"Beautiful cover.

One shot altered many lives in this story. Jimmy shoots a dog attacking their lambs and ripple effect initiated. Beth is married to Frank and lives on their farm, is content, missing her son until her high school love moves back. The open and blatant affair for the time period of 1968 seemed a bit out of that era and wish the affair wasn鈥檛 such a huge part of the story. Enjoyed the characters and they were well written. It unfolded a bit slow but well written.

Overall I enjoyed it. Thanks to Netgalley and Simon books for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. "

"John Marrs is back with his latest book, set in the same universe as 鈥淭he One鈥�, 鈥淭he Marriage Act鈥�, and 鈥淭he Passengers鈥� .

In this World, the U.K.鈥檚 population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economy where a growing number of people can no longer afford to start families, let alone raise them.

But for those DESPERATE to experience parenthood, there is an alternative-

A company for 鈥淰irtual Children鈥� has created an interactive REALITY TV show which will stream 24/7 as it pits five couples and one single father against each other, as they raise a 鈥淰irtual Child 鈥� programmed by AI.

For the sake of the show, the children will age at an accelerated rate from birth to the age of eighteen- condensed into a nine-month time period-Month 1锔忊儯 Newborn stage, Month 2锔忊儯 Nine months old, Month 3锔忊儯 Two years old, Month 4锔忊儯 Five years old, Month 5锔忊儯 Eight Years old, Month 6锔忊儯 Twelve years old, Month 7锔忊儯 Fourteen years old, Month 8锔忊儯 Sixteen years old, Month 9锔忊儯 Eighteen years old.

Parents will strap on virtual reality headsets, and haptic suits which will allow them to interact with their virtual children in the Metaverse, and feel everything a biological parent would.

And, of course, what would a reality TV show be without viewers who will VOTE on who is parenting the best, and who should be eliminated each month.

Viewers who see something they approve of can award red hearts 鉂わ笍 to the parents-but if they see parenting that they disagree with-you can send black hearts instead! 馃枻

THE PRIZE: The right to either KEEP the 鈥渧irtual child鈥� they raised OR the chance to take the prize money instead, so that they can have a chance to start a family in the real World.

Your contestants:

Dimitri and Zoe Taylor-Georgiou (Metachild, son Lenny)
Woody and Tina Finn (Metachild, daughter Belle)
Cadman N鈥橸u & Gabriel Macmillan (Metachild, son River)
Selena & Jaden Wilson (Metachild, son Malachi)
Rufus Green & Kitty Carter (Metachild: daughter, Olivia
Single Dad-Hudson Wright (Metachild, daughter Alice)

WHO WILL YOU BE ROOTING FOR?

Peppered with online CHATS, 鈥淭hrough the Grapevine鈥� news reports and Insta Polls, this is another fast paced and ADDICTIVE thriller which warns of a potentially terrifying future to come!

And, WHAT IS BEHIND the door 馃毆 on the left?
I鈥檓 not telling-but you can now find out! It鈥檚 AVAILABLE NOW!

Thank You to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!"

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