Zero stars/did not finish (NetGalley insists on at least one star before it will accept my review).

I downloaded this title from NetGalley in return for a review. I'm sorry to say my review is a negative one: I tried, but was unable to wade through "Danger Rising," which continually put me off with lazy science fiction and bad writing.

Here's how we know we're in the future: the numbers are bigger. Pods whisk people through subterranean tunnels at thousands of miles per hour. Suborbital flights? Don't even ask. Surface level hypertrains cruise at 800. Freeway traffic moves right along at four or five hundred. If you're in your 70s you're middle-aged. Oh brave new world.

Some of the science fiction is so implausible you can't even call it that. Fantasy or magic, maybe, like the system of pipes injecting lubricating gel between the earth's tectonic plates to prevent earthquakes. Subterranean tunnels connecting points around the globe, not merely cities but also scientific outposts in Antarctica and the Arctic, remote and isolated stations with single-digit populations. That's a lot of tunneling. Global warming? No problemo, we'll freeze an ocean to bring the temperature back down. It felt like an Elon Musk fever dream.

I couldn't decide whether "Danger Rising" is a romance with a science fiction backdrop or science fiction with a romance backdrop. It wasn't worth the effort to press on and find out.

And what an effort ... an effort to read, that is.

"He was still considered young at sixty-five, but his body sometimes lets him know it is time for an infusion of StemRejuve targeting his arthritic joints and aging organs."

"Dan really cared about the Chilean team he worked with down here, although Jorge Mendoza, the southern hemisphere lead, was becoming a proverbial thorn in his side."

"Screaming in agony, the ground beneath him shook all the more."

"Jane didn't let the interruption phase her and proceeded without missing a beat."

"Biting into a fresh beignet, the white powdered sugar on top of the fried doughy pastry fell from her lips onto her chin."

If I have to explain the various errors in the selected sentences, well, that's not worth the effort either. Was this manuscript edited at all? Did Mr. Richards ask anyone to proofread it first?

I thought it interesting that the author places the blame for the climate disasters leading to the future world described in "Danger Rising" squarely on the Trump administration, but even the most rabid Trump hater (and I am one) would have to admit the responsibility goes back much farther than that. Still, it was amusing to read Mr. Richard's interpretation, and it's one that will displease many readers.

Sorry, but that's the only positive comment I can offer in this review.

Plenty of suspense and action in this book. I could have lived without all of the political commentary. That gets old. The storyline was very good but did not flow well in places. The characters were strong and I liked that. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

My two-star review of Danger Rising is primarily due to the strong premise of the book, the execution unfortunately left something to be desired. The character development was lacking; while some ideas were well fleshed out, others were not developed and were difficult to follow; it was hard to keep track of who was involved in the plot and who wasn't in the end; the narrative would jump back and forth without clear delineation of whose perspective it was and there was no differential in voice from one narrator to the next; it was clear the author had a strong storyline in his head and the book started off strong but I struggled to finish it as I kept having difficulty following the storyline. The book would benefit from some strong editing and perhaps reordering some of the chapters that better developed parts of the storyline being placed earlier in the book - for example, when "synthetics" were first introduced, it was confusing what on earth they were until I reached a later chapter which provided more clarity.

The year is 2100 and man's 20th and 21st century addictions to fossil fuels decimated the globe. However, new technology in the form of green transportation, air scrubbing stations, and a GeoLoop which prevents catastrophic earthquakes has saved humankind from the effects of climate change. Dr. Abbey Bertrand is a leading climatologist involved in developing this technology and saving humankind, but someone is out to sabotage the technology and kill Dr. Bertrand. She is racing against time to stop the plot and prevent a catastrophic quake from causing a rise in the oceans which would wipe out coastal cities.

The premise of the book was great, but there needed to be more. I couldn't figure out how the end wrapped up so quickly and without much explanation.

This book started out fairly well, but went downhill rapidly; very rapidly. Everything about the book was uneven. Some things were described in excruciating detail, while others barely at all. Character development was nonexistent. The underlying crisis of the book was spoken about but the way it was solved was almost an afterthought. I really wonder if anyone actually read or edited this book prior to publication?

Climate change has devastated the world by 2100, but mankind is working to repair the damage. There are stiff penalties for breaking environmental laws, science has developed cleaner power, transportation, medicine and product packaging, and great strides have been made to clean up the planet. But, it might be too late. Dr. Abbey Bertrand has been called in to investigate a strong earthquake in Antarctica and the emergency system that failed to operate when needed. It turns out the situation is much more complex than just a failing earthquake defense system. A group of ecoterrorists want to destroy the planet. Can Abbey and her fellow scientists stop the evil plan in time?

I enjoy disaster suspense stories. I'm always up for a good earthquake, global warming, asteroid, plague, out of control tech or other scientists-come-running-to-save-the-planet action tales. For the most part, this was an interesting and entertaining read. But, there were many places where the plot, pseudo-science and thinly veiled political commentary got to be just too much. While I believe our current president has some real issues, the constant hints of Trump bashing/blaming really made me roll my eyes while reading this book. California became a wasteland that was passed off to Russia for awhile and now is home to a huge bank of solar panels. Climate change got out of hand during the worst presidency in the history of the United States. On and on. Ok....we get it. The author is not a Trump fan. The political jabs really pulled me out of the story. Not to mention impossible science.....like injecting lubricating gel between tectonic plates to lessen the severity of earthquakes and freezing large expanses of ocean to lower the planet's temperature....kept me from really getting into this story like I wanted to. The writing is a bit hit and miss as well. In places, the story flowed perfectly. And in others I found the style choppy and in need of editing. That all being said.....I still enjoyed the story and the characters. Could it have been better? Yes. Is it all bad? No, not at all.

I like Abbey Bertrand as a main character, but my favorite character, by far, was her grandmother. Both are strong female characters. The other characters, especially the "bad guys'' tend a bit to the melodramatic side, but that's really a given in any disaster story. The evil doers construct grandiose plans to bring about destruction and fight to protect their wicked plans to the bitter end. I think it's that melodrama and over-the-top villainy that draws me to stories like this. The heroes always emerge victorious in the end....or do they?? Read the book to find out. :)

This book has some flaws that kept me from getting completely lost in the story. It might have benefitted from another round of editing. The science involved really gets to be a bit much, but this is a futuristic, environmental disaster story......I think I can let a bit of cheesy science go by without analyzing it to death.

All in all, an entertaining read. Some weak spots, but still a good story. There are some exciting action scenes involving much butt-kicking and narrow escapes.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Man has created the power to control the devastation of nature in the harsh Antarctic world. But something has gone wrong and Dr. Abbey Bertrand may be the only person to discover what it is.
Bundle up for action and adventure as scientists race to prevent the abuse of technology designed to stabilize nature. DANGER RISING by E. D. Richards is a suspenseful tale of good versus evil as one woman races against time to uncover events of glacial devastation that will resound around the globe.

Is someone out to lure Abbey to her death? Travel underwater, across the globe and be part of the life or death events that could shatter the planet.

A fast-paced suspense in the not-too-distant future! If you love a well-told story with a little grit and few twists, put DANGER RISING on your reading list.

I received a complimentary copy from Author Buzz!

Publication Date: April 27, 2018
Publisher: E.D. Richards
Genre: Science Fiction
Print Length: 197 pages
Available from: Amazon
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awesome! twists and turns and great characters...a glimpse into the near future with very plausible looks into new technologies... excellent descriptions and captivating word use and world building. Can't believe this is a first novel... can't wait for more!