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Dangerous Addictions
"Fast-paced and action-packed... a quirky and unusual read, with interesting characters and a unique plot line - well worth a read" - Books of All Kinds
A terrorist attack poisons the water and leaves hundreds of thousands of Americans dead. Countless more are left with diminished brain function. As the government seizes control, order is restored in the country but freedom is taken away. A nation is quarantined, all citizens regulated to stay within the borders.
For Riley, a genius hacker, that lack of freedom, particularly travel restriction, is not acceptable. When he suddenly develops a bad-ass power and learns he can manipulate electricity, he sets out to use that power to gain back control. The discovery of a murder forces Riley to team up with Danika, an enigmatic woman with her own freaky power and scary secrets. When they find that the dead scientist was working on a machine to uncover more people with superpowers, the adventure begins as they attempt to track the device.
Death and danger shadow the pair as they travel to the waterways of Florida, the mountains of Colorado and places in between. With each of them following their own agenda but compelled to work together, they search for answers in a world shaped by devastation, and discover love, and buried pieces of themselves along the way.
A terrorist attack poisons the water and leaves hundreds of thousands of Americans dead. Countless more are left with diminished brain function. As the government seizes control, order is restored in the country but freedom is taken away. A nation is quarantined, all citizens regulated to stay within the borders.
For Riley, a genius hacker, that lack of freedom, particularly travel restriction, is not acceptable. When he suddenly develops a bad-ass power and learns he can manipulate electricity, he sets out to use that power to gain back control. The discovery of a murder forces Riley to team up with Danika, an enigmatic woman with her own freaky power and scary secrets. When they find that the dead scientist was working on a machine to uncover more people with superpowers, the adventure begins as they attempt to track the device.
Death and danger shadow the pair as they travel to the waterways of Florida, the mountains of Colorado and places in between. With each of them following their own agenda but compelled to work together, they search for answers in a world shaped by devastation, and discover love, and buried pieces of themselves along the way.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2016
44 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Naomi Bellina
47 books100 followersNaomi Bellina lives in sunny Florida with the love of her life and the world's chattiest cat. Her interests include dancing, motorcycle riding, drumming and eavesdropping on strangers’ conversations for plot ideas. She used to worry about the battles between her cheery disposition and her dark imagination, but now they’re best friends and drink coffee and write books together.
Her motto: Never pass up the opportunity to have an adventure! Visit her at http://www.naomibellina.com/
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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Blurb:
With the aid of an inexplicable but opportune superpower, he's determined to conquer any hurdles to gain back his freedom. Except one hot mess of an obstacle he can't get around.
A terrorist attack poisons the water and leaves hundreds of thousands of Americans dead. Countless more are left with diminished brain function. As the government seizes control, order is restored in the country but freedom is taken away. A nation is quarantined, all citizens regulated to stay within the borders.
For Riley, a genius hacker, that lack of freedom, particularly travel restriction, is not acceptable. When he suddenly develops a bad-ass power and learns he can manipulate electricity, he sets out to use that power to gain back control. The discovery of a murder forces Riley to team up with Danika, an enigmatic woman with her own freaky power and scary secrets. When they find that the dead scientist was working on a machine to uncover more people with superpowers, the adventure begins as they attempt to track the device.
Death and danger shadow the pair as they travel to the waterways of Florida, the mountains of Colorado and places in between. With each of them following their own agenda but compelled to work together, they search for answers in a world shaped by devastation, and discover love, and buried pieces of themselves along the way.
Each book in the Messed-Up Heroes series can be read as a stand-alone.
Blurb:
With the aid of an inexplicable but opportune superpower, he's determined to conquer any hurdles to gain back his freedom. Except one hot mess of an obstacle he can't get around.
A terrorist attack poisons the water and leaves hundreds of thousands of Americans dead. Countless more are left with diminished brain function. As the government seizes control, order is restored in the country but freedom is taken away. A nation is quarantined, all citizens regulated to stay within the borders.
For Riley, a genius hacker, that lack of freedom, particularly travel restriction, is not acceptable. When he suddenly develops a bad-ass power and learns he can manipulate electricity, he sets out to use that power to gain back control. The discovery of a murder forces Riley to team up with Danika, an enigmatic woman with her own freaky power and scary secrets. When they find that the dead scientist was working on a machine to uncover more people with superpowers, the adventure begins as they attempt to track the device.
Death and danger shadow the pair as they travel to the waterways of Florida, the mountains of Colorado and places in between. With each of them following their own agenda but compelled to work together, they search for answers in a world shaped by devastation, and discover love, and buried pieces of themselves along the way.
Each book in the Messed-Up Heroes series can be read as a stand-alone.
April 7, 2017
Brimming with danger and intrigue, DANGEROUS ADDICTIONS by Noami Bellina will certainly keep you entertained from start to finish. Ever since a terrorist attack poisoned the water, the Government has taken complete control over its people to ensure their safety, but nothing is quite like it seems. Riley is determined to retain his freedom and needs to discover how he obtained his unusual new skill which started after the attack. While on his mission, he joins forces with Danika, an enigmatic woman who also has an unusual skill. But as they get closer to discovering the truth, the more danger they are in. As the death toll rises, will Riley and Danika's mistrust of each other and everyone around them, lead to their downfall?
Fast-paced and action-packed, DANGEROUS ADDICTIONS by Naomi Bellina is a quirky and unusual read, with interesting characters and a unique plot line - well worth a read.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the author
Fast-paced and action-packed, DANGEROUS ADDICTIONS by Naomi Bellina is a quirky and unusual read, with interesting characters and a unique plot line - well worth a read.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the author
March 6, 2017
After a terrorist attack poisons the water in the U.S. leaving most people dead or mentally defection, the government takes full control of everything. Borders are closed, the order is restored but those left intact have lost all their freedom. And then there are those like Riley and Danika who now have special abilities, ones they are keeping a secret. Someone has found a way, a device to find those with special abilities, people like Riley and Danika...and now that someone is dead. They are now trying to get their hands on the device before it falls into the wrong hands
Riley and Danika, okay I found them to be both interesting and annoying. Danika too darn inquisitive and Riley too secretive. They both have a lot of trust issues with each other but considering the current state of the Secure States of America, I don't blame them. Riley's less than scrupulous past gives them an added edge as they try to hunt down the machine. The further into the search they get the more people pop up dead. Honestly, I don't know what had me more riveted, the adventures Riley and Danika had or the control that the government was taking to keep people 'safe'. Let's hope no one in power actually reads this book and gets any ideas! Just kidding... 0.o
My first book and certainly not my last, by author Naomi Bellina, has it all. Murder, suspense, and intrigue keep this story rolling at a fast pace. The slow building from distrust, to working together, to something more for Riley and Danika made for delightful. This will make a great read for lovers of NA paranormal romances that have a little something extra.
One final note: Secure and not the United States, yikes what a name! Hope that's not a prophecy.
I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine.
Stars - 3.5, Flames - 3
Riley and Danika, okay I found them to be both interesting and annoying. Danika too darn inquisitive and Riley too secretive. They both have a lot of trust issues with each other but considering the current state of the Secure States of America, I don't blame them. Riley's less than scrupulous past gives them an added edge as they try to hunt down the machine. The further into the search they get the more people pop up dead. Honestly, I don't know what had me more riveted, the adventures Riley and Danika had or the control that the government was taking to keep people 'safe'. Let's hope no one in power actually reads this book and gets any ideas! Just kidding... 0.o
My first book and certainly not my last, by author Naomi Bellina, has it all. Murder, suspense, and intrigue keep this story rolling at a fast pace. The slow building from distrust, to working together, to something more for Riley and Danika made for delightful. This will make a great read for lovers of NA paranormal romances that have a little something extra.
One final note: Secure and not the United States, yikes what a name! Hope that's not a prophecy.
I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine.
Stars - 3.5, Flames - 3
December 4, 2021
Maybe 3.5 stars, just not a 4 star read to me.
After a terror stack on the U.S. water supply leave hundreds of thousands dead or with mental deficiencies, the government takes over. People are given jobs where they are needed, not where they want. Travel is easier, encouraged, in fact, as long as it’s within the U.S. No one is allowed to cross the borders anymore. That bothers Riley, and he makes it his mission to figure out his strange new ability, especially since it will help him get out of the U.S. Then he runs into Danika. She has developed an odd new power as well, and wants to be rid of it. Can the two of them work together when their goals are so different? And what about the dead man?
Okay read. Parts I really enjoyed but overall the book just struck me as okay. Not sure if I will look for any of that others in the series or not.
After a terror stack on the U.S. water supply leave hundreds of thousands dead or with mental deficiencies, the government takes over. People are given jobs where they are needed, not where they want. Travel is easier, encouraged, in fact, as long as it’s within the U.S. No one is allowed to cross the borders anymore. That bothers Riley, and he makes it his mission to figure out his strange new ability, especially since it will help him get out of the U.S. Then he runs into Danika. She has developed an odd new power as well, and wants to be rid of it. Can the two of them work together when their goals are so different? And what about the dead man?
Okay read. Parts I really enjoyed but overall the book just struck me as okay. Not sure if I will look for any of that others in the series or not.
May 8, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It was fascinating to read about a world that's the same but completely different. With all the change in freedoms and technology.
Riley was a great character, an amazing hacker determined to break free from the enforced restrictions. Danika was harder to like, she was flighty, determined to do what she wanted but without thinking it through. I found it hard to understand their attraction at first, it went from cold to hot as they join forces and follow the leads they have to find others like them.
The ending was a bit abrupt for a standalone, but I think the rest of the series will hopefully clear up a few loose ends.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via 'Voracious Readers Only' in exchange for n honest review.
Riley was a great character, an amazing hacker determined to break free from the enforced restrictions. Danika was harder to like, she was flighty, determined to do what she wanted but without thinking it through. I found it hard to understand their attraction at first, it went from cold to hot as they join forces and follow the leads they have to find others like them.
The ending was a bit abrupt for a standalone, but I think the rest of the series will hopefully clear up a few loose ends.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via 'Voracious Readers Only' in exchange for n honest review.
September 7, 2024
Sci-fi romance with decent amount of action
I was looking for a sci-fi romance, maybe with some action or suspense, and found this book. It was exactly what I was looking for. It's a good mix of the genres, well-written, with few typos. Some of the characters have super powers, but the author doesn't let those powers overshadow other facets of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the tale and look forward to reading the other books in the trilogy. While one might read this book as a standalone, the overall story arc isn't complete at the end of this book, and I don't see how anyone would be satisfied without knowing how the overall arc ends after reading and enjoying book one.
I was looking for a sci-fi romance, maybe with some action or suspense, and found this book. It was exactly what I was looking for. It's a good mix of the genres, well-written, with few typos. Some of the characters have super powers, but the author doesn't let those powers overshadow other facets of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the tale and look forward to reading the other books in the trilogy. While one might read this book as a standalone, the overall story arc isn't complete at the end of this book, and I don't see how anyone would be satisfied without knowing how the overall arc ends after reading and enjoying book one.
February 24, 2020
I received a complimentary copy through voracious readers. Enjoyed the book. Will be watching for more from this author
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August 17, 2016Dangerous Addictions (Book one in the Wounded Heroes series) is an action-packed suspense novel that you will not want to put down and will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire book.
Naomi Bellina has a talent for spinning a unique story that from the first page you are pulled right into the story...making you feel like you are there right beside them... experiencing and seeing everything that they did.
Danika and Riley developed freaky supernatural powers after a terrorist attack that left thousands dead and others that survived with diminished brain function. All citizens are regulated to stay within the borders and their freedom is taken away. Not fully trusting each other, they embark on a dangerous mission that takes them from Florida to the mountains of Colorado to search for answers. Along the way they discover buried pieces of themselves, learn to trust each other and start to fall in love.
Although this is a series book and does end with the reader knowing there are more pieces to the story....it does NOT end with a big cliffhanger.
I can't wait to read the next book in the Wounded Heroes series.
Naomi Bellina has a talent for spinning a unique story that from the first page you are pulled right into the story...making you feel like you are there right beside them... experiencing and seeing everything that they did.
Danika and Riley developed freaky supernatural powers after a terrorist attack that left thousands dead and others that survived with diminished brain function. All citizens are regulated to stay within the borders and their freedom is taken away. Not fully trusting each other, they embark on a dangerous mission that takes them from Florida to the mountains of Colorado to search for answers. Along the way they discover buried pieces of themselves, learn to trust each other and start to fall in love.
Although this is a series book and does end with the reader knowing there are more pieces to the story....it does NOT end with a big cliffhanger.
I can't wait to read the next book in the Wounded Heroes series.
May 3, 2017
Nothing gets my juices flowing like a well-written dystopian novel. I’m not sure why. Perhaps I find perverse satisfaction in visions of how much worse the world could be than it actually is. I also appreciate the imagination required to convincingly take today’s trends to their awful extremes, or to create new threats and horrors. Then there’s the pleasure to be gained from watching characters deal with the negative forces in their world. This can be exciting, even inspiring.
Or maybe I’ve just read too much Philip K. Dick.
By the time I was a few pages into Dangerous Addictions, Naomi Bellina’s new scifi thriller, I was hooked. Welcome to the Secure States of America, where all citizens have been quarantined after a devastating terrorist bio-attack that killed millions and destroyed the cognitive capabilities of millions more. Since the emergency, prior to the start of the book, the government has consolidated its control over the remaining population. Everyone is micro-chipped for identification purposes. No one can leave the country, though travel within its borders has been made simple and free—to distract people from the fact that those borders are actually prison walls.
Riley wants out. A brilliant hacker with a criminal past, he’s consumed by the desire to defeat the surveillance apparatus of the SSA. When he develops a mysterious ability to control electric fields, he realizes this power could provide the wedge he’s been looking for. However, exercising his talent wreaks havoc with his body. He needs to know more: where the power comes from, how to control it, how to keep it from destroying him.
As the only member of her family undamaged by the Malik virus, Danika is overwhelmed with survivor’s guilt—guilt compounded by the belief that her own super power caused the accidental death of her fiancé. Danika can sense and control the muscles in other people’s bodies. Like Riley’s power, hers appeared suddenly a few years after The Annihilation. She wonders if she might be able to use her abilities to somehow heal the fractured minds of her mother and brother. That vision is what keeps her sane.
Riley’s and Danika’s paths cross as they are searching for others with similar unexplained powers. They join forces in an uneasy alliance, but there is little trust between them, as each one puts personal goals first. However, enemies are hot on the trail of the same information pursued by Riley and Danika, people and organizations who do not hesitate to use murder or torture to get what they want.
Dangerous Addictions is not a relaxing book. Ms. Bellina ramps up the tension, as Riley and Danika try to hide in a world where constant scrutiny by the authorities is the norm. The book moves quickly, from one crisis (and one city) to another. Pieces of the puzzle gradually fall into place, but I was a bit disappointed to discover that much remains unexplained by the end of the book, presumably because this is the first in a series.
Both protagonists are intriguing, multi-faceted characters. Danika’s impulsiveness gets her into trouble, but she’s rescued by her quick wit and a brazen willingness to do whatever needs to be done to survive. Riley’s brooding cynicism is offset by a streak of kindness that embarrasses him. There’s a spark of physical attraction between them from the start, but they don’t act on their impulses for a long time.
Most of what I’ve read by Ms. Bellina would be categorized as erotic romance. This book doesn’t fit neatly into that genre (or any single genre, really). When Riley and Danika finally get together, the sexual tension is resolved, but not the emotional conflicts. The treatment was far more realistic than in most romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed Dangerous Addictions, though I have to say, I’m not sure where the title comes from. The series title seems much more appropriate: “Messed-Up Heroes”. That describes both Riley and Danika pretty well.
(I freely chose to review this book, having read other work by the same author.)
Or maybe I’ve just read too much Philip K. Dick.
By the time I was a few pages into Dangerous Addictions, Naomi Bellina’s new scifi thriller, I was hooked. Welcome to the Secure States of America, where all citizens have been quarantined after a devastating terrorist bio-attack that killed millions and destroyed the cognitive capabilities of millions more. Since the emergency, prior to the start of the book, the government has consolidated its control over the remaining population. Everyone is micro-chipped for identification purposes. No one can leave the country, though travel within its borders has been made simple and free—to distract people from the fact that those borders are actually prison walls.
Riley wants out. A brilliant hacker with a criminal past, he’s consumed by the desire to defeat the surveillance apparatus of the SSA. When he develops a mysterious ability to control electric fields, he realizes this power could provide the wedge he’s been looking for. However, exercising his talent wreaks havoc with his body. He needs to know more: where the power comes from, how to control it, how to keep it from destroying him.
As the only member of her family undamaged by the Malik virus, Danika is overwhelmed with survivor’s guilt—guilt compounded by the belief that her own super power caused the accidental death of her fiancé. Danika can sense and control the muscles in other people’s bodies. Like Riley’s power, hers appeared suddenly a few years after The Annihilation. She wonders if she might be able to use her abilities to somehow heal the fractured minds of her mother and brother. That vision is what keeps her sane.
Riley’s and Danika’s paths cross as they are searching for others with similar unexplained powers. They join forces in an uneasy alliance, but there is little trust between them, as each one puts personal goals first. However, enemies are hot on the trail of the same information pursued by Riley and Danika, people and organizations who do not hesitate to use murder or torture to get what they want.
Dangerous Addictions is not a relaxing book. Ms. Bellina ramps up the tension, as Riley and Danika try to hide in a world where constant scrutiny by the authorities is the norm. The book moves quickly, from one crisis (and one city) to another. Pieces of the puzzle gradually fall into place, but I was a bit disappointed to discover that much remains unexplained by the end of the book, presumably because this is the first in a series.
Both protagonists are intriguing, multi-faceted characters. Danika’s impulsiveness gets her into trouble, but she’s rescued by her quick wit and a brazen willingness to do whatever needs to be done to survive. Riley’s brooding cynicism is offset by a streak of kindness that embarrasses him. There’s a spark of physical attraction between them from the start, but they don’t act on their impulses for a long time.
Most of what I’ve read by Ms. Bellina would be categorized as erotic romance. This book doesn’t fit neatly into that genre (or any single genre, really). When Riley and Danika finally get together, the sexual tension is resolved, but not the emotional conflicts. The treatment was far more realistic than in most romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed Dangerous Addictions, though I have to say, I’m not sure where the title comes from. The series title seems much more appropriate: “Messed-Up Heroes”. That describes both Riley and Danika pretty well.
(I freely chose to review this book, having read other work by the same author.)
August 16, 2016
This was so amazing. I loved it so much and the author's writing was wonderful. She sucked me into this world of amazement.. she made me feel as if I was a part of that world also. I loved the characters and their problems and confusion they had to go through. I loved it all and I am so glad I got to review it :) Wonderful
February 8, 2017
A young adult romance with intrigue, conspiracy, and danger. Disaster struck with a virus from terrorists. Now everything and everybody is super-controlled. Riley and Danika find each other and happiness. They have to outsmart the bad guys to find happily ever after.
January 7, 2017
Intense and intriguing
Wow, what a start to an interesting series! I'm definitely ready to read the next book. I think it may become a dangerous addiction!
Wow, what a start to an interesting series! I'm definitely ready to read the next book. I think it may become a dangerous addiction!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews