Review: Strong Signal by Megan Erickson & Santino Hassell (Cyberlove #1)
Note: This ARC was provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
A story of two people finding love online is nothing new. Heck, I know quite a few who have gone that route and while some are still together and others have parted ways, the fascination over love being borne out of words exchanged never really wanes for me. I've come pretty close only once in my life, but I've been blessed to have had many friendships begin with correspondence--and that includes the good, old days of letter writing when I was in grade school and high school and doing the international pen pal thing with students my age. So, when I heard that not only were two of the most sought after names in M/M romance teaming up for a series (hell to the yes, that means more than one book, people!) but that the series was entitled Cyberlove, and being the assumptive person that I am (and yes, I know what they say about assuming, but I've also accepted that making an ass of myself isn't all that shocking to anyone who really knows me), which I took to mean that the stories will involve men who meet via cyber technology and somewhere, somehow, fall in love with each other, it was an absolute no-brainer on whether I would be reading the series starter, Strong Signal, or not, but my instincts could never have predicted how damn addicted I've gotten with all things Garrett Reid and Kai Bannon. These two have made online gaming hot!
Garrett Reid has been in the military since he was eighteen and after eight years and just a few months shy of the conclusion of his second deployment, he knows his service time is coming to an end. But he's still got to wait the next nine months out and when he isn't busy servicing and maintaining the vehicles around the base, he spends most of his free time trying to level up his experience as Hazzard the human archer on Fallen World Online. That plan, however, is stymied when he comes across an orc mage named Samwise who obliterated him on FWO and did a little jig afterward. The wink emoticon was the final insult and Garrett had his mind made up that he would do everything and anything necessary to get his revenge on Samwise. With a bit of stalking, he learns Samwise is Kai Bannon, a gamer who happens to be an internet celebrity in the gaming world, with a staggering number of followers on Twitch, many of whom have paid subscriptions. Soon enough, Garrett's curiosity gets the better of him and he finds himself drawn to the cheeky gamer. His concern over obsessed fanatics has him doing the unthinkable: sending a message to Kai. One message turns to a few more and those lead to email exchanges and so on. The unlikeliest of friendships is formed, but so does a mutual crush that could lead to more, but Kai isn't all he seems to be.
This story had me from the first chapter and refused to let go of its strangehold until the last period in the epilogue. It delved into what made Garrett and Kai tick and why interacting online with written words was their preferred mode of communication for a good portion of their getting-to-know-you period. It was way too easy for me to empathize with these two because I, too, prefer getting my thoughts and feelings across with writing. Maybe it's the ability to read and review what I've written before putting it out there or sharing it with whomever. It could also be the fact that I feel more like myself when I write, not needing to put up a front or have my game face on for the duration. I tell people that I'm an anti-social, and I honestly believe that I am, preferring the company of my dog and best friend when being alone got a wee bit tiresome, so I may be more like Garrett since Kai's social anxieties were of a completely different level altogether, leading to debilitating panic attacks. This is what leads him to be wary when Garrett return to the U.S. becomes inevitable. Will Garrett still want to be with someone who can barely function in the outside world? But the question is: Which Kai is real--online or offline? Will the real Kai please stand up?
I think that we can have the choice to present whatever version we want of ourselves to new people we come across, whether online or offline. I tend to lean toward the idea that being our authentic selves is easier when you aren't face to face with someone. There isn't any immediate judgment because all you get are words. And no, I'm not talking about dating sites because that's a whole different thing. I'm not saying, of course, that there aren't people who troll online to find someone to catfish or mess around with (and not in a good way). But see, that's the thing: there are trolls who do that because they know that more people tend to be honest and open when they're conversing online, thus leading to more possible victims of catfishing and cyberstalking. In the case of Garrett and Kai, meeting via FWO felt like kismet because it wasn't as if they were out looking for the love of their lives. Heck, these two didn't even like each other in the beginning, automatically suspicious and wary of the others actions and whatever information they could gather online. Their relationship developed over time, with them earning each other's trust and respect, not only through words but actions as well. When love came into the picture, it may have done so unconsciously, but choosing to be and stay together would require much forethought and contemplation.
This book is special, and I don't think I can sufficiently put into words why it's affected me as deeply as it has. It isn't just one thing either, so please don't ask me to pinpoint what it is exactly that has me in full fangirl mode. What I do know is that Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell have given readers something refreshingly honest and left me feeling hopeful and absurdly sated with all the swoon-worthy moments that had me doing a combination of slow smiles, naughty smirks, and full-blown grins (or so my best friend tells me...though her watching my facial expressions as I read is a tad creepy *cough, cough*). Is it too soon to name Garrett and Kai as my favorite book couple of 2016? I've even come up with hashtags for them: #GarKai, #SamZard, and #CamoCamBoys. I did warn you that I was in full fangirl mode, so don't look at me like I've gone completely nuts (I already get that look way too often from my family). I also never claimed the hashtags would be any good, so give me a break. Glancing upwards, this review is way longer than I imagined it would be, so let me end by saying that I know I've a number of book recommendations since January, but now I'm telling you to bump them all down and move Strong Signal to the top. I promise, this five-plus-starred (times infinity), all-time favorite read will NOT disappoint. ♥♥♥
Release Date: 15 February 2016
Date Read: 15 February 2016
Learn more about Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell.
Purchase Strong Signal on Amazon | B&N | Kobo.
Garrett Reid has been in the military since he was eighteen and after eight years and just a few months shy of the conclusion of his second deployment, he knows his service time is coming to an end. But he's still got to wait the next nine months out and when he isn't busy servicing and maintaining the vehicles around the base, he spends most of his free time trying to level up his experience as Hazzard the human archer on Fallen World Online. That plan, however, is stymied when he comes across an orc mage named Samwise who obliterated him on FWO and did a little jig afterward. The wink emoticon was the final insult and Garrett had his mind made up that he would do everything and anything necessary to get his revenge on Samwise. With a bit of stalking, he learns Samwise is Kai Bannon, a gamer who happens to be an internet celebrity in the gaming world, with a staggering number of followers on Twitch, many of whom have paid subscriptions. Soon enough, Garrett's curiosity gets the better of him and he finds himself drawn to the cheeky gamer. His concern over obsessed fanatics has him doing the unthinkable: sending a message to Kai. One message turns to a few more and those lead to email exchanges and so on. The unlikeliest of friendships is formed, but so does a mutual crush that could lead to more, but Kai isn't all he seems to be.
This story had me from the first chapter and refused to let go of its strangehold until the last period in the epilogue. It delved into what made Garrett and Kai tick and why interacting online with written words was their preferred mode of communication for a good portion of their getting-to-know-you period. It was way too easy for me to empathize with these two because I, too, prefer getting my thoughts and feelings across with writing. Maybe it's the ability to read and review what I've written before putting it out there or sharing it with whomever. It could also be the fact that I feel more like myself when I write, not needing to put up a front or have my game face on for the duration. I tell people that I'm an anti-social, and I honestly believe that I am, preferring the company of my dog and best friend when being alone got a wee bit tiresome, so I may be more like Garrett since Kai's social anxieties were of a completely different level altogether, leading to debilitating panic attacks. This is what leads him to be wary when Garrett return to the U.S. becomes inevitable. Will Garrett still want to be with someone who can barely function in the outside world? But the question is: Which Kai is real--online or offline? Will the real Kai please stand up?
I think that we can have the choice to present whatever version we want of ourselves to new people we come across, whether online or offline. I tend to lean toward the idea that being our authentic selves is easier when you aren't face to face with someone. There isn't any immediate judgment because all you get are words. And no, I'm not talking about dating sites because that's a whole different thing. I'm not saying, of course, that there aren't people who troll online to find someone to catfish or mess around with (and not in a good way). But see, that's the thing: there are trolls who do that because they know that more people tend to be honest and open when they're conversing online, thus leading to more possible victims of catfishing and cyberstalking. In the case of Garrett and Kai, meeting via FWO felt like kismet because it wasn't as if they were out looking for the love of their lives. Heck, these two didn't even like each other in the beginning, automatically suspicious and wary of the others actions and whatever information they could gather online. Their relationship developed over time, with them earning each other's trust and respect, not only through words but actions as well. When love came into the picture, it may have done so unconsciously, but choosing to be and stay together would require much forethought and contemplation.
This book is special, and I don't think I can sufficiently put into words why it's affected me as deeply as it has. It isn't just one thing either, so please don't ask me to pinpoint what it is exactly that has me in full fangirl mode. What I do know is that Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell have given readers something refreshingly honest and left me feeling hopeful and absurdly sated with all the swoon-worthy moments that had me doing a combination of slow smiles, naughty smirks, and full-blown grins (or so my best friend tells me...though her watching my facial expressions as I read is a tad creepy *cough, cough*). Is it too soon to name Garrett and Kai as my favorite book couple of 2016? I've even come up with hashtags for them: #GarKai, #SamZard, and #CamoCamBoys. I did warn you that I was in full fangirl mode, so don't look at me like I've gone completely nuts (I already get that look way too often from my family). I also never claimed the hashtags would be any good, so give me a break. Glancing upwards, this review is way longer than I imagined it would be, so let me end by saying that I know I've a number of book recommendations since January, but now I'm telling you to bump them all down and move Strong Signal to the top. I promise, this five-plus-starred (times infinity), all-time favorite read will NOT disappoint. ♥♥♥
Release Date: 15 February 2016
Date Read: 15 February 2016
Learn more about Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell.
Purchase Strong Signal on Amazon | B&N | Kobo.
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