NAVIGATING THE STARS by Maria V. Snyder

 

Book One in Sentinels of the Galaxy

Publisher: Maria V. Snyder

December 1, 2018

978-1-946381-01-9

Science Fiction, Futuristic, Time Travel

Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Self-purchase

5 Hearts

For seventeen-year-old Lyra Daniels, traveling across the Milky Way can suck big time, especially after leaving all her friends behind. With the discovery of Terracotta warriors on other planets, Lyra’s parents are the premier experts on the Warriors. When the warriors were discovered on over twenty exoplanets, Lyra’s parents are thrilled to discover another planet to explore and discover new information on how the Warriors got there. But even if Lyra likes traveling to other planets, the time dilation sucks because it can put her years in the future. But as Lyra and her parents travel to the newly discovered planet, she finds solace in annoying an impossible security officer who threatens to throw her in the brig and illegally worming into the Q-net. But after the planet they just left, Xinji, abruptly goes silent, security has a new threat to deal with than Lyra doing illegal worming. For crucial data files on the Warriors are going missing and looters are spotted on the new planet they are at. Time is of the essence and for Lyra, it’s either try to help or die.

NAVIGATING THE STARS is Ms. Snyder’s foray into the science fiction/futuristic genre and I got to admit she delivers a marvelous, intriguing start to her new Sentinels of the Galaxy series. The story is full of adventure, amazing characters and a story that basically kept me glued to the pages till the very end. This is an author who I fell in love with in her Study fantasy series and her new book, NAVAGATING THE STARS, is just as good if not great. The story flows smoothly and quickly with a few twists I sure did not see coming. Add in the mystique of Terracotta warriors and other planets, well you got the earmarks of a story that will either ride off on a rocket or go down in a heap. I am happy to say this one blew me away and then some.

Meet Lyra Daniels. Her parents are the experts on Terracotta warriors and when a new planet is discovered housing them, they are thrilled to go and see what the warriors have to say to them. But Lyra doesn’t want to leave her friends and life on Xinji. Alas, she leaves with her family and finds comfort annoying this cute security officer who is around her age and illegally worming on the Q-net. I really enjoyed Lyra. She surprised me at times with her maturity and yes, she does have moments of being a brat, but it fit the way the storyline was going at those times. I enjoyed reading about her thought processes and how she see’s puzzles in things, especially in the Q-net. She is intriguing and a perfect MC (main character) to root for. I got to admit all the characters are entertaining, in my opinion. You got Lyra’s parents who are typical scientists, full of excitement over new discoveries, then you got the annoying gruff security officer, some secondary characters that just made me giggle at times and more. All are entertaining on their own, but all together kept the story flowing at a quick pace.

NAVIGATING THE STARS is a pure gem of a book that literally has me anxiously awaiting the second book, Chasing the Shadows, just to see where the group of characters goes next in the series. The ending left me gasping in shock as the bad guy was one, I sure didn’t expect and one that left me wanting to know more of. Ms. Snyder delivers a perfect book to while a snowy night away with a mix of action/adventure, a little romance and a mystery that will keep you engaged right up till the end of the book. I look forward to seeing where the author goes next in the series and hope it won’t be too long of a wait for it.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

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RENA AND THE ALIEN WARRIOR by Jessica Coulter Smith

Publisher: Changeling Press

Date Published: June 22, 2018
ISBN: 08416-02719

Futuristic, Sci-Fi, Romance

eBook

Reviewed by: Gabrielle (meingee@yahoo.com)

Weblink: https://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2719

Obtained via publisher

Rating: 3 ½ Hearts

Rena has lived her most of her life as a slave. She never knows what kind of horrors will come with her next owner. When her most recent owner gives her to the alien named Ryx she has no idea just how much her life will change. Ryx is appalled when he sees the way Rena is treated. He accepts her as a gift and brings her to his spaceship. There he hopes that she can heal and find safety or even a mate. Will Rena find peace with this new turn of events in her life or is she already too damaged to find love?

Rena’s story is a sweet romance. She is a strong woman to have survived all the abuse that she has since she was taken as a slave. When Ryx enters her life, everything changes. When she arrives on his ship she finds not only safety but a friend and protector in Beren. The male maybe battle scarred but he has a big heart and a protectiveness that makes Rena feel again. The two begin a tentative relationship and soon Rena finds herself comfortable and safe with Beren. The two find themselves able to connect and share their pain. Soon emotions begin to bloom between Rena and Beren and an emergency takes their relationship to another level. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow and blossom as their adventure went on. I loved the tenderness that Beren feels and shows Rena. The two make a nice couple and it was nice to see two people survive and find happiness in their future.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

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THE CAPTAIN'S PET by Samantha Cayto

 

Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Date published: May 2015
ISBN: 978-1-78430-575-8
sci-fi ,futuristic, M/M
Ebook
Reviewed by Gabrielle (meingee@yahoo.com)

Weblink: https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/the-captains-pet
Obtained via publisher
Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Earth has become too crowded and many have gone off planet in search of habitable planets to live on. Wid and his family are among the colonist trying to eke out a life on one such planet but other species have their eyes on the planet as well. As the colonist and the aliens fight for the planet Wid and other young men find themselves captured and given to a ship of alien fighters as sex slaves. Can Wid and the others find a way to survive and maybe even escape? Can Wid truly find a way to accept his fate and move on or will he continue to fight for his freedom at all costs?

This is an engaging story about a young man who finds himself trapped and must decide on how he will deal with what life has thrown at him. Wid is a strong man but his life has been taken from him and he does not know how to feel. His body begins to betray him as does his heart. Wid sees his captor as evil but Kell is not as bad as others on the ship. Soon Wid sees things differently and must make some hard choices. As we watch Wid and Kell’s interactions we also get to see Wid interact with the other boys that were taken and Kell’s interactions with the other aliens. Each race has much to learn about the other and Kell and Wid begin to see this for themselves. Not only do we see their relationship develop but there is also action on the ship, from an escape plan to a mutiny and a fight to the death this story grabs and keeps your attention.

The human boys that are captured all seem to be young men just barely entering adulthood. Although they are young men they are still very naïve and childish in many ways. As this is Kell and Wid’s story they are the ones that we see in the sex scenes. I could not lose the fact that the boys were very young and it made the story a little harder for me to read. It almost felt like a young adult story but with explicit sex scenes. This book is not for a young audience. It is truly a story of young men being taken as slaves for the aliens. It was interesting to see the relationship develop between Wid and Kell. Captor and captive, just how will it all turn out? Wid is smart and wants to survive watching his ordeal play out made for an interesting read.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

DOCTOR WHO: DEEP TIME by Trevor Baxendale

 

The Glamour Chronicles
Broadway Books
September 8^th, 2015
978-1-101-90579-1

Futuristic, Action-Adventure

Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Blogging for Books

3.5 Hearts

The Doctor and Clara find themselves on a ship called the Alexandria where they find out that Dr. Tippy, an archeologist is sure they are on the path to find the last Phaeron road. With the Doctor and Clara joining them, this mission will show that some secrets are best left alone.

I enjoy the Doctor Who television show and this was the first book I have read based on the series. DEEP TIME is an engrossing story with an author who knows how to weave a spell around readers. The story is engrossing, action packed and quite enjoyable from start to finish. Sometimes if you base a book off a TV show it can be a hit or miss but DEEP TIME delivers on all levels. From capturing the characters complex emotions and personalities to a mission that will transform them in the end; The author does a great job in keeping the reader glued to the pages and you really get a sense of who these characters are within the pages. I did love how the Doctor and Clara are just as lively here as they are on the show.

The mystery of the Phaeron’s consumes the crew of the Alexandria. These ancient people were tasked in mapping wormholes and now with a few relics found by humans, they are determined to find out where this once ancient race went to. But sometimes secrets are best left undiscovered for the Doctor knows what terrible secret of the Phaeron the humans may discover, one that should never see the light of day. I liked the interactions between the characters the best. The mystery surrounding the Phaeron and each member of the crew has an agenda or secret while on this mission. I liked how the author captures all the characters completely and gives them a voice in the story. Are each member of the crew doing this mission for the greater good or is something else guiding them, something sinister and dark?

DEEP TIME captures the essence of the TV Show and keeps the pace up perfectly. This is a great blend of futuristic and action-adventure that I gobbled up in one day. I can’t wait to see what other books based on the show are out to read next. If you enjoy the show, Doctor Who, then you will definitely enjoy DEEP TIME. This was the first book from author Trevor Baxendale and I am looking forward to seeing what else he has in his backlist to enjoy.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE by JD Robb, Mary Blayney, Elaine Fox, Mary Kay McComas & RC Ryan

Berkley Jove

September 29^th, 2015

978-0-515-15547-1

Anthology, Futuristic, Contemporary, Paranormal, Historical, Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Publisher

4 Hearts

 

Go through the looking glass as these five authors deliver stories inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

Wonderment In Death by J.D. Robb (In Death Series Book 41.5)

Lt. Eve Dallas finds that an open -&-shut case is not just that. Called in to an apparent murder-suicide, Eve must figure out who twisted the Lewis Carroll classic for their own murderous gains.

Author JD Robb delivers another stellar story in her acclaimed In Death series with a twist on the Alice in Wonderland theme. Filled with some of our favorite characters from the series, we get a wild ride as we tag along with Eve, Roark and their friends as they race to solve the murder that at first seems so cut and dry. But as the reader finds out, things are not all that they seem in this universe and a murder is using people’s grief for their own ends. I love how this author skillfully weaves the anthology theme through the novella and delivers a pulse pounding ride from start to finish. It’s quite twisted yet totally engrossing story that had me in it’s grip till the very end. This is truly one of my favorite stories in this anthology and I am eager to see where the author goes next in the series.

Alice and the Earl in Wonderland by Mary Blayney

The new Earl of Weston is determined to save his estate, win the hand of the woman he is in love with and finds that sometimes magic happens in a way that will transform his life forever.

As a sequel to ‘Amy and the Earl’s Amazing Adventure’ the reader is transported to the 1800’s where it’s a scandal to divorce, women were proper and the man is head of the house. When the Earl and his love, Alice, are transported to the 21^st century via a magic coin, they find wonders beyond their imagination and truths that will set them free. I loved the first story, Amy and the Earl’s Amazing Adventure, when I read it in the anthology, Dead of Night, and was thrilled to see it continue in this latest installment. This time we get to see t he historical couple’s journey through the looking glass so to speak and it was quite enjoyable. The author delivers a sweet story of old lovers who find themselves in a time where women are more equal to men, people can love whomever they fall in love with and divorce is not a stigma in society. What I loved the most was the scenes of Weston and Alice marvel at the changes in 2005 as well as what is the same from their time, of 1805. I did have a little peeve about the character development in this story as there basically is none, in my opinion. The story focuses too much on Weston and Alice’s adventures in the future which didn’t leave much character development. Overall, it was a sweet story that you will enjoy.

iLove by Elaine Fox

Macy is in love with Jeremy but it seems he is in love with his Iphone more. When Macy dumps Jeremy, he is sucked into her phone and he finds that in order to leave, he will have to win Macy’s heart and learn that sometimes it’s better to put the phone down and find that love will walk away if he isn’t paying attention.

I just absolutely adored this story. It’s quite relevant to today’s world and I loved how the author captures the essence of Alice in Wonderland’s Heart Queen with the character of Mrs. Hartz. This author does an amazing job in capturing the characters and brings them to life amid the pages of DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE. I loved how Jeremy had to figure out with a dating app and no cell phone how to win Macy back and learn a few things as well. A perfect second chance at love story that is really unique and entertaining.

A True Heart by Mary McComas

When a day of costume shopping goes haywire, can Elise figure out the message her supernatural guide is giving her as they journey through her life?

This had me a bit confused as I felt it was more A Christmas Carol than Alice in Wonderland but overall it was an enjoyable read. Elise has been badly hurt in the past and now has a hard shell over her heart, afraid to let any man too close in case they hurt her. The author does a great job in capturing Elise’s pain, vulnerability and heartbreak. You get a sense of who the character is amid the layers and we get to see who the real Elise is amid the thorns, walls and more she has set up around her. This made her quite likeable and relatable, in my opinion. There is a lot of emotion in A True heart and the reader is taken on quite a ride but overall, it’s quite a satisfying journey to take.

Fallen by R.C. Ryan

Beth Campbell is determined to impress her aunt and find her place in the family company by convincing a Scottish recluse to sell his land to her. But things don’t go according to plan when Beth hits her head and is transported to the 1800’s and soon Beth finds magic and a little intrigue while in the highlands.

A sweet story that will charm you as you read Beth’s adventure in the Scottish Highlands that will leave you breathless. Ms. Ryan weaves a satisfying story that hits all my love buttons. Poor Beth is confused and just a little peeved when she finds herself transported to the eighteenth Century after hitting her head on her trip in the Scottish Highlands. Attracted to Colin Gordon wasn’t in her game plan. Between confusion as over why anyone would want to kill Colin to figuring out how to get back home, Beth has to solve a mystery, save the man from death and figure out how to get back to her time. Easy, right? I loved the interactions between Colin and Beth. There was such a connection instantly and you get a sense of who these characters are and how they interact with one another. The downside to this story was there is so much information in the story; it doesn’t feel long enough to get the job done. It felt rushed and a little incomplete in the end. I would have loved this story to be a bit longer and maybe fleshed out the magic portion of the story a bit more. Overall, it was a nice ending to the anthology as a whole.

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE is a wonderful anthology that has something for everyone to enjoy. I personally preferred two out of the five stories more than others but all deliver some reading goodness. I do have to say that other than Wonderment In Death, the other four stories don’t have much of an Alice In Wonderland connection that was a disappointment. I love the Alice in Wonderland theme and thought it could have been brought over better in the other stories. But DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE is truly a unique and entertaining story overall and even if you are an In Death fan like I am, all the stories in this anthology will keep you entertained till the very end.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement