Posts filed under ‘Sci Fi Romance’
Just finished reading…Pushed to the Limit by Nico Rosso
Pushed to the Limit (Limit War series, book 2) by Nico Rosso [NOVELLA]
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Teryn Pilander lives in a world of secrets. She is a Shadow Corps operative for the Core Army in the Limit War, trained in espionage. Her latest mission takes her to the planet Viela, drawn by a communication that the local government captured a Dusk Warrior Officer for questioning. More interesting than the message, though, is the voice delivering it. A little shy, but deep and strong, the masculine voice sparks dormant fires in Teryn. She tells herself that once the mission is over, she might put her spy self away for a bit and live a little as a woman.
Typically, I tend to be a bit compulsive when I read a series, hating to read out of order. However, when I was asked by the author to review this novella, I was assured that the story would stand alone just fine. And, I was so relieved to discover that it was true. While there were some references to what took place in Taken to the Limit, book 1 in the Limit War series, I never felt like I was missing out on any important storyline, character development, or information.
I really liked this story of Teryn, a strong, kick-ass heroine, and Drel, a shy but tough beta hero. Pushed to the Limit opens with Teryn arriving on the planet Viela after being lured to it by communications tech Drel. She quickly sees it for the trap that it is, and Drel realizes that he’s made a big mistake. When they join forces against the Dusk (a stealthy invading force) and Vielan collaborators, the story kicks into high gear.
At the beginning of the story, their connection felt sort of like “insta-love,” with a pretty extreme reaction on Teryn’s part just by hearing Drel’s voice as he guided her and her crew to land on Viela. However, as events unfold, Teryn and Drel are given an opportunity to connect and get to know each other. (The time-frame is still pretty fast, but the time is well spent, with each learning what makes the other tick.) I really appreciated that even in the compressed format of a novella, a good amount of it was focused on developing their connection. One really gets why they are drawn to each other.
As far as the world-building, there was just enough given the novella-length, with out the story feeling either wallpaper-y or too dense. There also was a good balance between the romantic relationship and the larger story arc.
I would really enjoy seeing a long story in this world, with a greater complexity of plot and more time to develop characters. However, Pushed to the Limit was a satisfying introduction to the series, and I’m now curious enough about it that I’ve gone ahead and bought the first book. I’ll be looking forward to reading more about the Limit War.
I received this book from the
author, for review purposes.
Library Loot and some winnings!
Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post—feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky at their blogs any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!
I down on my Library Loot posts in 2010, but had such a good haul yesterday, I’m excited to be back on track. I also am thinking a lot about the library lately, because our wonderful little County library branch was closed last week for an indefinite amount of time, due to problems with their rental space. All of our requested books were moved to a larger branch nearby. They were very nice and welcoming, but I still miss our little 1 room library (in a strip mall, no less!) where the librarian and staff knows us.
So, here’s what I picked up at the library yesterday:
Need by Carrie Jones (Audiobook)
Here is the book description:
Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal.
Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara.
This caught my eye recently, and the cover had a lot to do with it. However, once I read the description, I knew I had to request it.
- Need print excerpt on author’s site.
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Audiobook)
Here is the book description:
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.
When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
I think I’ve had this on my “to be requested” list longer than I’ve been blogging. I keep hearing such great things about it, and can’t wait to read it!
Life as We Knew It (Life as We Knew It series, book 1) by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Audiobook)
Here is the book description:
When Miranda first hears the warnings that a meteor is headed on a collision path with the moon, they just sound like an excuse for extra homework assignments. But her disbelief turns to fear in a split second as the entire world witnesses a lunar impact that knocks the moon closer in orbit, catastrophically altering the earth’s climate.
Everything else in Miranda’s life fades away as supermarkets run out of food, gas goes up to more than ten dollars a gallon, and school is closed indefinitely. But what Miranda and her family don’t realize is that the worst is yet to come.
Told in Miranda’s diary entries, this is a heart-pounding account of her struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all–hope–in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar time.
Ever since I read the rave review over at The Book Smugglers, I’ve been wanting to read it. When I saw that the library had it in audio format, I had to request it!
- Life as We Knew It audio excerpt on publisher’s site. (mp3)
Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair
Here is the book description:
Can she trust a man who is half-machine?
The universe isn’t what it used to be. With the new alliance between the Triad and the United Coalition, Captain Tasha “Sass” Sebastian finds herself serving under her former nemesis, bio-cybe Admiral Branden Kel-Paten—and doing her best to hide a deadly past. But when an injured mercenary falls into their ship’s hands, her efforts may be wasted …
Wanted rebel Jace Serafino has information that could expose all of Sass’ secrets, tear the fragile Alliance apart—and end Sass’s career if Kel-Paten discovers them. But the bio-cybe has something to hide as well, something once thought impossible for his kind to possess: feelings…for Sass. Soon it’s clear that their prisoner could bring down everything they once believed was worth dying for—and everything they now have to live for…
I’ve been hearing about this book for AGES, and finally got around to requesting it. I understand that the hero in it is awesome. Can’t wait!
- Games of Command print excerpt on author’s site.
Also, I’ve had a bit of a lucky streak with winning some giveaways over the last couple of months. Here are the bloggers and books. My heartfelt thanks (a few which are a bit belated) go out to all of you:
from Dear Author: Harlequin Blogger Bundle-Unusual Heroines and Except the Queen (ARC) by Jane Yolen
from SciFiGuy: My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers series, book 2) by Rachel Vincent
from LesleyW’s Book Nook: Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress series, book 1) by Jeaniene Frost
from Sidhe Vicious Reviews: Black Magic Sanction (Hollows series, book 8 ) by Kim Harrison
Thanks so much, all you of you!
2009 Re-read Challenge (November): A Brother’s Price
A Brother’s Price by Wen Spencer
Even though it’s only been a little less than 2 years since I’ve read this book, it was at the top of my list of books I wanted to re-read for this challenge. The world is very original, and I knew that there would be plenty that I would glean from a 2nd reading. Here’s the description: |
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Here are some things that really stood out to me upon re-reading A Brother’s Price:I’m a sucker for original world building.I’ve never read a book with a world quite like this one. The switch of many gender-roles, the historical feel (pre-technology world with steamboats and frontier-like setting, an elite ton-style society) yet no magic, which, for some reason, I would expect in a book like this, all made such an impression on me when I first read it. And, on re-reading A Brother’s Price, the world remains the most interesting part of the book. I love having my mind blown when I read.
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Her Royal Spyness & Relentless: A little sweet, a little sexy
In my typical schizophrenic fashion, I’m reading — and enjoying immensely — 2 really different books. (I have 3 books on the sidebar, but I haven’t been reading much from my Palm lately, which means I’ve stalled on Hell Cop. I’ll get back to it eventually. And, of course, this isn’t to mention the YA Spec Fiction Specials that I’m finishing up, in audiobook format.)
First off, is Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness. It’s the first in the Lady Georgiana mystery series.
Here’s the description:
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I love stories about this location and time period—England, between the World Wars, like the early books of the Hercule Poirot series (though Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence and Mr Quinn stories were my favorites) and the Bertie Wooster series.
Georgie is a free-spirit, utterly charming, and very aware of the fact that there is a lot about life she needs to learn. I wish the mystery part of the story started a little earlier in the book, but aside from that, I’m really enjoying Her Royal Spyness.
It’s funny, because a lot of the world that Georgie is a part of is not that different from the historical romances I read. There’s the social seasons, coming out, being presented to the Queen, and life among the ton, just like a regency. I always imagine this time period between the wars, in a lot of ways, to be the last hurrah of this kind of life, which seems to change so greatly as a result of WWII.
Anyway, I’m having a great time reading about Georgie’s adventures in London and ready to read about her solving the murder.
I really like that this is part of a series, and I just wish there were more than 3 in the series backlist. (Book 3 just came out this month.)
The other book I’m reading is Relentless by Lauren Dane. I’m blaming Lori, from Let’s Gab, for making this one jump to the front of the TBR list. After reading her review, I couldn’t not pick it up.
Here’s the description:
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Lori was so right! It has just enough world building to be interesting, but not get bogged down with any info dumps. I was worried that I might feel like I was missing something since Relentless is book 2 of a series, but I haven’t felt that way at all. However, if this book continues as good as it starts (I’m on p 70) I will probably pick up book 1, Undercover, as soon as I get a chance.
The connection between Abbie and Roman is immediate and intense. As I’m reading it, I can really feel how they are completely knocked for a loop by what they are feeling for the other person. They are struggling to hold on to their professionalism and do the right thing for their respective position in society. I like that they don’t just throw that all out the window because they are (at this point) in total lust.
So, things are really smoking with them. Really. Smoking. Hot. I can’t wait to read more. And, really, it isn’t just the love scenes, but their world and their situation that I find so interesting. Can’t wait to read more!
Are you reading any good books this week?
People are going to talk…