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Variation
Gabriel Marsh, known as the Dark Angel, is a Federation assassin. An Angelus, he's been brought up with high moral standards and rigid ethics. When he meets Deirdre Karanov, a shy blonde with a penchant for black market coffee and strawberries, he's instantly smitten.
But Deirdre is a Variant, a type of human whose body can switch into a separate person of the opposite sex at will. She is at the mercy of her domineering Other, Lexei, another government assassin who uses her as a decoy to get near his targets.
When Marsh is partnered with Lexei for an assignment, he makes it his mission to free Deirdre from the chains of Lexei's dominance. But double-crosses, enemy soldiers, and Lexei's cruelty conspire to stop him. The more he sees of Deidre, the more Marsh realizes he can't live without her. But is his love enough to set her free?
But Deirdre is a Variant, a type of human whose body can switch into a separate person of the opposite sex at will. She is at the mercy of her domineering Other, Lexei, another government assassin who uses her as a decoy to get near his targets.
When Marsh is partnered with Lexei for an assignment, he makes it his mission to free Deirdre from the chains of Lexei's dominance. But double-crosses, enemy soldiers, and Lexei's cruelty conspire to stop him. The more he sees of Deidre, the more Marsh realizes he can't live without her. But is his love enough to set her free?
94 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2011
4 people want to read
About the author
Toni V. Sweeney
92 books45 followersToni V. Sweeney a.k.a. T.S. Snow and Savannah Scarborough
Toni V. Sweeney specializes in SF/fantasy stories, though she has written in other genres as well.
Her western novels NEBRASKA: Walk the Shadow Trail placed 1st in Historical Romance at the 2015 Paranormal Guild's Reviewers Choice awards and 2nd in Other Novels at the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll; NEBRASKA: Vengeance from Eden was a Top 10 finisher in the 2014 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll. She also placed in the Top 10 Authors for 2015 from that same poll.
In 2014, TUESDAY'S CHILD (by Icy Snow Blackstone) won 1st in Contemporary Romance at the Paranormal Romance Guild's Reviewer's Choice awards.
THE EARTHMAN'S BRIDE (writing as Icy Snow Blackstone), re-released by Class Act Books in May, 2012, placed first in Alternate Romance/SF Division in the Maryland Romance Writer's Contest "Reveal Your Inner Vixen in 2008. JERICHO ROAD (also authored as Icy Snow Blackstone), placed 7th in the National Writers Association's Novel Contest in 1997.
Under her own name, Toni writes SciFi/fantasy and space opera and the occasional horror and romance novel. Writing as Icy Snow Blackstone, she authors romance novels. She is currently promotion manager for Class Act Books. She has reviewed books for 2 Lips reviews and at present is on the review staff of the New York Journal of Books and the Paranormal Romance Guild. She was recently named a professional reader by netgalley.com.
Her trailers are featured on Youtube.com.
Toni V. Sweeney specializes in SF/fantasy stories, though she has written in other genres as well.
Her western novels NEBRASKA: Walk the Shadow Trail placed 1st in Historical Romance at the 2015 Paranormal Guild's Reviewers Choice awards and 2nd in Other Novels at the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll; NEBRASKA: Vengeance from Eden was a Top 10 finisher in the 2014 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll. She also placed in the Top 10 Authors for 2015 from that same poll.
In 2014, TUESDAY'S CHILD (by Icy Snow Blackstone) won 1st in Contemporary Romance at the Paranormal Romance Guild's Reviewer's Choice awards.
THE EARTHMAN'S BRIDE (writing as Icy Snow Blackstone), re-released by Class Act Books in May, 2012, placed first in Alternate Romance/SF Division in the Maryland Romance Writer's Contest "Reveal Your Inner Vixen in 2008. JERICHO ROAD (also authored as Icy Snow Blackstone), placed 7th in the National Writers Association's Novel Contest in 1997.
Under her own name, Toni writes SciFi/fantasy and space opera and the occasional horror and romance novel. Writing as Icy Snow Blackstone, she authors romance novels. She is currently promotion manager for Class Act Books. She has reviewed books for 2 Lips reviews and at present is on the review staff of the New York Journal of Books and the Paranormal Romance Guild. She was recently named a professional reader by netgalley.com.
Her trailers are featured on Youtube.com.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 17, 2016
This is a work of science-fiction, set hundreds of years in the future, in which humans have traveled into space and rub shoulders with dozens of alien races. As such, it seems jarring that the hero of the tale, galactic assassin Gabriel Marsh, expresses rather puritanical attitudes about a supposedly Gay man. He calls this man a “twist” and a “beddy-boy” and cringes at the thought of seeing him kissing another man. Heck, Marsh doesn't even like to see men kissing women because, despite his Terran name, Gabriel Marsh is an Angelus—an alien species known for being the biggest prudes in the Federation.
While it's hard to imagine a future with attitudes that are dying off today, next comes the revelation that this seemingly effeminate man is Lexei Karanov, Marsh's new partner.
And worse, Marsh starts to find himself attracted to Lexei! But is Lexei really Gay? Or is he something far kinkier?
Their mission is... insignificant, apparently. It's three-quarters of the way into the book, after they've been partners for weeks or months, before anything like action occurs. Sweeney is far more enamored of her sexy characters than the plot about assassinating someone.
In spite of that, Sweeney does establish a unique love triangle, one well worth exploring. This is why they invented science-fiction; to explore hypothetical notions. This is a story that will get you thinking. Could you love a woman, knowing she was also a man?
I've focused on the plot, but the writing is good and fast-paced. That, and more action, would make this a great book. Without the action, "Variation" is still a good book with some intriguing and well-developed ideas.
While it's hard to imagine a future with attitudes that are dying off today, next comes the revelation that this seemingly effeminate man is Lexei Karanov, Marsh's new partner.
And worse, Marsh starts to find himself attracted to Lexei! But is Lexei really Gay? Or is he something far kinkier?
Their mission is... insignificant, apparently. It's three-quarters of the way into the book, after they've been partners for weeks or months, before anything like action occurs. Sweeney is far more enamored of her sexy characters than the plot about assassinating someone.
In spite of that, Sweeney does establish a unique love triangle, one well worth exploring. This is why they invented science-fiction; to explore hypothetical notions. This is a story that will get you thinking. Could you love a woman, knowing she was also a man?
I've focused on the plot, but the writing is good and fast-paced. That, and more action, would make this a great book. Without the action, "Variation" is still a good book with some intriguing and well-developed ideas.
June 17, 2012
Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...
Assassins are always a favorite basis for a book, they're hardcore, strong, usually handsome and/or beautiful and incredibly skilled. The lone assassin or spy falling in love is a well-used plot-line so there usually has to be something pretty exceptional to make it stand out. This story definitely delivers. In the first place, there's a whole set of worlds to explore, not just one, which gives this well used plot-line a good solid boost.
The author takes it a step further by mixing polar opposites in this governmental assassin team; a morally upright individual partnered with an open and highly sexual one. It creates an explosive and dynamite combination. In addition, this highly sexual character has an alter ego because of what he is; he can change into an entirely different person with a completely different personality and different sex. This makes him a highly effective assassin.
Trouble ensues when Gabriel, the morally upright assassin, falls in love with his partner Lexei's alter ego. Difficulties occur, angst has its place and a mission gone wrong brings everything together. The worlds were believable, the technology and rules were definitely within the realm of possibility, something necessary for any science fiction and fantasy story. The plot flowed well but was a little fast and some things could have used a bit more detail. Overall, this was a good story, an excellent twist on a well-used plot line that gave it new life and new interest.
Assassins are always a favorite basis for a book, they're hardcore, strong, usually handsome and/or beautiful and incredibly skilled. The lone assassin or spy falling in love is a well-used plot-line so there usually has to be something pretty exceptional to make it stand out. This story definitely delivers. In the first place, there's a whole set of worlds to explore, not just one, which gives this well used plot-line a good solid boost.
The author takes it a step further by mixing polar opposites in this governmental assassin team; a morally upright individual partnered with an open and highly sexual one. It creates an explosive and dynamite combination. In addition, this highly sexual character has an alter ego because of what he is; he can change into an entirely different person with a completely different personality and different sex. This makes him a highly effective assassin.
Trouble ensues when Gabriel, the morally upright assassin, falls in love with his partner Lexei's alter ego. Difficulties occur, angst has its place and a mission gone wrong brings everything together. The worlds were believable, the technology and rules were definitely within the realm of possibility, something necessary for any science fiction and fantasy story. The plot flowed well but was a little fast and some things could have used a bit more detail. Overall, this was a good story, an excellent twist on a well-used plot line that gave it new life and new interest.
September 14, 2012
A very action oriented novella, and a hell of an unusual love story. Certainly not your normal romance, and not your usual sci-fi, either. In fact, I've never seen this premise before, ever, in all my years of reading. I liked the characters Marsh and Dee, and wanted them to find a way to be together. A very enjoyable work!
January 5, 2012
Variation is an intriguing combination of Science Fiction and Romance.A wholly original story , unlike anything I have read before, and that in itself is quite an accomplishment. full review http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/2012/...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews