Category Archives: Sci-Fi and/or Futuristic

Review: Born of Silence – Grand Central Publishing – Sherrilyn Kenyon

May 6, 2012

Expected Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Hachette
Imprint: Grand Central Publishing
Author’s Website: sherrilynkenyon.com
My Source for This Book: Amazon.com
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 5, The League Series
Series Best Read In Order: Might work well as a standalone,
but I would recommend reading the series in order.
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Death Stalks Them All… 
Kere is the second most infamous member of the shadow organization known as Sentella. An explosive engineer who strikes terror into the hearts of the League, the bounty on his head is truly staggering. No one knows his true identity. 

The daughter of a traitor, Zarya Starska grew up hard on the back streets of hell- her family hunted to the brink of extinction. But Zarya dreams of a different life and a different world. A world where the harsh hand of the Caronese emperor doesn’t destroy his subjects. As a Resistance leader, her goal is to topple the government that needlessly ruined the lives of her family and comrades-in-arms. In this deadly quest, the only person she can trust is a mysterious man known only as Kere. 

By The Light Of Day… 
Kere has a dark secret and a brutal past. As he aids the Resistance, he’s actually working to bring down his own family- the Cruels- so named for the viciousness in their blood that runs so deep, no other name would do. Born and bred from one of the oldest and noblest families in the United Systems, Kere’s real name is Darling Cruel. And the one thing he wants most is to see his uncle, who stole the crown by murdering his father, pay for his crimes. 

If You Tell A Lie Long Enough, It Becomes The Truth… 
In order to protect his mother from execution, Darling’s entire life has been built on a lie that he dare not breathe a contrary word about. His hands tied by his uncle’s cruelty. No one has ever seen the real him. No one except Zarya. She’s the only person he’s ever fully trusted with the truth. But when she betrays him by allowing a weapon he designed solely for her to be used against him, all bets are off. 

The Hero Is Now The Monster… 
Betrayed to the deepest level, Darling becomes an enemy even worse than his uncle. His goal is not only to reign, but to kill every Resistance member he can find. He won’t rest until all of them are dead and that includes Zarya. 

The Twisted Hand Of Fate… 
Zarya is the only hope to reach the heart of the man her people once considered their ally. A man who hates her with a fury so great that she knows it’s just a matter of time before he kills her. But if she can find the part of him that once trusted her, the part of him that once loved her, she might be able to save not only her own life, but those of her people. 

It’s an impossible mission. 

Too bad she doesn’t play the odds.

What Worked For Me:

  • The love scenes were indeed quite steamy, and the chemistry between Darling and Zarya was delicious.
  • I really enjoyed Maris’ character as well, and can’t wait for his book to come out.  I loved the support he gave to Darling, as well as the insights into just how scary and badass he could actually be despite his flamboyant lifestyle.
  • I absolutely adored catching up with all of my other favorite characters from previous novels. Nykyrian is just as smexy and imposing as he’s always been, and I really enjoyed getting to not only see him as a “family man” (but still terrifying), but also some of his history with Darling.
  • To a point, I enjoyed watching Darling get the holy cannoli beaten out of him. I do love me a tortured hero, and the abuse Darling endures absolutely helps to make me feel not only sympathy for his character, but admiration for his fortitude. (Please note that the extent of his torture falls under What Didn’t Work For Me — see below). 
  • I really enjoyed the angst between Darling and Zarya because of what happened early on in the story. It would have been very unrealistic for either one of them to have forgiven the other easily, no matter how attracted they are to each other or how much in love they had been.  I really enjoyed watching them both learn to trust each other again.
  • I’m very excited that not only is Hauk’s story obviously next, but that it seems that Maris will get his own book as well, with Ture as his hero!
  • I really liked the story behind Darling’s name — it’s something I’d always wondered about and I was happy to have that mystery solved.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • The biggest negative point of this book — the torture. This book went further than just using torture and betrayal and terrible childhoods to create a sympathetic character, and instead crossed into torture for titillation.  There’s a bit of an invisible line in the sand when it comes to just how much abuse a character can take before reading about their persecution in such great detail  makes one want to put the book down and move on. Many fans, and even the author herself, have said that Darling’s life is worse than that of one of her most famous characters from anther series, Acheron, and while Acheron’s tale toed the line of just how much torture and heartache a reader can endure along with the character, Darling’s story left that line far, far behind rather early on. With the many explicit details of horrific things done to him over the course of his entire life continuing to be told throughout the novel, it got to the point where I no longer cared about the things he’d suffered and wanted them to just shut up and move on to the actual plot.
  • On a very similar note, the first thing that stuck out in my mind immediately following the summary of his torture was that he didn’t have any massive infections, which absolutely broke any sense of plausibility of the story for me.  Granted, this is addressed towards the end of the story, but it honestly felt like an afterthought and a cheap way out.
  • SPOILER ALERT SelectShow Spoiler
  • “Sweetie”. I’ve joked about other books of Ms. Kenyon’s having the word “sweetie” so much that you could turn it into a drinking game, but this book? This book was almost like Ms. Kenyon decided to annoy me specifically.*  According to my handy-dandy search function on Kindle, the word “Sweetie” was used thirty-four times. Thirty. Four. Times.  *rubs forehead wearily* Maris said it. Zarya said it. Even Darling said it.   My biggest problem with the word “sweetie” in general is that it ages the characters. There’s lots of endearments that sound normal in conversation, even with “tough” characters, like “honey”, “baby”, “sweetheart”, heck even “my love” if you have to, but “sweetie”? Blech.   However, in this particular case, I’d expected it to be used once or twice (because, let’s face it, it’s a Kenyon novel) but thirty-four? That’s just obnoxious.     (*Yes, I fully realize Ms. Kenyon has no clue who I even am, and even if she did, wouldn’t be bothered to do something in her books just to annoy me. It was a figure of speech so don’t send me angry emails.)
  • Everyone was insanely long-winded.  Some judicious editing could have really kept a lot of the emotional “punch” of most of the dialogue but instead I had to stop myself from skimming whenever anyone started talking.
  • There were also too many flashbacks for my tastes. Yes, it’s important to hear about some of Darling’s past, not just for newcomers to the series, but for all of the fans who have adored him every since his character was introduced, but there were quite a few particular bits that could have been told as anecdotes rather than forcing us to live through the (long-winded) scenes.

I’m devastated. Simply devastated.  I have been anxiously awaiting this book since before it was actually written. Darling is one of my absolute favorite characters in the League Series, and I had such high hopes for his book.

Let me start off by saying that my disappointment is not based on the fact that Darling is actually heterosexual.  While I admit I was very annoyed by that revelation in the epilogue of the last book, and in the blurb for this one, I’ve had a long time to get used to the idea, so that wasn’t even a negative point for me. (Besides, it appears there are plans to unite Maris and Ture in their own novel, which makes up for any allegations that may or may not have been thrown around about Ms. Kenyon “selling-out” with making Darling “straight”.)

Instead, it was the torture.  Don’t get me wrong — I love a good tortured protagonist! I possess a very high degree of schadenfreude when it comes to fictional characters, and I admit that I just love seeing them suffer at the hands of others. Brutal physical torture? Horrific personal betrayal? Terrible childhood? Abuse that leave the protagonist scarred and suffering? I eat those things up with a spoon when it comes to my favorite protagonists! Beat ‘em, rape ‘em, lull them into a false sense of security and then rip the rug out from under them with heartless betrayal, leave them permanently scarred both physically and emotionally — I love it all!

This book, however, crossed that line from using a horrific past and terrible suffering to make a character sympathetic and to illustrate inner strength and what-not, and instead delved into torture for titillation — “torture porn” as some people call it — once it crosses that line it’s impossible to come back.  Nobody, and I mean nobody could have survived what Darling suffered in the early chapters of this book, and the very weak explanation of how he did so that was thrown in towards the end did nothing towards making me believe it was anything other than ridiculous that he was still alive long enough to be rescued.  Then on top of the horrific torture in the beginning, we’re informed of all of the other abuses, rapes, attacks, indignities, humiliations, and betrayals he’s suffered over the course of his life.  It got to the point where I’d skim over any new “revelation” of something bad that he’d gone through.

There were so many things I couldn’t stand in this book, from pet peeve tropes (forced nudity, overuse of certain terms, GaryStu syndrome), to continuity errors, long-winded dialogue, unrealistic physical fortitude, torture for titillation, and what felt like last-minute character developments thrown in to explain things done earlier.  I’m so horribly disappointed, and honestly, I had to force myself to finish this, which has never happened with a Kenyon book, not even Retribution, which was only a 3.5 for me.

To be completely honest, this is very likely my last Kenyon novel, at least unless I get future ones for free from the library.*

2/5 Stars

*That’s a big fat lie — Hauk’s book is next, and I know very well I’m going to end up pre-ordering it no matter how bad this one was. But still. 

The League Series Reading Order:

3 Comments

Review: Demon Bait – Samhain – Moira Rogers

March 17, 2012

Expected Release Date: November 29, 2012
Publisher: Samhain
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.moirarogers.com
My Source for This Book: Gift from the author (Bree)
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, Children of the Undying.
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Hot

Official Blurb:

His mark could bind her forever—or finally set her free.

Fifty years after a demon apocalypse devastated the world, summoners still bear the bulk of the blame. Marci lives in secret, hiding the gifts that could cost her a secure spot in one of humanity’s underground cities, and access to their virtual world. After all, her chances of avoiding the genetic-testing lotto are better than her chances of surviving topside.

The bastard son of a terrifying incubus, lust heats Gabe’s blood and sex fuels his magic. Innate charm and charisma help him navigate the cultural gap between the outcast town he calls home and the human settlements he infiltrates for trade. His latest mission nets him an unexpected asset—a summoner strong enough to soothe his darkest needs.

Trust a half demon, especially one who uses a lockdown to trap them together? Not in this lifetime. Yet Marci can’t resist Gabe’s offer to see her safely to a selective outcast settlement where she can live without fear. The journey alone is as dangerous as the way Gabe makes her heart race, but it could be her one hope of a real life.

If only she could be sure Gabe’s telling her the whole truth…

Warning: Contains a virtual world where humans flee to escape the demon-infested earth, a dangerously seductive half demon with sex magic to burn and a network-hacking summoner brave enough to make herself vulnerable to him.

What Worked For Me:

  • I really enjoyed the mythology with the demons, summoners, and hybrids. I do wish there’d been a bit more world building and perhaps some more details on both Marci and Gabe’s powers, but there was definitely enough information where I never felt lost, and the lack of details actually helped me focus on “Gabe and Marci” instead of just the world the story was set in.
  • As always, Moira Rogers knows how to write some incredible chemistry, passion, and steam, with Gabe and Marci burning up the pages.
  • I was so thankful that the “marking” Gabe spoke of didn’t require sex.  So often in paranormal romance, any sort of “marking” must involve sex. So I admit, whenever I hear it mentioned in romance these days I tend to roll my eyes because it always feels like a cheap way to force the hero and heroine into bed.  That wasn’t the case with Gabe and Marci, and that tiny little detail changed the entire dynamic between them for the better.
  • I really enjoyed how large a part virtual reality played in this story as well.
  • One thing I really enjoyed was how the story didn’t follow what I would consider to be “the expected route for many of the plot turns.
  • Clocking it at I think 100 pages, this book was surprisingly complete.  While I do of course wish that there’d been more details

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • There was a time or two where the story kind of fast-forwards a few days, which could be a bit disorienting at times.

Clocking in at only around 100 pages, Demon Bait packs quite a bit of punch for what could be considered a relatively low word count.  With a captivating universe where evil demons have taken over and the world’s human population has taken to the underground for protection, much of a person’s life is spent in virtual reality.  Having blamed summoners for bringing down the scourge of demons, humans live in fear and prejudice against those who may carry demon or summoner blood.

Marci was wonderful. She was a strong character without being bitchy, and Gabe was alpha while still desperately trying to find a balance between his instincts and actual consideration for Marci.

While I do of course wish there’d been a few more details of both the history of the demon/summoner relationship and of the realities of the world outside of the compounds, I still found this an incredibly satisfying read.

As always, the love scenes are steamy without ever feeling gratuitous, and the ending was absolutely perfect.

A delightfully solid 4.5/5 Stars, and I’m very much looking forward to reading the sequel.

 

 

Also posted in Short Story Or Novella – 1 Comment

Review: Synthetic Dreams – Carina Press – Kim Knox

March 10, 2012

Expected Release Date: February 27, 2012 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Carina Press
Author’s Website: http://darknessandromance.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Vynessa Somerton was just a girl when she learned about true evil. An encounter with the tyrannical Corporation scarred her body and exiled her to the crime-ridden S-District. Now an adult, Vyn creates glamours, worn by those who visit a virtual playground to live synthetic dreams. She’s tried to stay unnoticed by the Corporation, but her latest invention has brought their agents to her door.

Paul Cross works for the Corporation, but he’s been plotting their downfall since they took his brother and replaced him with an imposter. Paul has a plan to get his brother back, but he’s going to need Vyn and her invention to carry it out.

Vyn agrees to help Paul, but their alliance shatters the barriers she’s put up to protect herself, tempting her to give in to desire. Just as Vyn starts to trust Paul and believe he wants her, scars and all, the Corporation prepares for its final move. Can Vyn trust Paul completely, or has he been using her all along? 

What Worked For Me:

  • I loved the premise. A futuristic world where the Corporation controls pretty much everything, where hackers do everything in their power to cheat the system, where corruption, betrayal, and violence rule the day with brutal efficiency — it was brilliant!
  • I’m a sucker for characters who are physically scarred.  The story behind Vyn’s scars are what really made the story, and I loved how they were worked into the main storyline.
  • I really enjoyed Vyn’s character. Incredibly intelligent, she’d also suffered greatly as a child and lived as an outcast on the fringes of society. Her talent with the virtual reality that rules society makes her a target, but she’s also canny enough to take precautions.  I also really liked her bravery when faced with situations that would make anyone else cower in a corner.
  • Paul was delicious. Alpha and intelligent, I adored not only his forcefulness and determination, but also his loyalty and willing to sacrifice for what he believed in.
  • There was a high level of action for such a low page-count, which helped to keep wonderful sense of urgency throughout the story.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I can’t stand forced nudity in romance, and there’s a good amount in this one, considering it’s technically a novella.  It’s so… unsexy to me that it really pulled back my enjoyment of the story, which is truly a shame because it was such an interesting concept.
  • As much as I enjoyed the virtual reality world created in this story, I admit, I often found myself a bit lost, even when things had been explained extensively. It was definitely an issue of this reader not being smart enough for the story, but an issue nonetheless.
  • On a similar note, I didn’t feel that the history of Vyn’s scars was explored quite enough to really make sense. Yes, we’re given a vague history of what happened, and are shown the “why”, but there was so much left unexplored that it made the story feel a bit incomplete to me, despite the fully-formed story arc.
  • A very minor detail, but had it not been for the cover, I don’t think I would’ve been able to accurately picture Vyn’s scars from the description in the story. Since the layout of her scars is very important to the storyline, this bugged me a bit. I only noticed it because I honestly didn’t pay much attention to the cover before reading it, and I had an “Aha!” moment after looking up the cover for my review.

This one was a hard one for me to rate.  On one hand, I absolutely adored the world that Ms. Knox has created, with both its strong emphasis on virtual reality and its gritty and bleak futuristic world.  On the other hand, there were just a few too many times where I felt myself overly confused, and the inclusion of forced nudity sapped away quite a bit of my enjoyment.

In the end, despite my enjoyment of the plot and even the characters, I found that there were too many things that confused me or were left incomplete for me to really enjoy it.

3.5/5 Stars

0 Comments

Review – Hotter On The Edge (Anthology) – Erin Kellison – KC Klein – Jessa Slade

February 29, 2012

Expected Release Date: February 2, 2012 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Self-Published
Imprint: N/A
My Source for This Book: Smashwords (Gift from the author)

All That Glitters by Erin Kellison

Author’s Website: http://erinkellison.com/
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Cheated out of a fortune by the Sol royal family, lowborn Simon Miner will do anything to get his revenge, no matter how ruthless. When Princess Mica Sol, a terraforming expert, is shot out of the sky on the way to her sister’s lavish wedding, she fears the worst—scavengers—and flees into an alien jungle to avoid capture. But the man who pursues and captures her is none other than Simon, her former lover. Passions reignite as violence rocks Sol City, and Simon and Mica must fight for love, family, and their world… or lose everything.

What Worked For Me:

  • While I’m not usually a fan of estranged lovers in romance, I definitely prefer them in novellas because it helps the pacing along. In this particular case, I loved all of the emotional baggage between Simon and Mica.
  • Mica was a wonderful heroine.  Resourceful and intelligent without being superhero unrealistic, she’s also got quite a few emotional vulnerabilities to help round out her character.
  • I enjoyed that the action in this story wasn’t limited to Mica’s sojourn into the jungle.  The fast pacing and high level of danger continued throughout the story without getting in the way of the romance, which I definitely appreciated.
  • I loved the many shades of gray to Simon’s character. While he was certainly cast into a bad light by events outside of his control, he wasn’t perfect, and that just made him even more appealing to me.
  • I also greatly enjoyed the ideas surrounding terraforming, and the different approach to it that Mica suggested.
  • The conflict that originally resulted in Mica and Simon’s estrangement appealed to me as well — there was no single Big Misunderstanding, which I found refreshing. Instead,  there was an issue of Mia and Simon being from different societal classes, but unjust governmental regulations, family pressure, and even the characters’ personal beliefs that they weren’t quite “good enough” for the other, all added together to create the rift between them.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I admit that I was a little disappointed that the original conflict — that of Mica fleeing into the alien jungle — was resolved so quickly.  Perhaps it was my own fault for slightly misreading the blurb, but I still wasn’t expecting a “return to civilization” so early on in the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Having never read anything by Erin Kellison, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but the fast pacing, captivating world-building, and delicious chemistry between the protagonists quickly had me hooked.  As of right now, this story is a standalone, but I for one am sincerely hoping that it is expanded on in the future.
4.5/5 Stars

 To Buy a Wife by KC Klein

Author’s Website: kckleinbooks.com
Part of a Series: Set in the same world as Dark Future
Series Best Read In Order: Probably, but worked well as a standalone.
Steam Level: Hot

Official Blurb:

In a harsh land where corruption rules and women are few, cold realist Hudson Land must purchase a wife to save his farm. Instead of an auction, he witnesses the start of an execution. With his first look at a beautiful woman in years, Hudson knows he has to have her—no matter the cost. Lake, a chemist and a rebel fighter, is resigned to her death, but when some back-hill farmer rescues her from the chopping block she has no intention of simply becoming his wife. She’s pledged her life to the Rebellion and being bought for some stranger’s bed doesn’t change a thing, though his soft caresses have her longing for more. As lies and secrets build between them, are the quiet moments during the nights they’ve shared enough to stand against two warring factions in a world where only the strong survive?

What Worked For Me:

  • I’m desperately in love with the universe Ms. Klein created in Dark Future, and was thrilled to see it expanded on in this story. Chock full of corruption, abuse, and despair, this dystopian world is unapologetically harsh and oppressive. And I love it.
  • I really enjoyed the angst caused by the whole “purchasing a wife” part of their society. Not only is this similar enough to arranged marriages of old, but it also adds the added emotion of being literally bought and sold as a commodity, which is quite difficult for a heroine as strongly opinionated as Lake.
  • Two words: Virgin. Hero.
  • I also liked the fact that even though there wasn’t much time covered in this novella, I could actually find the Happily Ever After to be believable between Hudson and Lake. Even though they started off as enemies, they not only had good sexual chemistry but also complemented each other in their personalities enough that it was believable when they started having deeper feelings for each other so rapidly.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I was a little iffy about a scene that involved ritualistic forced nudity, and the subsequent exhibitionism.  My readers know that this is so not my thing, so it was definitely a bit uncomfortable to read. However, one of my criteria for this sort of thing, as far as my ratings go anyway, is how comfortable the characters themselves are with it.  In this case, while Lake wasn’t exactly thrilled at the prospect, she soon found quite a bit of enjoyment, and as such, it was only a minor negative point in the story.
  • Holy crap could Hudson have had a longer name when it came to a tattoo?! *faints*  Ok, so not actually a “negative” point for the story, but definitely one that made me sympathetic as all get out for Lake.
I’m a huge fan of Ms. Klein’s universe from Dark Future, so I actually picked up this anthology for this story alone.  One thing I love about her writing is that she’s not afraid to push the limits of what might be “comfortable” to read, and instead explores the very dark side to what is turning out to be a very intriguing dystopian world.
While it was a bit painful for me to read the love scene due to the exhibitionism and forced nudity, I know that this was intentional — this world is not supposed to be comfortable, and it’s absolutely not.  Women are treated as commodities and possessions, corrupt leaders (called Elders) control absolutely everything, and the individual people  in society are left quite powerless.  It’s a world that is absolutely ripe for revolution, and I’m highly anticipating future installments to the series.
 A very solid 4/5 Stars.

Enslaved by Starlight by Jessa Slade

Author’s Website: http://jessaslade.wordpress.com/
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Transformed by empathic crystals into the perfect paramour, Benedetta Galil is the last treasure of her fading world. When raiders attack—seeking to corrupt the crystals and conquer all of charted space—she gives herself as a prize to the one man in the universe who values freedom over power. Mercenary sheership Captain Corso Deynah left oppression behind him on a burning planet and has no use for a sex slave, even one as seductive as Benedetta. But while he stubbornly resists her body, her fierce spirit tempts him, and he will risk everything—his ship, his seclusion, the very stars—to win not just her passion but her love.

What Worked For Me:

  • Corso is delicious.  Seriously, yummo. A mercenary, he’s still got little patience for people who try to manipulate him, even when there’s profit in it for him, and he has even less patience and respect for what he sees as the sexual slavery of those who are trained up as Benedetta has been.
  • The world-building in this novella was fantastic. The entire concept of not only the l’auraly but of the qva’avaq itself was quite fascinating, especially with the resulting social dynamic.  I loved the original concept and the implications of having other groups in control of the qva’avaq mines.
  • I really enjoyed the amount of action in this book as well. From enemy attacks to personal betrayals, there was enough physical danger to keep things interesting without getting to the point where both the characters and the reader became exhausted.
  • I loved Benedetta’s actions towards the end in regards to her l’auralya status.  I can’t say more because it is a spoiler, but that was the point where I truly began to love her as a character.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I admit, I was very hesitant to read this story because the idea of a heroine who has been trained by birth to some day be what is essentially a sexual slave to someone bothered me.  This is a minor point, because what sounded so awful in the beginning actually turned into something far more meaningful over the course of the story. I only mention it because it was probably about halfway through before I began to change my mind about Benedetta to the point that I enjoyed that aspect of her character.
I have never had the pleasure of reading any of Jessa Slade’s books before, but I can promise you, this novella will not be my last.  I wasn’t quite sure, going into this story, whether or not it would be something I would enjoy — after all, “trained” lovers simply aren’t my thing in romances.  However, I’m very glad I gave it a chance, because I soon fell not only for Corso and Benedetta, but for the entire world Ms. Slade had created.
Full of subtle nuances and a horrifying betrayal, Enslaved By Starlight was easily one of my favorites in this anthology.
4/5 Stars
–

All three of these stories were well-edited, and none of them had a stereotypical “indie” feel to them, even though they were technically self-published.  I know that a lot of readers tend to shy away from self-published titles for this reason, and wanted to reassure my readers that all three of these stories were high quality, not just in their storylines, but also in the technical aspects as well.

I highly recommend this anthology to any fan of sci-fi romance — all three stories were fast-paced, full of beautiful world-building, and highly romantic.

A wonderfully solid 4/5 Stars

Also posted in Anthologies – 1 Comment

Review: Chain Reaction – Carina Press – Zoe Archer

February 14, 2012

Expected Release Date: January 9, 2012 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Carina Press
Author’s Website: http://www.zoearcherbooks.com
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2, 8th Wing Series
Series Best Read In Order: Worked well as a standalone
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Elite 8th Wing pilot Celene Jur was taken captive after a mysterious device temporarily disabled her ship’s controls. Three solar months later, when Celene receives intel on the man who built the device, she’s ready to get the bastard. Only problem is, the higher-ups think her mission partner should be Nils Calder, a tech-head who can understand the disabling device. The attraction between them is electric, but Celene needs a soldier who can watch her back as she exacts her revenge. 

Nils knows his department is nicknamed NerdWorks. Pilots like Celene think the closest tech geeks come to combat is all-night Nifalian chess tournaments. But behind the NerdWorks insignia on his sleeve Nils is an able fighter, ready to prove himself and gain Celene’s trust. 

The desire between them is unexpected, but with the fate of thousands hanging in the balance, the hotshot pilot and the tech genius must succeed in their mission—no matter the cost.

What Worked For Me:

  • Nerd love, baby!  I adored the fact that Nils is a straight-up nerd.  Don’t get me wrong, he’s also quite physically fit and has intensively trained in order to make sure he would be a valuable aide to any mission, but at his heart? He’s far more at home with a computer panel than he is a pistol, and I loved him for it.
  • I also greatly enjoyed that Celene had a hard time being seen and accepted as a “woman”. She was such an intimidatingly accomplished pilot that her personal life suffered greatly, as most people fell victim to hero-worship.
  • While there was only one true love scene, it was quite a hot one, with the desperation and danger of the situation spilling over into the encounter. In addition to that, there was incredible chemistry between Nils and Celene, and plenty of interrupted sexy times and lots of Unresolved Sexual Tension.
  • There was a wonderful amount of action in the book, with quite a few instances where I wasn’t even sure if it was possible for these crazy kids to find a way out.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • Honestly, there wasn’t much. If I had to pick something (and I do), it would be that I wish there had been more actual lovemaking, instead of just continuous teases. Even that, though, isn’t quite true, because frankly, all of those frustrating interruptions made for a delicious amount of tension between Nils and Celene.

Overall, I adored this one.  Full of action and chemistry, there was also quite a bit of character development for both Nils and Celene. I’m also a huge sucker for a “nerdy” hero, especially one who takes care of himself physically.

Celene’s status as an incredible pilot has alienated her from anyone that she could have a true relationship with, because invariably, her lovers suffer from a bit of hero worship. When she does something “human”, like just having a grumpy day, or making any sort of mistake that would be expected out of ordinary people, she quickly finds that her lovers were only with her because of her pilot status, and as such, she’s very gun-shy about relationships.

Nils, on the other hand, is a valuable part of “Nerd Works”, and despite his physical fitness is rather looked down on by pilots. Sure, he’s got a bit of giddiness from being able to be around Celene — the famous pilot — but more than that, he’s long been attracted to her as a woman.

With a vital mission throwing them together for a long period of time, there’s plenty of actual romance in the story, despite the intensity of the action to the story.

A perfect space adventure with plenty of romance and chemistry, this one is definitely a keeper for me.

A thrillingly solid 5/5 Stars.

 

 

 

1 Comment

Review: Dark Future – Avon Impulse – KC Klein

January 12, 2012


Expected Release Date: October 1, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Avon Impulse
Author’s Website: http://kckleinbooks.com/
My Source for This Book: Gift from the author
Part of a Series: Possibly*
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Awakened in the middle of the night by a future version of herself, Kris Davenport is given a mission; go forward in time to save the world and his life. Of course, her future self doesn’t tell her who he is, just sends her into the abyss and straight into an alien invasion.

He turns out to be ConRad Smith, the callous, untrusting Commander of Earth’s army and the world’s last defense. There’s only one way to know for sure if this strange woman is an alien spy, slice her throat. Except, he didn’t anticipate the heat he would feel as he interrogates the hot-tempered, warm-blooded woman. For a man whose sole focus has been survival, she’s more temptation than he can handle. But a world on the brink of destruction leaves no room for love;and time is running out.

What Worked For Me:

  • I loved the “Terminator” vibe with the whole gritty post-apocalyptic end-of-the-world-and-average-jane-has-to-learn-to-survive feel. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nowhere near the same story in any way, shape, or form, but I think fans of one will greatly enjoy the other.
  • ConRad. Guh.  ConRad was a truly tortured character. He’s not the alpha male who goes all squishy for the heroine, but instead is a true survivor — he makes tough decisions every single day, including knowing when to cut his losses even at the expense of an individual.  He’s tragic, he’s heartbreaking, he’s brutal, and he’s delicious. 
  • I really enjoyed Kris’ transformation for slightly spoiled, prissy, snarky medical intern to kick-ass survivalist.
  • Believe it or not, I liked the torture scenes. Call it schadenfreude, but there’s just something so incredibly intense about seeing a character taken to the brink of brokenness and watching them recover that I just can’t get enough of.
  • The few love scenes were completely delectable.  The hopelessness of the situations and the desperation crackling between them made their first experience so wonderfully intense, and then later, well, later the sweetness melded beautifully with the fierceness of the situation.
  • I loved the heartbreak of Kris’ decision in regards to how to “break the cycle” that they were stuck in. It was beautifully, wonderfully tragic and painful and I adored it.
  • The phone call. My blood literally ran cold at that moment, and I loved it.
  • The origin of the prophecy was a fantastic twist.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  •  There were a few minor issues with the worldbuilding, such as why were there no aliens immediately around Sanctuary, why there wasn’t greater mention of paradoxes as a result of the time travel, or why exactly were the aliens so fascinated by human women?
  • I was a little frustrated with how quickly it seemed that Kris “got over” all that torture, at least from an emotional standpoint. She seemed to be more emotionally traumatized by her mother’s suicide when she was a child than the fact she’d been savagely beaten, carved by knives, burned, whipped and endured pretty much every other form of physical torture for weeks on end.  Yes, sure, she flinched away from ConRad for a while afterwards, but her recovery and their reconciliation came just a wee bit too quickly for my tastes.

Dark, gritty, and utterly entrancing, this book absolutely blew my socks off.

Let me backtrack for just a moment.  To be perfectly honest, things got off to a bit of a slow start for me.   The first three chapters had me a bit wary — Kris, with her perfect manicure, carefully tamed and colored curly hair, cartoon-character panties, and rather cowardly attitude seemed far too weak to be a heroine of any sort of post-apocalyptic, futuristic story, and to be honest, my assessment was correct. That Kris absolutely was too weak to be a heroine.

However, Chapter Four is where the book really starts to shine, when Kris is catapulted into a world of pain, fear, tough decisions, and horrible sacrifices.   Completely out of her element, she does what any modern day woman would do — she flounders, badly.  Stubborn, angry, frightened, indignant, mouthy, and impulsive, she is quite literally her own worst enemy in a world that she neither belongs in nor understands.

Her relationship with ConRad gets off to what is quite possibly the rockiest of starts imaginable — thinking she’s an alien spy, he’s fully prepared to torture her for information, and makes no qualms about threatening her, physically hurting hurt, and doing whatever else may be necessary to coerce her into telling him the truth. He can’t believe she could possibly be from the past, and even if she is, she’s a danger to everyone in the compound. ConRad is a hardened warrior who has lived his entire life making tough decisions and sacrifices for the greater good of both their compound and of mankind in its entirety.  He’s tough. He’s brutal in his decision-making. He’s unapologetically in charge and not afraid to use his authority as he sees fit, even when it tramples on the rights of others.

And I adored him.

This book is dark. It’s bloody. It’s violent. All of the characters, not just the main protagonists, are put through literal hell more times than I can count. And yet out of that darkness bloomed an absolutely gorgeous love story against seemingly impossible odds. Both ConRad and Kris have had quite a bit of trauma in their pasts, and throwing in her tendency to lie to him, and his utterly devastating betrayal of her, and it truly seemed as if these two characters never had a chance.  Yet, I believed in their romance.  Two lost souls, surrounded by unspeakable horror, finding solace in each other? Utterly and absolutely delicious. 

Yes, this book had a few minor issues.  There were some unanswered questions in the world-building, only a fly-by mention of why there weren’t a ton of paradoxes created by the time travel, and at one point I found it very hard to believe that Kris had emotionally recovered so quickly from what was a truly horrible betrayal and some of the most brutal torture I’ve ever read about in a romance.  But you know what? I don’t care. Even with all of those things, I loved this book so much I want to marry it and have its babies (if, you know, I weren’t married already, and it weren’t both illegal and creepy to marry a book), and I am desperately hoping I am able to get my hands on more of this author’s writings in the future.

A very raw 5/5 Stars

*There is a sci-fi novella planned for February release based in the same world but with different characters.  Details have not yet been worked out as to whether or not there will be an actual sequel to Dark Future (but oh how I hope so!).

Also posted in Time Travel – 1 Comment

Review: Pleasure Satellite – Ellora’s Cave AEON – Danielle Monsch

December 11, 2011

Expected Release Date: May 4, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Imprint: AEON
Author’s Website: http://www.daniellemonsch.com/
My Source for This Book: Gift from the Author
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Scorching

Official Blurb:

Nevan’s life is nothing but duty and honor. The eldest son of a prestigious House, he has a life mapped out ahead of him, including mating a woman for whom he feels nothing but brotherly affection. But then one night he discovers a woman who makes his blood boil and his body hard.

Seena has known nothing but blood and pain in her life. A fighter for the BloodRing, she is nothing more than spectacle, her life and death meaningless except as entertainment for the masses. Then one night a male comes to her in secret with a bargain the likes of which she has never been confronted with. The ultimate fight, which will lead her either to freedom . . . or to his bed.

Nevan will allow nothing to stop him from possessing the human. On the Pleasure Satellite anything is permissible, and to the strongest goes everything.

What Worked For Me:

  • I was glad that Seena wasn’t a virgin, and that her “training” in the erotic arts had been something she’d actually wanted to do.  While the master/slave thing can be hotter than hell in stories, it can also easily cross the line into non-consensual, so in having Seena a bit experienced, as well as having been perfectly happy with any consequences of her losing the wager to Nevan, I was able to enjoy the story much more easily.
  • Of course, this story was H-O-T.  Seena wasn’t some wilting flower, and Nevan was a powerful warrior in his own right, and the chemistry between them was absolutely explosive.
  • There was a pleasantly surprising amount of actual romance in this story.  It’s easy to just assume that an erotica story will be short on plot due to the high levels of sensuality, but the love story between Nevan and Seena was not only sweet but was believable as well.
  • On a similar note, I loved the chemistry between the main characters.  Lots of people can write hot sex, but it takes a special skill to have true chemistry between characters, especially when their situations in life make it so that they should be enemies.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • As with most novellas, I wish it had been a full-length novel. I would especially have loved to have learned more about Seena’s past, both before she became a fighter, and afterwards.

Overall, I truly adored this story.  It was highly erotic, exploring not only the lust and sex between Seena and Nevan, but also Seena’s own sexual past and fantasies.  The chemistry between the characters was palpable, and Seena was written in a way that no reader should come away from the story feeling that she’d been taken advantage of, despite her position as “slave”.

Wonderfully romantic and incredibly sexy, this story is recommended for fans of alpha heroes torn between love and duty, of a warrior heroine finding bliss in the arms of a man she can have no future with, and of highly sensual love stories where happy endings are possible no matter what obstacles stand in the way.

A very sultry 4.5/5 Stars.

Also posted in Erotica – 0 Comments

Review: Tracking Shadows – Regan Black

December 10, 2011

Expected Release Date: May 3, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Self Published
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.reganblack.com/
My Source for This Book: Won in a contest, picked up from Smashwords.
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 4, Shadows of Justice Series
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

In 2096, the American government has gone above and beyond to ‘protect its citizens’, even regulating sugar and coffee. Every new legislative measure opens up a black market for an enterprising person willing to seize the opportunity.

In Chicago, Slick Micky is the king of smuggling. Known to deliver anything, anytime, anywhere, he specializes in caffeine and sugar and works in the anonymity of shadows. But recently an old enemy is tired of waiting for Micky’s empire to crumble and has called in the best assassin in the business to take him out.

Trina Durham is an assassin with a sterling reputation, thanks to her unique ability to induce deadly hallucinations. When Slick Micky killed her best friend, she left Chicago – forever. She’s back now, unable to resist the perfect opportunity for vengeance. But no one warned her Slick Micky might as well be a shadow. Or that shedding light on the man and his secrets would put both her heart and reputation at risk.

What Worked For Me:

  • I loved Trina’s ability to bend people’s perceptions by inducing hallucinations.  It’s not a power that I as a reader come across often in paranormal stories, but it’s certainly one of the more interesting abilities out there, and I loved the way Trina used her powers to manipulate both friends and enemies alike.
  • The love scenes were surprisingly hot.  As an Urban Fantasy title, I hadn’t expected such a strong connection between Micky and Trina, so it was a very pleasant surprise.
  • I also really enjoyed the idea of the government banning such substances as caffeine and refined sugar. As a proponent for our own personal rights, it’s easy to see how giving up our smaller rights today could lead to much stricter regulations in the future, and it also added quite a bit of realism to Micky’s enterprise — when most people view the product being moved as harmless, or the ban on the substances as ridiculous, it makes more sense that many officials would look the other way.
  • The Invisi-Suit was a blast as well, and I loved that Micky had been cautioned about becoming addicted to it. I can easily imagine becoming addicted to being able to move about unseen, especially if working in an illegal operation.
  • I couldn’t help but enjoy how Micky kept “ruining” things for Trina. So often it’s a bumbling (but well-intentioned) female who ends up foiling the plans of the intrepid alpha male, and to see the roles reversed definitely made me smile.  Of course, Trina was not completely innocent, because had she simply trusted Micky enough to confide in him, things would’ve progressed much more smoothly, but even so, it was fun to witness.
  • Despite the intricacies of Micky and Trina’s pasts, and the large amount of action in the book, the pacing was perfect — quick but smooth, without leaving the reader exhausted from the action, but also not dragging through the emotional parts.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • There were a few times where I felt rather “out of the loop” for lack of a better term. I didn’t realize going into this story that it was the fourth installment of a previously establish series, and while there was a good amount of world-building, and the characters stood well on their own, I couldn’t help but feel like there was something missing from my reading experience. I can only assume that it’s due to having not read the previous books in the series before having started this one.
  • I also wish that the “addictive” properties of the InvisiSuit and its side effects had played a larger part in the story.

I’ll admit, I was a bit surprised that I’d never heard of this author until I was lucky enough to snag this book in a contest.  With plenty of action, a solid dose of romance, plenty of angst, and a very intriguing future society, this book was truly wonderful.

I didn’t realize going into this story that it was part of a previously established series, and as such there were occasions where I felt as though I’d missed something, but in general I think it stood quite well on its own.

The entire concept of the government controlling such innocuous substances as caffeine and refined sugar was believable to anyone who has their eye on the ever-shrinking personal rights of Americans these days, and just as with the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920′s, it is easy to see that some higher-ups would easily turn a blind eye to illegal activity in smuggling and distributing the very products many of these people consume themselves.

Overall, I loved it.  The angst surrounding Micky’s identity, and Trina’s belief that she wasn’t worthy of him due to all of the blood on her hands was well played, and the romance felt organic without overtaking the plot.  There were just enough fantastical elements to keep the story solidly in the realm of urban fantasy, and the pacing was fast without exhausting the reader.

Highly recommended for fans of slightly futuristic urban fantasy and a welcome reprieve from vampires, werewolves, and magic.  A solid 4/5 Stars

Also posted in -- Book Bargains --, Romantic Suspense, Urban Fantasy – 0 Comments

Review: Deadly Pursuit – Entangled Publishing – Nina Croft

December 7, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase PageExpected Release Date: December 6, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.ninacroft.com
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2 Blood Hunter Series
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Breaking assassin Jonathon Decker out of a maximum security prison on Trakis One seemed like a good idea at the time. Now, pursued across space by the two most powerful factions in the universe, the crew of El Cazador are having second thoughts. They’d like to give him back. Unfortunately, that no longer seems an option.

Jon is used to working alone. Now, he’s stuck on the space cruiser El Cazador until he can work out just what he’s supposed to know that puts him on everybody’s most-wanted-dead list. He s not happy that the crew includes a runaway priestess with designs on his virtue such as it is. Jon likes women, but he gave up the role of protector a long time ago, and Alexia, High Priestess of the Church of Everlasting Life, is an accident waiting to happen.

After twenty-four excruciatingly boring years of doing her duty, Alex is finally having some fun. She never meant to run away it was a rash impulse and she means to go back eventually. But first, she’s going to squeeze enough excitement out of the situation to last her a lifetime. And what could be more exciting than a stunningly gorgeous werewolf?

Meanwhile, the Church are chasing their missing priestess, and the Collective are pursuing their escaped assassin. Being hunted has never been more deadly…or more fun.

What Worked For Me:

  • I loved that Jon was a werewolf. I don’t recall that being mentioned in the first novel, so it was a very pleasant surprise.  On the same note, I was actually quite happy that despite being a werewolf, there was no “fated to be mated” situation, even though I normally enjoy that trope.  Instead, Al and Jon developed a deep affection and love for one another outside of some contrived destiny, and it made their relationship far more powerful.
  • I really enjoyed seeing Al let her feminine side shine for once.  We met her in the previous novel, and even in the beginning of this one, she was pretending to be a young boy instead of the woman she is.  When she finally allowed herself to dress and act like a female, the transformation was incredible.
  • Oh man, Ms. Croft is the Queen of the C-ckblock. Seriously, she’s a master of ramping up the sexual tension and then BAM. Nuthin. She was killing me with the sexual tension, but I have to say, I love her for it.
  • The love scenes were incredible. Sensual, tender when necessary and fierce when the scene called for it.  Al’s initial desperation to experience physical love before possibly returning to the Church endeared her to me, and honestly, Jon’s reticence in obliging her made me love him and his honorable nature as well. When they finally stopped leading each other on a merry chase, they were absolutely explosive together.
  • More than just the relationship between Jon and Al, I really reveled in the camaraderie between the crewmates of the El Cazador.  Each of the shipmates have distinct personalities that help to balance each other out, and as a fan of the first novel, I of course enjoyed seeing a lot of Rico and Skylar.
  • LOVED the twist about Meridian. Loved. And I’m greatly anticipating the next book in the series because of it.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • As with Break Out, I wasn’t thrilled with the amount of time that the heroine is seen naked by other people without her consent.  Anyone who reads my reviews knows that having the heroine naked in front of people in a way that would embarrass her is a quick way to lose points with me, and poor Alex suffers from this on several occasions.
  • Alex needed a good spanking, and I don’t mean the “who’s your Daddy?” kind either.  She was so reckless and constantly acting without thinking, and it caused a lot of trouble for both herself and every other member of her crew.  While once is just fine (hey, we all make mistakes), by the end of the novel I do believe I’d have simply chained her to the wall in her cabin to keep her out of trouble.

I loved BREAK OUT, but no matter how good that book was, this one was even better.  Jon was an absolutely wonderful, tortured hero, and while I wanted to pimp-slap Alex half the time for her reckless behavior, they made a perfect couple.

With tons of action, romance, and plot twists, this book kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.  Not only were Jon and Al interesting, but the rest of the crew added an enormous amount of interest as well.  The intrigues, twists, incredible action, and delicious tension to the story all kept me glued to the pages, and ensured that I quite literally couldn’t put it down.

Recommended for fans of exciting space operas, vampires and werewolves who despite being around for centuries have never quite figured out how to fit in with society, and of a hero and heroine who are perfect for each other despite their differences.

A very solid 5/5 Stars

1 Comment

Review: Queenie’s Brigade – Red Sage Publishing – Heather Massey

October 10, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

Expected Release Date: October 1, 2011
Publisher: Red Sage Press
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://heathermassey.com/
My Source for This Book: Gift from the author
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Captain Michael Drake desperately needs an army to save Earth after a crushing defeat by alien invaders. When his damaged starship docks at a remote prison colony, he discovers Earth’s last best hope—an army to replace the one he lost. 

But, Queenie, the feral goddess ruling the prison, has other plans for the rugged star ship captain. After imprisoning Drake and seizing his ship, she prepares to lead her blood-thirsty band to freedom before the invaders track them down. 
Despite her intentions, Queenie secretly falls for the sexy, hotshot captain. Drake makes it plain he wants to win back Earth with her by his side. But is following her heart worth betraying her people?

A giant battalion of Calithian invaders are moments away from crushing Earth’s forces, when Captain Michael Drake makes the momentous decision for his ship, the Relentless, to retreat, knowing that sometimes the best hope for success is to live to simply fight another day.

Limping away from battle, the Relentless’ integrated Calithian technology interferes with navigation, dropping the ship out of their jump in orbit around Vardos — a planet orbited by a maximum security penitentiary, and dubbed with the befitting name, Hades Station. Knowing that the war would have caused interruptions in supply shipments, Captain Drake and his crew board the station, fearing they might find nothing more than the remains of starved prisoners and guards.

Instead, they are quickly taken captive by a gang of convicts, and Drake soon comes face to face with Queenie — their ruthless yet beautiful leader.

Queenie was born and raised to be a leader of the people of Hades Station, and when a UFE starship is dropped in her lap, she immediately takes action to ensure that her people gain control, knowing that this might be their only chance to escape their prison.  Ruthless and cold-blooded, Queenie is cruel by necessity, never hesitating to deal pain and violence to those who oppose her.  Falling for a sexy starship captain, who wants nothing more than to manipulate her and her people into fighting a war to save a planet that long since abandoned them, is not an option.

But soon Drake’s fairness, honesty, and sense of loyalty get beneath her skin, and it isn’t long before he begins to convince her to see things his way.  For a woman whose whole life is defined by her leadership and loyalty to her people, can she find a way to fulfill her duty to the other inhabitants of Hades Station while still giving her heart to the handsome Captain Drake?

What Worked For Me:

  • Despite her unfortunate name, Queenie was pretty awesome.  Raised on a prison planet, groomed by her mother and other gang leaders to someday lead over a thousand people, she’s intelligent, ruthless, and loyal, and above all, truly wants what is best for “her people”.
  • I adored Drake.  Desperately searching for redemption after what he felt was cowardly action in his youth, he is desperate to help win Earth back from the Calithians. He’s also delightfully alpha, can handle himself in a fight, and keeps forgetting that he’s not the one in charge any more, which leads to all sorts of deliciousness.
  • I was thrilled that the author had the guts to show some of the more ruthless and bloody reality of being a gang leader.  Queenie doesn’t hesitate to use physical torture to manipulate situations, nor does she shy away from executions or violence, and frankly, I liked her all the better for it.
  • I really enjoyed the amount of action in this book (and no, that’s not a euphemism).  Between fighting the guards, infighting amongst Queenie’s people, and other scenes that I can’t detail as they would be spoilers, there was plenty to keep the pacing high and the level of tension ratcheted up.
  • I really loved SARA and the weirdness (for lack of a better term) that came along with that technology being integrated into the Relentless.   While I would have liked for it to have been expanded on, or to have played a larger part in the story, one of the final confrontations was incredible because of SARA.
  • I actually liked the fact that there was only one love scene. I think had Drake and Queenie actually macked it throughout the story, none of it would have been believable due to pacing. Instead the timing was absolutely perfect, and the one scene that they did get to share was perfectly tasty.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • Okay, so this is terrible of me, but I hated the name “Queenie”. Hated it. Blah. She was such a strong character, having been raised on a prison planet by the leaders of a gang, savagely “beaten in” at age 16, and quickly risen into a leadership position that she has maintained through a blend of brutality and cunning charm.  Her name did her a great disservice, because it was so cutesy and cheesy that IMO it negated a lot of her strength as a character.
  • A very minor point, but as most of you know, I dislike unintentional/forced nudity in my romances, and there’s a scene early on where Queenie’s top slips and her breast is exposed.  Pointless and so not my thing.  That said, she wasn’t actually seen in the altogether or anything, so I can almost let it slide.

Overall, this one was a lot of fun.  I admit, I absolutely abhorred Queenie’s name, and unfortunately I think that took away quite a bit of the enjoyment for me, but outside of that, it was fast-paced, action-packed, and full of UST which definitely made for an exciting read.

Drake was delicious, Queenie herself was a delightful blend of ruthlessness and vulnerability, and the entire world with the Calithian war and the prison outpost made for an exciting read.

Queenie’s Brigade is currently a standalone novel, but there is a lot of potential for this one to expand into a series.  While the author tells me that there are no concrete plans to transition into a series, both she and the publisher have expressed interest in possibly continuing the story some day. I for one hope that they do, because I think the war with the Calithians could lead to many interesting situations, and frankly, I’m rooting for Drake to finally find the redemption and forgiveness he’s seeking after his sister’s death.

Recommended for badass heroines who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, of tortured heroes battling between duty and attraction, and of exciting space operas complete with alien computers and lot of explosions.

4/5 Stars.

Also posted in Short Story Or Novella – 3 Comments
« Older posts