All that Glitters by Erin Kellison in the anthology Hotter on the Edge

Hello to all,

                    first today i introduce you to another novella from the Anthology " Hotter on the Edge" with "All that Glitters" written by Erin Kellison, an author that you will see even more during the fantasy romance month  but first her science- fiction romance that's only her second novella.

Published in the anthology Hotter on the Edge

Author : Erin Kellison

Publication : 2012

ASIN:  B00757WOT6

Genre: science-fiction romance
Violence: mild
Langage: normal
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Source: free pdf ( special offer)

Short description from goodread :

 Cheated out of a fortune by the Sol royal family, lowborn Simon Miner will do anything to get his revenge, no matter how ruthless. When Princess Mica Sol, a terraforming expert, is shot out of the sky on the way to her sister’s lavish wedding, she fears the worst—scavengers—and flees into an alien jungle to avoid capture. But the man who pursues and captures her is none other than Simon, her former lover. Passions reignite as violence rocks Sol City, and Simon and Mica must fight for love, family, and their world… or lose everything.

My opinion:

          I’m a bit disappointed. The premises are good, the plot interesting but I don’t think it was the right choice for a novella where it would have be a good book. There are a lot of aspects that are initiated in the novella but not complete so I had some difficulties to immerse myself in the story.

I got that the scavengers are kind of genetically modified by evolution or illness but who are they exactly? Are they part of the first humans or are they natives of the planet? It wasn’t clear.

The Sol are an important family that control the “civilized” part of the planet…yes but why exactly? Were they elected at a time or did they just took the power and control of this society not equal?

Erin Kellison concentrates her story on the romance part between Simon and Mica, she offers us some background for it too and I liked this however with all the partial information about the universe and planet I was still this feeling of missing. I wanted more; I would have preferred either have the complete info or no info (like only there is one power in place and other are rebels that’s it) because one touch here and there doesn’t help the understanding at all and that’s becoming confusing.

The characters are interesting but I would have loved more example of how she was before her departure of the planet.  In the end I can say I like this novella but not that I loved it. I understand that a novella must be short by definition but still I want to feel complete after reading a story not full of question unanswered. Yes these weren’t the focus of the story but when mentioned it should have been completed.

Now, I really like her writing’s style and I won’t hesitate to read her other books

Score:  3,5/5

Challenge:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

Centauri Midnight ( Centauri series book3) by Cynthia Woolf

Hello again,

                 today i will introduce you to the end of the Centauri trilogy written by Cynthia Woolf. I really appreciated the trilogy even if i liked more part of the trilogy but as a whole it's a great science fiction romance. So if you have the opportunity try the complete trilogy that has been published in one volume.

all the best,

Publisher : Cynthia Woolf

Publication : 2012

ISBN:  9780983937241

Genre: science- fiction romance
Violence: mild
Langage: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: won

Short description from goodread :

 Kitari ‘Kiti’ Dolana wants justice for her murdered brother. She’s trailed the man responsible to a distant planet where swords outmaneuver blasters.

Garrick Marcus, Spaceship Captain, is on a mission to hunt down a ruthless killer. The same man Kiti is after.

But Kiti and Garrick discover an explosive attraction that makes it hard to keep their minds on their goals. As they try to bring down the killer, they find that love and vengeance are a volatile mix.

My opinion:

          For the last part of the trilogy I admit I wasn’t sure what to expect but I’m not disappointed at all. This story is less dark than book two, there is nearly none violence at all. The humour is also back something I really appreciate. The romance is predominant and still the product of a courtship and work only it’s really hotter than the first two books and that took me by surprise. It’s the only point that bothered me; I would have preferred softer descriptions but so well done like in Centauri Dawn. The rhythm is rapid but not too much and the writing’s as pleasant as before

This book is centered on Kitari, called Kiti, the best friend of Audra and Garrick the friend and second in command of Darius. They know each other since a long time being both Dragonera and friends of Anton. Kiti is a warrior yes but first she is an anthropologist and linguist, a Tensign, reason for which she was on the team to fetch Audra. In this book, she is grieving her brother, dead with all the other members of Anton’s squad. Also we discovered in book 1 and two that she had a special relationship with Anton so she also lost him when he married Lara. For all these reasons she wants to be part of the team whose mission is to arrest Tybold. However what Kiti doesn’t know is that Darius always loved her from afar waiting his time and a lot more awaits her on this mission to Gregara.

Kitari is a good character, strong, intelligent and honourable. We saw her lost, grieving but also discover that she fight for justice not revenge.

Garrick Marcus is a trusted friend of Darius, and when Kiti asks to go on his mission he can’t denied her. Knowing her more that she could guess, he also counts on this travel to court and win her. Thus he takes the time to meet with her to speak about her job on the mission but also to have meals with her. However, when Kiti start to answer too quickly to his advance he steps back not wanting to take advantage of her vulnerability and he gives her the time she need until she says that she really is ready for that step with him. I adore that. These times together are also a great way for the reader to learn more about Gregara, the world they will be on for the mission so we aren’t lost at all.

It’s a great sci-fi romance for those above 18 and for the ones who like hot romance, that’s even better. It could be read alone too since the book explains what it’s happening but still I would recommend you to read the complete trilogy in order.

Score:  4/5

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

ebook read for the 2012 ebook Challenge

To Buy a Wife By K.C. Klein in the anthogology Hotter on the Edge

Hello to all,

                    Today i will give you my openion on two books or to be more precise, one book in the next post and here a novella published in the anthology Hotter on The Edge. So without waiting here is "To Buy a Wife" by K. C. Klein, part of the anthology of science-fiction romance  Hotter on the Edge

Published in the anthology Hotter on the Edge

Author: K. C. Klein

Publication : 2012

ASIN:  B00757WOT6

Genre: science-fiction romance
Violence: strong

Langage: normal
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Source: free pdf ( special offer)

Short description from goodread :

 In a harsh land where corruption rules and women are few, cold realist Hudson Land must purchase a wife to save his farm. Instead of an auction, he witnesses the start of an execution. With his first look at a beautiful woman in years, Hudson knows he has to have her—no matter the cost. Lake, a chemist and a rebel fighter, is resigned to her death, but when some back-hill farmer rescues her from the chopping block she has no intention of simply becoming his wife. She’s pledged her life to the Rebellion and being bought for some stranger’s bed doesn’t change a thing, though his soft caresses have her longing for more. As lies and secrets build between them, are the quiet moments during the nights they’ve shared enough to stand against two warring factions in a world where only the strong survive?

My opinion:

          K.C. Klein did really good with the universe’s idea. The novella is complete without being too long or too short and we immediately have a good idea of the world’s situation and politic. The rhythm is just adequate not too fast or too slow and we have a fair share of actions around the romance.

We discover all the background of Lake as it’s an important part of the plot and thus capital. Her psychology is also well done in link with this troubled past. She is stubborn and rebel because she longs for someone trustworthy and it’s rare in this world. Now I’m intrigued by Hudson, from what we gather his father wasn’t really good and her mother has suffered from him however she didn’t take it on her son and instead teach him how he should act with a woman. He is honourable and strong…he needs to take a wife to keep his lands and thus he has to buy her because that’s the law and women becoming rarer the accused are sold too. He is captivated when he sees Lake and he acts foolishly to save her.  What I would have like to know is how he received his combat training. He said he was too young to go to the war so that’s not where he learned, are the farmer all trained that way? Perhaps, it’s not important and I can live without the answers but I was wondering.

It’s a good read but I guess I’m not too fan of science fiction romance novella. I’ve read it quickly in once and I enjoyed it but it’s not something I want to reread.  For the fan of science fiction it’s a good addition to their list though but I don’t think it would recommend it at a new beginner immediately.  It’s an interesting step in the sub-genre but not a first one.

Score:  3,5/5

Challenges:

ebook read for the 2012 ebook Challenge

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge



Luminous Nights ( I-Marshal Stories Book1) by Michele Hart

Happy Sunday!

                      i hope you  have agreat Week-end. So far mine isn't what i expected and i'm a bit behind my reading schedule but nothing is lost so be happy. Today like i promised i will give you my opinion about the first book of the I-Marshal Stories by Michele Hart. I'm really a fan and if this book wasn't my favorite wait for my review of the third one,  all i can say it's that it gets better and better in each book.

Enjoy!

author: Michele Hart

Publisher: Bookstrand-Siren Publishing

Publication : 2010

ISBN:  9781606018859

Genre: science-fiction romance
Violence: strong
Langage: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: Pdf received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Short description from goodread :

 Cop or convict?

How many faces can one man own?

An assassin wearing a holographic mask and a prison tattoo boards Rachel’s freighter during a prison riot. He is intent on recovering gadgets, which are capable of changing a man’s identity, from the black-market gang who'd stolen them. She’s not sure of Jack's identity nor his goal, but he claims to be an Alliance I-Marshal. Cop or convict? The clues never stop contradicting. Rachel's horrified to find that the bright holographic mask conceals the gruesome face of a monster. And the badge doesn’t stop him from murdering people right before her eyes.

When Rachel learns Jack will trade innocent lives for the digital miracles, she's determined to make the mercenary grow a heart. How could a stone-cold killer kiss her so hotly? How could she kiss such a dangerous deceiver?

Jack has done years in prison to learn who’d stolen the remaining Gemini ticks, 3-D magic. Nothing will keep him from gaining extreme-technology, capable of unleashing galaxy-wide chaos. Forget feelings for Rachel. She can’t stop him from killing everyone involved.

My opinion:

          This book could also be qualified as a suspense romance, yes it’s in the space and another planet so without doubt science-fiction romance but the suspense it’s also a major part of the plot. It’s another subgenre that I appreciate so for me it was great but I could understand that for some it could be a deterrent at first.

Now the suspense is strong and you wonder who is jack until the end, how I was sure he was a cop yes but real identity that wasn’t so easy. However, the romance is also there with cute moments: a lot of reviewers speak about the chocolate romance yes but my favourite was definitively the berries painting sensual, delicate, I would have loved this kind of attention.

The characters are interesting and while Jack is a I-marshal all we learn from that isn’t a lot to summary: it’s a very demanding and dangerous job. That’s it.  In this book, no angel apparition and that’s the part I missed but in the same time I really appreciated to learn the history of Earth and space travel.  The gecers dog like Jet are also wonderful even if I prefer my own dog who doesn’t speak and doesn’t use computers^^;;. To have glimpse of his mind was really funny and he is a real part of the story.

Rachel is the daughter of a general and perhaps it’s a reason for her to be so peaceful, while I admire that it’s also stupid in the universe to think everything can be resolved without violence and show that she wasn’t confronted to the real world. When she is, she discovers that she has to make some choices and must agree to loose some of her belief. It was interesting to see how she refuses to admit that to the end and in the same time make others understand that they must to if they want to survive, double standards… She bothered me a bit with all her trusting issues, once yes after no after yes again man she had to choose not to play around. If I was Jack I would have left her somewhere at some point.  She isn’t completely mature before the end the book and it’s this adventure that makes her grow up emotionally.

Jack is completely different, he has giving up so much of his life for the Justice and his dream of revenge and not only time. Life on Null is a torture and he agreed to it for the greater good… that shows courage and abnegation. However, when he enters in Rachel’ life that’s also a bit egoistical move on his part. It’s a link to his life, to what he wants. He doesn’t hesitate to manipulate her a bit and for her he also renounce to his more barbaric skill and killing isn’t common result anymore.

It’s a good book but I admit I much prefer Vigilant so far. The advantage of this book for the understanding of the universe is the explanation of the background of the world as they know it and we discover that’s not a completely different world but that they are human beings at the origin.

Score:  4/5

 

If you want this book you can buy it On amazon or on Bookdepository

You can find more informations on the serie and Michele on her website

Source: a copy in exchange for a honest review, no compensation was received.



Challenges:



Book read for the Reading Challenge 2012



This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge



ebook read for the 2012 ebook Challenge



Giveaway international

Hello to all,

                       a short message now but i wanted to share with you a giveaway that you could enjoy. You can win a copy of Coveted a new release by Shawntelle Madison. To enter, just go on Literal Addiction, a wonderful website full of interviews and giveaway  ( very often they are international so show some love to Michelle and her partner ). Until the 24 April you can enter Here

Alien mate by Eve Langlais

Hello to all,

                   Today we are still discovering the subgenre science-fiction romance with an author i've heard about but never read before. April was a special month on All Romance Ebooks because each day, they offered one book of a series to make the book and author known and one day i saw it was a science-fiction romance, just what i needed so i jumped on the occasion.

Here comes Alien Mate by Eve Langlais.

Editor : Amira press

Publication : 2010

ISBN:  9781936279203

Genre: science- fiction romance, erotic

Violence: mild
Langage: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: free ebook (special offer on All romance Ebooks)

Short description from goodread :

 What would you do if an alien materialized in your living room and told you he was your leader?

Plump Diana is ironing her underwear when the hottest blue babe in all of the galaxy appears in her living room. Did she forget to mention he was naked? Abducted, decontaminated, and dressed like a harem girl, she’s been chosen to become his mate.

Kor asked his ancestors to find him a biddable, docile mate. Instead they found him Diana--a curvy, argumentative earthling who sets his pulse pounding and his loins on fire. He might be an alien who doesn't understand the meaning of love, but he sure knows what he feels is more than lust.

My opinion:

          At first I was a bit put off but this story, the concept it’s interesting but the first chapters are highly sexual and it seems everything is a pretext for their joining. It was becoming bothersome but the last chapters change the situation. We have a plot and the characters are showing more of themselves.

Diana is a woman who even if she hasn’t a lot of self esteem doesn’t want to be ordered around or kidnapped by an alien even for good reasons. She wants love and respect and she is doing her best in the circumstances she is to obtain both. She even wants to change things on her new planet and that part could be very interesting to read.

Kor is a warrior and while he wants to respect his ancestors he can’t stop thinking, at first, they made an error while choosing for his mate a not docile woman. However, even with his pride, his honor makes him want to try to win her. I loved that about him even it at first he seemed a complete moron, arrogant bastard.

In the end I liked this short story but I don’t think I will continue the series, I’m a bit afraid  all the books will be too similar however is the occasion present itself to have the others free, I could give it a try but as of now it’s not at all on my to buy list.

If you want erotic story with a touch of paranormal, science-fiction this is a book for you but if you want a strong story, filled with action, intrigue and all…this isn’t the perfect example of it.

Score:  3,5/5

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

ebook read for the 2012 ebook Challenge

Book read for the Reading Challenge 2012

Ce livre s'intègre dans le challenge de Natasia

Centauri Twilight ( Centauri series book2) by Cynthia Woolf

Hello,

                 Like i promised, here is the second book of the Centauri Series called " Centauri Twilight" by Cynthia Woolf. I liked this book but less than the first because it's a lot darker still if you have read the first one you will want to read this book but don't start by book 2 it would be too confusing and won't reflect all the trilogy.

Publisher : Cynthia Woolf

Publication : 2011

ISBN:  0983937230

Genre: sciences-fiction romance
Violence: strong
Langage: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: won

Short description from goodread :

 Lara Danexx suffered years of torment at the hands of the evil and twisted Ranzon Slavarien. But she escaped and raised an army of rebels to destroy him. Victory is within her grasp when an unwelcome intruder hunts her down and spins wild tales of her lost family and royal blood. This arrogant invader stirs her long dead emotions and threatens to ruin all of her plans. She can’t allow herself to desire his touch, or believe his lies; too much is at stake.

General Anton Coridian gave his word that he would find his beloved queen’s long lost sister, Princess Jondalara. He expects a pampered princess. Instead he finds a guerilla leader with an army of loyal cut-throats and rogues at her back. Every instinct he has demands that she is his lifemate and he must steal her away to safety. But the dark determination and pain in her eyes reminds him of his own tortured past. She offers him redemption and the chance to right an unspeakable wrong. Destiny must be laughing, because now he’s fallen in love with a woman who will stop at nothing to free her peoples; even if it means sacrificing herself. Anton is determined to join her, both in bed and in battle. Now he must convince Lara that his love can save not just her life, but her battered heart

My opinion:

          This second book starts exactly where the last one finishes if you forget the epilogue, when Anton wants to leave. We follow then a broken Anton who suffers from the survivor’s syndrome. He doesn’t feel right for him to be with his happy brother and he feels guilty for the death of his men, no worth living. To right the things with Audra, he wants to find her lost sister and for that he follows the new lead they got. I understand how much he must suffer but I don’t connect with Anton as much as I did with Darius. He is a patient man, yes but there is no sparks.

Lara, the lost sister has survived through a life of tortures and she is marked by that. She can’t love, can’t trust and lives for revenge. She is the total opposite of Audra, due to her life she is more a warrior than a princess. At first she even resent her sister and that’s something that bothered me even if it can be see as normal for one with her life.

So this book is a lot darker that the first one, with the current tortures and the remembrance of old ones. There are several mention of rapes and strong descriptions. The rhythm is rapid and the action is still less important that the personal introspection of the characters. It’s a good book but not for emotional one, yes there is romance, slow and tentative since both need healing but it’s there and the happy end as well but still for those under 18 or too emotional, you should be careful with this story.

Score:  3,5/5

Challenge:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

ebook read for the 2012 ebook Challenge