Dark Waves by Amanda Uhl (Part of the Mind Hackers Series) | Novella Review | $50 Giveaway
A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.
Book Details
Dark Waves by Amanda Uhl Series: Mind Hackers - Novella
Published by Amanda Uhl LLC on 05/21/2022
Genres: Fiction, Paranormal, Romance
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 99
Source: Goddess Fish Promotions, Received from the author or publisher for review.A fearless doctor
Paranormal psychiatrist Dr. Audrey Gilbert is not used to failure, especially when it comes to her career. She possesses an uncanny ability to see into her patients’ souls and mend their brokenness. When she misdiagnosis a patient and is fired, she is given a chance to regain her job. Her task? Restore the health of a deranged mind hacker. But safeguarding her heart while convincing the detached and bitter man to trust her just might be the challenge of a lifetime.A tormented hacker
Born into a family of powerful psychics, Kevin Jorgensen has always had a quick wit and a sunny disposition. But that was before he nearly lost his life battling a rogue mind hacker. Now he spends his days in isolation, fighting for his sanity. He swears never to use his gift, not even if he’s drawn to the woman determined to help him recover.A battle for survival
When Audrey and Kevin discover someone has tampered with her mind, they must work together to determine why. Because if they fail, their lives and the lives of many other hackers will be destroyed.
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Excerpt from Dark Waves
“Besides the hacker who went rogue, have there been any other disgruntled patients of yours over the last few years?”
Audrey frowned and rubbed her temple. “Not that I recall.”
“You have a headache?”
The pain in her head throbbed as if in answer. “I… Yes, a small one.”
“Have you noticed any recent gaps in your memory? Fuzzy thoughts?”
She narrowed her gaze. “What are you suggesting?”
“Audrey, some of your memories have been wiped.”
Her heartbeat sped up, and it felt like all the blood drained from her forehead at once. The room tilted in a crazy circle, and she saw white spots in front of her eyes. There was a rushing sound, and in an instant, all the colors in the room faded to black. She blinked and realized she was slumped in the recliner with Kevin leaning over her, shaking her shoulders, the earthy scent of him filling her nostrils.
“You okay?”
“Yes,” she managed. Her skull felt like someone had stuffed it with cotton. “I…”
“You fainted. Take it easy.” He crouched next to her, tucked a pillow behind her head, and helped her sit up. “I probably should have found a better way to tell you.”
Ya think? What was even more shocking was him hovering over her like she was his patient. He needed to move far away so she didn’t have to breathe in his rich, masculine smell. She had the insane desire to reach out and hug him so she’d feel safe.
Heat rushed to her cheeks, and her head cleared. “I’m…I’m all right now.”
Kevin didn’t budge, sending her blood pressure up a notch.
She brushed her hair behind her ears and tried to think. “You said my mind had been wiped. How can you know for certain?”
“I’m a former hacker, remember. I know the signs. What’s more, your blocks have been removed.”
“My…blocks?” She sat forward, the hair on her arms rising with her. The blocks were for her safety—to protect her as she worked with hackers. “They’re permanent. It’s impossible to remove them…isn’t it?”
He must have been reassured she had recovered from her faint because he stood and returned to the couch before answering, and she managed to get her breathing under control.
“Not quite. It’s difficult for the vast majority of hackers, but not everyone.”
“You mean you can do it,” she said, hardly daring to breathe.
“Yes, and any other class tens who specialize in blocks. After all, we’re the ones who put them in place. Audrey, I need you to think really hard about when you first started having headaches.”
Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.
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Purchase Links for Dark Waves
Amazon – OneLink for every country
AppleBooks/iTunes Kobo GooglePlay
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My thoughts on Dark Waves
The Dark Waves novella was my introduction to this series and to Amanda Uhl, the author. I am impressed. There is enough back story included, so I didn’t feel lost and more than enough intrigue to keep me turning the pages quickly.
The concept of mind hackers is frightening and believable. I understood the process and its potential for abuse easily.
Paranormal psychiatrist Dr. Audrey Gilberto is quite relatable with her need to provide financial assistance for her mother’s care and her younger sister’s Harvard tuition.
Kevin Jorgensen comes from a powerful psychic family. After an accident, he has sworn off using his powers and turned into a recluse.
When the two come together under suspicious circumstances, sparks fly.
A novella needs a unique style of writing to make the book successful. The author made it work well in this story. She built the tension and mystery, fleshed out the characters, and tied in the romance, making Dark Waves a very entertaining and enjoyable read. I can’t wait to go back and read the first two books. I get the feeling there is more to come.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!
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About Amanda Uhl
Award-winning author Amanda Uhl has always had a fascination with the mystical. Having drawn her first breath in a century home rumored to be haunted, you might say she was "born" into it.
After a brief stint in college as a paid psychic, Amanda graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in theatre and a master's degree in marketing. Over the past twenty years, she has worked as an admissions representative and graphic designer, owned her own freelance writing company, and managed communications for several Fortune 500 companies, most recently specializing in cyber security.
Amanda is an avid reader and writes fast-paced, paranormal romantic suspense and humorous contemporary romance from her home in Cleveland, Ohio.
When she's not reading or writing, you can find Amanda with her husband and three children, gathering beach glass on the Lake Erie shoreline or biking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
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Purchase Dark Waves online from a local bookstore.
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Easy Amazon Info Link
Click here for Amazon – OneLink for every country
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Giveaway!
Amanda Uhl will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for Dark Waves
Full Tour Schedule:
August 30: Travel the Ages
August 30: Gina Rae Mitchell
September 6: fundinmental
September 6: Enchanting Reviews
September 13: Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm
September 13: Maggie Blackbird
September 20: Fabulous and Brunette
September 20: The Avid Reader
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Goddess Fish Virtual Book Tour Host
Sounds like an amazing book! Love the cover!
Do you have a favorite time of day to do your writing?
Sounds excellent! Eager to learn more about the mind hackers!
Speaking of mind reading, paranormal interactions, etc., I just finished an older book (re-reading it actually) which involved an enhanced human, an artificial intelligence spaceship, and a remnant of the Greek Furies and showed some of both the benefits and dangers that might come from such interactions. It was originally published in 1992 as Path of the Fury, and reissued as In Fury Born in 2006. Written by David Weber, this is space opera, not romance, and not as well known as his Honor Harrington series.
I am a little ambivalent about audiobooks. I generally use them only when driving fairly long distances–not because there is anything wrong with them, but because I am a fast reader and I become frustrated that it takes me much longer to get through the book when it is spoken than when I actually read it. On the other side, my sister was blind and even though she died before the real explosion of audiobook production, she really enjoyed taped books, which were what was available then. With the increase and improvement in the technology, I know that they are extremely important to many readers, and I can only applaud that.
I never liked audiobooks as I always preferred to read myself. Then Spotify started publishing audiobooks and I listened to Pride & Prejudice in the car and loved it. So I”m with you — great for a long trip in the car or when you are multitasking.
Do you prefer pumpkin flavor, apple or neither?
I prefer pumpkin but I like both! Nothing like pumpkin pie, though!
Do you have any pets?
No, but I do have a grand dog Penny — my son’s golden retriever:)
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
I’ve met Jayne Anne Krentz, who I mentioned earlier, and got to talk to her about writing, so I feel like I got that a bit. I would love to meet Laura Thalassa and ask her about the inspiration for her books.
The problem with having the option of leaving multiple comments for entry is the possibility of repeating previous comments, or leaving some about things that have absolutely nothing to do with the subject of the contest, especially when the book(s) involved have not yet been read.
I agree but as host, I try to be upbeat & friendly to everyone. Even though I worry about alienating regular readers when the comments begin to seem too spammy.
It must sometimes be hard. I know that when I skim the comments, I frequently grimace about some things that are said, although I notice that comments are more likely to be simplistic and cookie-cutter than nasty.
Tell us about your first published book? What was the journey like?
What was the highlight of writing this book?
I really enjoyed the storyline and the writing went really fast since it was so well-plotted. There was a moment when all the plot points came together and I knew the story was going to work — that was exciting!
What mythical creature do you wish actually existed?
Hmmm….I’m not much for mythical creatures. I think of dragons, vampires and werewolves and I don’t wish they existed! But maybe a fairy godmother would be nice:)
I generally prefer a longer book than a novella, but I have found that many authors use that format very effectively to flesh out some things that might not really fit into the context of a longer series or story.
Dark Waves was an unplanned book in the series. I wrote a novella because I wanted to have something new in between a new series I am working on and I was on a tight deadline to have it release before a large reader event I attend every year. I have to say, this is the most well-plotted book in the series, and I could have easily extended this out into a full fledge novel if I had the writing time to do so. I think there is a lot of story in just 100 pages, but I know some readers like more world-building. I encourage readers to start with the first two books before moving to this one for that reason. I hope you give it a try:) P.S. I just learned over the weekend that Dark Waves won a gold medal in the Readers’ Favorite writing contest in the novella category! https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/dark-waves
What exciting news. Congrats, Amanda. Remember for every reader that wants longer stories, there is someone that loves novellas!
That is a great point!
Do you have a strict writing schedule or do you just write when you want to?
Thanks for the question. I work full time for a large corporation managing a communications team so I don’t have as much writing time as other authors. To maximize my writing time, I carry my iPad just about everywhere and write every chance I get. I also stay up pretty late to get it done.
Here’s to a wonderful Wednesday!
Have any of your books been made into audiobooks? If so, what are the challenges in producing an audio book?
The first two books in the series, Cross Waves and Mind Waves, are available as audiobooks. I narrated the books myself, which was harder than I thought it would be. I have a theatre background, which is why I decided to give it a go. What you don’t think about is what happens when you get a cold during taping. The editing is the hardest part. I had to listen to every chapter myself for errors. I plan to also publish the audio of Dark Waves.
What an incredible undertaking, Amanda!
Thanks, Gina! It was a lot of work but I learned a lot in the process. I am considering narrating the heroine in Dark Waves and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) voices for the rest. Should be interesting!
Thanks for the review and excerpt. This sounds like a good story.
I have been loving this series.
sherry @ fundinmental
Thanks for stopping by, Sherry!
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
I have written six books but only four are published. My favorite is an unpublished contemporary romance called Sweet Stuff. My agent is currently shopping it, and I sure hope it finds a home.
Do you have a favorite holiday?
I like July 4 — it’s at the height of summer so usually the weather is nice in the summer and my brother always has a party, so it’s a big family get together. Thanks for the question:)
Thank you Amanda for stopping by to answer reader questions. I’m sure everyone appreciates you taking the time to read and comment. I know I do.
These are all great questions! I’m enjoying them all. What a fun blog.
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
These are such great questions. I don’t purposely hide secrets in my books but I am amazed at the perception of readers. Sometimes they share thoughts I hadn’t even thought of when writing the book!
Do you have a favorite childhood book?
I have so many. As a young child, I remember loving the book, “Andrew Henry’s Meadow.” It’s the story of a group of kids in a small rural town who get fed up with something happening at home and run away to an open meadow and build their own home. I think every child has fantasized about running away from home, but what I found especially fascinating, was that each of the homes the kids built were so cool and unique. I loved them! I read this book to my own kids, and they loved it, too.
Which authors do you admire and why?
I have always been a fan of Jayne Anne Krentz, especially when she writes futuristic romances as Jayne Castle. I think of her as a pioneer in writing paranormal romance with a futuristic bent. I never fail to get swept away when reading one of her books.
So far my Labor Day weekend has been exceptionally quiet–probably because everyone else went to Branson!!
Mine was exceptionally busy! I spent the weekend with extended family by the lake. It was fun but I’m glad to be home once again.
Do you have a favorite type of BBQ food?
I’m not a big fan of barbecue but I do love Mac and cheese, which seems to get served with barbecue! What is your favorite?
Steak and probably a close second my brother’s beef brisket!
Do you have any plans for Labor Day weekend?
I’m not sure about Amanda, but I’m having a small cookout with family tomorrow. Then I plan to rest & recover on Monday. Lol
I know exactly what you mean by rest and recover! I am such an introvert. I always need a vacation from vacation when I’m around a lot of people and activity for an extended period.
I spent the weekend with extended family by the lake. I played some volleyball with all of the kids, hung out at the beach, played cards at night and ate way too much food! What about you?
What was your favorite chapter and why?
I have several but one would give away the plot, so I can’t say here. The chapter where the excerpt is taken from is a good one—that’s where they start to put the pieces together.
I am always interested to learn about new books that I might want to read.
I sure hope you give this one a try! It’s short, but I put a lot of time and thought into the plot!
Happy Labor Day Weekend!
Same to you! I hope you did not have to labor:)
Love the concept of the series!
Thank you! It’s been fun to write and I’m not done. I plan on at least two more books — Dream Waves, which I’m working on now, and Love Waves, which will be the final book in the series. I work full time outside of writing, so there is never enough time to write!
[…] Dark Waves by Amanda Uhl (Part of the Mind Hackers Series) | Novella Review | $50 Giveaway […]
Here’s to a sensational September!
Is there any advice that you got early on about writing that has stuck with you?
Thanks for your question. I have received a lot of writing advice. What has stayed with me is a statement that has become my motto: “Creativity takes courage. Don’t give up.” This is so true. It is hard to put your work out there, especially when it is criticized. It takes courage and persistence to keep writing.
Is there anything specific that inspired this book?
Another great question — I spend a lot of time in Marblehead, Ohio, where the book is set. It’s a small fishing town on the shores of Lake Erie. The story itself I plotted with my 21-year-old son, who came up with the idea of a black box in your mind, where you could store memories you want to safeguard from other hackers. I’m more of a “panster” than a “plotter” but this book had the most solid plot in place before I started writing.
cool cover
Thank you 😊!
Great excerpt and giveaway. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the excerpt! Good luck in the giveaway 😊
Really nice cover and excerpt, looking forward to reading this!
So glad you like the cover!! Thanks for commenting!
I do hope you check it out! It is only 100 pages, so an easy read. It is a companion book to the first two books in the series, Mind Waves and Cross Waves. And I’m currently working on the next book, Dream Waves.
Congratulations on your recent release of Dark Waves, Amanda, I enjoyed the excerpt and your book sounds like a thrilling read for me and I love the cover, also! Good luck with your book and the tour!
Thanks, Gina, for sharing your review!
Have a fantastic day@
Thank you so much!!
Hi Eve! Thanks for the kind words. I sure hope you enjoy the book if you decide to read it!
Dark Waves by Amanda Uhl sounds like an interesting book including mind reading and manipulation.
It is a different idea that’s for sure. The idea for the Mind Hackers series was inspired by my job in cyber security at the time, my interest in the paranormal, and my love of beach glass, which I often gather on the Lake Erie shore. One day while gathering glass, I wondered: What if someone was reading your mind, and you had no idea, and they fell in love with you…what would happen next? As I like to say, you have to read the books to find out! 😊
Thanks for hosting!
Some readers say it’s a little scary to think about someone poking around in your mind!