Unknown's avatar

Release by Treaty

25092310

Release By Treaty (Qui Treaty Collection #1)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really great entry for me! I loved both the characters, particularly Dol’ce because she has been warned about what to expect. The characters continue to be realistic and able to make me feel for them deeply. The story is about romance while at the same time being about a wider issue that is just being hinted at.

Dol’ce has been sent to collect a prisoner of war, Colonel Marcel, from the K’lahn prison in which he was being held. Dol’ce does her duty and does not at first believe what the Qui Empress has told her about interacting with human males, it sounds ridiculous. As the journey continues she finds herself more and more drawn to her passenger who does not want anything personal to do with a lizard.

Colonel Marcel has been tortured, and humiliated during his time in the K’lahn prison. He has heard his team go silent during that time and believe himself to be the last man standing. He hates the K’lahn and all those associated with them for good reason. He does not know that the war has ended but feels something for the one who rescued him, though he does not want to.

All I can say is that I really loved it! I would recommend to everyone!

Unknown's avatar

Restrain By Treaty

25269801

Restrain By Treaty (Qui Treaty Collection #2)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great series that has captured my imagination and keeps me wanting more as each one ends. The writing is wonderful and so descriptive that I always know exactly what I am seeing as it is described. Each new character has a life that you can identify with and understand who they are instantly. The world they live in is clearly defined and seems real enough that it could be inhabited by people you would find anywhere. The flow of the narrative is perfect, with the story moving along effortlessly from situation to situation and point to point.

Captain Bea Solomon was in prison with Colonel Marcel but disappeared after a short time and was thought dead. Unknown to anyone she has been sold off to a brothel by her captors the K’lahn. She has endured unspeakable acts of abuse and torture which have left her with a fear of men and a massive hatred of the K’lahn and Surashan.

Ardant has been sent to bring Bea back so that she can be returned to Earth along with those members of her team that have survived. He does not truly expect her to still be alive because of the fact she is human and should not be able to endure the things he knows would have been done to her. He is not prepared for how she effects him but is willing to make a sacrifice in order to make her feel safe, even if he must lie to do it.

I felt more for this couple because Bea had been through so much more than any man had endured so far. Just the description of what had been done to her, though not graphic, made you understand why she acted the way she did. Ardant was forced to hide his true nature, even though voluntary, was detrimental to him as well as her.

I am very much looking forward to the next installment. Things are heating up in more than one way as these couples meet and connect. There seems another war may be brewing and new allies may have to band together. Enjoy this!

Light BDSM

Unknown's avatar

The Long Afternoon of Earth

15980560

The Long Afternoon of Earth

I generally love science fiction from the 50’s and 60’s but this was one of those that was just a little to bland for even me.  It starts in a very distant future where mankind has been reduced t not even a shadow of its former self. There was no explanation as to how the changes to the planet and the lifeforms came about, we were just thrust into the middle with nothing said. I know this was thought to be a good book and example of the genre but it left me flat. The characters had no personality and did not make me care about them, the plot was totally uninteresting and did not seem to really be going anywhere.
It’s a decent book but very slow. The characters are not likable and I found myself rooting for their demise. Overall I would recommend it, but only as a last resort.
Unknown's avatar

Pollen

17660771

Pollen

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I really don’t have a lot to say about this book. It was relatively enjoyable I suppose but did not really hold my attention, I found myself putting it down to read a Walking Dead comic I had read before. I never connected with any of the characters and they all just seemed a little dull to me, and if you can’t feel for the characters plight or like them. I liked the technology that was used and the concept behind the walled cities was pretty good too. The thing is it seemed to drag from scene to scene and never gave you enough of the characters or anything.

Rome Shackleton lives in New Hanoi and has managed to make something of himself after his stint as a celebrity for attempting to climb the wall and get a look at the outside world when he was a teen. Then he is given something which could not only change his life but that of everyone else in the city. Shunka resides in Little Tokyo and is a 19-year-old Farmer (not what you think) which means she has a good life and can indulge herself in her love of new mods (modifications). Things start to go crazy when her friend is accused of stealing data from the farmers and Shunka must clear her name.

What neither of them know is that their lives and world are not what it seems to be and someone wants to watch what happens when things are stirred up.

I got this because the blurb sounded so interesting and I love science fiction, but maybe it was a bit to subtle or maybe I was too dense to get it. It was alright but not anything I would read again. I would say give it a try to see what you think.

Unknown's avatar

Rosetta

18340750

Rosetta

I am giving this 3.5 stars and wishing to read another in order to get more background on the central character. This was an interesting concept with some good characters who make it worth reading again to make sure I got all the details. The story runs a bit slowly until you finally arrive at the destination and then things pick up a bit and continues to build. The characters are both fleshed out and not fleshed out depending on how long they are in the book, the main character has a lot more personality and background than any of the others but you still feel that he is lacking somewhat. I like the world that has been created, it has the ring of authenticity mainly because of its resemblance to the world we now find ourselves living in. The technology is real enough that you would have no problem believing in its existence or at least the possibility that it could be created.

James Meade is a runabout who was born on Mars, this means that he does not bother himself with the politics of either power running things. In this case there is the Consortium, a fascist society that uses its citizens as virtual slaves based on whether they are born into wealth or not, and it is impossible to gain wealth if you are not born to it. The other side is the Coalition who claim to be better and allow for a democratic society, while you can pull yourself up to a higher standard before you can get there you must pay off the crushing debt you have been forced into. This is the world Jim lives in and still is unable to get away from.

When a Consortium engineer is found dead on Rosetta it is decided that Jim will do the investigation because of his neutrality. He is not given much of a choice in the matter and decides that if he has to do it he might as well get paid as much as possible. He figures it will be a simple job with little work involved and a good payday, but he has no idea of what is going on that asteroid far out in the belt. And what he does not know will likely get him killed.

For some reason Meade reminded me of Harry Dresden, not just because they were both P.I.’s but the way he dressed and the use of sarcasm and humor. This is a detective story in space with a noir feel. You have the female bar owner with a heart of gold, the femme fatale, the crime bosses, the crazy zealot wanting to save the world, and our detective who is less and more of hero than you expect him to be. All in all a good read but could have been even better with a more serious mystery.

Mars has two moons. One of them is Phobos and other’s name is Deimos ...
Unknown's avatar

Mistworld

19520507

Mistworld (Twilight of the Empire #1)

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
I give this 4.5 stars for a story that was engaging and characters that made me want to root for them. Things start off a little slow but it quickly picks up as each character is introduced and you get a look into their background on Mistworld. The world he has created is at once familiar and then again alien to someone who cannot imagine living in such a place. It’s not easy to create thieves and rogues who are likable people you would not mind hanging out with, but here it is and I love it. The action is broken up in such a way as to give you maximum story as you follow each individual in their own pursuits. The language is perfect and gives more insight into the situation that everyone is in. A taut and well held together story that brings you into a conflict that has raged for generations without being fully resolved.

Mistworld is an outlaw planet, most notably because it’s inhabitants have been labeled as outlaws by the Empire which expects strict loyalty and compliance from its citizens. On this harsh world they have no way to get the technology they need to survive except through the prowess of smugglers who are willing to crash the blockade which has been set by the Empire. The inhabitants have held off the Empire for hundreds of years, but that does not stop the Empire from plotting to attack when conditions are ripe. The only thing holding back the Empire is the psionic shield which is kept in place by the Espers who reside on the planet, but are they really enough.

The women here are as strong as the men and survive on that strength and not just on their need to be taken care of. I liked that these were women who knew how to fend for themselves no matter which side of the law they were on. I would say that I liked Investigator Topaz because was a serious kick-ass female who did what needed to be done and let the rest sort itself out and then you had Cyder who was able to survive in a world that could take down the strongest man.

What you find here is a lot of intrigue, double-dealing, spies, murder, betrayal, and revenge. My type of science fiction with a world in peril and brave settlers and an evil tyrant trying to take it all away. What’s not to like. Give this a read!

Unknown's avatar

Claimed

Claimed (Brides of the Kindred, #1)

Claimed (Brides of the Kindred #1)

 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh!My!Goodness! I loved this! I have not really read much sci-fi romance/erotica but if this is what I can expect then I will definitely be reading more. It got my attention from the first chapter and would not let me go. Everything flows so well that I was able to follow half asleep (I really wanted to keep going)and I was enjoying Baird and Olivia sparring.

Baird is a Kindred, an alien who came to Earth along with his race to help when the planet was attacked. They are genetic traders and only asked for the right to choose brides from the female population for their help. They were defending the planet from a menace called the Scourge who rape and destroy every planet they come upon. Baird finds his bride, Olivia, through dream sharing while he is a captive of the Allfather aboard a Scourge ship and once he escapes wants to claim her immediately. Olivia has just finished nursing school and looking forward to life with her twin sister and friends, the thought of being claimed is not something she is happy with. She has to spend thirty days on the kindred ship while her intended is allowed to attempt to seduce her into staying, she is determined that it will not happen.

There are three kinds of Kindred; Ragers (Beast), Tranque (Vampire), and Twins (two inseparable brothers). There are no women and these warriors need them to continue their race. Baird is a beast kindred and much bigger than normal Earth men, in a yummy sort of way. Just one more little thing, each week is broken up into specific actions: during week 1 is holding, week 2 is bathing (together), week 3 is tasting, and week 4 is full on press. And they have to sleep in the same bed every night.

I’m not sure if I liked this because of the characters, who I loved, the bad guys, who I hated (in a good way) or just the story itself. It all came together in a way that made for a compelling story with danger, love, sex, and family.

Evangeline Anderson has given me a series that I am ready to follow to the end. It has all the things I love. Romance, sex, aliens, interstellar war, and family ties.

“Just tell him to keep his hands to himself and his python in his pants.”
Evangeline Anderson, Claimed

 

 

 

Unknown's avatar

Lacuna: Demons of the Void

Lacuna: Demons of the Void (Lacuna #1)Lacuna: Demons of the Void by David  Adams

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

True rating would be 3.5 stars. II was not sure what to expect when I started this except another space opera. It turned out to be a little more than that. The protagonist is a woman, Melissa Liao, who has dedicated her life to the Chinese Navy. When the earth is attacked and multiple cities destroyed and millions killed she is tapped to command one of three new warships being built on the moon. She takes to this mission and goes to face the enemy with an iron will.

This story also has a romance element which is surprising considering the fact that it is about military might. But it fits with what is going on around them.

What’s not to like, aliens, romance, space battles, and loss.

 

Unknown's avatar

Judas Unchained

Judas Unchained (Commonwealth Saga, #2)Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I would actually give this 5 1/2 stars. When you think of epic adventure, this is one of two books which come to mind. The worlds that Hamilton has created are varied and so alive you could imagine that they exist somewhere out there. His characters have a life and depth so strong you will either cheer for them or wish for their swift demise. I have enjoyed a flight through the universe, alien encounters which fascinate the mind, and technology that I can only hope to exist one day.

The fight for the right of the human race to continue is something which a lot of people think about. If aliens were out there wold they be friendly or bent on or destruction? Are we really going to take our petty, money hungry, power trips into the future with us? It’s all here and immortality or something very close to it is thrown in.

This is not a fast read but it is a thrilling one.