Archive for the ‘Futuristic’ Category

A RAINSHADOW NOVEL: THE LOST NIGHT
Jayne Castle
ISBN: 9780515152845
September 2012
Jove Books
Paranormal Romance/Futuristic
Mass Market paperback

DUST BUNNIES ARE BACK!  Even more importantly, Dust Bunnies RULE!  OK.  Perhaps I’m a little over the top here.  But I am thrilled to see a new entry into Jayne Castle aka Jayne Ann Krentz’s wonderful world of psychic characters, and I wish I had a dust bunny for my very own.  The Lost Night kicks off Castle’s new Rainshadow series.  If you love the Harmony books, you will love the Rainshadow series as well.  Rainshadow is a remote island in the Amber Sea that attracts people who march to a slightly different drummer than those who live in Harmony.

When Rachel Blake’s latest attempt to use her talents in a productive way fall apart, she reluctantly turns to plan B and retreats to the bookstore on Rainshadow Island that was left to her by her great-aunts. Harry Sebastian has returned to the island to help uncover the disturbances in his family owned forest called The Preserve.  Harry knows Rachel holds the key to understanding what has happened; she just can’t remember what happened that night when she was lost in the Preserve; more importantly, how she got out alive.

I loved the lush tropical feel to The Preserve and wish that the scenes and adventures there had lasted longer, but maybe that wish will be granted in the next Rainshadow book which is tentatively scheduled for August, 2013 (Deception Cove).  The book is a great addition to the Arcane/Harmony world, but could easily be enjoyed as a standalone as well, though I triple dog dare you to read one of these books and not want to read the whole series!

BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD BOOK 6: LOVER ENSHRINED
J.R. Ward
Performed by: James Frangione
ISBN:  978-0451222725 (Mass Market Paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-0739496589 (Hardback)
ASIN: B001O15JQE (Unabridged Audio)
ASIN: B000UZNS0Y (Kindle)
June 2008 (Mass Market Paperback)
June 2008 (Hardback)
December 2008 (Unabridged Audio)
June 2008 (Kindle)
Signet / Signet Bookclub Edition / Recorded Books / Signet
Paranormal / Vampire

Phury has been featured in all of the previous books of the Black Dagger Brotherhood – passionate, loyal, yet deeply troubled, who through the previous books one gleans that Phury also has gotten himself hooked a bit with addictions to drugs.  When one of his brothers asks to be relieved of the duty of Primale for the Chosen (A vampire to sire and propagate the vampire race keeping the Brotherhood’s bloodlines alive with the Chosen women) he agreed to sacrifice himself for the duty.   Some 5 months later Phury’s first mate the Chosen woman Cormia was not pleased and in trying to be considerate Phury did not pursue or complete the consummation.    Cormia has since observed and realized that though Phury is definitely kind and she has warmed to him, he is also deeply and emotionally scarred.   As the war between the Lessening Society grows much more grim, Phury must decide between duty and love.

*** While I have been completely enraptured by this series, and have really liked Phury in the previous books, he totally infuriated me in this one.  Needless to say, I wanted to strangle him for at least three-fourths of this book.  And yes, I also got out of sequence with the storyline but will go back and correct the reading order.

However, while Phury and Cormia’s story was the focus of LOVER ENSHRINED, the secondary story lines were so powerful with John and Xhex; Blay and Qhuin; Revenge, Tor, and of course the revelation of the Omega having a son were what kept this from being a very low rated book.   With all these new revelations popping into the scene Ward just keeps the excitement sizzling and the action at an all-time peak with thoughts of a new and more powerful threat to the Brotherhood.

Bottom line:  As much as I wanted to whack Phury throughout the better part of LOVER ENSHRINED, he did redeem himself by the end of the story and LOVER ENSHRINED should not be overlooked for the set-up and preview of the new direction of story lines planned.

Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

IN DEATH BOOK 1: NAKED IN DEATH
J.D. Robb
Performed by: Susan Ericksen
ASIN: B0019ZWMB0 (Unabridged Audio)
ISBN-13: 978-0399151576 (Hardback)
ISBN-13: 978-0425148297 (Mass Market Paperback)
May 2008 (Unabridged Audio)
March 2004 (Hardback)
August 2004 (Mass Market Paperback)
Brilliance Audio / Putnam Adult / Berkley
Futuristic Police Procedural

Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant hunting for a ruthless serial killer. In over 10 years on the force, she’s seen it all – and knows that her survival depends on her instincts. And she’s going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire – and high on the suspect list in Eve’s newest murder investigation. But passion and seduction have rules of their own, and it’s up to Eve to take a chance in the arms of a man she knows nothing about – except the addictive hunger of needing his touch.

*** I have read Nora Roberts before and have been impressed with all of the different scenario’s she’s come up with for the huge and impressive body of work she has produced so far.  So with that in mind I really felt I should take a chance and discover what all the brouha is about regarding her ...In Death series writing as J.D. Robb.  Obviously, I’m not disappointed.  Ms. Robb aka Roberts is a multi-talented and brilliant word smith, with this impressive series.  I can see after reading this first book in the series that I am on my way to becoming a new fan of this new (to me) futuristic police procedural series with an absolutely dynamic lead of Eve Dallas and one very sexy billionaire Irish hottie – Roarke!

I may not be crazy over some of the future changes the author portrays for our future civilization, but not to worry – I’ll not see it in my lifetime, however it is immense fun to read about ordering up a meal and having it delivered out of some contraption that cooks and serves you.  On the bright side, there are some things in the authors brave new world, I could really become accustomed to.

Back to the NAKED IN DEATH, and the murder that was so pivotal to the plot.  The murders were extremely brutal, sick, and this reader really was invested in wanting to see such a sick pervert get the justice he so richly deserved.  Ms. Robb really kept the suspense up with enough red herrings tossed out to keep me riveted to the very end.  I really didn’t expect the twist at the end, and I have to say Brava to Ms. Robb – for another brilliant body of work I am going to try catching up up with in the following year!

Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

THE LEAGUE SERIES BOOK 5: BORN OF SILENCE
Sherrilyn Kenyon
ISBN: 978-0446573313
Kindle ASIN: B005UK9U10
May 2012
Grand Central Publishing
Paranormal Romance/Sci Fi
Paranormal Romance/Futuristic
Hardcover

The Sentella and the Resistance have aligned to fight the government led by Arturo Cruel… but will the Resistance Zarya has fought so hard for destroy the love she has found?

Zarya Starska has been leading the Resistance while loving a secretive member of the Sentella known only as Kere. Little does she know but Kere is actually Darling Cruel, Arturo’s nephew and a member of the government Zarya despises for killing her family. Darling has his own reasons for hating Arturo, reasons far deeper than anyone other than his closest friends can imagine. Unfortunately, an attack goes deadly and now Darling has become a monster worse than Arturo, with revenge consuming him. Can Zarya help Darling recover the man he once was?

BORN OF SILENCE is the fifth book in the series but can be read as a stand alone novel. Prior to BORN OF SILENCE, we were under the impression that Darling is gay- BORN OF SILENCE gives the story behind his actions. Please note that Darling’s history is nothing short of brutal and his anger at Zarya’s seeming betrayal evokes a horrific anger.

I honestly expected to hate BORN OF SILENCE. Not even Sherrilyn Kenyon could take a character, make him into a monster, and then convince readers he was heroic and worthy of love… and yet, once again, Kenyon crafts a tortured hero who is beyond memorable! I cringed with each new revelation about Darling’s past- how could he endure so much pain and suffering? Meanwhile, Zarya has to deal with her own perceptions as she sees the damage those misconceptions can cause. An emotionally challenging read, but oh so worth it!

BORN OF SILENCE shows that The League series only gets better and better with each new entry. I’m glad that Sherrilyn Kenyon revived this out-of-print series and subsequently continued it. Spectacular and highly recommended!

http://store.samhainpublishing.com/demon-bait-p-6552.html?osCsid=37c40a9a40c6205ff622189fb10254a0

CHILDREN OF THE UNDYING SERIES BOOK 1: DEMON BAIT
Moira Rogers
ISBN: 978-1-60928-554-8
Kindle ASIN: B005F0WRAQ
November 29, 2011
Samhain Publishing
Paranormal Romance/Dark Fantasy
Paranormal Romance/Futuristic
eBook

The anti-demon signal (ADS) is all that stands between the humans and the demons, but the system has been failing more and more lately. Marci has been working as one of the technicians but she has to keep her genetics a secret or she will lose everything. However, the latest ADS failure leaves her trapped with mysterious stranger, Gabe. Gabe has his own secret too… will it destroy them even as the attraction between them grows?

DEMON BAIT is the first book in a series that is quite fascinating. The world alternates between the post-apocalyptic demon-infested world and the virtual plane. Moira Rogers does an excellent job at integrating the two. There are some lingering questions that will hopefully be addressed in later books as the potential is here for a superb post-apocalyptic tale.

The romance between Gabe and Marci happens quickly but fits the context of the world Moira Rogers has created. I really like how the author took a hero with some very serious flaws in how he handles the relationship and made him likable. Marci is a tough, intelligent heroine and I hope we see more of both of these characters in future books.

DEMON BAIT is an excellent start to the Children of the Undying series. I look forward to seeing just where Moira Rogers takes us in future books.

THE ENVY CHRONICLES BOOK 3: ABANDON THE NIGHT
Joss Ware
ISBN: 978-0061734038
Kindle ASIN: B00395ZYX6
March 2010
Harper Collins Publishers/Avon Books
Paranormal Romance/Futuristic
Mass Market Paperback

The world has been devastated, destroyed by a group of wealthy men in the Cult of Atlantis (now called the Elites or Strangers). Survivors exist, but they avoid the zombie-like creatures called the gangas as well as the Elites/Strangers. A resistance has begun to build however, and Quent Fielding is part of this growing force.

Quent has just one regret… that he didn’t kill his father all those years ago. Instead, his father helped destroy the world while Quent was trapped in a cave, emerging 50 years later without having aged a day. He also now has the power of psychometry. The only thing that Quent desires now is revenge- and the elusive Zoë Kapoor to stay by his side. Unfortunately, Zoë is also seeking her own revenge. Will Quent and Zoë find a way to appease their past wounds and find love in this new post-apocalyptic world?

ABANDON THE NIGHT is the third book in the Envy Chronicles. Joss Ware gives the reader sufficient history to understand all that has transpired in the series. However, ABANDON THE NIGHT reads much better in the context of the series as a whole. The mystery behind the Elites and the Cult of Atlantis has deepened in each book, while we’ve been watching the romance between Quent and Zoë gradually build. ABANDON THE NIGHT shows the culmination of this romance.

Joss Ware again employs the technique of interspersing journal entries of the past throughout the tale. As much as I enjoyed the current story between Quent and Zoë, I found myself peeking ahead at the journal entries. I keep hoping Joss Ware will write tales about the characters who survived the Change as the tidbits are quite compelling.

The world building of the Envy Chronicles continues to amaze me. Yes, it’s dark and disturbing- but Joss Ware makes it oh so fascinating as well! The resiliency of the characters and their ability to adapt and even bring modern conventions into such a world is astounding. Zoë’s home in particular strikes me as a place of comfort and security, even in a world where horrors abound on a daily basis.

ABANDON THE NIGHT is yet another phenomenal installment in the Envy Chronicles! This is one of those series I just don’t want to end. Highly recommended!

PSY-CHANGELING SERIES BOOK 10: KISS OF SNOW
Nalini Singh
ISBN:  978-0-425-24209-4
ASIN:  B004RKXN44
June 2011
Penguin Putnam/Berkley Sensation
Paranormal Romance/Shape Shifter
Hard Cover and eBook

Hawke, the Alpha of the SnowDancer Pack and Sienna Lauren, a Psy have been butting heads from the moment her family defected from the PsyNet. Three years later, Sienna has matured and thanks to the SnowDancer pack, she’s learned to leave the cold of the PsyNet behind her and embrace her emotions, especially  when it comes to the wolves dynamic Alpha. Sienna knows that she’s woman enough  to be a match for Hawke, however Hawke knows that the wolf who was destined to  be his mate died as a child and wolves only mate once in a lifetime. Hawke believes it’s in Sienna’s best interests if he keeps away from her, despite the desire  she stirs inside the wolf and the man. The more he tries to keep away the more  destructive he becomes for denying his instincts. With the SnowDancers on the  brink of war with the Psy a unhinged Alpha is the last thing his pack needs.

He and Sienna began a destructive game that could not only destroy themselves,  but the entire wolf pack.

I’ve been looking forward to reading Hawke’s story since I first began Ms. Singh’s  Psy-Changeling series last year. Hawke and Sienna have been building up as a  couple from the first book and KISS OF SNOW has been my most anticipated read this year. My anticipation has built as word trickled in several months prior  to Kiss of Snow’s release that Hawke and Sienna’s story was the best in the series to date.

Since receiving KISS OF SNOW, I’ve read it from cover to cover twice and the ending at least four additional times. It gets better with each retelling. I admit I was little confused and disappointed with the ending at first. While Ms. Singh does an awesome job at putting her characters in the worst possible situations for their psyche’s and then having them have to figure out how to get out of it, I  have to admit, I’ve seen this type of ending from her before and while it captured me the first couple times, I wished for something different (to be more explicit,  how the Psy can connect with each other outside of the contriction of the Net works and how that construct expands). However, the more I read the ending the more I liked it. It felt like pieces of a chessboard coming together and that everything was going to tie in later on down the road in the series.

Hawke and Sienna were great characters. Hawke was as drool worthy as always and I was glad that Sienna was his match despite her age. Hawke needed put in his place several times and I was glad that Sienna was woman enough to do so. Their relationship throughout KISS OF SNOW was one step forward two steps back, but it was done in such a compelling way with interesting plot twists and turns that I had to keep reading to see how it was going to turn out.

The side plot of Walker Lauren’s romance was so multi layered that I believed it deserved a book of its own. Despite how complete Walker’s romance was, it didn’t distract from Sienna and Hawke’s romance.

When I read books, I focus more on the characters and their reactions to each other rather than the actual plots, but can I humbly say that with the exception of the one thing that bugged me with the ending, I was constantly surprised with the twists and turns, the real conflict preventing the hero and heroine from achieving their happily ever after (Sienna’s unique destructive power, even for  a Psy, Hawke’s inability to mate, and the war coming to destroy the pack) was  the best that I’ve read this year. What I love about Ms. Singh’s Psy-Changling series is how rich the plot is but not at the expense of character development.

Fair Warning: KISS OF SNOW is not a stand-alone book, and would make readers confused if they hadn’t read the previous books in the Psy-Changeling series. However, I highly recommend getting the earlier books in the series and reading them. They’re great reads.

Buy from Samhain:

SOMATESTHESIA
Ann Somerville
ISBN: 978-1-60504-986-1
Samhain Publishing
April 2010
Erotica/GLBT
Erotica/Sci Fi
Erotica/Futuristic
eBook

In the near future, the resources are limited and only the rich can afford vehicles. Yet crime and corruption still exist. As an agent for the Federal Justice Agency, Devlin has dedicated his life to taking care of those who are less fortunate than himself. His dedication is put to the test when he transfers to the Special Crimes Unit and is paired with Connor, an enhanced agent with zero social skills, but an impressive performance record. When Connor and Devlin are sent off to catch an elusive kidnapper/killer they learn that not only do they have to look beneath the surface to solve their case, but look beneath the surface to realize that they are exactly what the other needs to make their life complete. But the Agency has a strict no fraternization policy and a killer has turned his attention from the children to them.

Although I had to look SOMATESTHESIA up in the dictionary to figure out what it meant, I loved this book. SOMATESTHESIA was funny, deep, and intelligent.

Connor and Devlin were well-drawn out characters who each went through a complete character arc, Connor especially. I loved how the layers to his psyche were slowly peeled away and we learn that despite his ‘super’ powers how vulnerable and tortured he was. I also admired how Connor was able to finally separate himself from everything and grow and develop. Devlin also made strides on learning to not always having to take control and protect someone, but give them the freedom to learn how to protect themselves. Somatesthesia takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions and I appreciated the ride.

The plot was well done, even though SOMATESTHESIA isn’t a suspense novel, the suspense elements included were well done and caused me to keep flipping the pages, eager to see how the situation was going to be resolved.

The main focus of SOMATESTHESIA was the development of Connor and Devlin’s relationship.Although this is labeled erotica, while their is a lot of sexual tension the actual sex scenes are alluded to or described very briefly. I loved how their relationship had so many layers as they tried to battle internal and external issues. I loved how they both made mistakes and how they communicated and apologized to each other when they made a wrong move. The deep-seated respect that they had for each other is not something you often find in romance.

 This is the first time I’ve read a novel by Ann Somerville. It won’t be the last.

THE ENVY CHRONICLES BOOK 2: EMBRACE THE NIGHT ETERNAL
Joss Ware
978-0061734021
February 2010
Harper Collins Publishers/Avon Books
Paranormal Romance/Futuristic
Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback

When Simon Japp awoke from a mysterious sleep that lasted 50 years without aging him a day, he found himself in a world that was changed dramatically.  As he attempts to move through this drastically changed world and society, he is haunted by his past. He denies his attraction to Sage Corrigan, hoping she will choose another man even as he longs for her. Unfortunately for him, recent events are going to throw them together in the most intimate of ways as their search for the mystery behind the Strangers and the gangas leads them to the settlement of Falling Creek.

Joss Ware takes readers back into her post apocalyptic world with this second book in the series. EMBRACE THE NIGHT ETERNAL can easily be read as a stand alone although there is a core group of characters appearing in both books. Readers should also note that there is a subplot involving two characters, Quentin and Zoe, who are the main figures in the third book, ABANDON THE NIGHT.

I was a little worried about how Joss Ware would resolve the romantic triangle between Sage, Simon, and Theo as friendships have ended over less. Instead, however, Joss Ware uses this conflict to redeem Simon from his past and show the sense of honor he so desperately wants to have.  The ideology behind Falling Creek is a bit over-the-top and yet makes sense within the context of the world, particularly as the history is shown to us through the brief journal entries of Julie Davis Beecher. I almost wish Joss Ware would write those stories- the ones that occurred during the catastrophes- as the glimpses at it are fascinating!

The world of EMBRACE THE NIGHT ETERNAL is dark and disturbing… and yet it’s impossible to stop reading about it. Joss Ware shows readers how hope survives even in the bleakest of worlds, keeping the tone from becoming depressing. The mystery behind the Strangers only deepens with this second installment and I can’t wait to see how the threads resolve themselves in ABANDON THE NIGHT!

BUY IT!

SPACE FEVER
Kate Donovan
ISBN: 978-1-60504-971-7
March 2010
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Short Paranormal Romance/Futuristic
Short Paranormal Romance/Sci Fi
eBook

Cortierra is at war. Cabrielle is a woman living in the shadow of her powerful step-father and her own father’s suspected treason. To distance herself from the past, Cabriella has done everything to prove her loyalty to her country. When the Zentarian soldier whose training pilots, and who’s her country’s only hope of winning the war goes into lust-fever, it’s up to Cortierra to mate with him to save his life and her country. Then Cabrielle learns everything is not all that it’s seems and sometimes you have to stop having faith that everything will work out and take action to make the world a better place.

SPACE FEVER is a well-written story. The premise drew you in from the first page. Cabriella is strong, determined and sympathetic. You want her to succeed and Torr is hot. I enjoyed SPACE FEVER. I was never bored while turning the pages.

The only fault I have with SPACE FEVER is the lies and betrayals. In one aspect, SPACE FEVER’s premise was original and so skillfully done that I keep turning the pages and I couldn’t believe what was happening (and I mean that in a good way). I was constantly surprised. What bothered me was how easily Cabriella accepting a lot of the curve balls that were dealt her way. A lot of them were betrayals against her personally and I felt that she accepted those betrayals too easily.

 That was my only issue with SPACE FEVER. It was an enjoyable read and I enjoyed the journey.