J.P. Jackson

Title:  Conviction
Series: A New World
Author: M.D. Neu
Publisher:  NineStar Press
Release Date: March 25, 2019
Heat Level: 0/5
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 373 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44244370-conviction

Synopsis:

A little blue world, the third planet from the sun. It’s home to 7 billion people with all manner of faiths, beliefs, and customs, divided by bigotry and misunderstanding, who will soon be told they are not alone in the universe. Anyone watching from the outside would pass by this fractured and tumultuous world unless they had no other choice.

Todd Landon is one of these people, living and working in a section of the world called the United States of America. His life is similar to those around him: home, family, work, friends and a husband.

After the attack on San Jose, Todd is appointed to Special Envoy for Terran Affairs by the Nentraee, a position many world leaders question. Undeterred Todd wants to build bridges between both people. However, this new position brings with it a new set of problems that not only he, but his new allies Mi’ko and Mirtoff must overcome. Will the humans and Nentraee learn to work together despite mistrust and threats of more attacks by a new global terrorist group, or will the terrorists win? Will this bring an end to an already shaky alliance between Nentraee and humans?

My Review:

I’m horribly late with this review – life has decided to throw too many curveballs my way lately, and for that, I have to apologize to M.D. Neu.

Regardless, and finally, here are my thoughts on Neu’s second book, Conviction, in his “A New World” series.

Wow, wow, wow. I really enjoyed the first installment, Contact, where our hero Todd Landon, an ‘everyman’ type of guy, ends up saving the day by simply being a good person. And the action doesn’t stop in Conviction. In fact, the themes that were introduced in the first novel carry over into the second.  Todd is the good guy. I don’t want to give any of it away in case you haven’t read either of the two books yet, but suffice it to say, Todd’s actions land him in a prominent position as a liaison between an alien species and the people of Earth.

There are a lot of barriers facing Todd. Politics, religion, self-doubt, sexual orientation, terrorist groups, distrust among sects of the alien race as well as his own people, and yet somehow Todd overcomes all of this through acts of honesty, bravery and just by doing ‘what’s right.’

It’s funny (not funny as in ha-ha, but funny as in odd) that what we think is ‘right’ and ‘good’ isn’t everyone’s definition. Neu has highlighted this through his tale and it accurately reflects our current state of ‘conservatism’ that is prevailing in our world right now.

Frankly, it’s neither ‘good’ nor ‘right’.

Slight Spoiler Territory Here:

The enemy in these books turns out to not be the invading alien race that is wanting the people of Earth to share our planet. The enemy comes from within – religion and extremist views. I can’t help but think several examples from our little planet where lately, extreme conservatism is doing severe damage.  LGBTQ+ people still are unable to be themselves in a vast majority of places around the globe. Sex education being rolled back to 1970’s curriculums, and Anti-abortion laws being passed in the US. Really people? What is going on? I would have thought that by now we would have moved forward. I would have hoped as a species we would have learned some basic common sense rules to live by. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just all get along?

Neu has held up a mirror for us and made us reflect on our current state with his novels. It made me kind of sad to be living at a time in our world where we’re taking steps backward instead of learning respect and compassion and moving ahead in our journey.

But on the other hand, the novel made me happy as well. There is much hope steeped into the pages, much like a good cup of Tuma. I have to give Neu credit for creating the slow burn development of the relationship between Todd, our hero, and his burgeoning same-sex relationship with Mi’cin of the Nentraee. I flew through the pages where Todd and Mi’cin are slowly learning they like each other, and how to navigate not only a new relationship but one with someone who is so vastly different. Congrats Neu, you had me hooked and wanting more.

In the end, things work out (sort of). I know there’s a third book coming and I believe it’s due in early 2020. I can’t wait. And I promise you’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting for the next installment as well.

If you like easy and accessible Sci-Fi, slow burn romances (who could possibly top that first date!) and some reflection on the state of the world as we know it, you’ll love Conviction.

2020 better hurry up and get here soon.

Rating:

Available At:

 

NineStar | Amazon | Barnes & Nobles | Kobo

 

Meet the Author:

M.D. Neu is an LGBTQA Fiction Writer with a love for writing and travel. Living in the heart of Silicon Valley (San Jose, California) and growing up around technology, he’s always been fascinated with what could be. Specifically drawn to Science Fiction and Paranormal television and novels, M.D. Neu was inspired by the great Gene Roddenberry, George Lucas, Stephen King, Alfred Hitchcock, and Kim Stanley Robinson. An odd combination, but one that has influenced his writing.

Growing up in an accepting family as a gay man, he always wondered why there were never stories reflecting who he was. Constantly surrounded by characters that only reflected heterosexual society, M.D. Neu decided he wanted to change that. So, he took to writing, wanting to tell good stories that reflected our diverse world.

When M.D. Neu isn’t writing, he works for a non-profit and travels with his biggest supporter and his harshest critic, Eric, his husband of eighteen plus years.

You can find M.D. Neu here…

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