Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 366 - Delta V: Intergalactic Dating Agency by Elsa Jade, The Accidental War by Walter Jon Williams

Delta V: Intergalactic Dating Agency by Elsa Jade
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Montana rancher Lindy Minervudottir does not think she will find love again. so what should happen but that she meets Delta V. First she thinks he is too young. I loved that Lindy was more mature (in her 50's). Turns out Delta V is an alien who needs Lindy and is not as young as he looks. He crash landed on Earth 150 years ago and now he is in danger of being recaptured. Lindy is his hope and salvation. I wish I has read the first book as I felt I was missing some of the world building and backstory. Even so this works as a standalone. I found this because it received a SFR Galaxy award.


The Accidental War by Walter Jon Williams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I did not find this partially exciting. There was a lot of world building adding up to the accidental war. Also some backstory for those who had not read the first trilogy. Some of the characters were familiar. Once again the Gareth Martinez and Lady Sula are featured. The biggest part of the world building is the financial collapse of the Praxis. It sounded very familiar. (As what happened here in 2008). Nothing is solved but there is a lot to happen in the next two books. While not exciting I did enjoy visiting the world of the Praxis again.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 335 - Planetside by Michael Mammay, The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Planetside by Michael Mammay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a very hard to put down book. Each action just leads to another action and another action all the while not knowing exactly what is going on. That is true for both the reader and the main characters. Colonel Carl Butler gets a job that is not at all what it seemed. It seems cut and dried but turns out what he is looking for is not what he finds. I loved the book but was a little disappointed in the ending. While the problem is solved the consequences are left up in the air. I was glad to see that this is a two book series and we will see Colonel Butler again in August of 2019.

This was a best read of the year on several sites and I agree that they had it right.


The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Richard Armitage does a very good job of he voices in The Christmas Hirelings. This is a book written and published before 1923. The book starts a little slow as the history of Sir John has to be revealed. When the three children show up for Christmas it is obvious who they are. What is not obvious is if Sir John will change his mind about events of the past. A nice sweet Christmas story with Muppet stealing the show. This was a free book with my Audible subscription.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 283 - The Stars Now Unclaimed by Drew Williams, The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick

The Stars Now Unclaimed by Drew Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Something happened years ago and the galaxy changed. Before there were endless wars and the Pulse was supposed to story them. It did stop some but not all. Enter the Justified and Jane Kamali. They are trying to stop the Pulse from returning and doing more damage. The world building and back story are all excellent. There are also some interesting characters. While Jane is the main characters the group around her are well developed and diverse. The plot line follows an attack that is repelled but the ending leaves plenty of room for future stories set in The Universe After.

 The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fun mix of history and fantasy. It follows two women from the same time period - one who stayed and one who came into the future. It was a little slow in the beginning as it had to establish both world building and back story of the two main characters. Their lives are intertwined even as they are separated by hundreds of years. A interesting take on one character who disappeared from history when she was two and another who comes from the authors imagination.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 279 - Into the Black by Evan Currie, Witch World by Andre Norton

Into the Black by Evan Currie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This is classic space opera/ military science fiction. The Odyssey is on its first space journey and is the first ship of its kind. On it’s maiden voyage it picks up what sounds like a distress signal and goes to answer. The rest you can guess. Even though it is a common theme there is something for almost everyone in the story. There is a lot of technical explanation for the tech fan. There is a lot of action for the action fan. There are new worlds for the pure science fiction fan.

While the plot is predictable the action is interesting. The world building is good but the character development is a little thin. It could be because there are so many characters and most play a major role in the action. As a result more time is spent on the action each is involved in than on developing a well-rounded character.

When the action came to an end there was not final solution to the problem. In fact the last page of the book pointed to a much bigger problem facing everyone. I do want to find out what will happen next so I will be looking for the next book. I listened to this as an audio book and while the voice for the male characters was spot on the voice for the female left something to be desired.


Witch World by Andre Norton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the first part of the book where Simon Tregarth escaped Earth and came to a new world. The writing there lead the way to future fantasy and scifi books. After that I hit parts that moved to slow then parts that kept up a very fast pace. This is the book for my Science Fiction Book Club this month. We are reading some of the Grand Masters of Science Fiction and Andre Norton was one of the early authors chosen. I read the book years ago and it was interesting remembering how I reacted to the story then and how I reacted to it now. Then I was looking only at the story and today I was looking at how the bones of the story as impacted writing today. Norton was a trail blazer and Witch World was part of that trail.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 278 - A Girl of White Winter by Barb Hendee, Terra and Imperium by Glynn Stewart

A Girl of White Winter by Barb Hendee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this series. This time it is Kara who has to make one of three choices. She sees each choice in a three panel mirror and each has a very different but not entirely bad result. This time thought I knew which choice she was going to take before I even saw all three. Turned out I was right. Each book has a very different setting and women who are faced with difficult decisions. Next book is already in the works making me glad that the series is still ongoing.

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


Terra and Imperium by Glynn Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Life is still throwing Annett Bond curve balls. Seems that since she is pregnant with twins she could take it easy. Not so. The Core Worlds are after something on human's only colony and if something does not intervene that colony will be destroyed. A nice ending with a large cast of characters to this part of the series. But we have not seen the last of Annett and friends. A new trilogy is scheduled to start sometime this year (2018).

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 263 - Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews, Nemesis by Ken Lozito

Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my! I almost finished this in one setting. Only knowing that I probably needed sleep made me put it down. I did then pick it up immediately upon waking. I loved the book. The dialog between Hugh and Elera is priceless. Making characters from the Kate Daniels series part of the story line and action added to the feeling of coming home to a familiar and welcome place. Only bad thing; I have to wait for the next book in the series.


Nemesis by Ken Lozito
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am still hooked on the First Colony series. Several years have passed since the end of the first book and Connor is fighting a losing battle getting the colony ready if the invasion from Earth happens. People do not believe that they are in danger and just as Connor heads back from a failed mission to get more support it happens. The invasion arrives. This is a desperate battle to keep the colony from being overrun and it comes at a great cost. The same narrator does this one and he still does a great job getting the right emotions with the right people. I am already listening to the next book in the series.

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SHort and Sweet Book Reviews # 250 - Space Carrier Avalon by Glynn Stewart, A Study in Treason by Leonard Goldberg

Space Carrier Avalon by Glynn Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Avalon is getting ready to start her last tour of duty, one that is just showing the flag on the border of Federation space. Sounds simple but as new crew arrives they find that things are not what they should be. From start to finish this military space opera keeps popping surprises. What should have been a simple cruise starts finding surprises at the first stop. I loved the action. Stewart gave this a different twist from other ministry science fiction stories. The story needed minimum world building and back story but what was needed was there. The characters are pretty standard with a nice mix of main and side ones, just what again are needed to keep the plot going. It was a hard book to put down. A very nice start to the Castle Federation series.

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


A Study in Treason by Leonard Goldberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Who else besides Joanna Blalock, the daughter of Sherlock Holmes, and of course Watson, both father and son could find the answer to this very baffling mystery. Goldberg really knows his Sherlock Holmes as throughout the story incidents keep coming back to his actions. That did add interest but also slowed the story down. Joanna is just as good as her father in finding clues. It was fun watching here in action. Some of the clues was a surprise but I did know about one character before Joanna. A good story for Sherlock Holmes fans.

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

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 230 - Planet Dragos by The Harrison, Ascendant by jack Campbell

Planet Dragos by Thea Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A nice way to see Pia and Dragos off to a new life. There is a lot of danger at first and then a lot of thinking about change as the story progresses. Good story for fans of the Elder Races series.

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


Ascendant by Jack Campbell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rob Geary and Mele Darcy are called back to help. Once again Glenlyon is in danger after losing one of their two warships. This is military space opera as Geary and Darcy arrive in time to help defend their neighbor Kosatka from attack. While this victory is important all know that they are still in great danger. All of the important characters play a part in Ascendant. There is a very loose web being woven as the colonies realize that they need to work together of be defeated. Geary and Darcy get back home and the stage is set for the next round in the war. For fans of the Lost Fleet series look for the one sentence hint about how the war in that series came about.

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

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 170 - Vanguard by Jack Campbell, Aydarr by Veronica Scott

Vanguard by Jack Campbell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I didn't think I would like this series so it took me awhile to give it a try. Turns out I was wrong, I do like the series. I thought it would be close in time to the Lost Fleet series but it is not. It is set many years before that series and it gives it a fresh feeling. I love the three main characters. Robert Geary, a young former junior fleet officer, Ninja, a computer hacker and Mele Darcy, a onetime enlisted Marine are on a planet that has just recently been colonized. When danger comes the three rise to the occasion. The back story is very well developed, the plot is not new but is very well done and the character development fits the story line. Several other characters are important at first but play a small part in the whole. They seem to be in line to play a more important role in future stories. I listed to this as a audio book and the reader did a great job on timing and voices.

Aydarr by Veronica Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was disappointed when I started Aydarr. I though Oh No another alien abduction story. It is that but it had some interesting twists that kept it from being run of the mill. For one thing the main female character was a Sector solider at one time and she can take care of herself. Of course there is that alien she bonds with. She was abducted from the Sector and that is the tie in to the previous series set in the Sector. The abductors are another tie in as they are the same enemies from the sector series. There are some very interesting characters, a well developed plot and a very predictable romance.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 155 - The Governess Who Captured His Heart by Sophie Barnes, Ironclads by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Terminal Alliance by Jim C. Hines

The Governess Who Captured His Heart by Sophie Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Louise Potter has many excellent qualities. She is doing everything she can to help her other two sisters. Alistair Langley has been coasting through life. He now has to make a choice about his future. Both find a lot in common as they travel together to Louise's new job as a governess and Alistair's time to find a bride. Of course they find that they prefer each other to any other future and with some help they reach their HEA. This is a nice novella with a well rounded story, two great main characters and some interesting side characters.

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


Ironclads by Adrian Tchaikovsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ted Regan and his crew have been sent on a mission with little or no chance of success. At the heart of the story are Scions, an interesting concept developed for the story. Corporations are driving the wars and the Scions keep the sons of the powerful safe in a battle while the common man fights and dies. Ted and crew have to come up with some very inventive moves to stay alive and in the game. There are some very interesting character who help along the way. They do succeed but not in the expected way. There is an ending to the story but that ending left me wondering and not quite satisfied. I did like the world building and back story. With the ending leaving some things up in the air I hope this is book one in a series. There is certainly enough there to continue the story.

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


Terminal Alliance by Jim C. Hines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is such a fun start to a new series. I loved the characters and their names, Marilyn Monroe is a male. Mops is janitor on the Earth Mercenary Corps Ship Pufferfish. Something happened to the humans on Earth to turn them into feral beasts. I quickly caught on to what had happened but it takes a while for Mops and crew to find out. The Krakau arrived and started changing some back using some as soldiers and some like Mops and crew as cleaning personnel. What happens when only Mops and crew are left to run the ship keeps the story going I almost skipped requesting this book and I am very glad that I changed my mind and requested it. This is fun, fun science fiction. I will be on the lookout for the next book in the series.

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

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews #84 - Alien Mate by Cara Bristol, The Guns Above by Robyn Bennis, Cursed Command by Christopher G. Nutgall

Alien Mate by Cara Bristol
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Starr Conner has been railroaded and she does not know why and at first she does not know where she is going. Even so she never gave up and quit. Imagine her surprise when she arrives at Dakon and finds that she is the mate of a very wonderful Daconian. Torg is everything anyone would want in a mate but Starr comes with some problems. In fact there are some she knows nothing about. I loved the way Starr and Torg worked together. Starr is very strong and Torg is determined to protect her no matter what. Bristol has given the aline mate trope a interesting twist. I look forward to the next stories in the series.


The Guns Above by Robyn Bennis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lieutenant Josette Dupris has just been given the command of an airship and is the first woman to to so. That command is the bane of the General commanding the troops so he sends his nephew as his spy to bring her down. Lord Bernat, a foppish aristocrat, is the spy. Josette know why he is there and what happens is a story full of laugh out loud lines wrapped into the blood and guts of battles. I loved how Bernat changes his attitude but not his personality as the story progresses. Josette seems to stay the same while overcoming incredible odds. I really loved this story and hope it is the first of a series. Following Josette and Bernat was such fun I want more.


Cursed Command by Christopher G. Nuttall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Captain Kat Falcone and William McElney are back but this time both are in command of a ship. William has been give the ship UnCanny called "Unlucky" and had to whip it into shape. Both have been sent to the notoriously lawless Jorlem Sector. What happens is easy to predict but still makes very good reading. I enjoyed how Nuttall set everything in motion. The story is told from several view points letting me know what was going on in the background on each ship. A nice military science fiction story that solves some of the problems but leaves more for both Kat and William.

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Target (Vicky Peterwald #1) by Mike Shepherd

Science Fiction/ Space Opera/Military Science Fiction

From Goodreads:

BEAUTY AND THE BATTLEFIELD

Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Victoria Maria Teresa Inez Smythe-Peterwald, daughter of wealth and power, was raised to do little except be attractive and marry well. Then everything changed—her brother, her father’s favorite and the heir apparent, was killed in battle by Lieutenant Kris Longknife, daughter of the Peterwald’s longtime enemies. Vicky vowed revenge, but her skill set was more suitable for seduction than assassination, and she failed. Angry and disappointed, her father decided she needed military training and forced her to join the Navy.

Now Ensign Vicky Peterwald is part of a whole new world, where use of her ample charms will not lead to advancement. But her father is the Emperor, and what he wants he gets. What he wants is for Vicky to learn to be efficiently ruthless and deadly.

Though the lessons are hard learned, Vicky masters them—with help from an unexpected source: Kris Longknife.

What you are seeing from Goodreads is back-story for Target.  Vicky has been a side character in the Kris Longknife stories for quite awhile.  She came into the forefront when she decided to kill Kris.  She failed and that sent her into the Greenfeld Navy and set up her own series.

Vicky has been a hard character to like.  She started as very shallow.  By the time we see her in Target she has started to embrace her time in the Greenfeld Navy.  She is back from the other side of the Galaxy and a defeat from a new alien species that wiped out all but one ship.   She was a target before she left, a target while she was gone and she is a target now that she is back.   Her stepmother will stop at nothing to see her dead.

Target follows Vicky as she tries to stay one step ahead of the people who are trying to kill her.  Target is an exciting trip filled with tension and danger.  Expect a trail of bodies left in Vicky’s wake.  Some that are killed while trying to get to Vicky and some that Vicky kills trying to stay alive.  That is the plus.   Vicky does know how to use her body and all of the graphic sex in the book was the minus for me.   Must of the book shows how Vicky is growing and changing and the sex just interrupts the flow of the story and shows Vicky in a less than positive way.

I had a hard time getting into the story at first but once it hooked me I did not want to put it down.  Target is a nice addition to the world Shepherd has built.  If you like the Kris Longknife books I think you will like the new Vicky Peterwald series.  Pick it up and give it a chance.

Ace published Target by Mike Shepherd in 2014.

For Honor We Stand (Man of War #2) by H. Paul Honsinger

Military Science Fiction/Space Opera

What Goodreads says:

In 2315, the Earth Union is losing a thirty-year-long war with the Krag Hegemony.

Having encountered the Krag before, Space Commander Max Robicheaux now faces daunting challenges aboard the USS Cumberland: the dangers from the enemy without? and clashes with crew and superiors within.

Meanwhile, Doctor Sahin receives a coded message summoning him to a secret meeting which aims to forge an alliance that could change the balance of power in Known Space. But first, he must circumvent the fighter ships and heavily armed troops of the traitorous emir bent on killing him before he reaches the negotiating table.

Both men must call upon their developing skills and growing friendship to bear the burden of carrying between the Krag Hegemony and the Earth Union a fateful ultimatum and the shocking answer: an answer that could spell eternal slavery, or even extinction, for all humankind.

The second novel in the Man of War series, "For Honor We Stand" continues the galactic naval adventures of Robicheaux and Sahin.

For Honor We Stand is book two is the Man of War trilogy. Often the middle book in a series becomes a placeholder that does not move the story forward, it just sets up book three. For Honor We Stand does not do that.  It continues to move the story forward even as it sets the stage for the next book.

Look for the same exciting writing and world building that was in book one.  There is action and danger with a large cast of characters.  Max Robicheaux and Dr. Sabin are back and still working together.  The crew of the Cumberland is still not fully up to date but they are working together much better.  While some of the themes are familiar they are given a new twist.

The plot is the same -  defeat the Krag.  It is fun to see how Max and his crew pull off the impossible again and again.  For Honor We Stand is very good Military Science Fiction.  If you are looking for action, a lot of space battles, interesting characters, different aliens and science that seems to work this is the book for you.  There is a nice twist at the end of the book that really sets up book three.

I am ready for book three but it is not listed yet.  I want it to hurry up and arrive.

47 North published For Honor We Stand by H. Paul Honsinger in 2014.

Teaser Tuesday May 8, 2012

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: 

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My teaser today is on page 156 of The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier: Invincible by Jack Campbell.  This is as far as I have read and as soon as I finish this post I will go back to reading.  I have wondered with both books in this new series if Jack Campbell could keep up the interest and tension he produced in the first series.  All I have to say is He Can.

"I'll be planning to use every warship necessary to take down the alien defense before the Marines go in.  It's going to be a dirty job but I know you can do it."

Book Beginnings on Friday, April 6, 2012

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include  include the title and author so others know what you're reading.

I'm reading The Clone Redemption by Steven L. Kent.  It is part of a Military Science Fiction Series and has been on my TBR shelf for several months.  Here is the opening line:

"If this is supposed to be our funeral, I'm not impressed," Chief Petty Officer Robert Humble whispered to the clone standing next to him."


Here is what Goodreads says about the book:

Earth, 2516 A.D.: The Unified Authority has spread human colonies across the Milky Way, keeping strict order with a powerful military made up almost entirely of clones. But now the clones have formed their own empire, and they aim to keep it...no matter who they must defeat.