Marcus

Promising Start to Action Packed Steamy Sci-Fi!

I love coming across a "new to me" author, and series and stumbled across Hell Squad while searching for something different to listen too. After reading the reviews, and visiting the author's website, I knew I had to give this series a shot. Now that I've listened, I'm glad I did!

What really caught my attention was the alien invasion/apocalyptic theme, and the romantic relationship that develops between the H/h in a world that has literally gone to hell. Marcus, Elle and the other Hell Squad members are trying to defeat, and destroy the aliens who have invaded earth. In this first book, the Hell Squad team manages a small victory, but the war is far from over. I loved how this story establishes the relationship between the first couple Marcus and Elle, while also laying the foundation for future stories by introducing events, and characters that will take place in the next book. If each book in this series manages to not only develop a steamy relationship between a new H/h, but also build upon the previous book, while further developing the overall plot, I think I am going to really enjoy this series.

Another solid plus, the narration. Jeffrey and Samantha are excellent narrators, who do an outstanding job with the characters, and dialogue. This is a fast paced story, where the scenes can change quickly, and range from intense to steamy, but these narrators flawlessly deliver all the various tones and emotions throughout the story.

A promising audio start to the Hell Squad series, and an excellent KU/whispersync deal! Looking forward to listening to book two.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Great story

BOOK REVIEW.......
Ok first I have to admit that I wasn't really sure I would like this series. While I love love love sci-fi movies and shows I generally have trouble with getting into sci-fi books.

That being said. I love this series! The characters are so full of life and strength. The dialogue is witty and smart. I loved how flawed and messed up everyone is, yet still strong and touch enough to fight back yet. It makes for great obstacles for the characters to have to over come along with the aliens they have to fight.

Now I would be lying if I didn't say that the aliens are a little bit hokey. They are a mixture of different dinosaur/reptilian and human shaped. I wish there was a drawing of them in the books. It would help with picturing them. However they are rather cool sounding and impressively evil wicked buggers.

The characters of Marcus and Elle were well rounded and nicely written.

I would recommend this book and series to anyone looking for a good alien story to read.

Reading order......
- Marcus
- Cruz
- Gabe
- Reed
- Roth
- Noah
- Shaw
- Holmes
- Niko
- Finn

NARRATOR REVIEW.......
The narrators did a good job of bringing the characters to life with their voices.

****Gifted copy****
L.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Good Choices for a fav book

Would you consider the audio edition of Marcus to be better than the print version?

yes because his voice shows his emotional standing which you can hear. In the book you are using your own idea which is not a bad thing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Marcus, because he is the usual good guy who thinks he isn't good enough for the girl he is in love with.

What about Jeffrey Kafer and Samantha Cook ’s performance did you like?

They are both great readers. When I heard Samantha first speak my mind said definitely Elles voice. And she did a fantastic job with the other female characters voices by making them uniquely individual. Jeffrey's voice when i first heard it wasn't as gravelly as i was expecting but it was Marcus just the same. And again he did a great job with the other male characters. I am looking forward to hearing these two read the rest of the series. Having the proper people reading the books will make or break a book and in this case the MADE the book come alive.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Definitely made me laugh and cry at the proper spots.

Any additional comments?

I have always had two favorite genres of books that I loved. Sci-fi is my first love with romance next. A friend told me that i should check out Anna Hackett and i could get both of them in the same package so I did and I have been a huge fan since then. There are three writers that i will put down what i am reading to read their latest releases and this awesome lady is one of the three. Thank you Anna Hackett for doing your job so well.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable first in series

I enjoyed this book a lot, especially one of my favorite narrators Jeffrey Kafer! The story was a good one about aliens invading, set in Australia. The tough guy hero and fragile looking but tough heroine get together after bumping heads, mostly out of the hero's protective manner. Good book

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Brilliant narration for Anna Hackett's 1st Audible

Congratulations Anna Hackett for such a brilliant first Audiobook for your action-packed series Hell Squad.

Marcus has always been my favourite in your alien-invasion series and to hear both Elle and Marcus--spoiling your fans with two narrators for your alternating POV style of storytelling--is an amazing treat. All that heart-pumping, adrenalin-filled tension on paper (or ebook) just got enhanced with Audible.

Thankyou Samantha Cook and Jeffrey Kafer for your brilliant narration, giving life to fans' favourites Elle and Marcus

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Wished it was longer

Love her books just Wished they were longer or cam in a book set of the series

Good easy read

Nice world building, interesting characters and believable romance.
I liked the book for what it was, there were lots of cliches and the story was fairly formulaic, but it was well written and enjoyable. The author captures the characters personalities well and stays really consistent which is nice for this type of book. Sometimes sci-fi has a tendency to add superhero character traits just to ‘solve’ sticky situations, because they don’t have to worry about reality, instead Anna Hackett uses good writing.

This is more dystopia then alien/human romance

I have heard many good things pertaining to the series so I decided why not. At first I thought this was a Sci-Fi Romance book, what I mean by that is that I thought Marcus, the hero, is a being from outer space however he is actually a human who battles creatures from outer space. After I got over that initial shock I got into the story. This follows a rebellion group known as Hell Squad and them just trying to survive.

This story had a lot of action happening and not a lot of drama which is always a good thing. This story is not so heavy on the Syfy action and I really wanted it to be but I do understand that it isn't in space. This is more of a dystopia type of book with sci-fi elements.

The hero and the heroine have been dancing around one another when it comes to their feelings and it takes a traumatic event in order for them to get together.
However it did not take them long to finally get together. There were times where Marcus was being stupid but he ended up realizing it after His friend called him out on his shenanigans.

Elle is a very likeable heroine and it took her awhile to get the courage in order to take what she wants but when she did she held on for dear life. That is a type of a heroine that I like when it comes to reading stories. The ending was not a cliffhanger per se but it did leave the door wide open for other books to happen in the series. I will be reading Cruz. I kind of like the series.

Totally awesome start to a great series!!

After aliens invade earth, the humans that remain, struggle to survive and strike back. This is the story of Ellie & Marcus.

Hell Squad #1

Narrators switch for character viewpoints.

This book had me sucked in from the very beginning. Set in a post-invasion time of Earth, Marcus is one of the elite fighting machines that work to keep the human race alive. Elle is a once high-society girl with few worries turned comms and logistics support for Marcus' strike team. Ever since Marcus and his team rescued her, Elle has been drawn to him, but has never felt worthy of such a hero. Marcus, on the other hand, feels she is too good to sully herself with a battle-scarred warrior like him.

It takes some unforseen circumstances throwing them together for a very important mission to gain Intel on the alien enemy to make them admit there is more to their relationship than just being coworkers. The question is: do they have what it takes to make a relationship work or will it go down in flames?

Highly descriptive and very thorough story-telling make me eager to continue the series as soon as possible.

*I was gifted a copy of this book. This is a voluntary and honest review.