Short and Sweet Book Reviews #28 – Thunderbird by Jack McDevitt, Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas, Death’s Bright Day by David Drake

Thunderbird (Ancient Shores #2) by Jack McDevitt

Science Fiction

It has been some time since I read Ancient Shores but it was very easy to get back up to speed in Thunderbird.  Now there is a RoundHouse with gates to other worlds.  Some people think it is really great and some want to bomb it into oblivion.  Since the gates are found on the Sioux reservation it belongs to the Sioux.  It is fun to see the worlds that can be reached from the gates and to follow the politics that are such a part of life and the future of the gates. (Hint:  They look a lot like today.)  Look for a fun ending with a hint of things to come.

Marrying Winterborne (The Ravenels #2) by Lisa Kleypas

Historical Romance

I love Lisa Kleypas’s stories and Marrying Winterborne keeps up her record of entertaining stories full of great characters.  We met  Rhys Winterborn and Lady Helen Ravenel in the first book of the series.  As that book closed Lady Helen left to fix her broken engagement to Rhys.  The story picks up form there.  Both Helen and Rhys are interesting characters who come from very different backgrounds.  As they work to stay together Helen learns a secret that threaten to tear them apart.  That adds great tension to the book.  Rhys and Helen have to work for their HEA..

Death’s Bright Day (Lt. Leary/ RCN #11)  by David Drake

Science Fiction

If you are like me and can’t get enough of Daniel and Adele you will love the latest addition to the series.  Once again there is tension, danger, interesting back-story and great world building.  The story starts at the party for Daniel and his new bride and ends up with a hook for the next book.  In between these two events Daniel and Adele have to go as private citizens to stop a civil war.  Another fun book in the series.

Short and Sweet Book Reviews #27 – Visitor by C.J. Cherryh, Shattered Spear by Jack Campbell, Class Zero by Y.A. Marks

Visitor (A Foreigner Novel) by C.J. Cherry

Science Fiction

So far there are 5 trilogies plus 2 more books in the Foreigner 

series.  Visitor looks like the second book in trilogy 6 but it reads like it could be the final volume.  All of the familiar characters are back as the kyo arrive for a visit at Alpha Station.  It is Bren’s job to learn why they came and what they want.  I admit that I had a suspicion about who the kyo were at war with and it turns out I was right.  Another interesting novel about how we are all alike and how we are all different. I do hope that there is another book to complete this trilogy.

Shattered Spear (The Lost Stars) by Jack Campbell

Science Fiction

This is the final book in the Lost Stars series.  It does end well but I will miss seeing how Iceni and Drakon.  I have enjoyed the push pull of their relationship and how it plays into the action in the books.  While many of the dangers that they have faced are removed in Shatters Spear not every thing is solved. Once again the story is full of fast packed action with a lot of tension thrown in.  A very good ending to a fun series.

Class Zero (Class Zero Series #1) by Y.A. Marks

YA Dystopian Science Fiction

I like to add in some YA books now and then.  Class Zero looked interesting so I requested and received it from Netgally.  Paeton Washington is a interesting main character and the story is told from her point of view.  All she wants to do is keep her head down and not have any trouble.  Doesn’t happen and the way it develops keeps the story moving.  There are some really great characters that along with Paeton drive the action.  There is also a very sweet love story that is developing as Paeton’s life changes.

Stacking the Shelves - June 25, 2016

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 


From Amazon Vine for Review:

Shadow Falling (Scorpius Syndrome #2) by Rebecca Zanetti




Purchased From Amazon:

Dark Transmissions: A Tale of the Jinxed Thirteenth by Davila LeBlanc

The Gaia Gambit (The Gaia Consortium Series Book 3) by Christine Pope

Book Beginnings and The Friday 56 - June 24, 2016

I'm linking up with Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings and Freda's Voice for Page 56. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Pick the closest book on your book stack and join the fun.

The Beginning:

"The first suicide arrives one early October night."

Page 56:

"If you could say that the sun was coming out on someones face, that face was Francine Owens."

From Night Shift, A Novel of Midnight, Texas by Sharlaine Harris.

Short and Sweet Book Review #26 – The Waters of Eternal Youth by Donna Leon, ‘Till Death do us part by Amanda Quick

The Waters of Eternal Youth by Donna Leon

Mystery

Once again Commissario Guido Brunetti is presented with a 

mystery that looks like it will be impossible to solve.  Fifteen years have passed since a teenage girl fell into a canal late at night.  She was pulled out and revived but has brain damage.  Her grandmother has always had questions about what really happened and now has asked Brunetti to see what he can find out.  At first he gets no where but keeps digging.  This is a wonder mix of current day affairs in Venice.  Many things come to life as the book progresses.  A very good addition to the series.

'Till Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick

Historical Romantic Suspense

This is classic Amanda Quick.  Calista Langley is a very strong woman who is on the shelf but making a very good living in a time when women did not work.  Trent Hasting has been hurt in the past and tries to keep his attraction to Calista in check.  When someone targets Calista Trent comes to the rescue and all of that attraction kicks in.  Another fun romp set in Victorian England.  A quick read that you will not want to put down.

Short and Sweet Book Review #25 – The Champion of Baresh by Susan Grant, Star Nomad, Honor’s Flighr and Starseers by Lindsay Buroker

The Champion of Baresh (Star World Frontier #1)  by Susan Grant

Science Fiction Romance

It has been a long five-year wait for the start of a new series by Grant.  It is a very good story with great characters.  One, Prince Klark, is a carry over from her Star series and another, Jemm Ave, is brand new.  I loved how Klark was trying to bring honor to his family after his actions in a previous book did the reverse.  Jemm is perfect in the role of a very strong woman who is working hard to help her family.  The world building is very good and back-story for Jemm is spot on.  My only complaint -  It has been a long time since I read the Star series and the back-story for Klark is based on that series and I had forgotten a lot about what he did.  It does work as a stand-alone and has numerous hooks for future books set in the Star World Frontier.

Star Nomad: Fallen Empire, Book 1 by Lindsay Buroker

Science Fiction/Space Opera

Star Nomad sets the stage and introduces the cast of characters in the series.  Each character is set on his or her own agenda and joins Alex Marchenko as she sets out to steal a dilapidated ship from the junkyard where it has been for years.  Alex’s goal is the one central theme in the series.  She needs to find her daughter and start a new life.  Of course the goals of her passengers are making that hard.  Look for  great characters, interesting back-story,  and a multi-layered plot that will keep you reading.  There is also the hint of a future romance between Alex and one of her passengers.

Honor’s Flight: Fallen Empire Book 2 by Lindsay Buroker

Space Opera/Science Fiction

Book two of the Fallen Empire sees Alex and her passengers 

arriving at Perun to collect Alex’s daughter.  As you might expect that goal runs into trouble.  The daughter has been kidnapped by the Starseers.   Finding her daughter is still the main theme but the goals of the other passengers being more trouble and danger to everyone. Honor’s Flight keeps the story moving while adding to the back-story of several of the passengers. 

Starseers: Fallen Empire, Book 3 by Lindsay Buroker

Science Fiction/Space Opera

Book three and this is not a trilogy. There is more to come after this book.  Alex is still trying to find her daughter and ends up in more and more danger.  As if that is not enough the goal of one of her passengers leads to addition danger for everyone. We learn more about the separate goals of each character while adding to the world and character building.  I borrowed this on Amazon.   I had forgotten that I could borrow one book a month with my Prime membership.  This is a fun series to read and I am looking forward to the next book as Alex continues her quest to find her daughter.

Stacking the Shelves June 18, 2016

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 

Purchased from Amazon

Draw One in the Dark (Shifter Book 1) by Sarah Hoyt

Honor’s Flight (Fallen Empire, Book 2) by Lindsay Buroker

Warrior Wench (The Asariai Wars Book 1) by Marie Andreas

Starseers  (Fallen Empire Book 3) by Lindsay Buroker

From the Library:

Clawback (An Ali Reynolds Novel) by J.A. Jance

Visitor (A Foreigner Novel) by C.J. Cherryh

Shattered Spear (The Lost Stars) by Jack Campbell

From Netgalley for Review:

Into Dust by B.J.Daniels

An Untimely Frost by Penny Richards

Once Upon a Moonlit Night by Elizabeth Hoyt

Book Beginnings and The Friday 56, June 17, 2016

I'm linking up with Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings and Freda's Voice for Page 56. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Pick the closest book on your book stack and join the fun.

My book this week is Clawback, a Ali Reynolds Mystery, by J.A. Jance.

The Beginning:

"After years of running Sedona's Sugarloaf Cafe, Bob Larson was enjoying the fruits of his labors and one of the most enjoyable benefits of retirement - the opportunity to sit at the kitchen counter, linger over a second cup of coffee, and watch the morning news."

Page 56:

"By then, Jeffrey didn't give a damn about the SD card. His only though was to get the hell out of there."

Short and Sweet Book Review #24 – Europe Collective 1 by Aaron Hubble, Skyjacked by Shirley Golden, Blood Lust by Alexandra Ivy

Europa Collective 1 – Collective Flight by Aaron Hubble

Science Fiction

What happens when your children are kidnapped and you know 

where they will end up.  If you are Malone Kay and his wife Luana Kay you do whatever is necessary to get them back.  Along the way deals are made.  Secrets are revealed.  Action is non-stop.  Look for some really interesting characters and world building.  This is book one in the series.  It can stand-alone and while one problem is solve the hook is there for future adventures with Malone and Luana.

Skyjacked (Book 1 in the Corvis Ranger Series) by Shirley Golden

Science Fiction

Corvis Ranger has let almost everyone in his life down.  Now after 

promising to be at his sons birthday party in a week he is skyjacked by a group of convicts and has to fly to the other side of the galaxy.  No matter what he does he cannot make it back in time.  This is fun space opera with a twist at the end.  Pick it up for a fun read.

Blood Lust (The Sentinels #3)  by Alexandra Ivy

Paranormal Romance

Even though this is part of a series it works fine as a stand-alone.  

Bas and Myst are great character but their daughter Molly steals the show.  The plot is fast and furious and comes together in a very believable way.  The tension between Bas and Myst ramps up the story line and kept me reading.  Great series.  After reading Blood Lust I have added the series to my wish list.

Stacking the Shelves - June 11, 2016

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 

I was gone for four months and have had trouble getting back into the routine of sharing books each week.  Maybe this will help get me back into the grove.

From the Library:

'Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick
The Waters of Eternal Youth by Donna Leon
The Red by Linda Nagata
The Trials by Linda Nagata
Night Shift by Charlaine Harris

Purchased:

Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas
Shadow and Flame by Gail Z. Martin
Admiral by Sean Danker

Book Beginnings and The Friday 56

I'm linking up with Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings and Freda's Voice for Page 56. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Pick the closest book on your book stack and join the fun.

My Beginning and 56 is from Admiral by Sean Danker. This is a Science Fiction/Space Opera Military Science Fiction book that I just ordered and received in the mail. It is the first in a new series. Have not read it yet but will post review when I have.

Admiral by Sean Danker

The Beginning:

"There were voices. "An admiral? Is this a joke? one of the voices said."

Page 56:

"Yes?" Deilani sounded a little out of breath. She was trying to compensate for not having a clue where she was going by running the whole way.

Short and Sweet Book Reviews #23 – Marcus 582 by Donna McDonald, Rescued by the Spy by Patricia Green

Marcus 582 (Cyborgs-Mankind Redefined #3) by Donna McDonald

Science Fiction Romance

This is book three in the series and you really should start with book one.  Much of the back-story and world building was done in the first two books.  There are some new characters but you get to visit with most of the characters from the previous stories.  There is a lot of tension between the two main characters.  Marcus is looking out for Rachel and as she finds herself in danger he comes to her rescue.  There are several surprises in the story as well as a nice HEA.  A nice series for Science Fiction Cyborg fans. 

Rescued by the Spy by Patricia Green

Science Fiction Erotica

This one is really short.  This is mostly sex and some violence.  The 

spy is there to break up a slave ring and a new slave is someone he knows.  Lots of sex and with some story.  Don’t pick this up if you are offended by explicit sex.  If you aren’t it is a short easy read.

Short and Sweet Book Reviews #22 – Honour Bound by M.A. Grand, Shades of Treason by Sandy Williams

I just got an email naming the Prism Award finalist for Futuristic books for 2016.  As I had read and loved Dark Horse and Echo 8 I decided to give the other two a try.  See my short and sweet review of Honour Bound and Shades of Treason below.  I loved three of the books and liked the other one.  I will be watching to see which one receives the Prism.

You can see my review of Dark Horse and Echo 8 by following the links below to my Goodreads  reviews.

Dark Horse by Michelle Diener https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1315756443?book_show_action=false

Echo 8 by Sharon Fisher https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1191828500?book_show_action=false

Honor Bound (Lawmen #1)  by M.A. Grant

Science Fiction Romance

Honour Bound is an exciting story that sets the stage for future books in the series.  In it we meet Cade and Lailian and follow them from their first brief meeting until they start to work together.  I liked the story.  Cade, Lailian and the other characters did a great job holding the story line in place.  I did feel that some of the world building was spotty.  The back-story for the characters was OK but the back-story for the world itself was not as well done.  I hope that the next book adds what I found missing in Honour Bound.  The danger, tension and characters made up for most of the missing information.  I will be looking for the next book in the series.

Shades of Treason (Anomaly #1) by Sandy Williams

Science Fiction Romance

Shades of Treason is first rate space opera with a slowly building 

romance woven into the story line.  Ash is an anomaly.  She is smarter and stronger than the average human.  The Coalition wants and needs anomalies to serve as soldiers but it does not trust them.  Their solution is to wire their brains with a loyalty training that demands allegiance to the Coalition.

 

Commander Rhys Rykus is Ash’s fair safe, the person who can make her answer questions and follow orders.  When Ash is the only survivor of an important mission and she refuses to answer any questions Rhys is called in to get answers.

This is a great premise for the story that follows.  Ash is one of those great characters that light up the page.  Rhys is an honor bound follow the book officer who always tries to do right.  Ash loves to get under Rhys’ skin while Rhys is attracted to Ash but does not admit it even to himself.

Ash’s silence both hides a big threat to the Coalition and at the same time triggers her loyalty training to protect the Coalition.  It looks like Ash is a traitor but Rhys does not believe it. What follows is a tightly written exciting story that kept me reading.  This is book one in a series and I can’t wait to see what happens to Ash and Rhys next.