Reborn

"Reborn" the third novel in Jennifer Rush's "Altered" series is an exciting blend of science fiction and romance that begins after bombs destroyed many of the laboratories the "Branch" kept hidden. As the memories of the four altered friends grow stronger Nick is disturbed by the seriously wounded girl he keeps remembering; one he fears he's been ordered not only to kill but to decapitate. In his search of answers he travels to the small town of Trademarr Illinois where he not only meets the girl that haunts his dreams but uncovers secrets with deadly consequences.

The "Branch" in this exciting science fiction series is an organization that was run by Will O'Brien not only to do research for the government but to develop bio-weaponry. Genetically altering their test subjects and erasing their memories the "Branch" hoped to create super-soldiers, but a Resistance emerged that has destroyed the foundation of the company. Tom Riley the second-in -command has stepped into the breach, hoping to recover a hidden serum that will result in funding to revive the "Branch". Under these conditions Nick leaves his friends to find the girl that haunts him, and into an exciting adventure that brings Trev back into his life as well as a confrontation with Branch agents.

This story is told by Nick and Elizabeth who not only relive their past and their chance encounter, but unveil secrets that will have them facing a formidable enemy. Cleverly Jennifer Rush builds intensity and suspense as events unfold that bring Cas, Anna and Sam rushing to the aid of Nick and Elizabeth, and to accepting the help of Trev who wants to regain their trust. As tension escalates and the action increases, the intensity of this tale is often broken by the wit, humor and sarcasm of the characters.

In this plot line Nick begins to transform from a moody, intense and quick-tempered character haunted by an abusive father after the death of his mother to a considerate and happier individual intent on protecting the young woman from his past. Elizabeth hampered by emotional and physical wounds is often quiet, distant and depressed. Working at Merv's Bar & Grill she's attracted to the bartender Evan who's not only a considerate friend, but a good-listener until she meets Nick again. Elizabeth's best friend Chloe is bubbly,enigmatic, and tough while her foster mother Aggie is soft-spoken, patient and kind. All these characters add drama, power and passion to a suspenseful plot that's not only captivating, but begs for the next chapter in Cas, Anna, Sam, Nick and Trev's struggle against the Branch.

I was hooked on this series when I read "Altered" but with "Reborn" the story continues to get better and better.

My 18 year old daughter loves the Altered series. She read this book in one day!

MY THOUGHTS
I was actually disappointed by this book. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I was expecting.

Nick has been having flashbacks of a past he can't remember. All featuring a girl covered in blood. Nick is wondering who the girl is and if the Branch made him hurt her, or worse, so he heads out to look for her.
Elizabeth is haunted by a kidnapping that happened to her years ago, and ended in the death of her mother. When the boy who rescued her comes to town, she begins to be able to piece together what happened those years ago.

What I liked about this book was seeing more about Nick's character. We didn't really get much about Nick in the previous books, and it was nice being about to see things from his point of view. It was also interesting seeing what happened in his past and how things have affected him. We are also introduced to new characters in this book, especially Elizabeth. Elizabeth is out other perspective in this book. She was okay. I couldn't really connect to her and she was, really, kind of similar to other girls in YA books. Though, I could really tell that her past haunted her and I did find her interest in scents interesting.

To be honest, this book felt unnecessary. It was from a different perspective and it was mostly just served as giving Nick a romance. Yeah, it explained what was happening to Nick in Erased, but I didn't think that warranted an entire book.

My favorite part of this series would be how action-packed and how it's full of surprises. Sadly, this book didn't have much of that. It was very slow-paced for a majority of it. The last few chapters make up for it though!

IN CONCLUSION
This book felt more like a novella to me, because of how different it was from the rest of the series. I liked this book and I enjoyed seeing things from Nick's perspective, but it felt unnecessary. If you would like to know more about Nick and come back to this world, then read it. Unless you are a shipper of Anna and Nick (I didn't know that existed until reading the reviews). You would be disappointed by this book.

Reborn by Jennifer Rush is a science fiction read based on Nick's point of view. The author catches the reader up quickly with information from the first two books. There is more swearing in this book because it is through Nick's p.o.v., but it fits the characters and the story line perfectly. Reborn is fast paced with a bit of humor. The main characters can never be too trusting because secrets are revealed throughout the book that can place them in danger. A great addition to the Altered series.

i love the other two books. this one was a waste of time and really bad influence on teens today

Outstanding book in an outstanding series - read the whole series. The books are easy and fast to read. Cannot put them down

Reading the next book in this series is like a yearly tradition for me. I don’t usually read YA (even though sometimes I feel this book is a little too mature for teens), but you can’t go wrong with sexy, half-naked, genetically altered guys on the run. Seriously, you can’t, there’s pretty much nothing about that you can’t like. Maybe it’s a little cliche but WHO CARES THEY’RE HOT! Sam, Cas, Nick and Trev all have amazing personalities that set them apart from one another and in this latest installment of the Altered Saga is just another piece of the giant puzzle that is their lives before and while they were employed by the Branch.

Anna and the boys have been on the run, laying low in the hopes of finding the one man who may be able to bring the Branch back to life. But while they try to keep a low profile, Nick can’t help but cause trouble everywhere he goes. Lately he’s been having more and more flashbacks about this one girl that have completely consumed him. He needs to find her and figure out if he killed her or if he saved her.
Elizabeth has been moved from one foster home to another and after a traumatic event that happened six years ago she’s doing her best to live a semblance of a real life. She has friends, she has a job, but she can never really forget what happened the night he came. He saved her life, and after six years, she could never forget his face.

If Hollywood wanted to do something right then they should definitely make the Altered Saga into a movie. Seriously, YA readers would eat this book right up! It’s dystopian, it’s exciting, all the boys are swoon worthy and the plot keeps you on your toes. I’ve been an avid Jennifer Rush fan since her first book, Altered, came out and three years later I still haven’t been disappointed.

With every novel in the saga a little more of the boys’ lives before and while they were in the branch slowly starts to unfold. Nick, being the most stubborn and hard-headed of the boys starts to soften up when he’s around Elizabeth which is comparative to Sam’s relationship with Anna.

Nick is a bad-ass that’ll do whatever it takes to protect the people he cares about the most and he’ll stop at nothing to get the answers he wants. His methods may seem a bit rough but he is the tall, dark and violent one of the group. It would only make sense that his perfect match is someone delicate, someone innocent, someone who can soften him up for the better. That someone being Elizabeth.

She isn’t my favourite female character in the series, of course that’s comparing her to Anna the bad-ass. Everyone in this book is bad-ass in their own little way. Elizabeth wanted nothing to do with the Branch program and was just someone…unfortunate. She reminds me of a cute dainty little thing that needs to be protected, unfortunate that she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

This book and series is a quick and easy read (I devoured in I think two days), and I’m sure can excite even the youngest readers. YA readers will LOVE the Altered boys and just like me be begging to read more.

4/5 Hearts of Love