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Tier One Review

Here is the link below if you prefer to listen:

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Tier-One-Review-e15scp0

I read Tier One by Cindy Gunderson, and I found the dystopian romance novel entertaining and thought-provoking. I can’t stop thinking about the main character, Kate.

About Story:

Kate works as a health care worker and is a mother of two boys named Tal and Bentley. She paired with Eric, who is a researcher in genetics and the father of her children. Paired means married in the novel. Kate and her family live in the Tier One System, which means they get the best of everything because of their genes and behavior by following the rules.

In the novel, the society is structured in three zones: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. In Tier Two, people get fewer supplies and have fewer freedoms because of their behavior and genetic structure. Tier Three for the undesirable people that have no future within the society. And the others don’t obey the laws. The inhabitants of Tier Three only received necessary supplies.

People only live in their forties because of cancer. And if a person rarely reaches fifty because the cancer rate is so high.

A little backstory, a virus that swept through the world, causing governments to meltdown as society fell apart. A man named Berg rose, taking control and eventually creating the Tier system that Kate lives in.

Kate was born in Tier One and conditioned to obey, and sacrifice so society can improve. (By sacrificing denies what is best for the individual to improve society.)

About the Plot:

While at work, Kate meets a young man named Nick, and she has an immediate attraction for him, but she loves Eric and committed to him. Until Eric makes a breakthrough discovery in his research on genetics, how to eradicate cancer that changes Kate’s life forever.

My Thoughts:

One day, I was on Facebook, and I saw this ad for Tier One. What intrigued me about this novel that the book was advertised as a clean romance, meaning no sex scenes. I brought the novel because I found the story about a woman who was a mother, health worker, and wife intriguing. Kate was no teenager trying to save her world from a powerful government. She was just a mom wanting what was best for her family, her marriage, and herself.

The novel is told from Kate’s point of view that pulled me into the story. I would like to have more detailed descriptions of places. For the descriptions were short and vague. The dialogue was excellent, and I loved the narration too. I keep thinking about Kate and her struggles and what will happen to Kate and her family in the next book called Tier Two. Yes, I am planning on reading the next book.

My rating:

I give Tier One four stars because the descriptions were lacking, for I had a tough time seeing Kate’s world in my mind. The author did an excellent job on dialogue and kept the pace going throughout the novel and how she foreshadowed certain events. Gunderson carefully took her time about revealing the backstory of Kate’s world and her personal history, too.

This novel is available on Amazon and now available on Unlimited Kindled.

Have you read Tier One? Or are you planning on reading Tier One? Let me know in the comments.

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July 27, 2021

Here’s the link if you would like to listen:

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/July-27–2021-e152ldg

Today, I would like to discuss why I’m losing weight. A couple of weeks ago, I saw my reflection in the mirror. I didn’t like what I saw. The blame is on me for letting myself go.

Having rheumatoid arthritis makes it harder to lose weight for different reasons. For me, it is money and mobility issues. I don’t have the extra funds to join a gym. Because of the joint damage, my mobility is limited, and I need to be careful how much I can push my body. Now, living in a world dealing with Covid, so, I’m avoiding crowds.

So, I plugged in my WII video game system and started playing some sports games, but soon realized that I needed more exercise games for my lower body. I found and brought a WII Fit Plus at a good deal. And I love it! 

When I mentioned to other people; I’m trying to lose a few pounds, and their reply is I don’t need to lose weight. The clothes that I wear hide my extra pounds and maybe people think I don’t need to lose any weight. That is not the case at all.

I have been thinking about that statement lately. I wanted to ask others: don’t I deserve a healthy body to the best of my ability? Do you realize I am on a quest to save my joints? Just because I have RA, and why can’t I look attractive?

Yes, I deserve to have a healthy body that my circumstances allow. By losing weight and watching my calorie intake, I will lower my high blood pressure, reducing my chances of developing diabetes, reducing my asthma symptoms, and improving my quality of life.

By exercising, I am saving my joints by reducing my weight. The extra weight causes more stress on my joints, preventing the normal wear and tear, and more inflammation produce throughout my body. By losing, weight will reduce the stiffness and soreness in the mornings during the winter months.

Look, I know what my body looks like, and I know how I move because of the limited mobility. Just because I have RA doesn’t mean that I am broken. I want to present my best self to the world. Attractiveness means to me by looking my best and feeling great about myself.

When someone tells me I don’t need to lose weight, that person is telling me my life has no value because I don’t meet society’s expectations. 

I should accept it and move on.

I am an intelligent, problem-solver, and creative person that brings value to this world!

It is time for society to stop devaluing people with disabilities and start seeing us for who we are as strong and intelligent individuals!

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Introduction

This is the post excerpt.

My name is Alexandra Mars. If you guessed it, I am an inspiring author pursuing my goal to become published. My friends, call me, Alex, and welcome to my blog. I write fantasy and science fiction because I find that genre fascinating to me, for there are so many paths a writer can take in his/her world.

I have been creating stories my whole life when I was a child, my Barbie dolls and My Little Ponies all had their own personalities. In middle school I discovered my creative writing skills, and I have remained on this path ever since. The journey to arrive at this point hasn’t been easy for me, and at times been very arduous. Now, I see excellent things in my future, and I hope you and I can take the next stage of this wonderful journey together.

You’re probably wondering what’s the next stage, I’ll tell you, my friend. In 2017 I will release my debut saga here on my site. I am excited!

In the meantime, I will be discussing many topics on writing and my life in my blog.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you continue to follow my blog.

September 18, 2021

I’m gonna keep this post short because I’m still not feeling well. I am improving, slowly. Anyway, I want to explain why what is going on.

For most of September, I have been dealing with a lot of mucus caused by my sinuses. It is also ragweed season where I live, and I was exposed to someone who was sick with something. So it is a combination of the perfect sickness storm.

I went to urgent care about a week ago, and I was tested for Covid and the flu which were both negative. After a few days after my visit, then I called and made an appointment with my primary doctor. And she decided that she wanted to test me for Covid again. I’m still waiting for the results from that test but I also believe that that test will also be negative as well.

If I would’ve treated my early symptoms of a sinus infection by having antibiotics in the beginning I would not be this bad. That’s my own fault. But the reason I was hesitant was because of all of the Covid protocols. But I have learned my lesson on that. And now it’s just gonna take some time to get the mucus out of my chest and to get back to my normal.

Update: My second Covid test was negative.

My reading list for August and September

I am looking forward to reading about Kate and Eric.

I am currently reading Dune. It is a very long novel, with over 800 pages very intriguing 🧐!

I am currently reading this Star Wars novel too, and it is a very long novel as well. I am enjoying it, as well.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments.