They were never supposed to happen to each other.
A love such as theirs was never supposed to endure, not in the highly controlled society of The Sectors.
Yet, a chance encounter at dinner led to breakfast at a diner down the road. They each thought they had found their perfect soulmate, but neither could have imagined the awful truth they would face.
Detailed Book Description:
Agent … Description:
Agent Christopher Rockford has been the best assassin in the agency for eight years, and he loves his job.
He loves his solitary lifestyle.
He loves keeping the world safe by getting rid of anarchists who threaten their orderly society.
He loves his comfortable life as a member of the wealthy Coastal upper class.
But in pursuit of a target, he meets Jenna, a mysterious civilian who belongs to society’s lowest and most shunned group. Being around her is life-changing. She makes him feel for the first time, and he is instantly captivated.
She boldly stands in the face of everything he has ever known and was taught to believe. He begins to see the world through her eyes, causing him to question his job, his lifestyle, and The Order he so obediently serves. It’s not long before he can’t imagine his life without her.
There’s just one problem: He knows she would leave him if she ever found out about his job. He knows this because he asked her how she felt about assassins in their government, and she was utterly disgusted with the idea, even though she believes their existence is just a myth.
As their relationship grows and intensifies, he knows he cannot keep the truth from her for long.
But Jenna has her own secrets to keep.
Set in an orderly world of near-perfect surveillance, genetically modified humans, and extreme socioeconomic divide, The Unexpected Inlander will take you through Chris’s journey of self-discovery and learning that change begins within.
This edition includes a preview of the sequel at the end of the book.
Author’s unsolicited content warning: The main character is an assassin, so there is some violence in a few scenes.
What I love about this book: It’s a thriller, even though there’s no twist or surprise ending. It’s still a heart-thumping read, even as you know both sides of the story. The book does not depend on a big surprise because it’s about a relationship and love and how the society that surrounds you can work its way into your subconscious.
What else I love about this book: It is so much more than a love story. It contains clean romance, intrigue, suspense, and world-building with futuristic science fiction elements. Additionally, it touches on discussion topics such as government control of equity, the ethics of genetic editing and surveillance, the importance of perspective-taking, unconscious bias, self-acceptance, and coming to terms with one’s unchosen identities.
It is a story of love, but it is ultimately a story of self-discovery and how meeting just one person can completely change your life.
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The Unexpected Inlander by Kellyn Thompson is a story of one man’s revelation that all is not as it has been told or as he perceived and how he handles this new knowledge.
Will Chris put his love for Jenna ahead of his duty?
Christopher Rockford
Chris comes across as a simple man that blends into the world he inhabits. He does his job with great care and excels at being the top of his field. Yet, Chris is more than most see. He has ambitions but is willing to wait until the time is right. For the most part, Chris is a good citizen, and he does his job well. However, after meeting Jenna and hearing her ideas, things may not be as he assumed they were.
I like Chris as he is intelligent, self-disciplined, and loyal to profession, country, and family. Yet, Chris isn’t who I would typically root for in a story. I think after he finds Jenna, he also finds himself. Chris can finally relax. Once this happens, he seems more human and less programmed. He is, after all, a modified human.
Jenna Macklemore
Jenna is, for all purposes, an inlander. Basically, a working-class citizen of low income. Yet, she doesn’t act as though she is of that class. Jenna comes across as confident, socially forward, polite, and high-class manners. She goes with the flow for the most part, but no matter how classy she comes across, she is a purebred. Jenna is not modified, and therefore people look at her as a novelty, a specimen, or they dislike simply because she wasn’t altered.
I think Jenna is brilliant. She has learned to protect herself and to get by in a different city than what she grew up or went to college in. Jenna is also forward-thinking. However, that is a spoiler, so I won’t go any further. Just know that Jenna knows more than the Order would like her to know.
Five Stars
I loved the theme of this fictional book; I say that as even though it is made up, many things in this perfect society aren’t perfect. The citizens don’t see the different races, but they see the modification of the human. They also judge you based on your location and class status. The author brings out in the imperfections slowly and shows how Jenna is treated differently than Chris. This is the same as what we are seeing in the media today, yet different. The change in Chris once he has a few conversations with Jenna shows that one person can make a difference.
I also adore the relationship that Chris and Jenna build together. Therefore, my rating for The Unexpected Inlander by Kellyn Thompson is five stars. I am looking forward to the next book, The Modified Blueprint.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I hope you enjoyed this review of The Unexpected Inlander by Kellyn Thompson.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove.
Until the next time,
~Jen
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
Loved the characters, loved the story! Wonderful writing, never boring, kept me turning the pages to find out more. Their world was believable and yet made me think about our world now. I would live to read more about these characters and their world and more from this author.