Impulse-Dave Bara

Impulse

Dave Bara

DAW, Feb 3 2015, $24.95

ISBN: 9780756409968

Centuries ago the Corporate Empire of Man expanded to almost a thousand planets, but corruption and incompetence led to a devastating eight-decade civil war.  The Corporate Empire collapsed with most of the former member systems turning inward.  Not too long ago, Earth Historians began reaching out to other systems offering technological support that led to the forming of the loose Union.

In the present, word arrives on one of the original rebellious planets Quantar that their lightship HMS Impulse, allegedly on a first contact mission in the Levant system, was attacked by a hyperdimensional wave leaving several dead.  Quantar Royal Navy Grand Admiral Nathan Cochrane informs his son Lieutenant Peter Cochrane that the latter’s girlfriend died in the attack and that the real mission was to investigate whether hyperdimensional anomalies in that sector threatened the Union.  Finally he promotes and reassigns Peter from leading teams on the HMS Starbound to take charge as the senior naval officer on board the Impulse to continue its secret mission and prevent the vessel from retaliating against any remnants of the First Empire.  Nothing goes right as he, his supervisor Commander Dobrina Kierkopf and others are under assault from former empire’s technology while an Earth Historian takes control of the Impulse.

Anchored by complex outer space multi-systems, a primogeniture hierarchy and an intriguing civilization history focused on the effects of war and the renaissance, the first Lightship Chronicles is a hyperspeed very entertaining military science fiction.  Filled with action and in spite of the reader anticipating almost every critical time how the hero will react to the dangerous scenarios he confronts, fans will want to join Peter on his mission. 

Harriet Klausner

Daughter of Gods And Shadows-Jayde Brooks

Daughter of Gods And Shadows

Jayde Brooks

St. Martin's Griffin, Feb 3 2015, $16.99

ISBN: 9780312591113

Several millennia ago, Sakarabu the demon and his savage horde attacked the native populace.  Mkombozi the Redeemer fought against the malevolent, but between the evil rampage and the “savior’s” berserker rage left Theia destroyed.  Those who survived the onslaught fled to earth where they hid their origins and the magical skills they possess from the indigenous population.

Four thousand years later, Sakarabu’s feral legion arises with assaults on the purebred earthlings; who when killed reanimate as bloodthirsty zombies.  The only hope to save the planet from the apocalypse rests with an extremely reluctant twentyish manicurist.  Eden Moore rejects her Guardian, her otherworldly ancient history and the three Omens; her refusal leaves mankind facing extinction.

This is an exciting end of days’ urban fantasy held together by an intriguing disinclined heroine and her wicked adversaries.  There are too many extended flashbacks to Theia (a prequel novella would have been a better choice) that take readers out of the main storyline of saving earth, and much of what we learn about the magical species is passive discussions rather than action.  Still this is a thrilling opening act as no reader will ride the Staten Island Ferry or visit other NYC hot spots in the same way.

Harriet Klausner

The Replacements-David Putnam

The Replacements

David Putnam

Oceanview Publishing, Feb 3 2015, $26.95

ISBN: 9781608091379

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Team superstar and paroled convict, Bruno Johnson served his time.  After being released, he and his mate Marie rescued eight abused children; but also knowing they broke the law the adult couple, accompanied by the kids, fled to Costa Rica where he opened up a bar.

Thus when a former law enforcement peer Barbara Wicks enters his establishment, he assumes she came to arrest him and escort him back to the States.  Instead the Montclair, California Police Chief pleads with him to help rescue two children abducted by Jonas Mabry; as the kidnapper demands a million dollars delivered to him by his “hero” Bruno who saved his life when he was a five-years-old victim.  However retuning home most likely means a return to prison while staying in Central America will leave two kids dead and probably more to follow.

The three-dimensional characters (especially the villain) turn this urban jungle sequel to The Disposables into a fantastic cat and mouse thriller.  Loaded with suspense that intensifies throughout, Jonas proves a very competent puppeteer pulling the strings of valiant desperate Bruno and equally brave Marie.

Harriet Klausner

Killers Of The King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I-Charles Spencer

Killers Of The King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I

Charles Spencer

Bloomsbury Press, Jan 20 2015, $30.00

ISBN: 9781620409121

Haughty with rigid adherence to the Divine Rights of King doctrine, Charles I angered Parliament and much of his English subjects with his iron fisted intolerant rule until a revolt led to his fleeing to Scotland for sanctuary.  However instead of asylum, Scottish soldiers sold him to the English.  On trial in front of a jury of 83 carefully selected commissioners, the monarch is found guilty with 59 choosing death.  After the deposed ruler is executed, Oliver Cromwell imposes a rigid theocracy especially targeting Catholic Royalists and their families.  When Cromwell dies, with the support of now out in the open royalists, the son of the late Charles becomes king.  King Charles II proclaims the Declaration of Breda amnesty with noted exceptions.

This is a fabulous fast-paced seventeenth century historical that escorts armchair historians through the decade consisting of the final days of Catholic King Charles I, the Cromwell Protestant regime, and the Restoration of King Charles II.  Readers meet key royalists, Cromwellians (particular the regicides) and restorers.  The two common themes during this tumultuous internal strife are survival under the opponent’s oppression with role reversals occurring; and those in charge persecute those who were not with nobody seemingly able to learn anything from being hounded except implementing revenge when they are back on top. 

Harriet Klausner

The Kind Worth Killing-Peter Swanson

The Kind Worth Killing

Peter Swanson

Morrow, Feb 3 2015, $25.00

ISBN: 9780062267528

In a Heathrow bar while their flight to Logan is delayed, affluent Bostonian businessman Ted Severson meets Lily Kintner, an archivist at the city’s western suburb Winslow College.  Perhaps it is the gin or just his rage, but he tells his new drinking buddy that he obsesses over murdering his wife Miranda for cheating on him.  An experienced killer who has turned death into an art form, Lily calmly offers to take care of his spouse.

In Boston, Ted and Lily begin meeting to develop their execution plan.  At the same time BPD Detective Henry Kimball investigates Lily who he believes is at the center of several homicides.  However, as Ted gets to know his accomplice, he begins to believe he stepped out of the frying pan into the fire and knows what he must do to extinguish the flame before it engulfs him.

Starting with the irony of Lily reading Patricia Highsmith’s The Two Faces of January, this contemporary rendition of Strangers on a Train is a terrific twisting crime thriller.  Rotating perspective between the psychopath, the desperate husband (who soon will learn what desperate truly means), the obsessed cop, and the wife; this is a great character-driven suspense.

Harriet Klausner

Your Bed Or Mine?-Joss Wood

Your Bed Or Mine?

Joss Wood

Harlequin KISS, Feb 15 2014, $5.99

ISBN: 9780373179152

Tori Phillips arrives at her latest boyfriend Mark’s apartment to find him having sex with Cinnamon.  His reaction to being caught is to invite her to join them in a ménage a trois.  Disappointed more in herself (than the cheating rat) for picking another loser in a long line of pathetic cretins; Tori returns to her Notting Hill flat vowing to her BFFs eternal no male ban.

New roommate Matt Cross meets Tori just after he overhears her celibacy vow.  Both in heat from the onset in spite of her no man pledge and his commitment phobia especially with a flatmate, Matt and Tori figure a little sex cannot hurt anyone except little proves not enough.

The key to this This Flat in Notting Hill contemporary (see The Morning After The Night Before by Nikki Logan, Sleeping With The Soldier by Charlotte Phillips and Enemies With Benefits) is Matt’s ability to see past Tori’s swagger clown mask to her doubts, wants and vulnerabilities.  Though he is love-shy and aware he needs to avoid what he assumes will end up a messy entanglement with a roomie, Matt cannot stop himself from diving heart first into the unknown particularly since Tori jumps in with him.

Harriet Klausner

A Place Called Home-Eleanor Jones

A Place Called Home
Eleanor Jones
Harlequin Heartwarming, February 1, 2015, $6.50
ISBN: 9780373367122

When Ellie Nelson’s car broke down in Little Dale, Lake District, she calls her fiancé Matt to pick her up.  Irate as he is in the middle of a major business deal, Matt gets her; but drives like a maniac racer on country roads seemingly trying to break the land speed record.  As Ellie holds on for dear life, he clips a fox.  Ellie leaves the BMW to check on the animal, which obviously needs medical attention.  When she refuses to abandon the injured cub, Matt abandons her.

Tarnside Veterinary Center informs Ellie she is near Cravendale wild animal sanctuary.  Cravendale volunteer veterinarian Andy Montgomery arrives.  Several years ago, Andy broke her heart when he turned to another woman; soon afterward Ellie left Little Dale to attend art school in Manchester.  As Ellie paints the wildlife, she and Andy realize they remain attracted to each other.  However Andy also concludes he needs her trust if he is to have that second chance his heart craves and yet ironically distrusts her as he expects her to leave after her show.  Complicating matters further for Andy is he must overcome the one thing he believes she will never forgive him; not being there for her when her mom was dying and worse knowing he cannot tell her why he failed her.

Eleanor Jones writes an interesting second chance rural British romance.  How the triangle reacts to the injured fox cleverly but too simply symbolizes their personalities; as the vet and the artist deeply care what happens to “Creatures Great and Small” (see The Country Vet for the first novel in this series) while the businessman chooses to leave the creature to die.

Harriet Klausner