel. All these elements—beautifully written—kept me hooked and the pages turning! The ending will leave you satisfied but itching (hoping) for more from this group of characters.
January 16, 2017
When I started the book, I wasn’t sure on where it would lead. By the end of the story, I was completely blown away. The love story between Thea and the General was amazing. To think that one’s soulmate throughout all of the timelines would show that love can exist between two people despite the fracturing of time brought happy tears to my eyes as I read the final pages. The overall plot had my imagination engaged page after page.
During the battle scenes, I was able to imagine the different undead beasts in the evil Witch Queen, Scheherazade, army as they were blown away by the elite force of the Cazadors. I was able to feel the pain as the Necro virus invaded, killed, and resurrected its victim into an undead minion trapping the soul in its rotting body as it bent to the will of Scheherazade. I can’t wait to see if the mission that they embarked on in the final pages is successful or if Thea will give up her soul as a prize to the god of the dead.
During the battle scenes, I was able to imagine the different undead beasts in the evil Witch Queen, Scheherazade, army as they were blown away by the elite force of the Cazadors. I was able to feel the pain as the Necro virus invaded, killed, and resurrected its victim into an undead minion trapping the soul in its rotting body as it bent to the will of Scheherazade. I can’t wait to see if the mission that they embarked on in the final pages is successful or if Thea will give up her soul as a prize to the god of the dead.
April 30, 2016
**http://melenasreviews.wordpress.com**
Being this is the first I have read from Tess Rider it pulled me in all directions. There is paranormal which I love in this book then then is science fiction thar just made me want to give up. A lot of tech babble which at times seemed too much yet in a way is important in the book. I felt for Thea in her pain and heartache yet I rooted more for the General. These two at times completed each other and also seemed to bash in every turn. Have to applaud Tess for keeping it straight between these two when at times I wanted to knock them together. All in all it was a quite surprising book for me and would love to see more from Luke Sam Temperance and even Ava they all seemed interesting. Great book.
Being this is the first I have read from Tess Rider it pulled me in all directions. There is paranormal which I love in this book then then is science fiction thar just made me want to give up. A lot of tech babble which at times seemed too much yet in a way is important in the book. I felt for Thea in her pain and heartache yet I rooted more for the General. These two at times completed each other and also seemed to bash in every turn. Have to applaud Tess for keeping it straight between these two when at times I wanted to knock them together. All in all it was a quite surprising book for me and would love to see more from Luke Sam Temperance and even Ava they all seemed interesting. Great book.
April 14, 2016
Sucks you in from the start and doesn't release you til you've reached the end. Steals your attention with its unique storyline and well developed characters. 100% recommend!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews