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The Commons #1
Supernova
All Lily wants is to start over. A move to the city, with a new job in a cryonics lab is the perfect way to rebuild her life. She just doesn’t expect her employers to be a pair of violent, power-hungry aliens with time travel abilities.
Hauling a pile of museum artifacts in a dilapidated patrol ship, the worst things Captain Rian Marska expects to deal with are bickering crew members and a long, lonely trip across the galaxy. An Earth exhibit coming to life and claiming to be from the twenty-first century is the last thing he wants to deal with, as are the feelings she stirs in him.
When Rian’s superiors sweep Lily under the rug, they take it upon themselves to find out why she was taken from her own time and what her kidnappers want. What they discover has implications not only for them but for the entire civilized universe.
Hauling a pile of museum artifacts in a dilapidated patrol ship, the worst things Captain Rian Marska expects to deal with are bickering crew members and a long, lonely trip across the galaxy. An Earth exhibit coming to life and claiming to be from the twenty-first century is the last thing he wants to deal with, as are the feelings she stirs in him.
When Rian’s superiors sweep Lily under the rug, they take it upon themselves to find out why she was taken from her own time and what her kidnappers want. What they discover has implications not only for them but for the entire civilized universe.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 2012
24 people are currently reading
390 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Marting
37 books39 followersJessica Marting is a sci-fi and paranormal romance author, art enthusiast (not quite an artist, despite all that time in art school), an avid reader, and makeup collector. She lives in Toronto.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 28, 2020
Time travel sci-fi romance. I know some people didn't feel the romance was realistic but I thought it was. I kind of liked the ending - everything didn't turn out perfect but it did turn out good enough - kind of like life sometimes.
dnf
December 19, 2023DNF, I was skimming this when I read it and I'm dreading picking it back up again sooooo I'm not going to
November 17, 2013
This has to be the worst sci-fi-romance novel I have read to date. A good concept but poorly executed with the most boring and lifeless characters. While half of the novel read like a "Star Trek" episode with Captain Kirk on the bridge, the other half read like a budding romance between two teens in high school. And the romance? Yawn-fest. No chemistry or heat between the two protagonists whatsoever. The more I think about the plot the more it doesn't make sense to me. Why kidnap Lily, place her in a cryogenic capsule, keep track of her whereabouts for centuries, only to retrieve the said capsule so they can kill her? Whatever the reason I'm past caring at this point. I just wish I could get my time and money back on this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2022
I rate books on a five star basis with three stars being an average, enjoyable book, and gaining or losing stars from there.
Lily awakens in 2857—850 years ahead of her time. She finds herself aboard the Defiant and under the guards of captain Rian Marska. Her status as a time traveller is kept top secret but the Nym, the evil alien race responsible for her movement in time, are looking for her and there may be a traitor on board.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. There was a good deal of thought over what society would look like almost a thousand years in the future and it was fun to join the author in imagining that world. The plot could have just been an exploration of the culture shock of time travel, but it went beyond that to encompass action, adventure, and romance.
That said, there were a number of things about this society that didn't seem right to me. The major one for me was that apparently all major world religions had passed away, and no one had ever heard of Christmas. I find it hard to believe that belief systems that have been around for thousands of years would disappear that quickly, even in the presence of space travel and discovery of alien races.
When I was finished reading Supernova, I found myself wanting more. Not because I wanted to jump into the next book in the series, but because I wished this one was more fleshed out. The romance happened quickly, I would say unrealistically so. The friendships appeared when convenient for the plot but I was left wanting to know more about them. Opportunities to deepen and enrich the plot were passed over, leaving the result feeling like a whirlwind glimpse of the surface of what would have contained beautiful depth.
With all these things taken into consideration, I'd give the writing of Supernova a two, as slightly under average. I still gave the book as a whole three stars though, because I enjoyed it and while the author could have gone deeper, the end result was still very enjoyable.
Lily awakens in 2857—850 years ahead of her time. She finds herself aboard the Defiant and under the guards of captain Rian Marska. Her status as a time traveller is kept top secret but the Nym, the evil alien race responsible for her movement in time, are looking for her and there may be a traitor on board.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. There was a good deal of thought over what society would look like almost a thousand years in the future and it was fun to join the author in imagining that world. The plot could have just been an exploration of the culture shock of time travel, but it went beyond that to encompass action, adventure, and romance.
That said, there were a number of things about this society that didn't seem right to me. The major one for me was that apparently all major world religions had passed away, and no one had ever heard of Christmas. I find it hard to believe that belief systems that have been around for thousands of years would disappear that quickly, even in the presence of space travel and discovery of alien races.
When I was finished reading Supernova, I found myself wanting more. Not because I wanted to jump into the next book in the series, but because I wished this one was more fleshed out. The romance happened quickly, I would say unrealistically so. The friendships appeared when convenient for the plot but I was left wanting to know more about them. Opportunities to deepen and enrich the plot were passed over, leaving the result feeling like a whirlwind glimpse of the surface of what would have contained beautiful depth.
With all these things taken into consideration, I'd give the writing of Supernova a two, as slightly under average. I still gave the book as a whole three stars though, because I enjoyed it and while the author could have gone deeper, the end result was still very enjoyable.
July 3, 2025
This is the first book in the Common series by Jessica Marting. Lily Stewart takes a job at a cryonics lab for a fresh start. However, she soon discovers that her employers are power-hungry psychopath's aliens with time travel abilities, who have sinister plans for her. Meanwhile, Captain Rian Marska, a spaceship commander transporting museum artifacts, expects nothing more than a routine journey—until an Earth exhibit comes to life, claiming to be from the year 2017. As Rian and his crew investigate, they uncover a conspiracy that has universe-altering consequences. Lily was kidnaped from her own time and Rian’s superiors discover the implications not only for them but for the entire civilized universe. This novel blends sci-fi adventure, romance, and mystery, making it a thrilling read for fans of space opera and time travel fiction. I really enjoyed this fascinating time travel space opera novel.
September 29, 2019
Not a bad story, though honestly, I'm not all that clear on who the enemy race is, and why they're trying to change things. It's covered, but the coverage is kind of thin, so ....
The story could be better, but being the first of a series, I'm hoping the rest of the series fills in a lot of details left out in this first volume.
The story could be better, but being the first of a series, I'm hoping the rest of the series fills in a lot of details left out in this first volume.
September 29, 2023
Good storyline
I love a good space opera and this has a really good plot and the characters were likable, But...there really wasn't much heat, I mean there were sx scenes but they fell flat. The verbage was off and the mmc came off as a little blah.
I love a good space opera and this has a really good plot and the characters were likable, But...there really wasn't much heat, I mean there were sx scenes but they fell flat. The verbage was off and the mmc came off as a little blah.
October 30, 2019
4.5 stars. Fun space opera/romance. Although it never made sense to me why the Nym stored Lily with plans to kill her later. They could have just killed her to start with.
December 3, 2023
Good read
This was a good story. Seemed a little different take on scifi. Kind of like a sci-fi harlequin romance. Enjoyed it and looking if there is a book 2.
This was a good story. Seemed a little different take on scifi. Kind of like a sci-fi harlequin romance. Enjoyed it and looking if there is a book 2.
June 1, 2013
Lily Stewart, a receptionist at a Cryogenics Lab, moves to the city for a new start in life. She expects the same normal and boring day and not to witness her new boss going crazy and attacking someone. Being abducted and waking up 850 years in the future was not part of that day either. Now she will have to deal with finding her place with this new time and the straight-laced Captain in charge.
Rian Marska is the captain of a dilapidated star ship crewed with slackers and trouble makers. His ship is chosen to haul old museum exhibits on a long and boring run. He was not expecting one of those exhibits to come alive and claim to be from the year 2017; after all, that is not possible, right? This new exhibit, Lily, stirs up feelings he long since buried and has him questioning his career goals.
The truth about Lily’s story is put to the test, which leads to wondering what happened to her, along with why. The Nym, a blood-thirsty race, are found to be behind Lily’s predicament. Their reasoning, however, is not clear and may have sinister consequences. Someone is leaking information out about Lily and Rian’s superiors will not believe what he tries to warn them about. He begins to feel that Lily may be more important to him than his captaincy.
This was a great story for everyone, not just sci-fi fans. The sci-fi elements were skillfully woven in to the story, making it so anyone could get into it and understand the technology and terms. The world Ms. Marting manufactured is fascinating and the characters intriguing, both tempting a person to want to keep reading and want more. I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely read other stories set in this world.
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
Rian Marska is the captain of a dilapidated star ship crewed with slackers and trouble makers. His ship is chosen to haul old museum exhibits on a long and boring run. He was not expecting one of those exhibits to come alive and claim to be from the year 2017; after all, that is not possible, right? This new exhibit, Lily, stirs up feelings he long since buried and has him questioning his career goals.
The truth about Lily’s story is put to the test, which leads to wondering what happened to her, along with why. The Nym, a blood-thirsty race, are found to be behind Lily’s predicament. Their reasoning, however, is not clear and may have sinister consequences. Someone is leaking information out about Lily and Rian’s superiors will not believe what he tries to warn them about. He begins to feel that Lily may be more important to him than his captaincy.
This was a great story for everyone, not just sci-fi fans. The sci-fi elements were skillfully woven in to the story, making it so anyone could get into it and understand the technology and terms. The world Ms. Marting manufactured is fascinating and the characters intriguing, both tempting a person to want to keep reading and want more. I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely read other stories set in this world.
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
February 26, 2013
Lily Stewart, a receptionist at a Cryogenics Lab, moves to the city for a new start in life. She expects the same normal and boring day and not to witness her new boss going crazy and attacking someone. Being abducted and waking up 850 years in the future was not part of that day either. Now she will have to deal with finding her place with this new time and the straight-laced Captain in charge.
Rian Marska is the captain of a dilapidated star ship crewed with slackers and trouble makers. His ship is chosen to haul old museum exhibits on a long and boring run. He was not expecting one of those exhibits to come alive and claim to be from the year 2017; after all, that is not possible, right? This new exhibit, Lily, stirs up feelings he long since buried and has him questioning his career goals.
The truth about Lily’s story is put to the test, which leads to wondering what happened to her, along with why. The Nym, a blood-thirsty race, are found to be behind Lily’s predicament. Their reasoning, however, is not clear and may have sinister consequences. Someone is leaking information out about Lily and Rian’s superiors will not believe what he tries to warn them about. He begins to feel that Lily may be more important to him than his captaincy.
This was a great story for everyone, not just sci-fi fans. The sci-fi elements were skillfully woven in to the story, making it so anyone could get into it and understand the technology and terms. The world Ms. Marting manufactured is fascinating and the characters intriguing, both tempting a person to want to keep reading and want more. I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely read other stories set in this world.
Llaph
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Rian Marska is the captain of a dilapidated star ship crewed with slackers and trouble makers. His ship is chosen to haul old museum exhibits on a long and boring run. He was not expecting one of those exhibits to come alive and claim to be from the year 2017; after all, that is not possible, right? This new exhibit, Lily, stirs up feelings he long since buried and has him questioning his career goals.
The truth about Lily’s story is put to the test, which leads to wondering what happened to her, along with why. The Nym, a blood-thirsty race, are found to be behind Lily’s predicament. Their reasoning, however, is not clear and may have sinister consequences. Someone is leaking information out about Lily and Rian’s superiors will not believe what he tries to warn them about. He begins to feel that Lily may be more important to him than his captaincy.
This was a great story for everyone, not just sci-fi fans. The sci-fi elements were skillfully woven in to the story, making it so anyone could get into it and understand the technology and terms. The world Ms. Marting manufactured is fascinating and the characters intriguing, both tempting a person to want to keep reading and want more. I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely read other stories set in this world.
Llaph
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
January 3, 2013
Supernova by Jessica Marting
3.5 Stars
Supernova is a Sci-fi read with a great plot. Our MC Lily went to work expecting a normal day at the office but instead she witnessed her boss going psycho on his latest client and she ended up 850 years in the future, in the middle of major interplanetary unrest.
The concept was definitely interesting and had me wondering and guessing what was going to happen to Lily. What did they want with her? Would she want to stay in the future or would she want to find a way back to her original time? I found her reactions to the new technology realistic, we live in a time that has made us open to new ideas and the fact that anything is possible, so to find that physically we can be fixed without surgery and have no need to suffer pain is a believable notion…oh how I wish we had it now, I’d stay in the future if only for that!
Though not my first choice of genre I have begun to enjoy this type of escapism, and Jessica Marting’s contribution has helped to pique my curiosity into reading more Sci-fi books. I did not feel overwhelmed by nerdy scientific expressions or feel frustrated by long unpronounceable words, which is one of the reasons I have steered clear of Sci-fi in the past, so either there were none in this book or I am less dumb than I used to be hahaha.
For someone who wants to read a thriller/intrigue with a touch of romance, that happens to be set in the future and in space then this is a great choice but I think it would be less appealing to die hard sci-fi enthusiasts…. I may of course be wrong!
Copy supplied for review
3.5 Stars
Supernova is a Sci-fi read with a great plot. Our MC Lily went to work expecting a normal day at the office but instead she witnessed her boss going psycho on his latest client and she ended up 850 years in the future, in the middle of major interplanetary unrest.
The concept was definitely interesting and had me wondering and guessing what was going to happen to Lily. What did they want with her? Would she want to stay in the future or would she want to find a way back to her original time? I found her reactions to the new technology realistic, we live in a time that has made us open to new ideas and the fact that anything is possible, so to find that physically we can be fixed without surgery and have no need to suffer pain is a believable notion…oh how I wish we had it now, I’d stay in the future if only for that!
Though not my first choice of genre I have begun to enjoy this type of escapism, and Jessica Marting’s contribution has helped to pique my curiosity into reading more Sci-fi books. I did not feel overwhelmed by nerdy scientific expressions or feel frustrated by long unpronounceable words, which is one of the reasons I have steered clear of Sci-fi in the past, so either there were none in this book or I am less dumb than I used to be hahaha.
For someone who wants to read a thriller/intrigue with a touch of romance, that happens to be set in the future and in space then this is a great choice but I think it would be less appealing to die hard sci-fi enthusiasts…. I may of course be wrong!
Copy supplied for review
May 9, 2013
www.the-book-diaries.blogspot.com
I was so impressed with this book and I’m actually surprised that it hasn’t gotten higher ratings. As a new reader to the Sci-Fi genre, I am relatively picky what I choose to read. This book had just the right amount of everything for me to enjoy. The "technical speech" when it came to futuristic stuff did not confuse or overwhelm me to the point that I couldn’t comprehend it, the characters were entertaining and intriguing, the romance was not overly or under done and the intimacy was not too erotic but sensual. The action and suspense was great. It literally had my heart beating at the end. Most of the action took place towards the second half of the book but the beginning held great suspense and mystery that kept you going until the action began. I am so impressed with the writing from this author and I hope she continues with another book. Enjoy!
I was so impressed with this book and I’m actually surprised that it hasn’t gotten higher ratings. As a new reader to the Sci-Fi genre, I am relatively picky what I choose to read. This book had just the right amount of everything for me to enjoy. The "technical speech" when it came to futuristic stuff did not confuse or overwhelm me to the point that I couldn’t comprehend it, the characters were entertaining and intriguing, the romance was not overly or under done and the intimacy was not too erotic but sensual. The action and suspense was great. It literally had my heart beating at the end. Most of the action took place towards the second half of the book but the beginning held great suspense and mystery that kept you going until the action began. I am so impressed with the writing from this author and I hope she continues with another book. Enjoy!
August 7, 2013
http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
Holy smokin’ space-ships, Batman! I’ve never read anything by Ms. Martin, but let me assure you I will leap at any chance to read more by her now. I’ve been looking for a good sci-fi
romance, rather than para-rom, and this gave it to me. The world building is top notch and you sincerely feel like you’re seeing the world (galaxy/universe) as it might be in eight centuries. Ms. Martin doesn’t focus overmuch on the technology, which to my mind is a good thing, but does talk about some of the nifty technology available (replicators, custom-made clothes tailored to you – considering how much I hate shopping, I’d go to the future in a heartbeat for this!, spaceships, and aliens). I loved this book.
Holy smokin’ space-ships, Batman! I’ve never read anything by Ms. Martin, but let me assure you I will leap at any chance to read more by her now. I’ve been looking for a good sci-fi
romance, rather than para-rom, and this gave it to me. The world building is top notch and you sincerely feel like you’re seeing the world (galaxy/universe) as it might be in eight centuries. Ms. Martin doesn’t focus overmuch on the technology, which to my mind is a good thing, but does talk about some of the nifty technology available (replicators, custom-made clothes tailored to you – considering how much I hate shopping, I’d go to the future in a heartbeat for this!, spaceships, and aliens). I loved this book.
December 13, 2013
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
Reading this book definitely took me back to my days of watching Star Trek. Lily is from the past & wakes up after being attacked by aliens from the future. She wakes up on acting Captain Rians ship & discovers she likes the future in outer space. We get a chance to see from her perspective what it's like meeting new beings, adapting to change, living & traveling through space. There are a lot of differences for her such as clothes, food, entertainment & several other things. But the more things change some things even in the future remain the same. And she never planned on finding love. Though this book is very tame compared to my normal reads it was entertaining. Pickup this sci-fi love story.
Reading this book definitely took me back to my days of watching Star Trek. Lily is from the past & wakes up after being attacked by aliens from the future. She wakes up on acting Captain Rians ship & discovers she likes the future in outer space. We get a chance to see from her perspective what it's like meeting new beings, adapting to change, living & traveling through space. There are a lot of differences for her such as clothes, food, entertainment & several other things. But the more things change some things even in the future remain the same. And she never planned on finding love. Though this book is very tame compared to my normal reads it was entertaining. Pickup this sci-fi love story.
January 10, 2013
I really liked the story line and plot to this book. Sci-fi romance and space it a very interesting avenue that is not as extensively written about compared to vampires and werewolves. I only gave this book three stars because there was way too much bad language and explicit sex scenes. This book could have been much better without describing exactly what was going on. Had the sex scenes not been so graphic I probably would rate it between 4 and 4.5 stars.
February 19, 2013
Marting is incredibly eloquent,and must be a genius to have come up with this. I shall be buying all his book from pas present and future ,if there are any, of course.
May 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews