Tales from the SFR Brigade edited by JC Cassels, authors – Linnea Sinclair, Marcella Burnard, Erica Hayes, Liana Brooks, Pippa Jay, Berinn Rae, Amy Laurens, Kyndra Hatch

Science Fiction Romance

From Goodreads:

Experience love and adventure among the stars in ‘Tales from the SFR Brigade,’ a free digital anthology of eight Science Fiction Romance stories.

• A space captain discovers the cyborg she loves just might be her greatest enemy.

• A mind-wiped prostitute risks all when she recruits a dangerous stranger to help her escape a terrible fate.

• A prisoner-of-war confronts the comrade who loved her, then left her for dead.

• A space-obsessed physics teacher is kidnapped by a far-too-charming alien.

• An apocalypse survivor battles the biomech-enhanced hunter who seeks to capture her.

• A young artist must choose between her comfortable life on Earth or a war-torn space colony with her beloved.

• A daring thief is on the run from the alien law man who is determined to bring her to justice.

• A widowed rebel leader tries to save the last remnants of humanity, one stranger at a time.

From Earth to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, explore the worlds of Science Fiction Romance with stories from Linnea Sinclair, Marcella Burnard, Erica Hayes, Liana Brooks, Pippa Jay, Berinn Rae, Amy Laurens, and Kyndra Hatch.

Download ‘Tales from the SFR Brigade’ from Smashwords free today.

The SFR Brigade Mid-Summer Blog Hop just ended and as it did SFR Brigade published their first book of short stories titled Tales from the SFR Brigade.  This is a free ebook.  Click on the link above to get your copy.  I downloaded and read immediately and loved every story.

World building:  These are short stories so there is not a lot of time to world build.  In spite of that each author manages to include just the right amount of information about the world their readers need.  All are stand alone with the exception of Linnea Sinclair’s story.  The back-story is in Games of Command. 

Characters: There are some well drawn characters in each story. After meeting them in the short stories I would love to see them in full-length books or novellas.

Writing:  These are some exceptionally well-written short stories with short but well developed plots.  After finishing the entire volume I was ready to go back and re-read every story again.

I do have one suggestion.  I would have liked a clickable 

Table of Contents.  As I read I bookmarked the start of each story so I could easily find them again.

This was a great idea and I hope that there will be future volumes.  There was a wealth of writing talent in Tales from the SFR Brigade.  I look forward to seeing more from each author.

Tales from the SFR Brigade is an ebook.  Remember it is free so be sure to download and read.

SFR Brigade published Tales from the SFR Brigade in June of 2013.

Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair

Games of Command is one of the books offered as part of the first prize in the SFR Second Annual Mid-Summer Blog Hop.  This is a previous post but I though it would be appropriate to repeat during the hop.  There are still 2 days and some hours left in the hop.  To get your entries for the prizes follow this line:  http://mixedbookbag.blogspot.com/2013/06/science-fiction-romance-brigade-second.html

Here is what Goodreads Says:

"The universe isn’t what it used to be. With the new Alliance between the Triad and the United Coalition, Captain Tasha “Sass” Sebastian finds herself serving under her former nemesis, biocybe Admiral Branden Kel-Paten–and doing her best to hide a deadly past. But when an injured mercenary winds up in their ship’s sick bay–and in the hands of her best friend, Dr. Eden Fynn–Sass’s efforts may be wasted.

Wanted rebel Jace Serafino has information that could expose all of Sass’s secrets, tear the fragile Alliance apart–and end Sass’s career if Kel-Paten discovers them. But the biocybe has something to hide as well, something once thought impossible for his kind to possess: feelings . . . for Sass. Soon it’s clear that their prisoner could bring down everything they once believed was worth dying for–and everything they now have to live for."

And here is my original post:

Games of Command published by Bantam Spectra in 2007 is among my favorite books. Bantam Spectra contracted with Linnea Sinclair to republish her books originally written for a small press that went out of business. Finders Keepers, Gabriel’s Ghost, Accidental Goddess and Games of Command were all part of that contract. The original story line was a two-part book. Only the first book was published. Bantam did not want a series and had Linnea rewrite the story as one book. I have read Command Performance, the first book in the series, and I found Games of Command to be a much tighter better-written book.

I call this a space opera romance. The book is filled with plot twists and action. While there are two different romances in the book the main characters are Captain Tasha Sebastian and Admiral Brandon Kel-Paten. The two had been enemies for years. When a new threat appeared on the scene the old saying “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” came into play and the two are now part of the new Alliance. Tasha is posted to Admiral Kel-Paten’s ship as part of the peace treaty. Tasha is the opposite of Kel-Paten and thinks that he hates her. He is a biocybe and as far as he knows one of a kind. Created to be the ultimate warrior he is part machine and part human programmed feel no emotion but anger. He is a great at his job, follows all the rules, but is ill at ease in other situations. Tasha thrives in situations that are outside the box. The two first met 12 years before when the then Captain Kel-Paten boarded the ship Tasha was on to commandeer its cargo. Tasha outwitted him and he left empty handed. Tasha did not fear him and managed to do what few other could. Without anyone being aware Kel-Paten had managed to overpower his emotion inhibitors and he fell in love with Tasha. For the next 12 years wrote her love letters that would only be sent when he died. Now he finally has her on his ship. And so the story is set.  They capture a rebel, nothing goes as planned. Tasha learns of Kel-Paten feeling when she breaks into his files. It is nonstop action from there on.

If you like Science Fiction Romance I predict that Games of Command will land on your favorites shelf.

Bantam published Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair in 2007.

Musing Mondays, February 13, 2012

 

This week’s musing asks…

What is your favorite romantic book –or book that includes a love story? (an adult romance, young adult, kids’ story, anything)

This one took a little thought.  There are several love stories that I like.  I love the flow of the Sebastian St Cyr Historical Mystery series and the budding romance between Sebastian and Hero Jarvis.  Another slow developing romance I really like is in the Sarah Tolerance Historical Mystery series and is between Miss Tolerance and Sir Walter Mandiff.   Both of these series have book I like to reread but if I am looking for one book and not a series the Finders Keepers by Linnea Sinclair would have to be my favorite.  That is the book I take down from my comfort shelf and re-read the most.  Finders Keepers is also my all time favorite type of book to read, a Science Fiction Romance.

Rebels and Lovers by Linnea Sinclair

Science Fiction Romance

I think award winning author Linnea Sinclair is the queen of Science Fiction Romance and she has written another winner in Rebels and Lovers. The fourth book set in the Dock Five Universe Rebels and Lovers continues to add complexity to the world started in Gabriel’s Ghost. As in all of Linnea’s books the character building is right on target and the plot is filled with action and unexpected twists. The romance does not drive the story but is skillfully woven into the action adding to the appeal.

Rebels and Lovers is the story of another Guthrie. The Guthrie’s are trying to consolidate their power after the deflection of Philip Guthrie to the new Alliance. The Guthrie patriarch decides to use the marriage of his youngest son to accomplish this. The youngest is Devin whose talent is in business not catch your breath action. Everything changes when his nephew Trip vanishes. Devin follows a trail that leads him to Dock Five. Makaiden Griggs, a former Guthrie family pilot, is short of funds and her ship is unable to leave Dock Five. She recognizes Trip, sees he is in trouble and moves to help. Devin, Trip and Makaiden find themselves together and on the run for their lives.

Bantam will release Rebels and Lovers by Linnea Sinclair on March 23rd, 2010. I belong to Linnea’s Yahoo group. She offered a pre-release pdf copy to any member who had a book blog. I enjoyed reading Rebels and Lovers on the computer but want a hard copy and will be purchasing the book to re-read as soon as it is released.

While Rebels and Lovers is part of a series it can stand alone. Be warned, after you read Rebels and Lovers you will want to find the other three.

Hope’s Folly by Linnea Sinclair

Science Fiction Romance

Hope’s Follyby Linnea Sinclair (http://www.linneasinclair.com/books.html) is the third book in the Dock Five Universe. The first two are Gabriel’s Ghost and Shades of Dark. I think it adds to the story if you have read the first two, but Hope’s Folly stands on it’s own.

Philip Guthrie was a supporting character in both Gabriel’s Ghost and Shades of Dark. Linnea in one of her post’s said that Philip visited her office one day and said that he wanted his own story. Hope’s Folly is the result.

Admiral Philip Guthrie is a changed character in Hope’s Folly. Taking on a leading role in the rebellion against Imperial forces he is aware of his past mistakes and hoping to make amends for some of his decisions. His first job is to get aboard and move Hope’s Folly to the rebel shipyards for re-fitting. At Kirro Station Philip and some of his new crew are attacked trying to board the shuttle taking them to Hope’s Folly. Rya Bennton a former ImSec officer (polite, professional and prepared to kill) is among those joining his crew and helps Philip defend everyone as they board the shuttle. Nothing goes smoothly; there is a traitor in the crew, the ship has problems and two different groups are trying to keep them from arriving at the shipyard for repairs. In addition, there is an immediate attraction between Philip’s and Rya. Rya has had a crush on Philip since she was a child but does not think he could be interested in her. Philip fights the attraction because Rya is the daughter of an old friend and 15 years his junior. Their attraction adds tension to the story. Just a comment on my part. This is a very different Philip. He frequently calls himself a “galactic sized ass” for some of the things that take place between he and Rya. He would not even have thought that in the first two books.

In Hope’s Folly Linnea Sinclair has written another excellent story blending romance and science fiction. Like all of Linnea’s books the story has a fast pace, a great plot, well-written characters, humor, and gripping action. Hope's Folly joins other Linnea Sinclair books on my favorite's shelf.

Bantam (http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/results.pperl?x=9&y=8&title_subtitle_auth_isbn=Linnea+Sinclair)published Hope’s Folly by Linnea Sinclair in 2009.

If you would like another view of Hope’s Folly go visit Frances Writes (frances-writes.blogspot.com)to see her review.

Finders Keepers by Linnea Sinclair

I found one of my comfort books in My Mixed Book Bag.

Do you have comfort books? Even if you don’t know the term you probably do. Comfort books are those you go back and read again and again. They stay on a special shelf so they are easy to find. They are old friends who you enjoy being with. Comfort books are guaranteed to pull you into the story and for a little while let you forget the world around you.

For me Finders Keepers by Linnea Sinclair is one of those books. Even though I have read it several times I still get lost in the story. When I have to put it down I can’t wait to get back and start reading again. I was close to the end last night and could not stay awake to finish. I knew the ending but I still had to pick up the book this morning and finish reading. I was sorry when the book ended and wished there was more. That to me is a perfect comfort book.

Finders Keepers is a Science Fiction Romance Published by Bantam in 2005 or as I like to call it Space Opera with a romance. I have read and enjoyed all of Linnea Sinclair’s books. Every book has all the elements I love; danger, adventure, great characters, romance, and a well thought out plot. I liked every book but only Finders Keepers and Accidental Goddess sit on my comfort shelf. For me they both have that certain something that keeps the story fresh and new each time I read. If you are looking for great Science Fiction Romance pick up any book by Linnea Sinclair. After you have read one I would be willing to bet you go looking for the rest. One may even end up on your comfort shelf. If a Linnea Sinclair book is already on your shelf leave a comment to let everyone know your choice.

The Accidental Goddess by Linnea Sinclair

As I promised this is another book where time travel is used as part of the plot. Gilliaine Davre’ (just plain Gillie) wakes up after a battle to defeat the Fav’lhir and finds that she has been sent 350 years into the future. To complicate matters the the accident that sent her into the future is seen as a divine sacrifice and she has become a goddess. Simon, her sentient crystal ship is badly damaged. The Fav’lhir have finally recovered from the defeat Gillie handed them 350 years ago and are back for another try at conquest. There is also space station commander that Gillie very attracted too. Gillie just wants to be blend into the background but events conspire against her. Linnea Sinclair calls this a Science Fiction Romance. I call it a Science Fiction Space Opera with a romance thrown in. This is one of my favorite books by Linnea. It is a keeper. I have reread it several times and loved it every time. If you like Accidental Goddess look for other books by Linnea Sinclair.