Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 147 - Agatha Raisin and the Witches' Tree by M.C. Beaton, Neogenesis by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Victorious Dead by Marie Andreas

Agatha Raisin and the Witches' Tree by M.C. Beaton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Agatha finds herself in another dangerous place. After months of lost pets and wandering husbands there is a murder and Agatha is hired to find the guilty party. I love Agatha and always enjoy how she finds a man to obsess over. This time nothing comes of it and the obsession does not last long. However after one murder others occur and Agatha finds herself in danger. Once again Agatha and Charles seem to connect and then disconnect. Small spoiler, Agatha saves Charles from a very bad marriage. A fun addition to the series.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Neogenesis by Sharon Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am always excited when a new Liaden Universe book comes out. The last few book have been leading up a interesting conclusion. The first part of the book is still part of that journey and I found that part to be a little slow. About the middle of the book a lot of the scenes are on Surebleak and feature Van Con and Mira. The Uncle plays a big part as he has not also rescued Davv from a certain death his hand is reaching into the past trying to save something he built in the other universe. Theo is back bringing things and people from the past. There is a lot going on in the second half of the book. Some problems are solved but at the end a brand new problem arrives on Surebreak. I love seeing some of the original characters but missed seeing others. Here's hoping that there will be more of the originals in the next book. A nice addition to the series.


Victorious Dead by Marie Andreas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Vaslisha Tor Dain is in over her head. Not only is she seeing two different versions of a crew member who died now alive and well but not recognizing her a new danger has arrived. This is a very busy book. It goes from one dangerous situation to one even more dangerous. Turns out the long dead Asarlaí are trying to come back and are using her ship, the Warrior Wench, to open a rift in the galaxy. If that is not enough she has other enemies who want to capture or kill her and her crew. A interesting addition to this series. I look forward to book three.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 118 - A New Leash on Love by Debbie Burns, Due Diligence by Sharon Lee, In Evil Times by Melinda M. Snodgrass

A New Leash on Love by Debbie Burns
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This deals with some very serious issues that help drive the plot while still keeping the characters real and trying to live and love. The shelter at the heart of the story lets the characters tell some interesting and sometimes funny stories that help lighten the serious issue of what happens after the death of a child. Some of the issues facing shelters also work into the plot. This is a very good story with great characters and issues. First of a new series I will be looking for books two.

I received a free copy of the book from the publisher.

 Due Diligence by Sharon Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Due Diligence provides another back story for the Liaden series. Here we learn how Chi choose the pilot to give her a child. And the child - Dav. For me this was a sweet story with two interesting characters. For Gun, the pilot, is a new character to the series while Chi has been seen in previous stories that provide a background to the who and how of Clan Korval. This is a must read for fans of the series and it would provide an entertaining read for others.


In Evil Times by Melinda M. Snodgrass
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I loved The High Ground and was looking forward to In Evil Times. I was disappointed. Characters I liked before I really disliked this time. The action seemed to be going no where but is probably a set up for book three. Tracy is in a very big mess, Infanta Mercedes de Arango has turned out to be a real bitch and Boho is acting true to form. Hope all will work out in book three in a way I will like.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 80 - No Getting Over the Cowboy by Delores Fossen, Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs, The Gathering Edge by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

No Getting Over a Cowboy by Delores Fossen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Garrett Granger is still full of both rage over the end of his marriage and grief over the loss of his child. Enter Nicky Marlow an old flame who is about to shake up his world. Nicky has secrets of her own and they add to the tension in the story. The attraction between the two drive the story and Nicky's daughter often steals the show. There are also some very interesting side characters who add more spice to the story. This is another fun contemporary western romance with all the Fossen trademarks. In addition she shines the spot light on some series issues that women often face.


Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mercy is certainly in a mess this time. It seems someone named her as the most powerful person in the Tri-Cities and that leads to her abduction. What follows is a tension filled story that is full of surprises. Mercy ends up in Europe and takes things into her own hands to escape. Adam follows her trail. He does not travel alone. It was fun to watch Mercy as she uses all of her skill to escape and travel from Italy to Prague. In the meantime Adam has other problems that he has to solve before he can leave Italy and go to Prague. There are a lot of twists in the story. I was really surprised to find out the real identity of one of the characters. See if you catch on before the end of the book.


The Gathering Edge by Sharon Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lee and Miller are filling in some of the edges in the latest Liaden book. This time it is Theo and her crew who are at the front and center of this book. It seems that even when the Bechimo takes them to safe space it is not that safe. Things just keep appearing from that other universe and some are alive on arrival. I enjoyed seeing more of norbear ambassador Hevelin. He is much more that I expected from previous books. The action in this latest book is leading the characters back to Surebleak and what look like another showdown between Koval and the Liaden Clans.

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Science Fiction Romance Brigade Second Mid-Summer Blog Hop - My Favorite Aliens, the T'carais or Clutch Turtles

I love the Liaden Universe books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. The first book in the series (Agent of Change) introduces the T'carais or Clutch Turtles.  Here is how Edger and the turtles are introduced:

"He was regal, as befitted a T'carais and a being more than nine hundred Standard Years old, though among his race he was known for his occasional hasty action.  On visas he was thus: Twelfth Shell Fifth Hatched Knife Clan of Middle River's Sparing Spawn of Farmer Greentrees of the Spear-makers Den, The Edger."

Edger is the brother of Van Con yos'Phelium and friend of Miri Robertson the two main character in Agent of Change.  Edger is also very large.

I have two copies of Agent of Change to give away.  If you would like to know more about Van Con, Miri and Edger fill in the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. I will choose two winners and notify you on June 26th if you are one of the winners.  This prize is for my blog only.

To be eligible for the prizes offered by the SFB Blog Hop you must fill in the other Rafflecopter giveaway form below.

Remember  -One Rafflecopter for Mixed Book Bag and other Rafflecopter form for Blog Hop prizes.  Visit the other Blogs participating to get additional changes to win.   What are the Blog Hop Prizes?

1st Prize - $150 Amazon or B&N gift card (winner's choice) and an
ebook bundle (currently Ghost in the Machine, Bayne, Recast Book 1:Wither, Recast Book 2:Clash, Alien Adoration, Switched, Reckless Rescue, Wreck of the Nebula Dream, Keir, Terms & Conditions Apply, The Key, Marya, The Iron Admiral, Sasha’s Calling, Trouble at the Hotel Baba Ghanoush, Winter in Paradise, Once Upon a Time in Space, the Telomere trilogy, Winter Fusion, Blue Nebula, Demential, Wytchfire, Maven, Fires of Justice, Interface, Girl under Glass, and Breakout. Bonus books – Ghost Planet, The Iron Admiral: Conspiracy andDeception, and Games of Command.)

2nd Prize - $50 Amazon or B&N gift card (winner's choice)

3rd Prizes - four $25 Amazon or B&N gift cards (given to separate
winners and their choice)





a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

Musing Mondays October 8, 2012

This week’s musing — courtesy of http://ladywithbooks.wordpress.com– asks…  

Do you have a favorite series? Do you have a favorite book out of that series?
 I have several favorites.  My favorite mystery series is the Sebastian St. Cry series by C. S. Harris.  My favorite in that series is Where Shadows Dance.   My favorite Science Fiction/Space Opera series is the Liaden series by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.  Favorite book in that series is I Dare.  My favorite Historical Romance series right now is the Windham series by Grace Burrowes.  My favorite book in that series is Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish.  The romance favorites change as old series end and new series are published.

Ghost Ship ARC by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Science Fiction

An ARC is an uncorrected advanced reader copy sent out to people who will recommend the book.  An ARC from Baen is a little different.  When Baen has a book everyone is waiting for they will offer the ARC as an ebook priced at $15.00.  It is a good deal for the author and the publisher, and fills a need for those of us who can’t for the final copy of the book to be released.  To make it an even better deal for the author and publisher most of us buy a paper copy of the book when it is finally released.  In my case I have a signed copy of Ghost Ship on order from Uncle Hugo’s book story. 

Ghost Ship (Liaden Universe) is the latest book set in the Liaden Universe by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.  While it is the third book featuring Theo Waitley in the time line it is the book that follows I Dare.  Ghost Ship answers some questions, poses some new ones, and lets all of us visit with many of the characters from the previous books.  Like all Lee and Miller Liaden books the pacing is great, the character well drawn, the plot full of unexpected turns and it ends with a new questions that needs to be answered.  Ghost Ship is a great addition to the series. 

If you can’t wait to read the book you can purchase the ARC of Ghost Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller from Baen.  If you can wait the paper copy will be out in August.  For all of the die-hard fans there is another book in the works and it is scheduled to be out in 2012.  I hope there will be an ARC released for that one so I will not have as long as wait.

The Dragon Variation eBook Giveaway

One of my early post recommended the Liaden Series as a must read. If you have never read any of the Liaden books here is a chance to win the eBook version of The Dragon Variation,an omnibus edition of three Liaden Universe novels. Read the copy of the Expanding Universe post below then follow the link to post your comment for a chance to win.

http://sharonleewriter.com/2010/07/expanding-universe-contest/


"In celebration of the publication of Mouse and Dragon, the thirteenth novel set in their Liaden Universe®, authors Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are holding an Expanding Universe Contest! Yes! No less than thirty-six electronic copies of The Dragon Variation will be given away.

The Dragon Variation is an omnibus edition of three Liaden Universe® novels — Conflict of Honors, one of the first modern SFRomances; Local Custom, second place winner of the Prism Award for best Futuristic of 2002; and Scout’s Progress, the first place winner of the Prism Award for best Futuristic of 2002, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice for Best SF Novel of its year, and the prequel to Mouse and Dragon.

That’s three complete novels under one cover. No prior knowledge of the Liaden Universe® required. Electronic! In Baen Books’ DRM-free, multiplatform style. This omnibus can be read on your Kindle, your phone, your iPad, your desktop, or other ereader.
Still need some convincing?

The first nine chapters of each of these novels may be read for free at the Baen website.
Conflict of Honors
Local Custom
Scout’s Progress"

Mouse and Dragon ARC by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Science Fiction Romance

I am a big fan of Sharon Lee and Steve Miller’s Liaden series and wait anxiously for each new addition. When Baen announced that I could get Mouse and Dragon as an eBook ARC months before the release date I could not resist. I purchased, started reading and did not put it down until I had finished. All in all it was a very satisfying read and explained many of the unanswered question from other books in the series.

Mouse and Dragon is the side story of Daav and Aelliana, Van Con’s parents. It takes place before the start of the main series and also provides a bridge to Fledging and Saltation. It is a great addition for fans of the series and could be a good introduction for those who are just discovering the Liaden series.

Mouse and Dragon ARC by Sharon lee and Steve Miller is available as an eBook on the Baen web site or you can wait for the print version coming in June of 2010.

Liaden Universe, books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Space Opera

I recommended Fledging, a side story in the Liaden Universe, in a previous post and I felt that I had to recommend the books that make up the main arc in the Liaden Universe. I have put off posting on this series because I don’t think I can do the books justice.

I have a long history with the Liaden books. I picked up Agent of Change and Conflict of Honors, the first two books in the series, right after they came out in 1988. I got the next book, Carpe Diem, in 1989 and watched in vain for book four. The first three books went on my favorite shelf moving with me at least 7 times. I was resigned to the fact that I would never find out what happened when Plan B went into effect. Then in 1998 my son called to tell me that Steve and Sharon had found a new published and Plan B was finally going to be published. I was one of the first in line to buy the book. In 2002 I Dare, the fifth and final book in the arc, was published. All five books have a permanent place on my favorite shelf. The series is one that I love to reread. Each time I find something new.

The books are the story of Clan Korval. Authors Steve Miller and Sharon Lee have created a unique and believable universe populated with several different human branches and some interesting aliens. Clan Korval is located on Liaden where you will find a complex group of clans with an intricate set social rules and values. It is said that on Liaden there are the clans and then there is Korval. The characters portrayed in Clan Korval have surprising talents. They also have powerful enemies who are working to bring to clan down.

The series is filled with deadly enemies, surprising allies, great characters and a riveting story. In this well crafted universe each book adds an extra dimension to the problems and solutions needed for the clan to survive. As each layer is added to the story characters that were minor come forward to play a vital role in the clan’s move to defeat their enemies.

This series is space opera at its finest and a must read for any space opera fan.

The books in the series are:

Agent of Change
Conflict of Honors
Carpe Diem
Plan B
I Dare

If you would like to check out the books there are samples available at www.korval.com.

At the present time the books are only available from Baen as eBooks. Baen will be reissuing the books in paper some time in the near future.

Fledging by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Space Opera

Fledging is a side story in the Liaden Universe. On the last two pages of I Dare, the last book in the five book Liaden arc, Theo Waitley arrives looking for delm of Korval. She explains “I’m here because my father’s missing and he told me-he always told me to go to the delm of Korval, if ever there was really bad trouble”. The last line in the book has Theo talking about the trouble and saying, “It’s kind of complicated.” Theo is a totally new character from a period in Daav’ yos’ Phelium’s life that we know little about. All of the fans of the Liaden series started asking questions about Theo and pestering the authors for more information about this new character. At the same time Steve and Sharon’s publisher went out of business without paying for books that had already been sold. Writers like to get paid for their work so they went to their fans with a proposal for Theo’s story. They would write Theo’s story and published it on the web if fans would contribute to the effort. A chapter would be written and published for every $300 contributed. Fans wanted the story and enough money was donated for the entire first draft of Fledging to be written. During this time a new publisher, Baen Books, picked up Steve and Sharon for publication. Baen agreed to publish a final edition of Fledging.

Fledging is a book written for fans of the Liaden universe and is not a good first book it read in this series.

I enjoyed watching the writing process from first draft (what I read on the web) to the final published book. The first draft of Fledging told the story but without the details that moved the story smoothly toward a climax. The problems were often confusing and hard to follow in the draft. In the published version everything flows, characters are defined and more of the details of Daav’s life while away from Clan Korval are revealed. What Fledging does not answer is what problem Theo brought to the delm of Korval. The answer to that is in the next book about Theo, Saltation. The first draft of Saltation was also written on the web and like Fledging Baen contracted to publish the polished copy. Look for it in April of 2010.

If you are a fan of Liaden you have to read Fledging. Don’t stop with the first draft. Buy the book, it tells a much better story.

Baen published Fledging by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee in 2009.