Welcome to a new month and a new round of science fiction romance news and links! It's a veritable buffet, so dig in.
New releases
BORN TO DARKNESS (near-future thriller) - Suzanne Brockmann
In the not-too-distant future, the Obermeyer Institute (OI) has made a revolutionary discovery: With special training, humans can tap into the brain's hidden powers (telepathy, telekinetic powers, super strength, and more). The training is strenuous, though, and it works only for those with natural potential. Tough girl Mac has that potential, and she's a devoted member of the OI. But there's one rule she can't help but bend. Her boss thinks celibacy is key to their work. Mac's learned differently--an active sexual life enhances her powers. And when she meets Shane, a sexy former Navy SEAL, the sparks are instant. But after the two spend an amazing night together, Mac finds out that Shane's a new recruit at the institute. How can she mix business and pleasure?
For nine long months, at the behest of the evil Ravenscorp, Mako Dolan has been hunting the space pirate they call The Saint. Now she’s finally lured her prey to a one night stand with a mysterious woman—herself. But Vin Sainte is not at all what she expected. Far from being a ruthless space pirate, his main occupation seems to be rescuing nuns, adopting orphans and praying like a champ.
For nine long months Vin Sainte has been fleeing the bounty hunter from one temporary refuge to the next. Now he’s got Mako exactly where he wants her: weak from gravity sickness and ripe for conversion. Problem is he didn’t expect a foul-mouthed, hard-as-nails bounty hunter to be such a devoted daughter. His head on a platter is Ravenscorp’s price for her mother’s freedom.
They have less than twenty four hours. One will win; one will lose. Mako might be a fearsome predator, but Vin has the Lord on his side. Who will win the bounty?
Book One in the Saa'ar Chronicles Series
Isolated, they are vulnerable. Working together, they might just survive.
Stranded on an alien space station at the edge of the Solar System, Dr Dana Sinclair has never felt so alone in her life.
While she and her fellow travellers wait for a spaceship to take them on the rest of their journey to the aliens’ home planet, first the remaining Saa’ar on board then her superior, the chief Medical Officer all die mysteriously.
The health and welfare of the remaining humans is now her responsibility. Will she discover the truth behind their deaths in time?
Ethan O’Reilly, a disabled war hero and second in charge of the mission may be able to help, but can she trust him?
Isolated, they are vulnerable. Working together, they might just survive.
Stranded on an alien space station at the edge of the Solar System, Dr Dana Sinclair has never felt so alone in her life.
While she and her fellow travellers wait for a spaceship to take them on the rest of their journey to the aliens’ home planet, first the remaining Saa’ar on board then her superior, the chief Medical Officer all die mysteriously.
The health and welfare of the remaining humans is now her responsibility. Will she discover the truth behind their deaths in time?
Ethan O’Reilly, a disabled war hero and second in charge of the mission may be able to help, but can she trust him?
KICKING ASHE (space opera; time travel) – Pauline B. Jones
When you save Time’s tush—or its version of one—it ought to cut you a break, not kick your tush some where and some when. Though boo yah on providing a hot guy in leather to pull that tush out of the impact crater that Ashe so did not make despite the somewhat damning evidence to the contrary.
So, the sitrep:
- She's stuck on primitive planet
- Time Tracker suit down
- Lurch (her nanite) unable to connect to any tech (see primitive above)
- Surrounded by a bunch of buccaneer types who haven’t been around nubile, young women cause it's against their law
- The one guy (Vidor Shan) she’d like to kiss on the mouth is off limits (time rule)
- Someone gunning for Shan from somewhere in time
- And, oh yeah, some really strange meteorites are making landfall in some very strange ways.
Seems Time has a new hobby: kicking Ashe (and shame on It for doing it when she’s down).
Not that she plans to stay down. Or give up the guy.
BITTER HARVEST (post-apocalyptic m/m) – Kim Knox
Nicholas Rider may have survived the virus, but he's a changed man, ruled by his desires. But his need for Sutton is different. Rider craves an end to his overwhelming needs, and Sutton could be the man to do it.
Secure in his belief that he's invulnerable, Sutton can't understand or resist his intense attraction to his prisoner. Will Rider be his downfall--or his savior?
THE ZURIAN CHILD (space opera) – Jessica E. Subject
Lindsay and her young daughter are forced to rely on another Hemera, her husband’s partner and best friend, Bryce Beuermann as more and more of the Hemera are slaughtered. Bryce will do anything to help his best friend’s widow—including suppressing his own deep feelings for her. But he must prove they can trust him, even pretending he doesn’t want her with all his heart.
Good Deeds
Backward Momentum has the 411 on a great cause—Read Sci-Fi Romance For a Cure:
Starting today, and for the rest of the month, Celestial Seduction is the Read For A Cure selection over at Decadent Publishing. Therefore, ALL publisher proceeds from [Jessica Subject’s] Celestial Seduction during the month of March will be donated to the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life program.
Very cool! Visit that post for more details and a buy link.
Forthcoming title
Lilly Cain announced that book three of THE CONFEDERACY TREATY: UNDERCOVER ALLIANCE will be released by Carina Press on June 25, 2012. Congratulations!
Two more sci-fi romance titles
Star-Crossed Romance recently reviewed STUD, the latest installment in Cheryl Brooks’ Cat Star Chronicles.
Also showing at Star-Crossed is a guest post by Linda Andrews, author of the indie sci-fi romance BLUE MANEUVER.
Here’s the story blurb:
The extraterrestrials have landed and they're human.
Rae Hemplewhite didn't believe in aliens until a close encounter with out-of-this-world technology drags her into the extraterrestrial security program. Helping alien refugees adjust to life on Earth is difficult enough, but her first clients have a price on their heads. Plus, her new partner seems torn between the urge to kiss her or kill her.
And that's the good news.
The bad news: Alliances are forming in deep space. If Rae doesn't keep her witnesses alive long enough to transfer their top secret information to the right faction of humanity, Earth will become a battlefield.
Sounds like ALIEN NATION meets WAR OF THE WORLDS.
Authors blogging
At the Carina Press blog, Kim Knox goes behind the scenes of SYNTHETIC DREAMS with Stimulating the little grey cells.
Kaye Manro (FORBIDDEN LOVE) spotlights T.K. Toppin's THE ETERNAL KNOT, book three of The Lancaster Trilogy.
Around the SFR blogosphere
At Spacefreighters Lounge, Laurie A. Green blogs about her Mission Success achievements, goals and other SFR-related topics.
At Smart Girls Love SciFi and Paranormal Romance, Charlie explains why it’s not a good idea to watch FRINGE out of order. And in SciFi Potpourri, she blogs about her reaction to Linda Mooney’s erotic sci-fi romance, CAPTIVE SURRENDER:
First, I must share a new-to-me author that I’m really enjoying. I stumbled upon Captive Surrender by Linda Mooney and devoured this Sexy SFR like candy. It is tagged as erotic romance and it does play into erotic tropes, but there is also a darned good story and nice cursory exploration of the clash of cultures and values and the consequences of inflexible laws and moral judgments. She has quite a body of work and the one other I tried was also very good.
At CONTACT – Infinite Futures, Robert Appleton (PREHISTORIC CLOCK) discusses how frequently science fiction films have been consistently shut out of the Oscar Awards:
But it struck me this year, as it always does, how genre-shy these awards are. It’s no secret that, with the exception of Return of the King (Peter Jackson’s amazing trilogy practically guilting the Academy into voting it Best Picture), horror/fantasy/SF has been barred from the big prizes on Oscar night throughout Hollywood’s history. The original King Kong, one of the greatest films ever made? Not even nominated for Best Picture. James Whale’s horror milestones, Frankenstein/ Bride of Frankenstein? Nothing.
Reading Reality posted reviews of Leslie Dicken’s THE IRON HEART and Kim Knox’s SYNTHETIC DREAMS. Remember to check out Marlene's Ebook Review Central posts, which focus on titles from a variety of publishers (Samhain Publishing is the most recent).
Lastly, I’ve updated the 2012 Science Fiction New Release Roundup page. I’ve added titles and reassigned slots based on updated news about release dates.
Now I turn the mike over to you. Got any SFR news or links to share?
Joyfully yours,
Heather