TBR Challenge 2009: The Down Home Zombie Blues & An Accidental Goddess

Since I was a slacker last month, I'm doing two review this month to make up for it.

So first up is...
Title: The Down Home Zombie Blues

Author: Linnea Sinclair

Published: 2007 by Bantam Books

Number of Pages: 516

Genre: Sci Fi Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Stand Alone

Why This Book: It was the only Linnea Sinclair book I hadn't devoured yet.

From the Author Site:In this steamy, suspenseful new thriller from RITA award-winning author Linnea Sinclair, a dangerously sexy space commander and an irresistibly earthy Florida police detective pair up to save the civilized galaxy…but can they save themselves from each other?

Bahia Vista homicide detective Theo Petrakos thought he’d seen it all. Then a mummified corpse and a room full of futuristic hardware sends Guardian Force commander Jorie Mikkalah into his life. Before the night’s through, he’s become her unofficial partner—and official prisoner—in a race to save the Earth. And that’s only the start of his troubles.

Jorie’s mission is to stop a deadly infestation of bio-mechanical organisms from using Earth as its breeding ground. If she succeeds, she could save a world and win a captaincy. But she’ll need Theo’s help, even if their unlikely partnership does threaten to set off an intergalactic incident.

Because if she fails, she’ll lose not just a planet and a promotion, but a man who’s become far more important than she cares to admit.

Cast:
Sergeant Theo Petrakos: A recently divorced homicide detective for Bahia Vista Police Department in Florida. He is trying to get his life back together while avoiding all the helpful people intent on getting him a date. While investigating an unusual homicide, he get involved with the Guardian Force, who were also investigating the same homicide. Since "nils" - people from low tech worlds - aren't supposed to know about the Guardian Force, he is kidnapped and is placed on the transfer list to Paroo (a paradise planet). Theo doesn't want to leave earth, and his friends and family, so he makes a deal that allows him to help out in the current investigation.

Commander Jorie Mikkalah: Being a Guardian is all she wants to be and she enjoys her work. She has been promised a promotion to captain if she successfully solves this Zombie problem. With the death of her contact on the ground, she turns to Theo to get the information on about local.

Review: I've really enjoyed all of Linnea Sinclair's stories, so I had high hopes for this one. Even though the plot devise is not one I generally enjoy. The whole advanced aliens from out space come the earth and fall in love with an earthling. And it didn't work for me here either, I'm sad to say. Most of the time there is some translation do-hicky or something that allows everyone to understand (minus the idioms of course) but in this version, one of the numerous alien languages is almost like english to allow communication between the Guardians and the locals.

The worlding building was okay. There are two factions in space, one that naturally wants to obliterate the other. Zombies were created as border guards. But someone from the enemy faction stole the operating codes and now are breeding a superior Zombie breed as a first line of attact. And they've chosen the love state of Florida in which to do their breeding tests. Because it's an out of the way world with the perfect temperature for breeding Zombies and has very litte interglactic travel.

The Zombies aren't the fleshing-eating-living-dead zombies that most would automatically think about. Instead these zombies suck all the juice of their victims leaving mummies with moist eyeballs. And a person cannot be converted into a zombie. Since the zombie is a genetically engineered being. All zombies are a part of a herd, each herd is control able the C-Prime zombie. Reprogramming or killing the C-Prime zombie is the best way to kill the herd.

What I liked best: There really wasn't much I like about the story. It was well thought out but none of the characters really clicked for me. I think it asked me to suspend my belief and bit too far for it to be truly enjoyable.

What I least liked: The over use of the word "bliss". Couldn't the aliens learn the word nice, good, delicious, and happy so that "bliss" didn't have to take the place of those words. *sigh*

Keeper?: No

Recommendation: I would recommend Linnea Sinclair to all readers, just not this book!

Grade: D


Next...
Title: An Accidental Goddess

Author: Linnea Sinclair

Published: 2006 by Bantam Books

Number of Pages: 434

Genre: Futuristic Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Stand Alone

Why This Book: I picked the book up originally due to a review I read on The BookSmugglers blog.

From the Author Site: Being divine has never been more dangerous...

Raheiran Special Forces Captain Gillaine Davré has just woken up in some unknown space station, wondering where the last three hundred years have gone. The last thing she remembers is her ship being attacked. Now it seems that while she was time-traveling, she was ordained a Goddess…

Gillaine’s only hope of survival rests with dangerously seductive Admiral “Mack” Makarian, who suspects her of being a smuggler—or worse. But he can’t begin to imagine the full extent of it. For Gillaine is now Lady Kiasidira, holy icon to countless believers, including Mack—a man who inspires feelings in her that are far from saintly…feelings she knows are mutual. But when their flirtation is interrupted by a treacherous enemy from the past, Gillaine’s secret—and secret desires—could destroy them both….

Cast:
Gillaine, Kiasidira, Ciran Rothalla Davre: She wakes up in the sick bay of Cirrus One after her ship had suffered some damages during her last battle with the Fav'lhir which inadvertantly threw her 342 years to the future. Where she discovers, much to her dismay, that she has been elevated to goddesshood, with temples, worshipers and the like. And all she had ever wanted to be was "just Gillie" who likes Devil Breath neat with a twist and a good game of billards at the local pub. But she is a Kiasidira, a high ranked Raheiran sorceress, which comes with a lot of responsibilities. One of which led her into that faithful battle. Now that no one know who she truly is, she tries to build a life as "just Gillie Davre", feighter captain. But fate is not done with her, just when things seem to be settling down and working for Gillie, old enemies appear that puts Gillie in a difficult position.

Sentient Integrated MObile Nanoessence aka Simon: Gillie's sentient ship, teacher and friend.

Admiral Rynan "Mack" Makarian aka "Make it Right" Makarian: Admiral of the Khalaran Fifth Fleet and responsible for converting Cirrus One from a civilian station into a military station. Nothing is going well for Mack. First the civilian run operations are making it difficult as possible for him and his team to make the necessary upgrades, he has parrots flying all over his atrium, he's been giving an office that doesn't allow him to interface with any of the stations systems and he has a mysterious (a beautiful, even though he does want to think about it) woman in his sick bay that may be a pirate. On top of that, he has to deal with the Temple of the Lady Kiasidira which seems to have it agenda.

Lieutenant Tobias Finch: Mack's right hand man and a devoted worshiper of the Lady Kiasidira.

Review: Linnea Sinclair has once again created and wonderfully colorful world and engrossing story where a not so average woman ambassador, who just wants to have fun and share technological knowledge, saves the galaxy as they know it by sacrificing herself and her ship. But she didn't die. She's thrown into the future where to her great disgust and dismay, she is now a Goddess. Lucky for her they didn't get her name right. Unlucky for her there is someone on the station that can identify her and it seems that the enemy was not complete defeated.

The world building is done seamlessly. Althrough there was a lot information to portray, nothing got lost in the translation. All the historical bits were well woven through the "present" day facts. All the lovely world making details are there so there is no need to fill in the gaps. This world has a bit of magic thrown in with all the usual space exploring technologies. A bit of Sword and Sorcerer mets Star Trek.

What I liked best: Simon. He's smart and a bit of a smarty-pants too. All those teasing remarks, the humming of the wedding song in the background. The banter between Gillie and Simon are a crack up.

What I least liked: The really strange teenage fashions. But then I don't care for them much in the real world either.

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: If you've enjoyed other Linnea Sinclair books, you will definitely enjoy this one. It a lite and witty story about

Grade: A

ARC Review: Hope's Folly by Linnea Sinclair

Title: Hope's Folly

Author: Linnea Sinclair

Published: February 2009

Genre: Romance, Science Fiction

Stand Alone/Series: Book 3
Book 1: Gabriel's Ghost
Book 2: Shades of Dark

From the Author Site: Admiral Philip Guthrie is in an unprecedented position: on the wrong end of the law, leading a rag-tag band of rebels against the oppressive Imperial forces. Or would be, if he can reach his command ship—the intriguingly named Hope’s Folly—alive. Not much can rattle Philip’s legendary cool—but the woman who helps him foil an assassination attempt on Kirro Station will. She’s the daughter of his best friend and first commander—a man who died while under Philip’s command, and whose death is on Philip’s conscience.

Rya Bennton has been in love with Philip Guthrie since she was a girl. But can her childhood fantasies survive an encounter with the hardened man, and newly-minted rebel leader, who it seems has just become her new commanding officer? And will she still be willing follow him through the jaw of hell once she learns the truth about her father’s death?

Plot: The story opens with Admiral Philip Guthrie getting ready to assume command of his new flagship, Hope’s Folly, once known as the imperial Styker-class cruiser the Alric Stockwell turned fruit freighter after decommissioning, as the new and only admiral of the Alliance. Admiral Guthrie arrives at Kirro Station and runs into former ImpSec Sub-Lieutenant Rya Talyor Bennton and with her help escapes on board a shuttle bound for Seth Shipyard and Hope’s Folly. Once aboard they must get Hope’s Folly up and running and get to Ferrin in order to have hope for the future Alliance. While battling the endless number of system problems on the ship, both Phillip and Rya fight a more personal battle of attraction.

Hero: Admiral Philip Guthrie was totally not what I expected. After reading Gabriel’s Ghost, I thought stodgy was the best description for him. After Shades of Dark, he was a bit more interesting but not hero material to me. But in reading this book he became the "long-lost always-forever dream hero" one always hopes for but very rarely encounters.

Heroine: Rya “the Rebel” Talyor Bennton is a no nonsense, ass kicking, and stubborn weapons toting woman. There is so much to like about her, her constant internal thoughts about her weight (would like to drop 30 pounds, like who wouldn’t), her no nonsense attitude and pride in her work makes her very easy to relate to.

Review: Those who have enjoyed Linnea's many other wonderful books will definitely enjoy this one as well. She, once again, has written a wonderful hero, a strong heroine and a suspenseful action filled story that grabs the reader’s attention and doesn’t let go until the very end. I just don't know how Linnea Sinclair does it but this is sure to be another best-seller.

The romance was a slow burner with an explosive finale. For most of the book, Rya and Philip fight their rising attraction. For her, he is her “long-lost always-forever dream hero” from her youth but now is her commanding officer whom she is determined to protect from all harm and besides that she thinks that he does not find her attractive. For him, she’s the daughter of a friend who’s death sits heavy on his soul and a subordinate who is 16 years his junior that he has sworn to protect even from himself. But as they enter a life or death struggle, their attraction bursts into flames. Their burning looks and intense attraction has the “paint peeling off the walls”!

In addition to writing a wonderful hero/heroine pair, Linnea has included many wonderful secondary characters. Captain Folly, the ship’s namesake, plays a supporting role but is definitely a star that shine. Lieutenant Constantine Welford is another that I hope we will see more of in the future along with Sparks, the chief engineer. And let’s not forget “Mr. Nice Ass” Alek Dillon on the list of hoped for future appearance.

Keeper?: Definitely

Recommendation: Would recommend that reader read Gabriel's Ghost and Shades of Dark first, but isn't necessary to follow the storyline or to enjoy this wonderfully crafted tale.

Rating: 4.5 of 5

Review: Shades of Dark

Title: Shades of Dark

Author: Linnea Sinclair

Published: September 2008

Genre: Science Fiction / Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Sequel to Gabriel's Ghost

From the Author Site: Before her court-martial, Captain Chasidah “Chaz” Bergren was the pride of the Sixth Fleet. Now she’s a fugitive from the “justice” of a corrupt Empire. Along with her lover, the former monk, mercenary, and telepath Gabriel Ross Sullivan, Chaz hoped to leave the past light-years behind—until the news of her brother Thad’s arrest and upcoming execution for treason. It’s a ploy by Sully’s cousin Hayden Burke to force them out of hiding and it works.

With a killer targeting human females and a renegade gen lab breeding jukor war machines, Chaz and Sully already had their hands full of treachery, betrayal—not to mention each other. Throw in Chaz’s Imperial ex-husband, Admiral Philip Guthrie, and a Kyi-Ragkiril mentor out to seduce Sully and not just loyalties but lives are at stake. For when Sully makes a fateful choice changing their relationship forever, Chaz must also choose—between what duty demands and what her heart tells her she must do.

Review: Linnea Sinclair takes us back aboard the Sully’s Boru Karn. It’s been three months since the destruction of the jukor lab and subsequent escape from Marker. And the crew has come to respect Chaz and accept her as one of their own. What riffs were caused by Sully’s mind-probe of the crew have been mostly mended. And Chaz is slowly adjusting to the ky’saran bond between her and Sully. Now its just the matter of finding the second mobile jukor lab and destroy it.

Or at least that what it seemed, until word reaches the Boru Karn of the arrest of Chaz’s older brother, Commander Thaddeus Lars Bergren, for treason and for aiding and abetting the dangerous terrorist, mercenary Gabriel Ross Sullivan escape Marker after his terrorist attack. Along with the arrest comes the alarming news that Thad is cooperating and telling all he knows about Sully. Mainly that Sully is one of the feared and much hated kyi-ragkiril.

With that information hanging over them, Sully and Chaz make the meeting with the mysterious Del, who turns out to be a Stolorth kyi-ragkiril prince in exile. As a lesser of two evils, they agree to bring him on board so that he can help them find and destroy the jukor lab. But it seem Del has other plans. He helps Sully gain control over his powers and shows him how to use them but he wants something in return.

Again this is an action packed adventure with a lot of twists and turns to keep the reader flipping the pages to see what happens next. Again Chaz is presented with a seemingly endless series of problems with her ex-husband on board (after being rescued from the Fleet ships out to kill him), a Stolorth kyi-ragkiril that seems to want to add her to his list of conquests, and a husband who can’t control himself or the Stolorth and is simply trying to keep the crew together and save the empire from disaster.

This wasn’t as light-hearted as Gabriel’s Ghost. This book definitely takes a darker turn. Sully struggles with what he is as his powers grows. Chaz has to deal with Sully’s fears of turning into the monster everyone thinks kyi-ragkiril are and keep him balanced while Del is pushing and testing both of them for mysterious purposes of his own. A definite page-turner but is not for someone looking for a HEA all wrapped up and pretty at the end.

Keeper?: Oh Yeah... For sure.

Recommendation: Yes. But you MUST read Gabriel's Ghost first or the first book will be mostly spoiled for you. Also will make this terminology used in this book easier to grasp.

Rating: 4.5 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

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