Beloved Enemy joined Starquest and Children of the Mist to continue the Destiny Trilogy and I'm thrilled to announce was shortlisted for the R.N.A. RoNA Awards 2017, awarded 2nd Runner up in the RONE Awards 2017 and was the winner in the SF/Fantasy category of the 'Best Banter Contest'.
Thursday 7 July 2022
Under Fortunate Stars Review
Stranded in the dark.
In the final throes of the generations-long war with the alien Felen, smuggler Jereth
Having said that, the book was very well written and the science seems perfectly logical and feasible despite the anomaly of two sets of characters meeting up with a time difference between them of 152 years, and the disparity between events on board the Gallion and what history records happened all those years ago. This all adds to the mystery and intrigue.
I give it Five Stars
Monday 30 May 2022
Someone In Time Spotlight, review and #Giveaway
This is my post during the blog tour for Someone in Time. Someone in Time is a science fiction time travel romance anthology.
This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours and runs from 17 till 30 May. You can see the tour schedule here.
Someone in Time
Edited by Jonathan Strahan
Including stories by: Alix E. Harrow, Zen Cho, Seanan McGuire, Sarah Gailey, Jeffrey Ford, Nina Allan, Elizabeth Hand, Lavanya Lakshminarayan, Catherynne M. Valente, Sam J. Miller, Rowan Coleman, Margo Lanagan, Sameem Siddiqui, Theodora Goss, Carrie Vaughn and Ellen Klages
Genre: Science Fiction Romance/ Time Travel Romance
Age category: Adult
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing
Release Date: 10 May 2022
Blurb:
Even time travel can’t unravel love
Time-travel is a way for writers to play with history and imagine different futures – for better, or worse.
When romance is thrown into the mix, time-travel becomes a passionate tool, or heart-breaking weapon. A time agent in the 22nd century puts their whole mission at risk when they fall in love with the wrong person. No matter which part of history a man visits, he cannot not escape his ex. A woman is desperately in love with the time-space continuum, but it doesn’t love her back. As time passes and falls apart, a time-traveller must say goodbye to their soulmate.
With stories from best-selling and award-winning authors such as Seanan McGuire, Alix E. Harrow and Nina Allan, this anthology gives a taste for the rich treasure trove of stories we can imagine with love, loss and reunion across time and space.
Edited by Jonathan Strahan and including stories by: Alix E. Harrow, Zen Cho, Seanan McGuire, Sarah Gailey, Jeffrey Ford, Nina Allan, Elizabeth Hand, Lavanya Lakshminarayan, Catherynne M. Valente, Sam J. Miller, Rowan Coleman, Margo Lanagan, Sameem Siddiqui, Theodora Goss, Carrie Vaughn, Ellen Klages
Links:
- Goodreads
- Bookbub
- Amazon
- Audible
- B&N
- Kobo
- Waterstones
- Bookshop
- Rebellion Publishing
MY REVIEW
A wide range of varied Time Travel, with something for all tastes. I have to admit there were some stories I really loved and some I was not so keen on, but it's all a matter of individual taste, I felt many of the stories fell a little short on what I think of as romance, but as I said, everyone has different tastes and I am sure anyone who purchases this anthology will find something to enjoy and to think about.
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Someone in Time. 5 winners win a paperback copy of Someone in Time. And 5 winners win an ecopy of Someone in Time. Open International.
For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation. http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join
Tuesday 17 May 2022
Under Fortunate Stars - Spotlight and Giveaway
This is my post during the blog tour for Under Fortunate Stars by Ren Hutchings. Under Fortunate Stars is a timey wimey space opera for lovers of Star Trek and Firefly.
(Space opera, my favourite genre 😃) I'm enjoying this book and will be posting my review here and elsewhere soon.
This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours and the tour runs from 10 till 23 May. You can see the tour schedule here.
Under Fortunate Stars
By Ren Hutchings
Genre: Science Fiction
Age category: Adult
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing
Blurb:Links:
Two Ships. One Chance To Save The Future.
Fleeing the final days of the generations-long war with the alien Felen, smuggler Jereth Keeven’s freighter the Jonah breaks down in a strange rift in deep space, with little chance of rescue—until they encounter the research vessel Gallion, which claims to be from 152 years in the future.
The Gallion’s chief engineer Uma Ozakka has always been fascinated with the past, especially the tale of the Fortunate Five, who ended the war with the Felen. When the Gallion rescues a run-down junk freighter, Ozakka is shocked to recognize the Five's legendary ship—and the Five's famed leader, Eldric Leesongronski, among the crew.
But nothing else about Leesongronski and his crewmates seems to match up with the historical record. With their ships running out of power in the rift, more than the lives of both crews may be at stake...
- Goodreads
- Bookbub
- Amazon
- B&N
- Waterstones
- Bookshop
- Rebellion Publishing
About the Author:
Ren Hutchings is a speculative fiction writer, writing mentor, and history grad. She spent most of the past decade working in game dev while also plotting twisty space novels. She loves pop science, unexplained mysteries, 90s music, collecting outdated electronics, and pondering about alternate universes. Ren always drafts out of order, and almost everything she writes ends up involving a dash of time travel.
Author links:
- Website
- Newsletter
Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Under Fortunate Stars. One winner wins a paperback copy of Under Fortunate Stars. Open International.
For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation. http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join
Thursday 10 March 2022
Chandelier - spotlight an #Giveaway
Chandelier
by Michael Leon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: SF/ Fantasy Romance
BLURB:
CHANDELIER is the genre-bending SF/fantasy-romance novel follow up of Michael Leon’s 2019 fantasy-romance book, PHANTOMS. A century has passed since the fabled Phantom ruled the Garnier Opera House. Technology has advanced, and AI has evolved beyond human knowledge. They reside in a virtual Earth, free from the ravages of an environmentally damaged Earth where humans and post-humans live under AI’s qualified governance. CHANDELIER follows one AI sentient’s journey, Benny, whose loyalty for a famous opera singer, Madame D’Arenberg, sets him on a dangerous course, entangling him in The Phantom of the Opera’s deadly web.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt
The twilight between tired revellers and early morning risers had become Erik’s refuge, a place where the pains of past and present could coalesce in his ritual of the macabre. He’d dreamt of his tormentors again, beasts controlled by masters who understood their canine's savagery as intimately as a motherknew her child and recurring nightly, taunting his mind.
Chilly breezes flowed down from the Lepontine Alps, carving patterns across Lake Como, so he drew his coat closer, protecting all but his face, but he wouldn't feel an arctic breeze there. He touched his pale cheeks, not to warm them for they were permanently cold, an immovable party mask. Instead, he felt the rough texture of the implanted skin, grafted to his face. Habitually, he reached into his coat pocket for a medicated ointment that soothed and camouflaged his face in equal measure.
A single boat predictably made its way toward the Bellagio port, the first for the day, in wait for the steady procession of commuters and tourists that would navigate the Lombardy region, Italy's foothills to the Swiss alps. The light from the slow-moving boat cast a darker than usual spotlight on the famous U-shaped lake, lit by its twin light, a crescent moon. It took Erik back to a dark past when he ruled the Garnier from the recesses of its famous lake chamber. His rule was cut short through carelessness, a mistake he would not repeat. He’d return to the jewel of the opera crown and rule that grand world again, but this time he'd lead it from the stage rather than Garnier’s hidden lake.
Were similar dark secrets contained in the black depths of Lake Como? The thought made him grimace, drawing pain. He held his mouth and cheeks, soothing the scar lines camouflaged beneath a thick beard. The scars, like his name, Erik, were all that remained of his past life, contingencies needed to protect him from those who’d seek to destroy him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Michael Leon is an explorer, writer and author of the new novel, Sentient. Professionally trained in international trade, Michael has spent the last decade reading and writing SFF novels about new worlds
to be explored in the future. His latest work, Sentient, imagines Earth in the year 2120. His next novel, Chandelier, will be released in 2022. Michael has travelled extensively around Europe, walking the paths of his characters, from the famous European opera houses in Phantoms to the mountain tops of Switzerland in Emissary.
Website: https://www.michaelleon.com.au
Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelleon043
Blogger: https://michaelleoncommentspage.blogspot.com
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5369984.Michael_Leon
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Leon/e/B01LNQALBW%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation. http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join
Sunday 6 March 2022
Horses Prayer
Just came across this - as a horse lover, I think it's beautiful and wanted to share!
Saturday 26 February 2022
Undoing Time - My Review
Amazon |
I spotlighted Undoing Time on this blog on the 3rd of February, while still reading the book. It took me a little while to write a review (apologies) but here it is:
Although I haven't read the first two books, I had no difficulty in following this story and soon got to know and like the main characters. Although part of a series, this is a complete story, can be read as a 'stand alone' and does not end in a 'cliff hanger' (Although some of the chapters did have me on the edge of my seat!)
I enjoyed this original slant on time travel, with its various twists and turns and snippets of historical information, as well as hints of a budding romance.
The ending not only had me keen to read the next book but also to read the preceding ones.
Five Stars
About the Author:RACHEL
DACUS writes about history, love, romance, and art – usually with a
touch of the supernatural. If time travel were possible, she’d hop over
to Renaissance Rome, and then check out how the American Revolutionary
War is going, and maybe visit an 18th century London artist’s studio. A
poet and novelist, Dacus has published four novels and four poetry
collections. When not writing, she listens to music, new and old, from
indie and progressive rock to classical and jazz. Once a dancer, she’s
now an avid walker, often twice a day -- once for the Muse and once for
the world’s liveliest Silky Terrier. She blogs about the writing life
and has collected a wealth of writing and publishing resources.
Website
Twitter
Facebook
For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation. http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join