I am unable to do a swap as I have a giant workload but I'm hoping to get some beta readers. If interested please fill out this form

https://forms.gle/WuABeYTJz7jbg3fe6

If selected, and you have not read book 1 yet, you will receive a free ebook version of book 1 so understand the context.

Thank you very much for your consideration and what you do!

First few pages:

It was a warm day. But every day in the Caribbean is warm. The sun beat down on pristine white sand beaches, while turquoise waves lapped gently at the shore. Palm trees swayed in a light breeze, their fronds rustling softly. The air was thick with the scent of salt and tropical flowers.

Unfortunately for Colonel Asshole, this was not the Caribbean. The colonel was in a simulated environment that felt just as real as the tropical islands themselves. He walked along the beach, his bare feet enjoying the warmth and textures of the simulated sand and water. But unlike the carefree tourists around him, tension radiated from every line of his body.

He didn't want to be here, but he knew he had to. Slowly walking towards a small family, he steeled himself for what was to come. His heart raced, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead despite the warm air. Memories of his own family flashed through his mind - his wife Emily's smile, his son John's laughter. The weight of his choices pressed down on him with each step.

As he approached the family, the colonel's senses were on high alert. He scanned the beach, looking for any sign that this was more than a simple vacation scene. But everything appeared normal - too normal. The perfection of it all only heightened his unease.

The family came into focus - a mother, father, and two children building a sandcastle. The colonel's throat tightened as he watched them play, so reminiscent of days long past with his own family. He pushed the emotions down, reminding himself why he was here. This wasn't about reconnecting with the past - it was about securing the future.

"Why are you here?" A young girl, only 10, looked up at him and asked. Her innocent question carried an undercurrent of something else - knowledge beyond her years.

The colonel's instincts screamed that something was very wrong. This was no ordinary child. His mind raced, trying to piece together the implications. Could these really be the intelligence operatives he was meant to contact? Or was this something else entirely?