TBR Challenge 2009: Countdown by Michelle Maddox

Published: August 2008 by Dorchester

Number of Pages: 293

Genre: Futuristic Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Stand Alone

Why This Book: Eve Kenin (aka Eve Silver) told me to read it at the 2008 RWA book signing because I liked her Shomi releases a lot. I am such a good, obedient little reader.

From the Author Site: THREE
Kira Jordan wakes up in a pitch-black room, handcuffed to a metal wall. She has 60 seconds to figure out how to escape. Thus begins a vicious game where to lose is to die.

TWO
The stranger she’s been partnered with—her only ally in this nightmare—is a convicted murderer. But if he’s so violent, why does he protect her? And worse yet, what is it behind those haunted sea-green eyes that makes her want to protect him?

ONE
No one to trust. Nowhere to run. And the only hope of survival is working together to beat the COUNTDOWN.

Hero: Rogan Ellis is a convicted rapist and serial killer who had completed four years of his 5oo year sentence in a maximum security prison before he became a contestant on a killer, literally, reality show called "The Countdown". Once a playboy with no care in the world but his pleasure and now a harden con with an agenda. But he has to survive the game. As the story unfolds you can't help but root for him and really want him to survive the game and come out on top. Too bad he was tied to Kira is so many ways.

Heroine: Kira Jordon was orphaned at 15 after her family was brutally murdered during a home robbery. She's survived by becoming a shoplifter and pickpocket. Now her only chance for survival is Rogan Ellis, a mass murderer. Whiny and annoying, she wasn't someone I could really get behind. Way too much of the "poor little ole me" going on to make her a really attractive heroine. Rogan was too good for her.

Review: A good story about a reality show gone mad. What happens when you can pay to watch someone else struggle in real life or death situation where there is no good choice and stay anonymous while doing so. You have "The Countdown". All the contestants are the dregs of society, the killers, the rapist, thieves and generally the unwanted. Of course, watching them struggle with morally corrupt choices isn't too horrible.

Michelle Maddox created a fascinating world set in the not so near future (minus the whole space travel thing and other world bits). The reality show was truly horrible but I kept waiting for Kira and Rogan to win and get to "Offworld" where they would battle the true horror. But alas, "Offworld" was apparently the paradise that its was thought to be (or at least that is where the story left off and will most likely stay as the Shomi line died).

The concept of "The Countdown" reality show isn't new. After all horror, blood and violence sells. Make it exclusive and it sells like hot cakes. Throw in some sex and voila you make it irresistible. This storyline really worked for me as I am not a huge fan of reality shows, and in particular those that show people at their worse. This is a ultimate horror in reality show. I don't understand what about them that fascinates people. I like my story carefully scripted with 'real' actors. I suppose its like watching a traffic accident, the helpless horror of being the bystander unable to help.

What I liked best: Rogan. *sigh* What a hunk, even if his is a convicted serial killer/rapist! You like him despite his bad reputation. But then again maybe because of his bad reputation.

What I least liked: The whole existence of "Offworld". First the name is really lame and second this "new world" was discovered just prior to the Great Plague which killed off most of the population. With the sudden decrease in the population, how did people get to "Offworld" and how did travel between the two survive when the rest of the world fell into disarray and chaos and technology taking a nose dive. The whole concept just didn't work for me. Now if was like Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, I would have been much happier but then the whole story would have probably had to change. *sigh*

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: If you like the post-apocalyptic romance (yes, I know its very specific) then you'll probably like this one. Its certainly a genre with room to grow. I'm a big fan of the end of the world scenarios and what's better than romance after "the end" has occurred.

Grade: B-

Review: Pegasus in Space

Title: Pegasus in Space

Author: Anne McCaffrey

Published: December 2000

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adults

Stand Alone/Series: Book 3
Book 1: To Ride Pegasus
Book 2: Pegasus in Flight

From the Back Cover: For an overpopulated Earth, there is only one place to look for relief: straight up. With the completion of the Padrugoi Space Station, humanity has at last achieved its first large-scale permanent presence in space. But there are those who want Padrugoi to fail. Standing in their way are the Talented, men and women gifted with extraordinary mental powers that have made them as feared as they are respected - and utterly indispensable to the colonization effort. Now, as sabotage and attempted murder stike the Station, it's up to the Talented to save the day. Only who is going to save the Talented?

Review: This picks up the story from Pegasus in Flight and completes the building of the universe for the Rowan universe. The final chapter in the story of Peter Reidinger, first Tower Prime, and the beginning of the FT&T (Federated Telepath & Teleport). The world has become over-crowded, and the human need to explore, pushes exploration into space. First its the space station, Padrugoi, then the moon and Mars and beyond. It also provides Anne McCaffrey’s answers to the questions all space-exploring authors must face, how is space travel conducted and how do people stay in touch. Again Anne McCaffrey’s wonderful story-telling style keeps the reader turning those pages to see what happens next.

This book also points out the fact that the only place we have to go is up as we are faced with over-population and decreasing resources. Of course this means that people will have to work together and pool what resources we have, but it could be possible. Instead of wasting time and money on fighting, people should take a good look around. They would see that we are running out of space and resources. Sure conservation will help us but sooner of later we are going to have to face the fact that the planet as only so much space and resources.

Space the final frontier, to quote Star Trek. It really truly is the final frontier. This book always tends to bring out the little astronaut explorer in me (and not to mention the trekkie).

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: Yes, this story completes the world building for the Rowan universe.

Rating: 4 of 5

Review: Pegasus in Flight

Title: Pegasus in Flight

Author: Anne McCaffrey

Published: October 1990

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adults

Stand Alone/Series: Book 2
Book 1: To Ride Pegasus

From the Back Cover: As director of the Jerhattan Parapsychic Center, telepath Rhyssa Owen coordinated the job assignments for psychically gifted Talents. And though she had her hands full dealing with the unreasonable demand for kinetics to work on the space platform that would be humankind's stepping-stone to the stars, she was always ready to welcome new Talents to the Center.

Feisty and streetwise, twelve-year-old Tirla used her extraordinary knack for languages to eke out a living in the Linear developments, where the poor struggled to make ends meet and children were conscipted or sold into menial work programs. Young Peter, paralyzed in a freak accident, hoped someday to get into space where zero gravity would enable him t ofunction more easily. Both desparately needed help only other Talents could provide.

With the appearnce in her life of one extraordinary man with no measureable Talent at all, Rhyssa suddenly found herself questioning everythin she thought she knew about her people. And when two Talented children were discovered to have some very unusual - and unexpected - abilities, she realized that she would have to reassess the potential of all Talentkind...

Review: After reading some great new (to me) science fiction, I had a hankering to re-read one of my old favorites. And in science fiction, who hasn't read at least one Anne McCaffery.

This story is the middle part of the trilogy that precedes the Rowan series (Rowan, Damia, Children of Damia, Lyon's Pride, and The Tower and the Hive). The first book in the trilogy (To Ride Pegasus) didn't do much for me so I never kept it. Its series of short stories on the discovery of psychic abilities and the founding of the Parapsychic Center which is featured in the other two books of the series. Its very loosely tied into the rest of the trilogy and doesn't add much to the overall trilogy storyline was written nearly 20 years prior to the release of this book. This is really the story of Peter Reidinger and the beginning of the organization which will become the FT&T (Federated Telepath & Teleport).

As with most Anne McCaffery books, this is light reading with plenty of action to keep the story going. It takes a look at a society where the poor and unskilled live in underground dwellings and children are currency while the wealthy or skilled live in the sunlight and in luxury. Both side of this world are shown through the eyes of children. Tirla, whose birth was illegal (as the fourth child of a single mother), and Peter, who is paralyzed. Both have unusual skills and must find their place in the world.

Anne McCaffery is a wonderful story-teller and I love all the different world she’s created. This one is fascinating since it was one of first that I read that had people with paranormal powers set in modern day. Even though I’ve read this several times, it still keeps my interest.

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: Good for all ages. One of my oldies but goodies.

Rating: 4 of 5

Review: Gabriel's Ghost

Title: Gabriel's Ghost

Author: Linnea Sinclair

Published: October 2005

Genre: Science Fiction, Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Book 1

From the Author Site: After a decade of cruising interstellar patrol ships, former Captain Chasidah Bergren, onetime Pride of the Sixth Fleet, finds herself court-martialed for a crime she didn’t commit—and shipped off to a remote prison planet from which no one ever escapes. But when she kills a brutal guard in an act of self-defense, someone even more dangerous emerges from the shadows.

Gabriel Sullivan—alpha mercenary, smuggler, and rogue—is supposed to be dead. Yet now this seductive ghost from Chaz’s past is offering her a ticket to freedom—for a price. Someone in the Empire is secretly breeding jukors: vicious and uncontrollable killing machines that have long been outlawed. Gabriel needs Chaz to help him stop the practice before it decimates imperial space. For Chaz, it’s a matter of survival. For Sully it means facing the truth about who—and what—he really is. The mission means putting their lives on the line—but the tensions that heat up between them may be the riskiest part of all.

Review: From the very first page, the story grabs your attention and doesn't let go until the very end. The book opens with our heroine, Captain Chasidah “Chaz” Bergren, the former pride of the 6th Fleet, standing over the lifeless body of a Takan security guard who had just tried to rape her on the prison planet of Moabar on which she is serving a life sentence for crimes she did not comment. While trying to recover her balance from that attack, a ghost from her past appears in front of her in the form of a very live and very sexy Gabriel Ross Sullivan aka Sully. Though he has been thought dead for the last two years, he appears very much a live and is offering Chaz a way of the planet if she’ll help him. From there this “little” mission blossoms into something that could create a civil war within the Empire. And as they get closer to their goal, the danger increases and so does the passion between Sully and Chaz.

Gabriel Ross Sullivan aka Sully, the poet, and mercenary on a mission to stop the illegal breeding jukors (monsters designed and breed to kill anything that moves). But he needs the information on the Fleet and their protocols. So he rescues Chaz from Moabar (against the advise of his advisors) or that least that is the story he tell Chaz. But the truth of his unshakable trust, love and lust for Chaz soon becomes apparent. While there are many mysteries about Sully, even those that scare him, Chaz finds that she can’t resist Sully (and his wicked Sully grin)

Captain Chasidah Bergren aka Chaz, the once pride of the Sixth Fleet, and according to Sully, the best interfering bitch in the universe. Chaz is no faint flower. She is used to being in command knows what has to done in order to get the mission accomplished. Besides the luscious distraction of Sully, she does maintain her control and uses cool logic to solve problems. But when push comes to shove, she’ll shoot first and ask questions later.

I have to say I loved the story. The action was nonstop and it was one surprise after another as Chaz discovers things about races and people that she thought she knew. All the characters are quite complex and that makes them seem more alive. Sully, the mostly time flamboyant gambler hero also has a deep streak of self hate and fear of discovery, especially when it come to letting Chaz know what and who he is. Chaz spends most of the book being frustrated with Sully’s tendencies to hide facts from. The whole dynamics of the growing relationship was fascinating.

Keeper?: Yes. And since I borrowed it from a fellow lovely DIK lady (thanks Sarai), I had to go out a buy my own copy.

Recommendation: Yes. A lovely story full of action and romantic tension. Super yummy hero and a kick ass heroine. What more can you want.

Rating: 5 of 5

Review: Warrior

Title: Warrior

Author: Angela Knight

Published: July 2008

Genre: Paranormal/Futuristic Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Time Hunters #1

From the Author Site: Warlord Galar Arvid is sent to the twenty-first century to protect artist Jessica Kelly from a murderous time-traveling art thief. But Galar soon realizes that the situation is far more complicated and dangerous than he thought. He takes Jessica back to the Outpost, where she must learn to adapt to a strange new world – and her attraction to her handsome savior.

Review: This is the first in Angela Knight's new series Time Hunters. Its based in the world she created in Jane's Warlord (2004) and Warlord (2007, Jane's Warlord plus short Warfem). Based on a world were time travel is possible and has to be monitored by time traveling genetically engineered warrior cops who's mission is to keep people from the future from messing with the past. It's like that 1997's show TimeCop meet 2000's Andromeda (with the every so yummy Kevin Sorbo).

Galar Arvid, the son of the hero and heroine from Warfem, is a lead time enforcer with major relationship issues. His last significant other was a spy for the enemy and basically sleeping with him for information and for the thrill of sleeping with the enemy. So he hasn't been with anyone in a while and sees Jess as a quick lay as they're waiting around for the bad guy to be caught. Not the greatest way to start a relationship. He's a very alpha hero but a bit of the stick in the mud, I excepted him break out in grunted responses at any time. I think he was supposed to be the "brooding" hero, but I got more of the "ho-hum" feeling. No really zing in him.

Jessica Kelly was not my favorite of heroines. I guess after reading such great kick-ass alpha heroines (Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels, Nalini Singh's Psy-Changlings, CL Wilson's Ellysetta etc.), Jessica Kelly left me wanting. She started out so promising (torched the bad guy in her first encounter) but then she just took a back seat. She forgives the hero for arresting and accusing her for espionage because he was "doing his job". Why not just lay down and let him walk all over her. I want a heroine who can take kick some ass and take some numbers. At least Angela Knight was equal when it came to Jess's reason for jumping into bed with Galar (basically he was really hot and she hadn't been with anyone in a while, guess they were both in it for lots of wild sex but no relationship).

I'd also come be expects some really steamy love scenes from Angela Knight, but was disappointed in that department as well. Still wondering what the hero and heroine ever saw in each other, other than a physical reaction. Big brawny hero meets poor wilting heroine just doesn't interest me much.

Keeper?: Maybe. We'll have to see how the next book is before making a final judgment.

Recommendation: Not the best Angela Knight I've read, but may be interesting enough for those who enjoyed Jane's Warlord (which in my opinion is much better) or Warfem.

Rating: 2.5 of 5

Hidden

Title: Hidden

Author: Eve Kenin

Published: July 2008

Genre: Futuristic Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Series, Book 2: Could be read out of order. This book is very loosely tied into Book 1, through references to characters/events.

From the Author Site: Tatiana has honed her genetic gifts to perfection. She can withstand the subzero temperatures of the Northern Waste, read somebody's mind with the briefest touch, and slice through bone with her bare hands. Which makes her one badass chick, all right. Nothing gets to her. Until she meets Tristan. Villain or ally, she can't be sure. But one thing she does know: he has gifts too-including the ability to ramp up her heart rate to dangerous levels. But before they can start some chemistry of their own, they have to survive being trapped in an underground lab, hunted by a madman, and exposed to a plague that could destroy mankind.

Review: Hidden was definitely better than Driven! Loved the heroine and hero (T & T). Their attraction was explosive (pun intended). The book takes you back to the post-nuclear holocaust world and the Northern Waste. This time we follow Tatiana (Wizard and Yuriko's lost sister) through her three-step plan to save the world from Gavin Ward and his genetically created plague. The first step of her plan to save the world has her searching for Tolliver. As she searches the Northern Waste, she runs into an unsettlingly attractive man called Tristan and his strange band of followers. And it's lust at first site for both of them.

LOVE Tatiana! A girl after my own heart. I found her three step plans, because more that three steps was too complicated, to be very amusing. In each situation she seemed to make a three step plan of attack/investigation. Her continuing comments of being a late bloomer (due to her late development of powers that both her siblings had and her increasing lust for Tristan) kept me chuckling throughout the book. And she can kick ass! She is definitely not the poor, weak sister/friend as she was described in Driven.

I enjoyed trying to figure out the enigma that is Tristan. He was very much the mysterious stranger. A scientist that is trying to find a cure for a plague as well as a warrior. We know that he is more that he seems through the hints that he drops throughout the story. This keeps both the reader and Tatiana intrigued. His attempts to keep himself sane with the whole we-are-one philosophy was kinda funny. Especially since it kept Tatiana on her toes and as a very literal person myself, I could relate to her confusion.

This was a definitely a page turner. I didn't like having to keep putting it down for mundane things like sleep and work. The story is fast paced and more seamlessly delivered than Driven. I am certainly looking forward to Yuriko's story (I hope its next!).

Keeper?: Definitely

Recommendation: I would recommend it to any who read romance and also to those who enjoy a good action/adventure novel.

Rating: 4.5 of 5

Driven!

Unlike many, I didn't get out to see the Dark Knight (but will indeed see it soon), but did manage to finish a book. ^_~

Title: Driven

Author: Even Kenin

Published: September 2007

Genre: Futuristic Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Series, Book 1

From the Author Site: Raina Bowen knows she can handle herself just fine against anything the harsh Northern Waste throws at her. Until it throws her an enigmatic stranger called Wizard. First, she has to haul him out of a brawl he can't hope to win. And next, her libido is shooting into overdrive at the feel of his hard body pressed against hers on the back of her snowscooter. But there's something not quite right about this guy. Before she can strip bare Wizard's secrets, they're lured into a race for their lives, battling rival truckers, ice pirates...and a merciless maniac with a very personal vendetta.

Review: I really enjoyed the story. Set in a post nuclear holocaust world in the great Northern Waste (couldn't figure out if it was northern Canada or Siberia but exact location doesn't really matter to the story, just that it really really cold). Raina Bowen needs money to hide (both herself and her sister) from a vindictive and outwardly respectable man who virtually owns the Northern Waste. She is depending on a stranger, Wizard, to get her the necessary paperwork she needs in order to have a chance at win the race to Gladow Station with her shipment and get the big cash price. So basically its the Iditarod with semi-trucks, instead of dogs, with the added excitement of being chased by evil ice truckers from hell toting big guns.

Raina Bowen was a good strong female character. She had a hard life growing up with her loser dad, but has manage to stay true to herself. Sweet and soft-hearted at her core with her exterior wrapped with strength and determination and a wicked knife! What did bother me a bit was that here she was a trust-no-one-because-everyone-is-going-to-betray-you gal and all of a sudden she's rubbing elbows with virtual strangers. She comments about it but there was none of the expected wariness in being surrounded by potential betrayers. Granted, they too are wanted, but still it was a bit hard to adjust to her sudden new friends.

I found Wizard (very interesting name) highly amusing. Loved that he was practicing his smiles and trying to get used to emotions. And we can't forget his compliments (what girl doesn't want to be told that her "eyes are appropriately spaced") and courtship gifts of impenetrable titanium body armor! Wizard made me think a lot about Nalini Singh's Judd Laurens from Caressed by Ice. Both are recovering/reforming assassins who used to work for evil. Both are trying to blend with their new environments with some success. Both are trying to deal with emotion and are very literal. Though I think Wizard would win the who's-most-literal contest.

The story overall was intriguing and interesting enough (even with the little bits of annoyance) to keep me flipping the pages. The characters and situations were plausible, for the most part, and appealing to my sense of adventure.

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: I would recommend it to any who read romance and also to those who enjoy a good action/adventure novel.

Rating: 4 of 5