Slow Train to Arcturus by Eric Flint and Dave Freer

Science Fiction/Space Opera are in my Mixed Book Bag today.

In Slow Train to Arcturus Eric Flint and Dave Freer have written science fiction at its best. Man has decided to live in space not on planets. The space around Earth is filling up and man wants to move out to the stars. The journey to new stars is made on a slow train that accelerates and does not slow down. The slow train is a series of habitats strung together like beads on a necklace. As the train approaches a system a habitat is disconnected and slows down to reach its new home in a new solar system.

That takes care of the science to get from Earth (point A) to the new system (point B) but who goes and what happens in each habitat? Like the frontier of old it is the misfits that want to leave and each habitat has a different group with a reason to leave and never return. There is no communication between the habitats and as time passes strange changes take place. As the story opens the slow train is approaching a solar system where another intelligent species has developed. They decide to visit what they expect to be a dead artifact. Action and adventure, romance and drama, comedy and tragedy all result. This is a cliffhanger that keeps you reading. Pick up Slow Train to Arcturus and enjoy.

Baen published Slow Train to Arcturus in 2008. If you like to read e-Books go to the Baen web site and purchase the book there. For hardcover go to any bookstore.

Galaxy Blues by Allen Steele

Science Fiction/Space Opera is in my Mixed Book Bag today.

Galaxy Blues was published by ACE in 2007. This is the second book written in the Coyote Universe and joins the four books written about Coyote. It can be read as a standalone. I had read two of the books written about Coyote but even if I had not I would have had no trouble following the story in Galaxy Blues.

Galaxy Blues has all the elements Space Opera. Aliens, humans who read minds, a young hero rising above the odds, and new ways to travel in space. Through in a romance (I notice that more and more Science Fiction contains a romantic element. Maybe authors are noticing that romance sells!) to spice things up and you have a great story.

In Galaxy Blues as in all the Coyote books Allen Steele writes an entertaining and engaging tale. If you like science fiction/space opera be sure to read Galaxy Blues. If you have never read any of the Coyote series you can start here and keep reading.

Rough Edges by Jannifer Hoffman

Romance/Suspense Thriller is in my Mixed Book Bag today.

Resplendence Publishing released Rough Edges by Jannifer Hoffman as an eBook in February of 2009. I purchased Rough Edges from Fictionwise and read the book on my eBookwise reader.

Julia Morgan M.D. just miscarried her twins, divorced her husband, and lost her job. Her sister thinks Julia needs a change of scenery and talks her into applying as a nanny for Dirk Travis a rancher is Colorado. To get the job she does not mention that she is a doctor. Julia’s ex-husband is trying to find her. Dirk has been separated from his wife for 3 years before she drops their children off at the ranch and goes missing. Both are keeping secrets. The story is old but the writing is fresh and engaging. I enjoyed following Julia and Dirk’s story. There are great supporting characters, a wonderful setting and a well thought out plot. Right now Rough Edges is available only as an eBook. You can purchase at Resplendence or Fictionwise.

Angel-Seeker by Sharon Shinn

Science Fiction/Fantasy Romance is in my Mixed Book Bag today.

I added Sharon Shinn to my list of authors to read after hearing her on panels at ARCON in 2007 and WORLDCON in 2008. If I had to use one word to convey my impression of Sharon it would be delightful. I hoped her books would match my impression of her personality.

I picked up Angel-Seeker on a recent trip to the library. It is the second novel in the Samaria series and the first Sharon Shinn book I have read. I was not disappointed. There is romance and adventure, well-developed characters, good world-building, and an engaging plot. There is a strong fantasy element with just the hint of Science Fiction. The people of Samaria know they arrived from somewhere else 500 years ago. There are humans, angels and Jovah. The angels are humans with wings who can sing to Jovah (fantasy) and bring down the things from the sky that humans and angels need (science fiction).

Angel-Seeker tells the story of two different women Elizabeth and Rebekah and the men they find to love. Their journeys are separate and difficult but in the end their paths intertwine.

While this is part of a series it reads well as a standalone. If you are looking for a new author pick up a Sharon Shinn book. I wasn’t disappointed and I don’t think you will be either. Angel-Seeker was published by ACE in 2004.

A Spoonful of Poison by M.C. Beaton (An Agatha Raisin Mystery)

Mystery is on top of my Mixed Book Bag today.

In A Spoonful of Poison Agatha Raisin is in top form. Chasing off after another man, letting her petty jealousies affect her judgment, and trying to move past her insecurities gets her into a lot of trouble. You can’t help but love and identify with Agatha. Which of us have never suffered from some of the same strengths and weaknesses that keep this series interesting. One of the great things about the Agatha Raisin mysteries is the small amount of growth and change she shows from book to book. That change keeps the action unpredictable. This is the 19th Agatha Raisin Mystery. All are set in a small village in the Cotswold’s where Agatha purchased a cottage after selling her successful London business. While each book can be read as a stand-alone the series would be more enjoyable by starting with Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death. If you have started reading the series be sure to get A Spoonful of Poison. If not start at the beginning and enjoy 19 great reads.

St. Martin’s Minotaur published A Spoonful of Poison in 2008. According to the book jacket M.C. Beaton divides her time between Paris and the Cotswold’s. That is a tough life but someone has to do it.

2008 P.E.A.R.L. Finalist

My Mixed Book Bag has several Futuristic Romances.

Looking for futuristic romances? Go to the Paranormal Romance web site and check out the five 2008 P.E.A.R.L (Paranormal Excellence Award for Romantic Literature) finalists in the Futuristic Romance category.

Dark Light by Jayne Castle – Read my January 24th post

Hidden by Eve Kenin – After reading Driven by Eve Kenin (I loved the book) I put Hidden on reserve at the library. I will post about the book after I read it.

Countdown by Michelle Maddox – This is one I had to put on my Amazon wish list. I checked my local books stores and it was out of stock.


Heart Fate by Robin Owens – Read my November 9th post. This was a post about Heart Duel. Any of Robin’s Heart books are worth reading. I won Heart Fate and enjoyed it immensely. She does have a new Heart book coming out soon.

Moonstruck by Susan Grant – Read my January 17th post

Still looking for new books. There are 10 P.E.A.R.L. Award categories. Check out all 10. You are sure to find something new to read.

I wrote this a week ago and scheduled it for publication today. Yesterday the winners were chosen. Go to the Paranormal Romance web site and see the who won.

Duplicate Effort: A Retrieval Artist Novel (Retrieval Artist) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Today a combination of Mystery and Science Fiction is in my Mixed Book Bag.

I just finished Duplicate Effort by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Published by Roc in February 2009 this is the latest Retrieval Artist novel. Duplicate Effort continues the story of Miles Flint a former computer operator and police officer who now works as a Retrieval agent. The series is set on the moon where humans and aliens mix. There is an agreement that anyone who violates the law of any species will be turned over and punished by that species according to their law. Many times the punishment does not fit the crime and people pay to disappear to avoid alien justice. A Retrieval Artist is paid to find the Disappeared when events bring a change in their status.

The series is a blend of Mystery and Science Fiction. The Retrieval Artist novels are full of twists and turns, great characters, and believable action. You should read the series in order. The Disappeared is the first book in the series and sets the stage for the rest. Be prepared for great stories full of surprises. I have enjoyed every book in the series and hope there will be more.
All of the books are available at Amazon and Fictionwise.

Check out the other books on Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s web site. She writes under several names.

The Retrieval Artist books in order are:

The Disappeared published in 2002
Extremes published in 2003
Consequences published in 2004
Buried Deep published in 2005
Recovery Man published in 2007
Duplicate Effort published in 2009

Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz

Paranormal Romance is in my Mixed Book Bag today.

Most of you know that Jayne Ann Krentz writes as Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick. When I read Dark Light (see review) by Jayne Castle there was a mention of the Arcane Society. Jayne Ann Krentz has written several books about the Arcane Society and I decided to check one out the next time I went to the library. I ended up checking out two. The first is Second Sight by Amanda Quick and the second is Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz. Second Sight is a paranormal historical romance that details the early days of the Arcane Society. Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz is a paranormal romance set in modern times.

Although this is a series each book can stand-alone. Each book contains a mystery that requires two people with paranormal powers to work together. Of course one is male and the other is female. If you like paranormal romance pick up one of the Arcane Society novels and settle down for an enjoyable read.

The Arcane Society Books are:

Second Sight by Amanda Quick
The Third Circle by Amanda Quick
White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz
Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz
Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz

The books are published by Putnam.