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The Mentalist Series #0.5
Broken Ties: Prequel
"There was nothing unusual about the night everything changed. No flashing lights in the sky, no searing fire in my belly; no sign whatsoever to suggest the shift which was to come…Nora Brice did strange things to me. Strange and awful things…"
Paul Colt has a problem, and it is not one most teenage boys face. Yes, he likes a girl; one he’s pretty certain he’ll do foolish things for, given the chance. But he can’t go after her, or any other girl for that matter. That’s what he gets for being an Averter; forced to toe the line for the propagation of the collective. He knows some rules are okay to trifle with, and there are some which should never be broken. The gravest of them all?
Don’t fall in love.
Ever.
This is the story of how Paul breaks that rule.
This prequel novella to the Mentalist Series can be read before or after Aversion, Book One of The Mentalist Series.
Paul Colt has a problem, and it is not one most teenage boys face. Yes, he likes a girl; one he’s pretty certain he’ll do foolish things for, given the chance. But he can’t go after her, or any other girl for that matter. That’s what he gets for being an Averter; forced to toe the line for the propagation of the collective. He knows some rules are okay to trifle with, and there are some which should never be broken. The gravest of them all?
Don’t fall in love.
Ever.
This is the story of how Paul breaks that rule.
This prequel novella to the Mentalist Series can be read before or after Aversion, Book One of The Mentalist Series.
84 pages, Nook
First published May 1, 2014
27 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Kenechi Udogu
24 books96 followersKenechi lives in London, UK and writes contemporary and fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi/horror fiction. She also hates the cold and hopes to one day figure out how to hibernate in winter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 20, 2018
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Broken Ties is a cute story that shows you another side of Paul that you don’t see in the series. I like the way it’s told in POV’s and knowing the ending before reading made the story that much sweeter. I wish that the novella completely filled the gap between Paul and Nora, but where is left off was a cute finish. This novella was a great addition to the Mentalist series.
To see my full review: https://www.boundtowriting.com/novell...
Broken Ties is a cute story that shows you another side of Paul that you don’t see in the series. I like the way it’s told in POV’s and knowing the ending before reading made the story that much sweeter. I wish that the novella completely filled the gap between Paul and Nora, but where is left off was a cute finish. This novella was a great addition to the Mentalist series.
To see my full review: https://www.boundtowriting.com/novell...
May 20, 2014
4.5 stars
Broken Ties is the prequel to the unique Mentalist Series. In this series, it follows an averter, Gemma, who is been learning about the power to change an outcome. This story is about Gemma's father, Paul Colt. Paul is a 16-year-old boy who has been head-over-heels for a girl named Nora. Never would he think that she might have feelings for him too. Both Paul and Nora were forbidden to date, but simply for different reasons. Paul was an Averter and would be assigned someone to be with, so he wasn't allowed to fall in love. But he still did.
Personally, I liked this story moreso than Averter and Sentient. I loved Paul and Nora! It was so cute and even though, they seemed to fall for each other quickly, they've had a crush on each other for a while. Having been a 16-year-old at one point, I know what it's like to have a crush on someone you know from afar. Also they are both very likeable. Paul liked her so much that he even quit smoking for her. Now there's a guy worth holding on to.
I really wish this story was longer! It cuts off so abruptly, and you will have to read Averter to find out what happens to Gemma's mother, Nora. I wanted to read more about their journey. I wanted to read more of their interactions with each other and their conversations. This book makes me long for more! So I really disliked the ending.
Even though it's such a short story, I felt I knew the characters. The observations that Paul and Nora had of each other told the reader so much about them, in my opinion. They might be naive teenagers, but it's cute, and I enjoy a cute love story. It was very well-written and flowed very well. I was rooting for those two from start to finish.
Overall, I enjoyed it, but I really wish it was longer!
Broken Ties is the prequel to the unique Mentalist Series. In this series, it follows an averter, Gemma, who is been learning about the power to change an outcome. This story is about Gemma's father, Paul Colt. Paul is a 16-year-old boy who has been head-over-heels for a girl named Nora. Never would he think that she might have feelings for him too. Both Paul and Nora were forbidden to date, but simply for different reasons. Paul was an Averter and would be assigned someone to be with, so he wasn't allowed to fall in love. But he still did.
Personally, I liked this story moreso than Averter and Sentient. I loved Paul and Nora! It was so cute and even though, they seemed to fall for each other quickly, they've had a crush on each other for a while. Having been a 16-year-old at one point, I know what it's like to have a crush on someone you know from afar. Also they are both very likeable. Paul liked her so much that he even quit smoking for her. Now there's a guy worth holding on to.
I really wish this story was longer! It cuts off so abruptly, and you will have to read Averter to find out what happens to Gemma's mother, Nora. I wanted to read more about their journey. I wanted to read more of their interactions with each other and their conversations. This book makes me long for more! So I really disliked the ending.
Even though it's such a short story, I felt I knew the characters. The observations that Paul and Nora had of each other told the reader so much about them, in my opinion. They might be naive teenagers, but it's cute, and I enjoy a cute love story. It was very well-written and flowed very well. I was rooting for those two from start to finish.
Overall, I enjoyed it, but I really wish it was longer!
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June 7, 2014This was a really nice prequel to the Mentalist series by Udogu. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this short story (novella) about Gemma's Dad Paul and her mother Nora. Although, it did confuse me a bit about the whole tim frame. I guess reading the mentalist series I figured they were suppose to be taking place here in the present, but after reading this prequel, and her father sporting some good mid 90's rock bands, plus the mention of cell phone and emailing, I'm not quite sure what to make of the timelines. It seemed like the dad as an adult would be more of my age (I'm only 26). I can only assume that Gemma's story takes place in a not so distant future. But regardless of the whole time frame mystery, I truly enjoyed this little treasure and thank Ms. Kenechi Udogu for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2018
3 stars only because it is a short prequel to what I think will be an interesting series.
April 29, 2018
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I have given Broken Ties by Kenechi Udogu four out of five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Without knowing what the prequel was going to be about, I was in for an absolute treat! I've been wanting to learn more about the story between Gemma's mother and father when they were younger and how they grew to love each other. This was everything I wanted and more! Broken Ties was the perfect calling for my imagination and questions I'd had from The Mentalist Series trilogy.
Although I wanted Udogu to fill the gap between Nora and Paul's story, she finished the novella on a good note which made my heart happy. Saying that, I kept trying to flick to the next page to read more of the story, but nothing appeared as I had come to the end of the book. This book definitely made me long for more chapters of Nora and Paul's relationship.
I enjoyed reading from two different points of view throughout the book, as it made it more interesting to learn from both Nora and Paul's perspectives of each other. I loved reading about their "forbidden" love story. I would definitely be friends, musically, with teenage Paul in the Averter world due to all of the band t-shirts he wore proudly.
This novella was very well-written and I thought the characters were well-developed. I really didn’t want this world to finish, I would happily read more about the Averter world and hope that Udogu brings out more soon!
I hope if you manage to get your hands on this series that you thoroughly enjoy it as much as I have. I'd definitely recommend this book and series to fans of young adult, paranormal, mystery and romance.
April 30, 2018
It’s done. I have officially finished reading the Mentalist series by Kenechi Udogu.
In case you haven’t heard about it already, the Mentalist series is a trilogy plus one short novella. Each book is on the short side and even with four books in the series, they are rather easy to finish. But even with the allure of being a short series, was it worth the read?
Gemma Green is an averter. No, scratch that. She is a Progressive Empath. An averter is capable of altering people’s minds to prevent them from committing self-endangering acts. Gemma is capable of so much more. In a world of male averters, Gemma struggles to understand her powers. But as her path crosses with others like herself, she must learn to control these new abilities. And if she hopes to protect those she loves, she’ll need to do it quickly.
Full review at: http://sevendaysaweek.co/the-mentalis...
In case you haven’t heard about it already, the Mentalist series is a trilogy plus one short novella. Each book is on the short side and even with four books in the series, they are rather easy to finish. But even with the allure of being a short series, was it worth the read?
Gemma Green is an averter. No, scratch that. She is a Progressive Empath. An averter is capable of altering people’s minds to prevent them from committing self-endangering acts. Gemma is capable of so much more. In a world of male averters, Gemma struggles to understand her powers. But as her path crosses with others like herself, she must learn to control these new abilities. And if she hopes to protect those she loves, she’ll need to do it quickly.
Full review at: http://sevendaysaweek.co/the-mentalis...
June 26, 2016
Paul Colt ist ein Gedankenwender und eigentlich sollte er sich nicht ausgerechnet in Nora Brice verlieben. Aber Nora geht ihm nicht mehr aus dem Kopf. Dabei hat sein Vater ganz andere Pläne mit ihm, denn er soll eine andere Gedankenwenderin heiraten. Paul schmiedet einen Plan, um den ganzen zu entkommen, aber was sagt Nora dazu?
Bei diesem Buch handelt es sich um die Vorgeschichte zu Die Gedankenwenderin, die ich bereits im Dezember 15 gelesen habe. In Zerissene Bande geht die Autorin weniger auf die Gedankenwender ein, sondern beschäftigt sich mehr mit Paul und Nora. Die beiden sind zwei interessante Charaktere. Nora ist ein sehr beliebtes Mädchen in der Schule, hat aber ein paar Probleme in ihrer Familie. Paul stammt aus einer Familie von Gedankenwendern und seine Familie hat natürlich ganz andere Pläne mit ihm. Zuerst konnte ich mich gar nicht daran erinnern, welche Rolle Paul in Die Gedankenwenderin spielt, aber dann ist es mir doch wieder eingefallen. Ich fand es auf jeden Fall sehr interessant, mehr über ihn und seine Geschichte zu erfahren. Leider ist die Geschichte sehr schnell zu Ende. Ich hoffe sehr, dass wir in der Fortsetzung von Die Gedankenwenderin noch mehr über Paul und Nora erfahren werden. Ich vergebe hier die volle Punktzahl.
Bei diesem Buch handelt es sich um die Vorgeschichte zu Die Gedankenwenderin, die ich bereits im Dezember 15 gelesen habe. In Zerissene Bande geht die Autorin weniger auf die Gedankenwender ein, sondern beschäftigt sich mehr mit Paul und Nora. Die beiden sind zwei interessante Charaktere. Nora ist ein sehr beliebtes Mädchen in der Schule, hat aber ein paar Probleme in ihrer Familie. Paul stammt aus einer Familie von Gedankenwendern und seine Familie hat natürlich ganz andere Pläne mit ihm. Zuerst konnte ich mich gar nicht daran erinnern, welche Rolle Paul in Die Gedankenwenderin spielt, aber dann ist es mir doch wieder eingefallen. Ich fand es auf jeden Fall sehr interessant, mehr über ihn und seine Geschichte zu erfahren. Leider ist die Geschichte sehr schnell zu Ende. Ich hoffe sehr, dass wir in der Fortsetzung von Die Gedankenwenderin noch mehr über Paul und Nora erfahren werden. Ich vergebe hier die volle Punktzahl.
May 21, 2014
Firstly id like to thank Kenechi Udogu for giving me this book in exchange for a honest review
4 1/2 stars
As a big fan of Kenechi's Mentalist series I jumped at the chance to read the prequel to the mentalist series. I really enjoyed seeing what Gemma's dad went through as 16 year old boy whom like all averters isn't allowed to have a relationship with anyone apart from their chosen child bearer. We had seen snippets of the story behind Paul in the mentalist series but didn't have this in depth view of what it was like for Paul and how they met.
Lovely novella Kenechi, thank you for giving us an insight into Paul and Nora. They were so sweet and although I felt it did cut off rather abruptly, the story was well written.
4 1/2 stars
As a big fan of Kenechi's Mentalist series I jumped at the chance to read the prequel to the mentalist series. I really enjoyed seeing what Gemma's dad went through as 16 year old boy whom like all averters isn't allowed to have a relationship with anyone apart from their chosen child bearer. We had seen snippets of the story behind Paul in the mentalist series but didn't have this in depth view of what it was like for Paul and how they met.
Lovely novella Kenechi, thank you for giving us an insight into Paul and Nora. They were so sweet and although I felt it did cut off rather abruptly, the story was well written.
September 5, 2014
I really liked this prequel to The Menalists series by Kenechi Udogu. The author has a way of drawing on the reader's emotions that really brings you into the story. My only compliant is that this is a teaser. It was much, MUCH too short. It leaves a cliffhanger that does make you want to read the rest of the series if you haven't done so already. Great writing. I'm looking forward to The Keepers, the third installment in The Mentalists series.
June 25, 2017
Goes down as another off my 2017 Bookworm Bingo Challenge – The last book in a series. It is a prequel to show how Gemma’s parents first got together so can be read alone but to get best feel for it I would read after the trilogy and so I’m casting it as the last book in the series. A tale of how young love came about. One you know will lead down another path but one that may have been destined to begin with. Only time will tell.
Paul has followed his fathers’ rules all his life and never really questioned what he would eventually have to do to continue the line of Averters for his family. It’s only after a chance meeting with Nora that everything changes. Hiding out having a smoke he hears her voice before seeing her coming closer. She is getting hassled by another guy and it seems Nora sees Paul as her knight in armour to get the other guy to leave. Seems he won’t take no for an answer and its up to Paul to do something that is forbidden. He does as aversion on him to make him stay away from her from then on. It’s the first time he’s done one for personal gain. Well not his but for Nora anyway. Seems its not the only thing he is willing to do to get closer to her. He may seem reluctant to begin with, as he isn’t allowed to date. He was always told it was for a very good reason so that their kind knows their place in the world and what they have to do. Seems that’s one thing he has in common with Nora, she can’t date either and has never really wanted to until Paul.
From reading the trilogy you know why they are drawn to each other and how they will always find each other no matter what. They might not have had as strong a sentient twin connection as Gemma and Russ but its still there. Sneaking around isn’t something they’d thought they would do but the need to be with the other is too strong to deny. Its like they know they have a ticking clock counting down their time together so they try to make every moment count throughout the summer. Seems time is not on their side as it might soon be running out for them when a fellow averter – Nora’s to be exact – shows up.
You know how the story will eventually end but it’s just the start of the bigger adventure waiting further down the line. They were fated to meet and nothing could have stopped them from going down the path they were on. If they hadn’t then change wouldn’t have started to happen. Things happen for a reason and the story of their young love is what started the journey as a whole.
I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
Paul has followed his fathers’ rules all his life and never really questioned what he would eventually have to do to continue the line of Averters for his family. It’s only after a chance meeting with Nora that everything changes. Hiding out having a smoke he hears her voice before seeing her coming closer. She is getting hassled by another guy and it seems Nora sees Paul as her knight in armour to get the other guy to leave. Seems he won’t take no for an answer and its up to Paul to do something that is forbidden. He does as aversion on him to make him stay away from her from then on. It’s the first time he’s done one for personal gain. Well not his but for Nora anyway. Seems its not the only thing he is willing to do to get closer to her. He may seem reluctant to begin with, as he isn’t allowed to date. He was always told it was for a very good reason so that their kind knows their place in the world and what they have to do. Seems that’s one thing he has in common with Nora, she can’t date either and has never really wanted to until Paul.
From reading the trilogy you know why they are drawn to each other and how they will always find each other no matter what. They might not have had as strong a sentient twin connection as Gemma and Russ but its still there. Sneaking around isn’t something they’d thought they would do but the need to be with the other is too strong to deny. Its like they know they have a ticking clock counting down their time together so they try to make every moment count throughout the summer. Seems time is not on their side as it might soon be running out for them when a fellow averter – Nora’s to be exact – shows up.
You know how the story will eventually end but it’s just the start of the bigger adventure waiting further down the line. They were fated to meet and nothing could have stopped them from going down the path they were on. If they hadn’t then change wouldn’t have started to happen. Things happen for a reason and the story of their young love is what started the journey as a whole.
I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
August 12, 2018
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the final book in the Mentalists Series Book Set. It is a novella that is about seventy pages or so. Surprisingly it has nothing to do with Russ and Gemma or the other mentalists.
The story is about Paul and Nora aka Gemma’s parents. We get bits and pieces of what had happened between them in the three previous books however this book is mostly about how they met until the point they ran away together. In broken ties, Paul and Nora are in high school. They like each other but only start to go out after Paul saves her from a jock who can’t take a hint. The largest problem is that they shouldn’t even be dating each other. It is forbidden by their parents but when did that ever stop anyone?
In some way I enjoyed reading about these two than reading about their daughter. The book is written using their alternating POVs which gives you a glimpse into their thoughts and even though the book was short, I learnt a lot about them because of this. Compared to the first two books in the series, this was so much better. I knew more about Nora in a short time than about Russ who was in three books!
I wish Paul and Nora had their own book but judging by how their story ends? Maybe it’s best we live it at that.
This is the final book in the Mentalists Series Book Set. It is a novella that is about seventy pages or so. Surprisingly it has nothing to do with Russ and Gemma or the other mentalists.
The story is about Paul and Nora aka Gemma’s parents. We get bits and pieces of what had happened between them in the three previous books however this book is mostly about how they met until the point they ran away together. In broken ties, Paul and Nora are in high school. They like each other but only start to go out after Paul saves her from a jock who can’t take a hint. The largest problem is that they shouldn’t even be dating each other. It is forbidden by their parents but when did that ever stop anyone?
In some way I enjoyed reading about these two than reading about their daughter. The book is written using their alternating POVs which gives you a glimpse into their thoughts and even though the book was short, I learnt a lot about them because of this. Compared to the first two books in the series, this was so much better. I knew more about Nora in a short time than about Russ who was in three books!
I wish Paul and Nora had their own book but judging by how their story ends? Maybe it’s best we live it at that.
February 11, 2020
Zwar ist dieses E-Book inhaltlich die Vorgeschichte zu „Die Gedankenwenderin“, man kann die Bücher aber in beliebiger Reihenfolge lesen. Das eine oder andere in „Zerrissene Bande“ versteht man vielleicht sogar besser, wenn man vorher schon die „Gedankenwenderin“ kennt. Zwar kann man dann manches aus der Vorgeschichte schon ahnen, aber dafür versteht man manche Andeutungen und Charakterzüge besser.
„Zerrissene Bande“, ein Werk sowohl für jugendliche als auch Erwachsene, beginnt weit vor der Handlung des zweiten Buches, zu der Zeit, als Paul, Gemmas Vater, ungefähr so alt war, wie Gemma selbst ist. Zwar plagen ihn und seine Freunde ganz normale Jugendlichen-Probleme, doch Paul hat noch ein ganz gewaltiges: weil er ein Gedankenwender ist, darf er nicht mit beliebigen Mädchen ausgehen. Anfangs noch ganz damit einverstanden, wird dies zu einer zunehmend größeren Hürde und schließlich trifft er noch die bildhübsche Nora.
Kenechi Udogu führt mit beschwingtem Ton fort, was sie mit „Die Gedankenwenderin“ begonnen hat. Sie entführt den Leser in eine Parallelwelt der Visionen und intensiven Augenkontakte (der für eine Gedankenwendung grundsätzlich nötig ist) und lässt diese mal auf ernste, mal auf amüsante Weise mit dem banalen Alltag in einer beliebigen US-amerikanischen Stadt kollidieren. Dass eine so nützliche Gabe so viel Mühsal im privaten Leben mit sich bringt, trägt natürlich zur Spannung bei.
Leider ist die zum Schluss nicht ganz so hoch, da, wenn man die „Gedankenwenderin“ kennt, doch eine gewisse Lücke bleibt, deren Ereignisse in „Zerrissene Bande“ nicht erzählt und im zweiten Band nur angedeutet werden. Darüber möchte man schon noch mehr wissen.
„Zerrissene Bande“, ein Werk sowohl für jugendliche als auch Erwachsene, beginnt weit vor der Handlung des zweiten Buches, zu der Zeit, als Paul, Gemmas Vater, ungefähr so alt war, wie Gemma selbst ist. Zwar plagen ihn und seine Freunde ganz normale Jugendlichen-Probleme, doch Paul hat noch ein ganz gewaltiges: weil er ein Gedankenwender ist, darf er nicht mit beliebigen Mädchen ausgehen. Anfangs noch ganz damit einverstanden, wird dies zu einer zunehmend größeren Hürde und schließlich trifft er noch die bildhübsche Nora.
Kenechi Udogu führt mit beschwingtem Ton fort, was sie mit „Die Gedankenwenderin“ begonnen hat. Sie entführt den Leser in eine Parallelwelt der Visionen und intensiven Augenkontakte (der für eine Gedankenwendung grundsätzlich nötig ist) und lässt diese mal auf ernste, mal auf amüsante Weise mit dem banalen Alltag in einer beliebigen US-amerikanischen Stadt kollidieren. Dass eine so nützliche Gabe so viel Mühsal im privaten Leben mit sich bringt, trägt natürlich zur Spannung bei.
Leider ist die zum Schluss nicht ganz so hoch, da, wenn man die „Gedankenwenderin“ kennt, doch eine gewisse Lücke bleibt, deren Ereignisse in „Zerrissene Bande“ nicht erzählt und im zweiten Band nur angedeutet werden. Darüber möchte man schon noch mehr wissen.
July 18, 2018
This prequel novella follows Gemma’s father and mother when they meet and start dating. I wasn’t sure what to think about this before I read it but I found it enjoyable to read. I ended up feeling sad knowing how their story would end, but it was nice being able to read their relationship as they fell in love with one another.
It did feel a bit too fast-paced, the rate at which they fell in love, but it might’ve also been because of something that is revealed in the previous books about them. It also was a bit strange to read in the perspective of Gemma’s dad when he was a teenager falling in love but I got over that pretty quick because I adored their relationship!
This novella didn’t really reveal much about the world of Averters, unfortunately, like I thought it would. Maybe if the author comes out with more novellas like this we readers can understand more about the world and the complexity of the characters and their past.
For more book reviews and other bookish fun visit my blog HERE
It did feel a bit too fast-paced, the rate at which they fell in love, but it might’ve also been because of something that is revealed in the previous books about them. It also was a bit strange to read in the perspective of Gemma’s dad when he was a teenager falling in love but I got over that pretty quick because I adored their relationship!
This novella didn’t really reveal much about the world of Averters, unfortunately, like I thought it would. Maybe if the author comes out with more novellas like this we readers can understand more about the world and the complexity of the characters and their past.
For more book reviews and other bookish fun visit my blog HERE
May 9, 2017
An awkward and frustrating read.
The characters in all this author's stories are friendly, yet shallow. This book is no exception. The main character lacks emotional range and views his love interest like a piece of meat. It's true that some teenage boys would look at girls that way. However this is fiction, and the characters are one dimensional. It is a problem because they are not believable.
In the YA genre, the whole teenage anxiety/moodiness piece that is a common and an expected thread, because the characters have hormones flying about and are at the cusp between childhood and adulthood, is noticeably missing because the author lacks an understanding of emotional depth, range and anxiety. Perhaps she has forgotten what it is like to be a confused teenager setting out into the world on his/her own and could consequently alienate her target readers with this lack of understanding and connection with them and their world.
This book was predictable and boring.
The characters in all this author's stories are friendly, yet shallow. This book is no exception. The main character lacks emotional range and views his love interest like a piece of meat. It's true that some teenage boys would look at girls that way. However this is fiction, and the characters are one dimensional. It is a problem because they are not believable.
In the YA genre, the whole teenage anxiety/moodiness piece that is a common and an expected thread, because the characters have hormones flying about and are at the cusp between childhood and adulthood, is noticeably missing because the author lacks an understanding of emotional depth, range and anxiety. Perhaps she has forgotten what it is like to be a confused teenager setting out into the world on his/her own and could consequently alienate her target readers with this lack of understanding and connection with them and their world.
This book was predictable and boring.
May 5, 2018
The number one rule for being an Averter; Don't fall in love. Well, thank goodness I am not an Averter. Because I am crashing hard for this series.
So, I read Aversion (The Mentalist Series Book 1) first. Oops. But I am posting the reviews in order I think it should be read. So, I kind of ruin what was going to happen just slightly. Kenechi says in the synopsis this can be read after Aversion, I highly suggest reading it prior. This way your left with wanting more. And more is so worth it.
Even though I jilted myself out of cliffhanger I was still left in suspense. I knew what was to follow so now I can move on to Sentient (book 2).
This story follows Paul and Nora. Both characters are extremely well read, and both come off as authentic teenagers who exhibit real emotions and actions. Well apart from Paul being an Averter. What's an Averter? An Averter is someone who can alter one's decision. It quiet the skill. A skill that is used for good and not for personal gain.
The plot thickens quickly, and it has too with this being a Novella. But every minute spent reading is worth reading. Still not sold on picking up Broken Ties maybe the fact that it's only 100 pages in a deal. This story is quick, funny, mysterious and quite worth the short adventure.
Want to read more reviews by me then check out https://shealwaysreads.com/
So, I read Aversion (The Mentalist Series Book 1) first. Oops. But I am posting the reviews in order I think it should be read. So, I kind of ruin what was going to happen just slightly. Kenechi says in the synopsis this can be read after Aversion, I highly suggest reading it prior. This way your left with wanting more. And more is so worth it.
Even though I jilted myself out of cliffhanger I was still left in suspense. I knew what was to follow so now I can move on to Sentient (book 2).
This story follows Paul and Nora. Both characters are extremely well read, and both come off as authentic teenagers who exhibit real emotions and actions. Well apart from Paul being an Averter. What's an Averter? An Averter is someone who can alter one's decision. It quiet the skill. A skill that is used for good and not for personal gain.
The plot thickens quickly, and it has too with this being a Novella. But every minute spent reading is worth reading. Still not sold on picking up Broken Ties maybe the fact that it's only 100 pages in a deal. This story is quick, funny, mysterious and quite worth the short adventure.
Want to read more reviews by me then check out https://shealwaysreads.com/
August 1, 2017
This prequel to The Mentalist Series is a short work that tells the story of Gemma's parents, Paul and Nora. However, if the reader hasn't read Aversion, Sentient, or Keepers, she would have no idea what this book is about or why the story has meaning. It also stops way too soon, leaving too much to the imagination about how it all played out.
As one who has read all the previous books, I enjoyed knowing more about Paul, but I was not invested in Nora the way I was in Gemma and Paul in the other books, even though I knew she would become Gemma's mother. More depth of character and more story would have been appreciated.
Bella Reads and Reviews received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
As one who has read all the previous books, I enjoyed knowing more about Paul, but I was not invested in Nora the way I was in Gemma and Paul in the other books, even though I knew she would become Gemma's mother. More depth of character and more story would have been appreciated.
Bella Reads and Reviews received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2018
Original review
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Kenechi Udogu!
Broken Ties is a prequel in The Mentalist Series about Gemma’s father and mother, Paul and Nora. It’s the story of how they met and fell in love with each other.
Broken Ties was such a cute and lovable novella. I couldn’t stop reading it because it was so well written and I just had to know how Paul and Nora fell for each other. I think that I definitely would’ve read Paul and Nora’s love in a trilogy and then Gemma and Russ’ love in another trilogy!
Broken Ties was yet another amazing book in The Mentalist Series and I’m kinda sad that the series is over now. It was such a good series! I want to thank Kenechi again for giving me review copies because I’m so glad that I finally read the entire series!
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Kenechi Udogu!
Broken Ties is a prequel in The Mentalist Series about Gemma’s father and mother, Paul and Nora. It’s the story of how they met and fell in love with each other.
Broken Ties was such a cute and lovable novella. I couldn’t stop reading it because it was so well written and I just had to know how Paul and Nora fell for each other. I think that I definitely would’ve read Paul and Nora’s love in a trilogy and then Gemma and Russ’ love in another trilogy!
Broken Ties was yet another amazing book in The Mentalist Series and I’m kinda sad that the series is over now. It was such a good series! I want to thank Kenechi again for giving me review copies because I’m so glad that I finally read the entire series!
October 30, 2017
I am not into all the romantic kind of stuff, but this wasn’t half bad. The paranormal element added a nice affect to it. It is quiet a chunky prequel at 84 pages. It kind of needed to be, to show the paranormal side to it and to make the story believable.
It does shift from 2 view points, Paul’s and Nora’s. Took me a little bit to get used to it, but that’s just me in my brain switching the characters about, just so I don’t confuse myself.
I did like it, don’t get me wrong. But not a whole lot happened really. Boy meets girl. Boy gets girl into trouble. Is pretty much the whole story. Oh and boy has weird abilities. Not really much I can add to a prequel that is 84 pages.
It does shift from 2 view points, Paul’s and Nora’s. Took me a little bit to get used to it, but that’s just me in my brain switching the characters about, just so I don’t confuse myself.
I did like it, don’t get me wrong. But not a whole lot happened really. Boy meets girl. Boy gets girl into trouble. Is pretty much the whole story. Oh and boy has weird abilities. Not really much I can add to a prequel that is 84 pages.
December 20, 2018
A prequel in The Mentalist Series by Kenechi Udogu. This book takes place before book 1, Aversion, so it can be read at any time. Broken Ties is about Paul and Nora, Gemma's parents. This is the story of how they met and fell for one another.
Told with alternating points of view, this novella gives a glimpse into the lives of Paul and Nora. They are in high school, and suddenly find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another. A quick and entertaining read.
Told with alternating points of view, this novella gives a glimpse into the lives of Paul and Nora. They are in high school, and suddenly find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another. A quick and entertaining read.
June 20, 2018
I received a copy of this for a fair and honest review. This brought a lot of emotions up in me about Paul and Nora and their very different but similar family life. The build of what they both wanted and how they handled it even with all that was going on in their lives. It was a quick read. What to know what happened to Nora and Paul grab a copy of this book.
March 13, 2018
Original review can be found on my blog at this link.
Broken Ties is a prequel to The Mentalist Series. The story follows Paul, Gemma’s father when he was just a young boy. It follows the struggles he faces as an Averter, of which includes the ‘strange’ attraction he feels between Nora and him. Broken Ties is an extremely short read with such incredible character building that I simply couldn’t put the novel down once I started reading it.
I chose to read Broken Ties after finishing Aversion, Sentient, and Keepers as I wanted to have a deeper understanding of Paul’s character. After reading the ‘trilogy’, I have so many questions regarding Paul’s behaviour and thought processes. Reading Broken Ties shed light on reasons behind his decision making in several situations. I’m able to understand why he loves Gemma so much and is so afraid of losing her.
It is refreshing to read about ‘younger’ Paul after getting to know the ‘older’ Paul. It is pretty entertaining to know that the more serious and over-protective Paul can be a shy and timid boy who gets confused over his own feelings. I remember smiling like a fool when I was reading about Paul being all confused over the ‘weird’ attraction he feels whenever he is with Nora. Being able to see Paul transitioning from childhood to adulthood allows me to understand certain choices he makes in order to keep Gemma safe.
Nora is a wonderful, bubbly and energetic character. She brings out the best in Paul and is not hesitant in letting him into her heart. Though I’m not a fan of instant-love, I know what the Sentient Link can accomplish. Thus, I love to see the chemistry bubbling and blooming between Nora and Paul.
I wish that the story can be longer though. I want to know what happens to Nora and Paul after they ran away. The kind of lifestyle they lead, the struggles they face, and the birth of Gemma. I’m dying to know more! It really feels more like a cliffhanger than an ending. 😦
On the whole, ‘The Mentalist Series’ has been an amazing series from the start to the end. I thoroughly enjoy reading the entire series, from Aversion to Broken Ties. It has been a rollercoaster ride and I’ve seen Gemma, Russ, Paul, everyone grow and develop so much throughout the course of the series. I would highly recommend this series to everyone out there, who loves paranormal romance novels, to give this series a shot. I would like to give the author, Kenechi Udogu, a huge thank you once again for giving me the opportunity to dive in head first into this wonderful world you’ve created. 🙂
Broken Ties is a prequel to The Mentalist Series. The story follows Paul, Gemma’s father when he was just a young boy. It follows the struggles he faces as an Averter, of which includes the ‘strange’ attraction he feels between Nora and him. Broken Ties is an extremely short read with such incredible character building that I simply couldn’t put the novel down once I started reading it.
I chose to read Broken Ties after finishing Aversion, Sentient, and Keepers as I wanted to have a deeper understanding of Paul’s character. After reading the ‘trilogy’, I have so many questions regarding Paul’s behaviour and thought processes. Reading Broken Ties shed light on reasons behind his decision making in several situations. I’m able to understand why he loves Gemma so much and is so afraid of losing her.
It is refreshing to read about ‘younger’ Paul after getting to know the ‘older’ Paul. It is pretty entertaining to know that the more serious and over-protective Paul can be a shy and timid boy who gets confused over his own feelings. I remember smiling like a fool when I was reading about Paul being all confused over the ‘weird’ attraction he feels whenever he is with Nora. Being able to see Paul transitioning from childhood to adulthood allows me to understand certain choices he makes in order to keep Gemma safe.
Nora is a wonderful, bubbly and energetic character. She brings out the best in Paul and is not hesitant in letting him into her heart. Though I’m not a fan of instant-love, I know what the Sentient Link can accomplish. Thus, I love to see the chemistry bubbling and blooming between Nora and Paul.
I wish that the story can be longer though. I want to know what happens to Nora and Paul after they ran away. The kind of lifestyle they lead, the struggles they face, and the birth of Gemma. I’m dying to know more! It really feels more like a cliffhanger than an ending. 😦
On the whole, ‘The Mentalist Series’ has been an amazing series from the start to the end. I thoroughly enjoy reading the entire series, from Aversion to Broken Ties. It has been a rollercoaster ride and I’ve seen Gemma, Russ, Paul, everyone grow and develop so much throughout the course of the series. I would highly recommend this series to everyone out there, who loves paranormal romance novels, to give this series a shot. I would like to give the author, Kenechi Udogu, a huge thank you once again for giving me the opportunity to dive in head first into this wonderful world you’ve created. 🙂
July 1, 2014
The Mentalist is a series told from Gemma Green's point of view, about her life as an Averter. This prequel is the story of her parents. A story that is explored in small detail in the other two books, and a story that I have always wanted to know more about. Therefore, I was definitely intrigued at the prospect of this prequel and I had high expectations.
I was not disappointed. This short novella is told from the point of view of both Paul Colt and Nora Brice, Gemma's father and mother, in their teenage years. I really appreciated this as it allowed me to see inside the minds of two characters who are somewhat a mystery in Aversion and Sentient. Obviously, I know how their story tragically ends but learning the details of how they met and what caused Paul to run away with Nora was really interesting.
The story is short but sweet. I finished it in under two hours as I just could not stop reading. The characters are both engaging and likeable as they discover the excitement of first love and make the foolish teenage choices that we all have made at one point or another. This allowed me to relate to them immediately as I am a teenager myself. Udogu successfully created two believable and real teenagers.
However, there is a dark undertone in the story that I was not expecting: However, this shocking twist was not really explored in much detail and the many questions I have did not get answered. I am disappointed about this as it would have been a very interesting plot point that could have been explored in much more depth, and I wish it had been.
Even so, I still thoroughly enjoyed this story as it allows a little glimpse into the life of Paul Colt and has helped me to understand his character. The ending was abrupt but excellent and left me wanting more. It is because of this that I have rated the story 5 stars and to anyone that has read The Mentalist series or is wanting to read The Mentalist series, I completely recommend Broken Ties.
I was not disappointed. This short novella is told from the point of view of both Paul Colt and Nora Brice, Gemma's father and mother, in their teenage years. I really appreciated this as it allowed me to see inside the minds of two characters who are somewhat a mystery in Aversion and Sentient. Obviously, I know how their story tragically ends but learning the details of how they met and what caused Paul to run away with Nora was really interesting.
The story is short but sweet. I finished it in under two hours as I just could not stop reading. The characters are both engaging and likeable as they discover the excitement of first love and make the foolish teenage choices that we all have made at one point or another. This allowed me to relate to them immediately as I am a teenager myself. Udogu successfully created two believable and real teenagers.
However, there is a dark undertone in the story that I was not expecting: However, this shocking twist was not really explored in much detail and the many questions I have did not get answered. I am disappointed about this as it would have been a very interesting plot point that could have been explored in much more depth, and I wish it had been.
Even so, I still thoroughly enjoyed this story as it allows a little glimpse into the life of Paul Colt and has helped me to understand his character. The ending was abrupt but excellent and left me wanting more. It is because of this that I have rated the story 5 stars and to anyone that has read The Mentalist series or is wanting to read The Mentalist series, I completely recommend Broken Ties.
September 1, 2014
Officially you don’t have to read Aversion or Sentient before reading Broken Ties but it does help for some background information. Aversion and Sentient are centered around Gemma, the daughter of Paul and Nora, and so Broken Ties followed Paul and Nora when they first come together as a couple in this short, sweet story with the feel of an epic romance. People are against them, their love is overpowering, they make crazy decisions just to be with each other. It’s pretty epic. Of course I tend to roll my eyes at “epic romances” but knowing where their love takes them later, and why their love is so strong makes this story unique.
In terms of writing, I found the characters inconsistent; their thoughts and actions didn’t always reflect teenagers in love and several times I simply looked on in confusion and horror at how creepy Paul was sometimes when he was thinking about Nora.
Okay that part was consistent.
But still creepy.
I said as much in my Random Notes While Reading:
"He was the first guy who made me wants to jump on a desk and declare my smothering feelings to the world, like some crazy chick in one of those soppy teen 80s movies."
Wait, doesn't this take place in the 80s or early 90s?
Is she British? She uses a lot of UK lingo
The whole conversation is make me uncomfortable in a somewhat creepy way
Of course
Honey, you're expositioning again
This is so random
Yeah, there's no other reason for a guy you're interested in to wear cologne
I know why kissing Nora Brice was a good idea
I'm sorry but no normal teenage boy says "savage heat" with a straight face
Your description of the kiss kind of creeps me out
This is all just very grown up - the language, the thought process in their situation
You're telling us things we already know definitively from the previous books
You are such a creeper, Paul. All that thigh talk
*Hums* "Kiss On My List"
You're making it way too complicated
The "lingering scent of teenage boy" is not something even teenage boys want on their clothes
Keep it in your pants, Paul, please
You are for sure the epic romance that tried not to be an epic romance
Overall, it was enjoyable, sweet, and definitely worth a read if you like the series.
In terms of writing, I found the characters inconsistent; their thoughts and actions didn’t always reflect teenagers in love and several times I simply looked on in confusion and horror at how creepy Paul was sometimes when he was thinking about Nora.
Okay that part was consistent.
But still creepy.
I said as much in my Random Notes While Reading:
"He was the first guy who made me wants to jump on a desk and declare my smothering feelings to the world, like some crazy chick in one of those soppy teen 80s movies."
Wait, doesn't this take place in the 80s or early 90s?
Is she British? She uses a lot of UK lingo
The whole conversation is make me uncomfortable in a somewhat creepy way
Of course
Honey, you're expositioning again
This is so random
Yeah, there's no other reason for a guy you're interested in to wear cologne
I know why kissing Nora Brice was a good idea
I'm sorry but no normal teenage boy says "savage heat" with a straight face
Your description of the kiss kind of creeps me out
This is all just very grown up - the language, the thought process in their situation
You're telling us things we already know definitively from the previous books
You are such a creeper, Paul. All that thigh talk
*Hums* "Kiss On My List"
You're making it way too complicated
The "lingering scent of teenage boy" is not something even teenage boys want on their clothes
Keep it in your pants, Paul, please
You are for sure the epic romance that tried not to be an epic romance
Overall, it was enjoyable, sweet, and definitely worth a read if you like the series.
July 5, 2014
At first glance, this novella appears to be a boy meets girl coming of age story. Paul Colt rescues Norma Brice from the attentions of a football player named Brandon who appears to be harassing her. Neither sixteen year old Paul nor fifteen year old track star Norma have ever dated.
Paul and Norma are what is known as an Averters, who will only be allowed to mate with a chosen one when the proper time comes. Until that point emotions must kept in check. Eventually the only person whose emotions you can tune into is the person you are assigned to. Their children are cared for by the mother only for one year when they are handed to their father who teaches the Averter responsibility. The son then carries on the tradition. Norma is one of the few female members. When Paul and Norma connect, they are unable to break the powerful emotions that connect them.
This book sets the stage for The Mentalist series; the author develops the two protagonists and reveals the story through each character's point of view. Though the book is less than one hundred pages, the character development is well done and compels the reader to want more--a very effective start to getting hooked onto the series. Highly recommended for fantasy lovers, teens and young adult readers
Paul and Norma are what is known as an Averters, who will only be allowed to mate with a chosen one when the proper time comes. Until that point emotions must kept in check. Eventually the only person whose emotions you can tune into is the person you are assigned to. Their children are cared for by the mother only for one year when they are handed to their father who teaches the Averter responsibility. The son then carries on the tradition. Norma is one of the few female members. When Paul and Norma connect, they are unable to break the powerful emotions that connect them.
This book sets the stage for The Mentalist series; the author develops the two protagonists and reveals the story through each character's point of view. Though the book is less than one hundred pages, the character development is well done and compels the reader to want more--a very effective start to getting hooked onto the series. Highly recommended for fantasy lovers, teens and young adult readers
June 24, 2014
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I've read and enjoyed the first two books in this series, so when the author offered me the chance to read the prequel, I jumped at it.
It was really interesting to see the story of Gemma's parents. Although I don't tend to like more than one first person POV-characters, this wasn't as unbearable as some of them and at least there were only two characters.
I did really like Nora and Paul's relationship. I felt that the author did a good job allowing the relationship to develop easily and naturally. I did also feel really bad for the relationship Nora had with her parents. I can't imagine how awful that is.
I did feel that, out of the supporting characters, only Cheung was the one who was fully developed. It would have been nice to see a bit more with the other characters - and I would have liked to see more of the Aversions. I always think those are quite interesting to read about.
I found this book to be really well-written, with the main characters interesting and engaging. It would have been nice if it had been longer, but I did like the way it ended.
(This review may contain spoilers).
I've read and enjoyed the first two books in this series, so when the author offered me the chance to read the prequel, I jumped at it.
It was really interesting to see the story of Gemma's parents. Although I don't tend to like more than one first person POV-characters, this wasn't as unbearable as some of them and at least there were only two characters.
I did really like Nora and Paul's relationship. I felt that the author did a good job allowing the relationship to develop easily and naturally. I did also feel really bad for the relationship Nora had with her parents. I can't imagine how awful that is.
I did feel that, out of the supporting characters, only Cheung was the one who was fully developed. It would have been nice to see a bit more with the other characters - and I would have liked to see more of the Aversions. I always think those are quite interesting to read about.
I found this book to be really well-written, with the main characters interesting and engaging. It would have been nice if it had been longer, but I did like the way it ended.
December 5, 2014
3.5 stars
Review on blog: Tumbling in Books
As for Broken Ties... it was an okay read. There wasn't anything that I hate about it. I just think that it's missing some UMPH in it. I would say that I wish there's more fluff in it, but I could say that to every book because I just like fluff and stuff ;)
It was an interesting read though. It makes you understand more about the series and what actually happened in the past. Like, you can see which trait from her father and mother that Gemma inherited. And I find similarities in Gemma's love story and her dad's love story. But this is not because of their Sentient link. But because of like, 'I can't believe he/she's talking to me' and stuff. It's not a bad thing. I just felt like I've read this before.
Okay, I'm not making sense. But you'll understand it when you've read Aversion. So overall? Okay.
Review on blog: Tumbling in Books
As for Broken Ties... it was an okay read. There wasn't anything that I hate about it. I just think that it's missing some UMPH in it. I would say that I wish there's more fluff in it, but I could say that to every book because I just like fluff and stuff ;)
It was an interesting read though. It makes you understand more about the series and what actually happened in the past. Like, you can see which trait from her father and mother that Gemma inherited. And I find similarities in Gemma's love story and her dad's love story. But this is not because of their Sentient link. But because of like, 'I can't believe he/she's talking to me' and stuff. It's not a bad thing. I just felt like I've read this before.
Okay, I'm not making sense. But you'll understand it when you've read Aversion. So overall? Okay.
December 12, 2016
I have a full review for this on my blog:
www.abooktropolis01.blogspot.co.za
But here is a snippet of my review:
Overall, I really liked this short novella story. However I think that I should've read this after reading the first book. I just felt like I missed something, maybe it was some sort of character development. I don't know it was just something I couldn't get a grip on. But other than that, this book was fantastic.
www.abooktropolis01.blogspot.co.za
But here is a snippet of my review:
Overall, I really liked this short novella story. However I think that I should've read this after reading the first book. I just felt like I missed something, maybe it was some sort of character development. I don't know it was just something I couldn't get a grip on. But other than that, this book was fantastic.
August 16, 2014
3.5 stars
This is the prequel novella to the Mentalist Series it is about Gemma’s dad Paul Colt.
Paul is 16 years old is and has fallen head over heels for Nora, a girl from his school. The both of them are not allowed to date for different reasons.
Paul is an Averter and has no choice in who gets to love or grow old with, everything is about his duty.
Nora has a hard life at home and because other family members made some mistakes she is not allowed to have a boyfriend or date.
But now others are trying to rip them apart……
I liked to writing and the story.
What I didn't like: This novella was to short, I need more
This is the prequel novella to the Mentalist Series it is about Gemma’s dad Paul Colt.
Paul is 16 years old is and has fallen head over heels for Nora, a girl from his school. The both of them are not allowed to date for different reasons.
Paul is an Averter and has no choice in who gets to love or grow old with, everything is about his duty.
Nora has a hard life at home and because other family members made some mistakes she is not allowed to have a boyfriend or date.
But now others are trying to rip them apart……
I liked to writing and the story.
What I didn't like: This novella was to short, I need more
August 30, 2016
*** I received a free copy of this book directly from the author (Kenechi Udogu) in exchange for an honest review ***
Broken Ties is a very quick-read and interesting prequel to Aversion.
After I read Aversion, I had a lot of questions pertaining to Gemma's parents so this novella answered all my questions.
However, the reason why I am giving this only 4 stars is because it ended so abruptly. I really thought it will continue on what happened after they eloped, to the time they had Gemma, even to the events that led to Nora's death, but it did not.
So yeah, I just wish there was more to the novella because I want to read more about Paul and Nora's love story.
Broken Ties is a very quick-read and interesting prequel to Aversion.
After I read Aversion, I had a lot of questions pertaining to Gemma's parents so this novella answered all my questions.
However, the reason why I am giving this only 4 stars is because it ended so abruptly. I really thought it will continue on what happened after they eloped, to the time they had Gemma, even to the events that led to Nora's death, but it did not.
So yeah, I just wish there was more to the novella because I want to read more about Paul and Nora's love story.
September 24, 2015
3.5 stories. Sweet prequel to Mentalist series. I enjoyed it. Now, I would like to know what happened to Nora and Paul once they ran away. It's hard to imagine one's parents in love, so it was nice to hear their story.
For-review:
Received a free review copy from the author for
[David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite!] ARR #85
For-review:
Received a free review copy from the author for
[David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite!] ARR #85
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