Look Back Wednesday - January 25, 2017-Ghost of a Chance by Simon R. Green

LOOK BACK WEDNESDAY IS A FEATURE HERE ON MY BLOG.  I DECIDED TO  FEATURE BOOKS FROM DIFFERENT SHELVES ON GOODREADS.  SOME HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON MY BLOG AND SOME HAVE NOT. 

THIS MONTH I AM FEATURING BOOKS FROM MY GOODREADS FANTASY SHELF.

Ghost of a Chance by Simon R. Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Paranormal

Simon R Green writes novels with lots of blood and guts and Ghost of a Chance is no exception. The book starts. “Everyone knows there are bad places in the world.” This first Ghost Finders Novel has two institutes that send teams out to handle bad places when they appear.

Our heroes’ work for the Carnacki Institute and are the good guys. They only work to shut down bad places. The opposition works for the Crowlely Project. They really don’t care about protecting humanity; they just want to amass knowledge and power for their own use.
The team from the Carnacki Institute consists of:

JC Chance– He is an over the top very confident, extremely good-looking male who is the leader of the team.

Melody Chamber – Her main concern is with the machines that pinpoint where and what the bad things are.

Happy Jack Palmer – A telepath who is never happy and spends his days popping pills to help keep the voices at bay.

At the end of the book there is a surprising new member.

They are not an “A” team but when a big bad shows up in the London Underground they are all that is available. A two-man team from the Crowlely Project is tasked with taking JC and his team out and shows up in the underground at the same time.

This is a set up for a lot of blood and guts, unexpected alliances and a win in the end.

Everything about this is over the top. I could never see this as a movie but it would make a great comic strip with characters drawn like the Dick Tracy strip of old. I thought it was a fun book to read but not one to take seriously.

This is our Science Fiction Book Club book this month. I wrote this before the meeting and am adding the thought of the group after we met.
Group thoughts on the book:

There were two thumbs up on the book and 7 thumbs down. Only two of us liked the book. Everyone else said they were tempted to put it down unfinished and would have if it had not been a Book Club selection.



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Look Back Wednesday - December 14, 2016

LOOK BACK WEDNESDAY IS A FEATURE HERE ON MY BLOG.  I DECIDED TO  FEATURE BOOKS FROM DIFFERENT SHELVES ON GOODREADS.  SOME HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON MY BLOG AND SOME HAVE NOT.  

FOR DECEMBER I WENT TO MY CHRISTMAS ROMANCES SHELF.

  Christmas at Seashell Cottage by Donna Alward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Christmas at Seashell Cottage is another of those heart-warming books that come out every Christmas season. If you are like me and love Christmas and the stories Christmas at Seashell Cottage is the book for you.

Charlie Yang and Dave Ricker are both great characters. Charlie feels like she has never fit in. She loves Jewell Cove but after a year still feels like an outsider. She meets Dave and a series of events start to change that feeling. Both have events from the past they must overcome to get to their HEA. That journey makes for a great story with a wonderful setting and side characters.

The story line is familiar but it is familiar because it works when used by an accomplished author like Donna Alward. Pick it up if you love Christmas Romances.

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Look Back Wednesday, November 16, 2016

LOOK BACK WEDNESDAY IS A FEATURE HERE ON THE BLOG.  THERE ARE SO MANY REALLY GOOD BOOKS I HAVE REVIEWED ON GOODREADS SO I DECEIDED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME FROM THE PAST.  THIS MONTH I AM FEATURING BOOKS POSTED ON MY GOODREADS MYSTERY SHELF.  EACH REVIEW IS A DIRECT POST FROM MY GOODREADS REVIEW.  THIS MONTH I AM FEATURING PARANORMAL MYSTERIES.

Marked by Alex Hughes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been looking forward to Book 3 in the Mindspace Investigation series. After reading it I came away with mixed feelings. Before I go further I do want to say that this is not a series you just drop into. Go back to the beginning and start with book one, Clean.

On the plus side Marked continued with the world building started in the first two books. There is more background about the Tech Wars and the Guild. Along with the world building the characters continue to be fleshed out. Finally Adam and Cherabino start to work on their attraction, just working – nothing resolved.

On the minus side the main premise for Marked just does not make sense. Why on earth would Adam ever go back to help the Guild. They used him to test a drug that was very addictive and threw him out instead of helping him when that experiment left him an addicted. I have never liked the Guild and I really had trouble believing he would every willing walk back into a situation that gave them any power over him. They have not changed - they do not treat him well this time either.

Having said all of that after I got over how stupid I though Adam was the plot was interesting. Like Adam I would think I knew what was going on only to be fooled again and again. I do hope the next book leaves the Guild way, way in the background. I like Adam and did not enjoy seeing him back in the power of the Guild.


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Look Back Wednesday - For Heaven's Eyes Only by Simon R. Green

 LOOK BACK WEDNESDAY IS A FEATURE HERE ON THE BLOG.  THERE ARE SO MANY REALLY GOOD BOOKS I HAVE REVIEWED ON GOODREADS SO I DECEIDED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME FROM THE PAST.  THIS MONTH I AM FEATURING BOOKS POSTED ON MY GOODREADS MYSTERY SHELF.  EACH REVIEW IS A DIRECT POST FROM MY GOODREADS REVIEW. 

For Heaven's Eyes Only by Simon R. Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I just finished listening to For Heaven's Eyes Only by Simon Green. I have read other series by Simon Green and wondered if I would like this one.

This is book five in Simon Green's The Secret Histories series. The series features field agent Edwin "Eddie" Drood - aka secret agent Shaman Bond.

"A horrifying presence is growing and the threat of a mysterious Great Sacrifice looms. Although Eddie has always been something of an outside, he - with help from his witch lover Molly Metcalf - will have to rise to the occasion to help thwart the menace and save his people."

For Heaven's Eyes Only was fun to listen too but I would not want to read the book. There is a lot of blood and gore. Saving the world involved killing a lot of people. If you read the book don't expect any happy ending. Once the current problem is solved the book ends with a cliff-hanger that will be the theme for the next book.

LOOK BACK WEDNESDAY - FOUND BY KIMBER CHIN

LOOK BACK WEDNESDAY IS A FEATURE HERE ON THE BLOG.  THERE ARE SO MANY REALLY GOOD BOOKS I HAVE REVIEWED ON GOODREADS SO I DECEIDED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME FROM THE PAST.  THIS MONTH I AM FEATURING BOOKS POSTED ON MY GOODREADS MYSTERY SHELF.  EACH REVIEW IS A DIRECT POST FROM MY GOODREADS REVIEW. 

Found by Kimber Chin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have been on Kimber Chin's email list but somehow I missed the release of Found. Fortunately I just found Found.

It had happened again. Death has found Tatyana. It did not matter where she went it just kept happening. Then because she helped a dying woman Tatyana had to disappear and that was when she became mixed up with the mob and became Nikolay’s pretend fiancé. That was when the fun began. Tatyana or Brat as Nikolay calls her is sure being his fiancé is his death sentence. Nikolay is not buying that. It is great fun to watch the two as they play off against each other.

Kimber Chin writes great dialog and the word play between Nikolay and Tatyana ratchets up the tension in the story. Tatyana is a strong character and Nikolay is her match. There are also several well-developed side characters that add to the story. You don’t normally think a story with a mob setting would be this funny but Found like other Kimber Chin books is full of humor. If you have not tried a Kimber Chin story you are missing out. Pick one up today.

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Look Back Wednesday - The Dimensional Shift by Frances Pauli

LOOK BACK WEDNESDAY IS A FEATURE HERE ON THE BLOG. THERE ARE SO MANY REALLY GOOD BOOKS I HAVE REVIEWED ON GOODREADS I DECEIDED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME FROM THE PAST. RIGHT NOW I AM FEATURING BOOKS POSTED ON MY GOODREADS SCIENCE FICTION ROMANCE SHELF. EACH REVIEW IS A DIRECT POST FROM MY GOODREADS REVIEW.


The Dimensional Shift by Frances Pauli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Science Fiction Romance

I found The Dimensional Shift on the SFR Brigade’s Pitch Contest and went to Barnes and Noble to purchase and download the ebook. This is cute story with an unusual main character. Chloe’s job is cleaning rooms in a local hotel in the northern US. Her job is seasonal as the hotel has few guests in the winter. On one of her last days of the season a woman in room 306 walks in from the balcony while she is cleaning. The only problem is that there should not have been anyone in the room. Drew, the only occupant, was out and when he returned confirmed that the woman must have broken in. Meeting Drew leads to a job offer for Chloe.

Drew offers her a job at twice the pay at a hotel he helps manage. She does not have to move she can commute to work from her living room. The hotel is an inter-dimensional hotel catering to being from different dimensions. Chloe will be working in the human section. Chloe is still cleaning rooms but is drawn into an ongoing mystery. She must use her skills to find the answerers to several question, not the least of which is whether or not her boss, Drew, is interested in her.

I enjoyed the story. At times it was a little slow, mostly because of the world building. The characters were fun and unique. The concept was interesting and lends itself to future stories. In fact the second book featuring Chloe is already out.


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Look Back Wednesday - Break Out by Nina Croft

LOOK BACK WEDNESDAY IS A FEATURE HERE ON THE BLOG.  THERE ARE SO MANY REALLY GOOD BOOKS I HAVE REVIEWED ON GOODREADS I DECEIDED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME FROM THE PAST.  RIGHT NOW I AM FEATURING BOOKS POSTED ON MY GOODREADS SCIENCE FICTION ROMANCE SHELF.  EACH REVIEW IS A DIRECT POST FROM MY GOODREADS REVIEW.

Break Out by Nina Croft
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Science Fiction with a Vampire space ship captain. I could not resist when I read a review of the second book in this series, Deadly Pursuit. I went over and purchased the first book Break Out.

Richardo Sanchez is a two thousand year old vampire who really knows how to change with the time. In 3048 he is the Captain and owner of the space ship El Cadazor. Skylar Rossaria is on a rescue mission to break a assassin from the most secure prison in the galaxy. She is not what she seems. Her mission is not what she thinks. She hires the El Cadazoe and her attraction to Richardo is a further complication.

Look for an interesting crew, great dialog and a surprise ending. The world building is a little weak. We know that there is a mineral that can give immortality and only the Collective has access but not much more. I read where the second book fills in some of the blanks the first did not.

Break Out is a quick fun read more Science Fiction than Paranormal.

Entangled Publishing released Break Out by Nina Croft in 2011.


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Look Back Wednesday - Silver Shark by Ilona Andrew

LOOK BACK WEDNESDAY IS A FEATURE HERE ON THE BLOG.  THERE ARE SO MANY REALLY GOOD BOOKS I HAVE REVIEWED ON GOODREADS I DECEIDED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME FROM THE PAST.  RIGHT NOW I AM FEATURING BOOKS POSTED ON MY GOODREADS SCIENCE FICTION ROMANCE SHELF.  EACH REVIEW IS A DIRECT POST FROM MY GOODREADS REVIEW.

Silver Shark by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Claire Shannon has enhanced mental capabilities that were used in a war her side lost. By hiding those abilities she is allowed to live but must go off planet and start a new life. She must continue to hide what she can do but finds if difficult. The attraction she feels toward her new boss does not help. This has great world building and wonderful characters. I hope to see more in this universe.

Ilona Andrews is the pen name for a husband and wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former U.S. Army sergeant. They write the Kate Daniels books and The Edge books. So far there is a short story and this novella in The Kinsman Series. I am hoping for more. This world has unlimited possibilities.



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Look Back Wednesday - The Ultimatum by Susan Kearney

LOOK BACK WEDNESDAY IS A NEW FEATURE HERE ON THE BLOG.  THERE ARE SO MANY REALLY GOOD BOOKS I HAVE REVIEWED ON GOODREADS I DECEIDED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME FROM THE PAST.  RIGHT NOW I AM FEATURING BOOKS ON MY SCIENCE FICTION ROMANCE SHELF.  EACH REVIEW IS A DIRECT POST FROM MY GOODREADS REVIEW.



The Ultimatum by Susan Kearney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Ultimatium is book three in the Rystani series but it works very well as a stand alone. Some of the characters from the previous two books are mentioned but are not really a part of this story.

Backstory: Everything is presented as part of the current story and explains the tension between the characters and the reason for the mission the characters undertake. While this is part of a series there was never a time when I felt that I did not have the background I needed to understand the world.

Characters: Susan Kearney knows how to create interesting and unusual main female characters. Alara’s is unique because during certain times she has to have sex to regenerate or she dies. At times that overshadows how intelligent she is. Xander is the alpha male who brings her on his ship without knowing about the need Endekian women have. Both are strong intelligent people who have to work out their problems in order to sued in their quest. There are some very well developed secondary characters who add interest to the story. Then there are the Perceptive Ones who show up in small segments scattered between the chapters. T

Plot: It is fairly standard. There is a virus that will kill everyone unless a cure is found. There is a time limit that adds to the tension. Secondary is the attraction between Alara and Xandar.

Writing: The writing moves the characters and the plot along in an interesting manner. The dialog was crisp, the action fit the plot and the characters moved in the manner that fit their development. A very well done book.

I liked the story. I am looking forward to reading next book in the series, The Quest. If you like SFR this is a good choice for you.

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