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Finders Keepers
Independent trader Trilby Elliot is making some not-quite-legal modifications to her starfreighter, when an unexpected visitor falls out of space. Literally. He’s crashed onto the uninhabited planet of Avanar in a crippled ’Sko fighter–the last place you’d expect to find a Zafharin military officer because the ’Sko and the Zafharin have been at war as long as Trilby can remember. Rhis Vanur is your typically arrogant Zafharin. But to Trilby’s surprise, he doesn’t look down on her or her slapdash ship. Still, Trilby’s learned the hard way that even though she found Rhis, she can’t keep him. She’s just a low-budget jump jockey as far as men like him are concerned. She’s not falling for his offer to help…until Port Rumor reports her best friend missing and Trilby learns that the ’Sko are hunting both her and Rhis. Now they’re in it together for better, for worse–or till death blasts them to oblivion....From the Paperback edition.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2002
71 people are currently reading
2441 people want to read
About the author
Linnea Sinclair
24 books697 followersWinner of the prestigious national book award, the RITA, science fiction romance author Linnea Sinclair has become a name synonymous for high-action, emotionally intense, character-driven novels. Reviewers note that Sinclair’s novels “have the wow-factor in spades,” earning her accolades from both the science fiction and romance communities. Sinclair’s current release is HOPE'S FOLLY and, scheduled for 2010 from Bantam Dell, REBELS AND LOVERS, book #4 in the Dock Five Universe. A former news reporter and retired private detective, Sinclair resides in Naples, Florida (winter) and Columbus, Ohio (summer) with her husband, Robert Bernadino, and their thoroughly spoiled cats. Readers can find her perched on the third barstool from the left in her Intergalactic Bar and Grille at www.linneasinclair.com .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
August 21, 2010
I liked this book, although my liking it could have been increased a WHOLE STAR with one change: No moustache on the hero. I mean, every time I read a description of him, I thought of Tom Selleck from the 70's. I know it's totally superficial, but seriously, I am anti moustache. WHO WOULD WEAR THEM IN SPACE?! It seems really impractical.
ANYHOO, I did enjoy the sci-fi AND the romance of this book. Sometimes the POV switching from the guy to the girl was distracting, but overall nice brain candy in this very specific genre. In the middle of my favorites list for this author.
ANYHOO, I did enjoy the sci-fi AND the romance of this book. Sometimes the POV switching from the guy to the girl was distracting, but overall nice brain candy in this very specific genre. In the middle of my favorites list for this author.
June 30, 2011
I wish more books such as this existed. In the following order, the book is first a romance, second science fiction, and third, an adventure/political intrigue/space opera, with each pretty close in the contest. Sinclair maintained a brilliant balance. I tend to find books which are either too heavy on science fiction or romance, without that balance. Too much science fiction (when I am wanting a romance somehow involved) leaves a story dry and too much romance without the world building and attention to detail necessary for true science fiction, creates a weak and cheesy plot, typicaly followed with weak and cheesy dialogue, which I detest. Sinclair gives me hope for science fiction romance novels as Finders Keepers is anything but dry, weak, or cheesy.
The characters were excellent and though I was slow to feel any type of connection, once I did, I became very invested in the story. I wish more effort had been made as far as the secondary characters were concerned, as a good adventure needs dependable sidekicks. There were some excellent secondary characters present but they were introduced a little late in the book and lacked the details I prefer in order to connect.
The political and military aspects were strong and made for an ideal background. The chemistry between the main characters was believable. The main reason why I am not rating 5 stars is that I feel the ending was wrapped up too easily. I loved the aliens but they were extremely stupid and I found it difficult to believe they would have acted as they did. Yet I am eagerly looking forward to reading more by the author.
The characters were excellent and though I was slow to feel any type of connection, once I did, I became very invested in the story. I wish more effort had been made as far as the secondary characters were concerned, as a good adventure needs dependable sidekicks. There were some excellent secondary characters present but they were introduced a little late in the book and lacked the details I prefer in order to connect.
The political and military aspects were strong and made for an ideal background. The chemistry between the main characters was believable. The main reason why I am not rating 5 stars is that I feel the ending was wrapped up too easily. I loved the aliens but they were extremely stupid and I found it difficult to believe they would have acted as they did. Yet I am eagerly looking forward to reading more by the author.
September 28, 2016
I enjoyed this book. It kept me glued to the couch while convalescing, which is all I ask for from books as a rule. However, I think the other Linnea Sinclair that I read, Games of Command, was more to my taste.
I've not read a great deal of SF romance so this review is from a SF/F reader perspective. I think that Sinclair does a solid job with her SF elements: the aliens, the spaceships, the ship-board culture, the societies, the technology, and languages, etc… In fact, I think with this book that the science fiction parts were the best parts, the plot was tightly paced, and technobabble was handled well. For me it was the romance that felt a little lackluster. (Funnily enough, Games of Command was the opposite. I found the romance compelling but the plot waffled a great deal in the middle. Just a data point.)
With Finders Keepers it was the romance that disappointed me. Most of the initial approach was driven by proximity alert. A SF parlance term I believe was popularized in Star Trek but which the cast of Farscape used to describe the fact that any action aboard ship inevitably resulted in the heroine and hero being physically thrown together. Trilby stumbles into or on top of Mr. Genetic-Engineered-and-Mustached at least four times in the first third of the book. This is also associated with the trope of the clumsy heroine, one which I dislike, not intensely, but enough to be bothered at finding it a driving force in this romance.
However, my reservations over the meat of the romance have almost entirely to do with the middle of the book after Trilby has rejected Rhis. He goes through the middle third stalking her in a pretty sleazy fashion. There were a couple of scenes that really made me uncomfortable. This may be a personal trigger so I won’t ding the book for it too hard, but it made me uncomfortable.
I've not read a great deal of SF romance so this review is from a SF/F reader perspective. I think that Sinclair does a solid job with her SF elements: the aliens, the spaceships, the ship-board culture, the societies, the technology, and languages, etc… In fact, I think with this book that the science fiction parts were the best parts, the plot was tightly paced, and technobabble was handled well. For me it was the romance that felt a little lackluster. (Funnily enough, Games of Command was the opposite. I found the romance compelling but the plot waffled a great deal in the middle. Just a data point.)
With Finders Keepers it was the romance that disappointed me. Most of the initial approach was driven by proximity alert. A SF parlance term I believe was popularized in Star Trek but which the cast of Farscape used to describe the fact that any action aboard ship inevitably resulted in the heroine and hero being physically thrown together. Trilby stumbles into or on top of Mr. Genetic-Engineered-and-Mustached at least four times in the first third of the book. This is also associated with the trope of the clumsy heroine, one which I dislike, not intensely, but enough to be bothered at finding it a driving force in this romance.
However, my reservations over the meat of the romance have almost entirely to do with the middle of the book after Trilby has rejected Rhis. He goes through the middle third stalking her in a pretty sleazy fashion. There were a couple of scenes that really made me uncomfortable. This may be a personal trigger so I won’t ding the book for it too hard, but it made me uncomfortable.
December 29, 2023
And I am eating my words. Yes all I said it's true and yet I 've read and enjoyed it many times.
Re read on 03/31/17
Sorry to say this book doesn't fully survive the 'second time around' test. I really liked it the first time I read this in 2012. But as I read it again today a lot of things didn't stand up.
There's lust at first sight, there's a woman who should have a huge chip on her shoulder, but hasn't a bit of anger nor bitterness (I mean something lasting, not temper tantrum-y, if you get my meaning.) She simply read flat, or rather simple minded, or again simply normal (or may be marisuish in her perfection?). But normal doesn't really work in this contest. There's no other way otherwise to explain why she fell for his lies, has no reaction to them, sells her country to a former enemy on said enemy say so. Yes, she's a misfit who really owns nothing to her country, but treason is a difficult choice, even when you know your country is selling you out.
A betrayal placed upon an other should be seen, felt. He takes full command of your ships twice without your consent, and his reasons may cut some slack, but there should be a strong reaction, not a rolling over (poor boy he's so right at the end..) I never understood her cooperation. Twice, by the way. That, as I said, on top of a very recent, very similar situation with an other man.
First review
Finders Keepers is a real sci-fi/romance, compared to what I call "futuristic" (which usually means it's a pure romance set in a fake future/alien/space/you-name-it world.)
Here you have spaceships, aliens and, yes, futuristic "trappings". And even if the story is (also) about Trilby and Rhis falling in love, there's a strong focus on politics and fighting factions, spaceships and bases, armed forces infightings, different aliens, and plenty of futuristic technology and even one alien language :)....
The conflict is both internal to the couple and external which is good as it keeps the tension and the story going. The romance was good, the way I like and find believable. A strong attraction that trasforms only with time in something deeper. They may act on it, but it only worsen the situation when lies come out.
I'll go check Ms Sinclair's other books.
Re read on 03/31/17
Sorry to say this book doesn't fully survive the 'second time around' test. I really liked it the first time I read this in 2012. But as I read it again today a lot of things didn't stand up.
There's lust at first sight, there's a woman who should have a huge chip on her shoulder, but hasn't a bit of anger nor bitterness (I mean something lasting, not temper tantrum-y, if you get my meaning.) She simply read flat, or rather simple minded, or again simply normal (or may be marisuish in her perfection?). But normal doesn't really work in this contest. There's no other way otherwise to explain why she fell for his lies, has no reaction to them, sells her country to a former enemy on said enemy say so. Yes, she's a misfit who really owns nothing to her country, but treason is a difficult choice, even when you know your country is selling you out.
A betrayal placed upon an other should be seen, felt. He takes full command of your ships twice without your consent, and his reasons may cut some slack, but there should be a strong reaction, not a rolling over (poor boy he's so right at the end..) I never understood her cooperation. Twice, by the way. That, as I said, on top of a very recent, very similar situation with an other man.
First review
Finders Keepers is a real sci-fi/romance, compared to what I call "futuristic" (which usually means it's a pure romance set in a fake future/alien/space/you-name-it world.)
Here you have spaceships, aliens and, yes, futuristic "trappings". And even if the story is (also) about Trilby and Rhis falling in love, there's a strong focus on politics and fighting factions, spaceships and bases, armed forces infightings, different aliens, and plenty of futuristic technology and even one alien language :)....
The conflict is both internal to the couple and external which is good as it keeps the tension and the story going. The romance was good, the way I like and find believable. A strong attraction that trasforms only with time in something deeper. They may act on it, but it only worsen the situation when lies come out.
I'll go check Ms Sinclair's other books.
Read
April 9, 2020This was published in 2002, but I could have sworn it was an escapee from the 80s or 90s based on the romance. There's this stormy, thrashy, angsty flavor that you'd find sometimes in that era where you have the woman poking and antagonizing and the guy applying his superior strength and power and the forced kiss that melts an argument away that squicks me out, some. The only way I had any sympathy with Rhis is that it was dual PoV and you could see his struggles to communicate and help and protect her and how it tore him up that he couldn't get her to understand. And at least he respected her strengths and they came to work as a team with each building on the others' strengths, which counters that 80s feel somewhat.
Trilby was okay, but a bit too much of a plot puppet to engage me much (and the dumb name—that's probably Matt Bomer's fault. Man that guy can wear a hat! Don't believe me? Watch an episode of White Collar and tell me I'm wrong!). Ahem. Sorry. Anyway, she's an orphan from the streets turned wildcat trader with her own ship and a lot of spare time on her hands. Who happened to have been wooed by a very powerful (and rich) guy who dropped her like a rock when his mom put her foot down. And I'm all "how the heck did she carry on this affair with her long trade routes and loser bucket-of-bolts ship?" I liked the idea of her being all independent and I liked that she didn't put up with Rhis's crap at all (and yes, it kills me every time to type that name with an "i". It's so very wrong). And when they forgot that they had to have sparks fly for the insta-lust to take hold and draw them together, I liked them as a team, too.
The sci-fi held together with internal consistency and the techy trappings that bore plot load held up under the weight, and that's no small thing. It's still a bit light with Rhis being a bit too "star lord" (lower case as I mean effect rather than title) and the different organizations too uniform in personality and affectations. Which is probably the effect of Sinclair writing specifically a romance hybrid rather than a "sci-fi with something else on it". Or, at least, that's the feel/effect I got from it.
Which is a lot of nit picking for a book I don't regret seeing all the way through so it was entertaining enough and I'll be looking forward to the next Sinclair the library sends me.
No rating on this one for . . . reasons. It's complicated. Which is why there's a link...
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance given the length and intrusion. I thought both were rather gratuitous, though in different ways. The first was way too soon and part of why it felt insta to me. The second was an overshare at a point where their relationship was already solidly established and the physical intimacies weren't needed for story or character purposes, IMO.
Trilby was okay, but a bit too much of a plot puppet to engage me much (and the dumb name—that's probably Matt Bomer's fault. Man that guy can wear a hat! Don't believe me? Watch an episode of White Collar and tell me I'm wrong!). Ahem. Sorry. Anyway, she's an orphan from the streets turned wildcat trader with her own ship and a lot of spare time on her hands. Who happened to have been wooed by a very powerful (and rich) guy who dropped her like a rock when his mom put her foot down. And I'm all "how the heck did she carry on this affair with her long trade routes and loser bucket-of-bolts ship?" I liked the idea of her being all independent and I liked that she didn't put up with Rhis's crap at all (and yes, it kills me every time to type that name with an "i". It's so very wrong). And when they forgot that they had to have sparks fly for the insta-lust to take hold and draw them together, I liked them as a team, too.
The sci-fi held together with internal consistency and the techy trappings that bore plot load held up under the weight, and that's no small thing. It's still a bit light with Rhis being a bit too "star lord" (lower case as I mean effect rather than title) and the different organizations too uniform in personality and affectations. Which is probably the effect of Sinclair writing specifically a romance hybrid rather than a "sci-fi with something else on it". Or, at least, that's the feel/effect I got from it.
Which is a lot of nit picking for a book I don't regret seeing all the way through so it was entertaining enough and I'll be looking forward to the next Sinclair the library sends me.
No rating on this one for . . . reasons. It's complicated. Which is why there's a link...
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance given the length and intrusion. I thought both were rather gratuitous, though in different ways. The first was way too soon and part of why it felt insta to me. The second was an overshare at a point where their relationship was already solidly established and the physical intimacies weren't needed for story or character purposes, IMO.
April 13, 2017
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy:
This book is the ultimate blend of science-fiction and romance. It will leave you thinking about the world and characters long after you finish the book, wishing you could be back on Trilby's ship for just a few more pages.
When Captain Trilby Elliot saves Rhis from a crash on a wild jungle planet, he tells her he’s a pilot who got lost. He promises his commanders will pay her to get him back to civilisation. She’s wary, but when he offers to help her finish the repairs she was making to her ship as well, she agrees to take him to the nearest space station - she's seriously strapped for credits. It also helps that he’s kind of charming, and good with an electric wrench and computers.
Unfortunately, Rhys isn’t quite who he says he is. He may not even be fully human.
The interactions between Trilby and Rhis are testy at first, but as they work together the tension turns from wary to hot. They’re trapped together, at first on an uninhabited planet and then in Trilby’s small ship, for the first half of the book. They do have a slightly annoying but endearing AI with them as well, but he lacks a physical body. Trilby’s not used to having another person around, especially not one that doesn’t listen to her orders.
The author does a great job of making a small space feel both claustrophobic but complete. Trilby’s ship feels like a character in itself, a recycled, cobbled piece of crap that should have been retired years ago… Or at least, it seems that way from the outside. Trilby and others have done so many illegal repairs and modifications to the ship that it could probably outlast, if not outrun, many modern ships.
By the end of their short trip, they’ve really made a connection; too bad Rhis hijacks her ship and takes them back to a massive space station where everyone listens to him: he’s actually a high ranking military officer. Not only that, he’s known as the coldest, meanest commander in the fleet, who everyone fears and most hate. Rhis appears to be gone, replaced by Khyrhis Tivahr, and Trilby feels betrayed. Too bad for her, he’s not the only one who has used her without a full disclosure.
The plot, which started out relatively simple when they were stranded on the jungle planet, gets more complex, and as new characters and locales get introduced, it’s easy to get a feeling that what Rhis and Trilby have gotten themselves into could easily prevent - or start - and deadly galactic war.
This book has a bit of everything: there are political plots and betrayals to uncover, unethical experiments to unearth, competing military factions and alien computer programs to hack. The science and space combat is strong enough to satisfy the more traditional science-fiction lovers, who may be turned off by the idea of a scifi-romance novel.
This is one of those books I selfishly wish was part of a series. Although all of the plot points are wrapped up, I just want to read more of Trilby and Rhis’ interactions and romance. Although they seem so different at first, when they find shared passions, they are fun and work amazingly well together. I’ve read this book a few times a year since I discovered it, every time enjoying the evolution of the characters and of their relationship as much as I enjoy the discussion of space cannons and space maps. This book is a must read for both romance and science fiction fans.
This book is the ultimate blend of science-fiction and romance. It will leave you thinking about the world and characters long after you finish the book, wishing you could be back on Trilby's ship for just a few more pages.
When Captain Trilby Elliot saves Rhis from a crash on a wild jungle planet, he tells her he’s a pilot who got lost. He promises his commanders will pay her to get him back to civilisation. She’s wary, but when he offers to help her finish the repairs she was making to her ship as well, she agrees to take him to the nearest space station - she's seriously strapped for credits. It also helps that he’s kind of charming, and good with an electric wrench and computers.
Unfortunately, Rhys isn’t quite who he says he is. He may not even be fully human.
The interactions between Trilby and Rhis are testy at first, but as they work together the tension turns from wary to hot. They’re trapped together, at first on an uninhabited planet and then in Trilby’s small ship, for the first half of the book. They do have a slightly annoying but endearing AI with them as well, but he lacks a physical body. Trilby’s not used to having another person around, especially not one that doesn’t listen to her orders.
The author does a great job of making a small space feel both claustrophobic but complete. Trilby’s ship feels like a character in itself, a recycled, cobbled piece of crap that should have been retired years ago… Or at least, it seems that way from the outside. Trilby and others have done so many illegal repairs and modifications to the ship that it could probably outlast, if not outrun, many modern ships.
By the end of their short trip, they’ve really made a connection; too bad Rhis hijacks her ship and takes them back to a massive space station where everyone listens to him: he’s actually a high ranking military officer. Not only that, he’s known as the coldest, meanest commander in the fleet, who everyone fears and most hate. Rhis appears to be gone, replaced by Khyrhis Tivahr, and Trilby feels betrayed. Too bad for her, he’s not the only one who has used her without a full disclosure.
The plot, which started out relatively simple when they were stranded on the jungle planet, gets more complex, and as new characters and locales get introduced, it’s easy to get a feeling that what Rhis and Trilby have gotten themselves into could easily prevent - or start - and deadly galactic war.
This book has a bit of everything: there are political plots and betrayals to uncover, unethical experiments to unearth, competing military factions and alien computer programs to hack. The science and space combat is strong enough to satisfy the more traditional science-fiction lovers, who may be turned off by the idea of a scifi-romance novel.
This is one of those books I selfishly wish was part of a series. Although all of the plot points are wrapped up, I just want to read more of Trilby and Rhis’ interactions and romance. Although they seem so different at first, when they find shared passions, they are fun and work amazingly well together. I’ve read this book a few times a year since I discovered it, every time enjoying the evolution of the characters and of their relationship as much as I enjoy the discussion of space cannons and space maps. This book is a must read for both romance and science fiction fans.
April 4, 2013
UPDATED 3/29/13: Read this book for at least the third time this week (I think I've read it 4-5 times), and I still adore it. I haven't reread my review in a long time, and I kind of agree with my statement about the ending. There was a lot of explaining about the bad guys. They were sitting and talking about it, and I couldn't keep track of the factions, so I skimmed. Despite that, I'd give this a 5 star review now, the book is that awesome and gripping. I'm still trying to decide if this is my favorite Linnea Sinclair book, or if it's ACCIDENTAL GODDESS. Love both of them. Most people's favorites seem to be GAMES OF COMMAND, and while I love that one, too, I'm still more attached to these two.
I'm sure I'll reread this one again within a year or so. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
~~~~~~~~
I think I found a new author I like! I picked up this book because it's repped by Kristen Nelson, an lit agent whom I like. Sinclair is a sci-fi romance writer. I've been looking for a book like this for a while now - something with a balance of sci-fi and romance. She did that very well.
Basically, the book is about a low-class freighter pilot and a high-class captain. The MC (main character) finds captain guy almost dead. He gets better. They fly around space for a while. Fall in love. Find out a secret. Separate. Get back together. The end.
I gave Finders Keepers 4 stars instead of 5 because the last third of the book had a bit too much sitting around and talking about their predicament. I skimmed a lot of that. Plus, the author used the term "air sprite" WAY too much. Totally got on my nerves. Other than that, it was a very good book, one of those where I couldn't wait to get back to reading it. Finished it in two days.
I'm definitely reading another Linnea Sinclair book.
I'm sure I'll reread this one again within a year or so. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
~~~~~~~~
I think I found a new author I like! I picked up this book because it's repped by Kristen Nelson, an lit agent whom I like. Sinclair is a sci-fi romance writer. I've been looking for a book like this for a while now - something with a balance of sci-fi and romance. She did that very well.
Basically, the book is about a low-class freighter pilot and a high-class captain. The MC (main character) finds captain guy almost dead. He gets better. They fly around space for a while. Fall in love. Find out a secret. Separate. Get back together. The end.
I gave Finders Keepers 4 stars instead of 5 because the last third of the book had a bit too much sitting around and talking about their predicament. I skimmed a lot of that. Plus, the author used the term "air sprite" WAY too much. Totally got on my nerves. Other than that, it was a very good book, one of those where I couldn't wait to get back to reading it. Finished it in two days.
I'm definitely reading another Linnea Sinclair book.
June 7, 2020
Very good story. Excellent development and plotting.
Good editing. Romance but not erotica.
The main storyline is war-intrigue between space factions.
Annoyingly abrupt ending left questions concerning a future war and left much MUCH to be desired with their romance.
Recommended
Good editing. Romance but not erotica.
The main storyline is war-intrigue between space factions.
Annoyingly abrupt ending left questions concerning a future war and left much MUCH to be desired with their romance.
Recommended
September 30, 2009
Trilby Elliot is an independent trader currently doing some repairs to her small ship. And when I say 'repairs' I mean patching the thing together with duct tape and a prayer and hoping everything stays in one piece. Trilby has had a tough time lately with her boyfriend dumping her and marrying another woman and her business has been taking some big hits too. It's only her and her droid name Dezi on her ship and they've landed on a uninhabited planet to keep prying eyes away. However an alien ship crash lands near her and her ship and she decides to scout it out for any parts to steal. Finders keepers and all that. However, the pilot is human and alive and Trilby brings him back to her ship to heal. This particular pilot calls himself Rhis Vanur and Trilby can tell he's hiding something. She reluctantly decides to trust him just when they get entangled in some serious trouble and have to work together. But will the secret Rhis is hiding tear apart their growing relationship just when he decides he's playing for keeps?
I have to give lots of praise to Linnea Sinclair. This book had a strong romance angle but it was balanced with a good plot and lots of kick-butt action. Which is not the easiest thing to do in the science-fiction genre... or really any for that matter. It did have some of the the usual science-fiction hangups like throwing out a mountain of names, places, and terminology that come with no explanation whatsoever. I did feel like I was going 'WTF?' for quite a bit of the first part of the book. But by the middle of the book the characters were so great and the story sucked me in that I just sort of went with it. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.
I have to give lots of praise to Linnea Sinclair. This book had a strong romance angle but it was balanced with a good plot and lots of kick-butt action. Which is not the easiest thing to do in the science-fiction genre... or really any for that matter. It did have some of the the usual science-fiction hangups like throwing out a mountain of names, places, and terminology that come with no explanation whatsoever. I did feel like I was going 'WTF?' for quite a bit of the first part of the book. But by the middle of the book the characters were so great and the story sucked me in that I just sort of went with it. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.
May 13, 2015
Sci-Fi/Romance One word to describe this novel? Romantic...
Trilby is my favorite kind of heroine, a scrappy underdog who always manages to squeak through, yet not without some pretty big dings to her heart. It's her vulnerability that makes this novel, that captures your heart.
I loved the transformation in our hero too, no longer the arrogant, fearless man he once was. Not now, when, for the first time in his life, he has someone he cannot bear to lose.
This is a heart-stopping, action packed story with wonderful secondary characters and a well drawn world. Yet at its core, what I will remember? sigh...It was so romantic!
Adult only, two tastefully done intimate scenes, only a page or two long. There is swearing in this novel, but not over the top.
Trilby is my favorite kind of heroine, a scrappy underdog who always manages to squeak through, yet not without some pretty big dings to her heart. It's her vulnerability that makes this novel, that captures your heart.
I loved the transformation in our hero too, no longer the arrogant, fearless man he once was. Not now, when, for the first time in his life, he has someone he cannot bear to lose.
This is a heart-stopping, action packed story with wonderful secondary characters and a well drawn world. Yet at its core, what I will remember? sigh...It was so romantic!
Adult only, two tastefully done intimate scenes, only a page or two long. There is swearing in this novel, but not over the top.
July 29, 2019
Trilby Elliot is the captain of her own small freighter and she lands on the uninhabited planet of Avanar to make some repairs on her ancient craft. There she sees a 'Sko fighter crash land and she goes to check it out to salvage parts. She finds a human and brings him to her ship. Rhis Vanur is a Zafharin officer who needs Trilby's ship to get back to his own ship.
I don't know why I have avoided reading this author but I finally did and I loved it. I grabbed it the other day and I didn't want to stop reading. I enjoyed the style of writing and the story flowed at a nice steady pace. There were a few times I felt the romance element lagged a bit but it was only a minor thing. Highly recommended to Sci-Fi Romance fans.
I don't know why I have avoided reading this author but I finally did and I loved it. I grabbed it the other day and I didn't want to stop reading. I enjoyed the style of writing and the story flowed at a nice steady pace. There were a few times I felt the romance element lagged a bit but it was only a minor thing. Highly recommended to Sci-Fi Romance fans.
April 7, 2016
A wonderful sci-fi romance.
RTC.
RTC.
December 22, 2008
Finders Keepers, by Linnea Sinclair, is the love child of a romance novel and an SF one. It's set in space, sure--but at heart, it's really a romance. You don't get much more romance-novelly than Scrappy Young Trader Chick From Wrong Side of the Galaxy finds Crashlanded and Unconscious Tall Dark Handsome Stranger Who is More Than He Appears. The only way this could have been even more romance-novelly a start would have been if she'd been a pregnant runaway bride, and the guy had had amnesia and crashlanded during a snowstorm. Whoops, wait, this is supposed to be an SF setting. Let's say ion storm. ;)
And, unfortunately, the plot's a bit thin on the ground. There's an alien species that's supposedly trying to take over the galaxy, but we never get an idea of what this species actually looks like, and mostly we get the overall idea that they're evil because... um... they're evil! And we get hints dropped that the government under whom our heroine is a citizen is corrupt, yet we only have the word of a questionable character to begin with to back this up--and a character who's part of a rival government to begin with. There are a few side characters introduced that have the potential to be interesting, though I was personally vaguely vexed that the two side female characters seem to be primarily there to either commiserate with the heroine about her relationship with the hero, or to whack some sense into the head of the hero who is of course being Obtuse about his relationship with the heroine (since this is, after all, a romance novel at heart). There's the obligatory swarmy former boyfriend, too, but he winds up having hardly any camera time at all and is only long enough around for the heroine to punch him out before he gets diced.
Balanced against all of these things, I will admit that the chemistry between hero and heroine was enjoyable enough, and it was kind of neat to see a spacefaring situation where there were at least hints of multiple languages scattered around the dialogue. So overall I'll give this 'un two and a half stars.
And, unfortunately, the plot's a bit thin on the ground. There's an alien species that's supposedly trying to take over the galaxy, but we never get an idea of what this species actually looks like, and mostly we get the overall idea that they're evil because... um... they're evil! And we get hints dropped that the government under whom our heroine is a citizen is corrupt, yet we only have the word of a questionable character to begin with to back this up--and a character who's part of a rival government to begin with. There are a few side characters introduced that have the potential to be interesting, though I was personally vaguely vexed that the two side female characters seem to be primarily there to either commiserate with the heroine about her relationship with the hero, or to whack some sense into the head of the hero who is of course being Obtuse about his relationship with the heroine (since this is, after all, a romance novel at heart). There's the obligatory swarmy former boyfriend, too, but he winds up having hardly any camera time at all and is only long enough around for the heroine to punch him out before he gets diced.
Balanced against all of these things, I will admit that the chemistry between hero and heroine was enjoyable enough, and it was kind of neat to see a spacefaring situation where there were at least hints of multiple languages scattered around the dialogue. So overall I'll give this 'un two and a half stars.
March 4, 2018
Finders Keepers, a futuristic romance, had a wonderful blend of interesting characters, a shot of come-what-may reality and wonderful chemistry between the hero and heroine. There are many futuristic romances that have been written over the years but rarely are they this good.
Both a strong and smart heroine, Captain Trilby Elliot had to land unexpectedly on Avanar, an illegal repair site. While there she met Rhis Vanur, an independent trader, or so she thought. Before long, they are hunted by a race intent on taking over all-the-known universe. And so their adventures began.
Plenty of action is incorporated within the pages. And, of course, Trilby and Rhis do their best to avoid a romance but it is unavoidable when they work together in such close quarters. I loved this stubborn couple's gradual development of their relationship.
Linnea Sinclair is a gifted storyteller and made this a fun read. This story had just the right amount of wit, some comical moments and love scenes that sizzled. If you are looking for a good futuristic romance, take a chance and read Finders Keepers. You will be glad you did.
Both a strong and smart heroine, Captain Trilby Elliot had to land unexpectedly on Avanar, an illegal repair site. While there she met Rhis Vanur, an independent trader, or so she thought. Before long, they are hunted by a race intent on taking over all-the-known universe. And so their adventures began.
Plenty of action is incorporated within the pages. And, of course, Trilby and Rhis do their best to avoid a romance but it is unavoidable when they work together in such close quarters. I loved this stubborn couple's gradual development of their relationship.
Linnea Sinclair is a gifted storyteller and made this a fun read. This story had just the right amount of wit, some comical moments and love scenes that sizzled. If you are looking for a good futuristic romance, take a chance and read Finders Keepers. You will be glad you did.
March 19, 2010
This was a re-read for me. Nearly every one of Linnea Sinclairs books is a keeper for me. I love her style of writing.
Trilby and Rhis are a great couple. I love stories where the hero is just a cold hearted mean old b@$t@rd who becomes a better person when he allows himself to love.
I enjoyed the terrific sci-fi intergalactic romance between Trilby, smart and sassy captain of a space junker, and Rhis, robotical steely space vessel senior captain of the mega power empire.
And nobody writes it better than Sinclair. She makes her characters "human", has great dialog, both between characters, and inner dialog. Her sci-fi/space 'techno jargon' is believable, adds to the story and is not toooo much. And she always has some interesting, funny sidekicks or pets. Her stories have action, adventure, humor, good dialog, and above all...great romance with nicely done hea's.
I also love and recommend any of Sinclair's Dock 5 series.
Gabriels's Ghost
Shades of Dark
Hope's Folly.
But I do wish she would write a sequel to this one too!
Trilby and Rhis are a great couple. I love stories where the hero is just a cold hearted mean old b@$t@rd who becomes a better person when he allows himself to love.
I enjoyed the terrific sci-fi intergalactic romance between Trilby, smart and sassy captain of a space junker, and Rhis, robotical steely space vessel senior captain of the mega power empire.
And nobody writes it better than Sinclair. She makes her characters "human", has great dialog, both between characters, and inner dialog. Her sci-fi/space 'techno jargon' is believable, adds to the story and is not toooo much. And she always has some interesting, funny sidekicks or pets. Her stories have action, adventure, humor, good dialog, and above all...great romance with nicely done hea's.
I also love and recommend any of Sinclair's Dock 5 series.
Gabriels's Ghost
Shades of Dark
Hope's Folly.
But I do wish she would write a sequel to this one too!
April 11, 2022
Enjoy the story from beginning to end every time I read it. The main characters are wonderful. The heroine causes the hero to realize that he's emotionally capable of more than he thinks he is. I always find myself wondering what happened after the story ended.
April 15, 2019
Really enjoyed this one -- great story and a strong, independent female lead with a touch of romance threaded throughout. All good! I am enjoying science fiction more these days than paranormal.
April 5, 2011
Wow, what a book. Tucked proudly in the Science Fiction section, FINDERS KEEPERS shatters any pre-conceived idea that Romance is not a part of Science Fiction. This book proves that Sci-Fi can indeed exist in union with Futuristic Romance. And that—gasp!—a good space adventure can document two people falling in love. It even has room for well-done sexual tension. In addition to the romantic plot, FINDERS KEEPERS has: disreputable freighter pilots, ‘droids with attitudes, Heroes that are beyond human but are also endearingly human, space battles, asteroid fields, battleships and space stations, trans-galactic jump gates, arrogant corporate scum, and inter-galactic politics. You want it? It’s there.
Captain Trilby Elliott set down on the jungle planet Avanar. She is startled from her repairs by the unexpected arrival of a warship, one that crashes not too far away. “Finders Keepers” is her mantra, so she heads out to see what she can scavenge. She didn’t expect to find the pilot alive. She had no idea that he was the Empire’s finest warrior, “Tivahr the Terrible” himself.
Senior Captain Khyris Tivahr had barely escaped with his life. To his dismay, his only ride back to more familiar space was a derelict ship captained by one Trilby Elliott. A spectacular love was the last thing Rhis expected to find. Find it he did, and he was keeping it. If only Trilby would cooperate….
Ride with Trilby and Rhis on a roller-coaster of political and financial machinations and against an amazing backdrop of life in deep space. Author Sinclair’s prose is tight and intense. You’ll feel as though you are in the cockpit, the ship’s controls in your hands, speeding through space with your hair on fire. I mentioned earlier that this was a Keeper, but I must correct myself. It’s firmly placed on the shelf marked, “Touch this and Die.”
Five Mystique Moons. (Outstanding. Cosmic.)
Class Two Sensuality. (Limited Sexual Content)
Captain Trilby Elliott set down on the jungle planet Avanar. She is startled from her repairs by the unexpected arrival of a warship, one that crashes not too far away. “Finders Keepers” is her mantra, so she heads out to see what she can scavenge. She didn’t expect to find the pilot alive. She had no idea that he was the Empire’s finest warrior, “Tivahr the Terrible” himself.
Senior Captain Khyris Tivahr had barely escaped with his life. To his dismay, his only ride back to more familiar space was a derelict ship captained by one Trilby Elliott. A spectacular love was the last thing Rhis expected to find. Find it he did, and he was keeping it. If only Trilby would cooperate….
Ride with Trilby and Rhis on a roller-coaster of political and financial machinations and against an amazing backdrop of life in deep space. Author Sinclair’s prose is tight and intense. You’ll feel as though you are in the cockpit, the ship’s controls in your hands, speeding through space with your hair on fire. I mentioned earlier that this was a Keeper, but I must correct myself. It’s firmly placed on the shelf marked, “Touch this and Die.”
Five Mystique Moons. (Outstanding. Cosmic.)
Class Two Sensuality. (Limited Sexual Content)
January 24, 2012
Finders Keepers is a sci-fi romance. There's plenty of spaceships and aliens and futuristic trappings, but the heart of the story relies on Trilby and Rhis falling in love. The focus skews heavily to their romance, and while it doesn't ignore the exterior plot per se, the book would probably be about half as long without the constant "will they or won't they" factor. The love story had plenty enough conflict to keep it afloat without feeling like it was being drawn out unnecessarily, but I have to admit, I was much more interested in the sci-fi aspects.
See, the worldbuilding was really interesting. Politics! Spaceships! Fighting factions and futuristic technology and languages and aliens and yes. There were some really interesting side characters I wanted to hear more about, but towards the end of the book they all sort of fade into the background so Trilby and Rhis could wrap up their romance story arc and ignore any fall-out from the sci-fi aspects of the plot. There was no question as to where the love story would end up, but I wanted to hear more about the political and personal ramifications of the various adventures (and deaths) that occurred in the book.
Really, though, if my biggest complaint is that I wanted more, it's pretty safe to say I'll be picking up more of Sinclair's novels in the future. I have some catching up to do.
See, the worldbuilding was really interesting. Politics! Spaceships! Fighting factions and futuristic technology and languages and aliens and yes. There were some really interesting side characters I wanted to hear more about, but towards the end of the book they all sort of fade into the background so Trilby and Rhis could wrap up their romance story arc and ignore any fall-out from the sci-fi aspects of the plot. There was no question as to where the love story would end up, but I wanted to hear more about the political and personal ramifications of the various adventures (and deaths) that occurred in the book.
Really, though, if my biggest complaint is that I wanted more, it's pretty safe to say I'll be picking up more of Sinclair's novels in the future. I have some catching up to do.
April 22, 2017
This read like very laboured Star Wars fanfiction, with "Luke/Anakin" being replaced with a woman. Complete with a metallic humanoid droid even.
Maybe this was exciting a couple of years ago, but then it hasn't aged well. The other, more likely possibility is that I've been hopelessly pampered by authors such as Anne McCaffrey, CJ Cherryh, Marion Zimmer-Bradley, Rachel Aukes or R. Lee Smith. Unlike Sinclair these authors know how to write a rollicking, action-laden story which makes sense, pulls the reader in and has female characters one can empathise with. I couldn't connect at all with this story, and at the prices this still has, I doubt I will try another.
Maybe this was exciting a couple of years ago, but then it hasn't aged well. The other, more likely possibility is that I've been hopelessly pampered by authors such as Anne McCaffrey, CJ Cherryh, Marion Zimmer-Bradley, Rachel Aukes or R. Lee Smith. Unlike Sinclair these authors know how to write a rollicking, action-laden story which makes sense, pulls the reader in and has female characters one can empathise with. I couldn't connect at all with this story, and at the prices this still has, I doubt I will try another.
August 23, 2008
think the cover is a big hint that this is a sci -fi. It is rather space opera, action-y with guns and spaceships and wars. But. It's also romance heavy, at least for a sci-fi book. My impression when I was reading this was - if you like sci-fi, AND you like romance, you'll like this. If you only like one genre and not the other, I'm not sure you'll enjoy yourself. This was shelved in the sci-fi/ fantasy section, but I'd call it more of a crossover book. I found it rather an addictive read myself. After the first chapter (which I thought started off slow in the first couple of pages), it got interesting. Trilby Elliot is the captain of an OLD spaceship which she uses to transport cargo as part of her business as an independent freighter. The ship is a bucket of bolts and full of non-functioning parts barely kept together by Trilby and her robot Dezi. Trilby is constantly running out of cash and calculating how much she can repair with the money she gets on her next run. To keep costs down, she secretly uses an uninhabited planet that's far from the path of usual space traffic to make modifications to her ship. While she is there another spacecraft crashes to the surface and Trilby discovers an unconscious man thrown out of the wreckage. This man calls himself Rhis and says he is a leutienent in the Imperial forces who crashed on the planet after escaping enemy 'Sko. Chases, gunfights, political intruige, romance, undercover work and alien encounters follow.
More at my book blog - http://janicu.livejournal.com/23256.html
More at my book blog - http://janicu.livejournal.com/23256.html
February 24, 2010
This was a relatively fun, not-too-demanding sci-fi romance that I enjoyed more than I expected to.
Trilby Elliott is an independent small freighter captain who's making some small (not quite legal) modifications to her ship when she get gets an unexpected visitor in the form of a crashed fighter. The pilot's unconscious, so she brings him back to her medbay... and there our story begins.
I was expecting this book to be pure romantic fluff, and while there's certainly a level of that, there's also some nice character development, especially on the Rhis, the male lead's part, and some great supporting characters (including Dezi, Trilby's DZ-9 droid unit). Plus, the storyline actually held together reasonably well, with far more going on than just the romantic plotline for the main characters, and I thought Ms Sinclair managed to tie the various plot threads together nicely.
Criticism-wise, I started getting heartily sick of Rhis constantly talking about Trilby as "his air sprite" - he wasn't quite suffering from Roarke syndrome, but things got borderline there at times.
I'm giving Finders Keepers a 7.5/10 - it was a solid story from Ms Sinclair, and I'm really looking forward to reading the next on my list of hers (Book 2 in the Hope's Folly set... yes, I know, I've read it out of order!)
Trilby Elliott is an independent small freighter captain who's making some small (not quite legal) modifications to her ship when she get gets an unexpected visitor in the form of a crashed fighter. The pilot's unconscious, so she brings him back to her medbay... and there our story begins.
I was expecting this book to be pure romantic fluff, and while there's certainly a level of that, there's also some nice character development, especially on the Rhis, the male lead's part, and some great supporting characters (including Dezi, Trilby's DZ-9 droid unit). Plus, the storyline actually held together reasonably well, with far more going on than just the romantic plotline for the main characters, and I thought Ms Sinclair managed to tie the various plot threads together nicely.
Criticism-wise, I started getting heartily sick of Rhis constantly talking about Trilby as "his air sprite" - he wasn't quite suffering from Roarke syndrome, but things got borderline there at times.
I'm giving Finders Keepers a 7.5/10 - it was a solid story from Ms Sinclair, and I'm really looking forward to reading the next on my list of hers (Book 2 in the Hope's Folly set... yes, I know, I've read it out of order!)
June 27, 2016
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I really enjoyed it- I thought it was a deftly done space opera, with a fun romance, a good mystery running through it and plenty of action. It reminded me a bit of Lois McMaster Bujold’s Barrayar, with 2 space travelers from different cultures having to work together to return to base and avoid the enemy alien Sko fighters. I found the romance a bit on the obvious side at the beginning, with Trilby and Reece attracted to each other even when they are viewing each other as a potential threat- but this settles down and I really grew to like the pair. Class differences and Reece’s partly engineered body provide a bit of angst. I've found sometimes in sci/fi romance that the world building is not as well done as the romance- but this wasn't the case here. I would definitely be up for a sequel and will look out for more by this author.
September 25, 2016
This love child of a space opera and a romance novel is for the most part an entertaining read, but not quite the best of both worlds. As a space opera: 4 stars. Good solid world building, and a fun adventure story. As a romance novel though: ugh. It contains both uncontrollable twitching bulges at the mere first sight of our heroine (honestly, heroes lead by their brains are so much sexier than ones that can't control their other head), and that bulge is attached to a jealous male who has no respect for the word no. She doesn't trust him, she doesn't want to kiss him - so what does he do - keep pawing her until she relents. Ugh. No thanks. In the real world this is sexual harassment and assault. The fact that I finished this at all is a sign that the space opera aspect was more dominant than the romance novel elements.
November 30, 2008
Ok, so this book has quickly climbed the ladder to being my second favorite Linnea Sinclair book, bumping Shades of Dark down to the third spot.
Love the characters and their interactions with each other. The tension between Trilby and Rhis was normal and expected, there was a bit of whining on Trilby's part but it was completely worth it by the time they got together again :)
Everything seemed sort of normal for a space romance. Trilby wasn't military and I think that was refreshing for me because she wasn't fighting against regulations, she was in denial for all too human and emotional reasons.
Good read.
Love the characters and their interactions with each other. The tension between Trilby and Rhis was normal and expected, there was a bit of whining on Trilby's part but it was completely worth it by the time they got together again :)
Everything seemed sort of normal for a space romance. Trilby wasn't military and I think that was refreshing for me because she wasn't fighting against regulations, she was in denial for all too human and emotional reasons.
Good read.
July 7, 2009
I'm not sure what I was expecting when I picked this up. I actually saw the weird cover first, so it made me not want to read it. Anyway, I got over that, and I guess I was craving for a sci-fi romance similar to the Shielder series by Catherine Spangler.
It was a great read. I really liked it. But I think that things ended up too neatly. Like Jagon and no one of importance really dying. Well, I guess I like that, but it was a little too romancy with sci-fi aspects. What I really wanted was less of the emotional angst and more banter and more conflict. The 'Sko situation was handled expertly and almost insignificantly compared to the final HEA and love confessions.
It was a great read. I really liked it. But I think that things ended up too neatly. Like Jagon and no one of importance really dying. Well, I guess I like that, but it was a little too romancy with sci-fi aspects. What I really wanted was less of the emotional angst and more banter and more conflict. The 'Sko situation was handled expertly and almost insignificantly compared to the final HEA and love confessions.
March 5, 2016
I really loved this one - right until the end. Where everything just kinda happened . . . and at the same time the reader is left hanging. 2.5 stars . . . rounded up because it was great until the end.
September 14, 2013
This is one of my all-time favorite books. I've read it multiple times.
June 24, 2021
I just could not get into this book. The guy keeps thinking of her as a sprite which is somehow sexy to him. There's the misunderstanding and the reconciliation with a lot of fighting the bad guys in between. I just didn't care for it and am surprised I finished it.
May 6, 2014
Rhis (Tivahr) Vanur and Trilby Elliot
My rating for this book is probably 3.5 stars but I love Linnea Sinclair's writing so I am bumping it up to a 4.
Per usual, Sinclair writes a richly detailed, romantic space opera in which the hero, Rhis/Tivahr, is thoroughly smitten with the heroine. That's the good part. Also good is that I was racing through this novel, eating it all up, for the first 80%.
The bad? I had to start skimming when the esoterica of the inter-galactic political machinations in the last 20% of the book just became too much even for this brainiac. Intrigue is all well and good but this was a little over the top in complexity, particularly with new competing evil factions thrown in the end with little background explanation given. I could have done with some flowcharts and timelines to help slog through this.
Also, there are only two sexy scenes included, one at the beginning and one at the end. The entire middle of the book is one big case of blue balls where Rhis and Trilby are kept apart because of Trilby's (legitimate) anger toward Rhis for his deceptions. Legitimate or not, the lengthy breakup of the leads was still dissatisfying as a reader.
We spent a ton of time inside the head of Rhis as he agonized over his love for Trilby which was very sweet and squee. But, surprisingly, there was very little direct interaction or conversation between Trilby and Rhis for a good portion of the book. And although we, as the reader, know that Rhis is heartbroken over Trilby's rejection after he manipulated her, he never actually apologizes and explains clearly to Trilby herself about his reasoning or about his feelings. Plus, although it was sweet to see Rhis, an otherwise arrogant and cold bastard, fall helplessly in love with Trilby, it also struck me as a little ridiculous that this man would go from a harsh, emotionless commander to one that would openly cry in front of his subordinates. All in the blink of an eye.
Throw in (i) a few plot holes and inconsistencies (I thought Rhis and Trilby were supposed to be fake engaged when they decide to masquerade as freight shippers on the Shadow's Quest? What happened to that?), as well as an ending that left some loose strings (What was up with Kospahr? He was built up as this evil character and played too large part in the book to have nothing said of him in the end, one way or the other. Also, what exactly was the result in the end? An Imperial/Conclave war? Destruction of the Conclave? It seemed like the bad guys in the Conclave were really just some private parties, not the whole system), and a few points have to be knocked off the rating too.
Still, an overall enjoyable read and I wish I could find more authors in this genre niche of pure romances in a suspenseful space/science fiction setting.
P.S./Note to Authors: Do not include the detail of a bushy mustache for your otherwise dreamy hero. It may be hipster cool and all right now, but on the page it does not come across as appealing. As another reviewer mentioned, all I could see in my head was Tom Selleck or a 70s porn star regardless how the hero was otherwise described. It's surprising how such a small detail could detract from my enjoyment so much.
My rating for this book is probably 3.5 stars but I love Linnea Sinclair's writing so I am bumping it up to a 4.
Per usual, Sinclair writes a richly detailed, romantic space opera in which the hero, Rhis/Tivahr, is thoroughly smitten with the heroine. That's the good part. Also good is that I was racing through this novel, eating it all up, for the first 80%.
The bad? I had to start skimming when the esoterica of the inter-galactic political machinations in the last 20% of the book just became too much even for this brainiac. Intrigue is all well and good but this was a little over the top in complexity, particularly with new competing evil factions thrown in the end with little background explanation given. I could have done with some flowcharts and timelines to help slog through this.
Also, there are only two sexy scenes included, one at the beginning and one at the end. The entire middle of the book is one big case of blue balls where Rhis and Trilby are kept apart because of Trilby's (legitimate) anger toward Rhis for his deceptions. Legitimate or not, the lengthy breakup of the leads was still dissatisfying as a reader.
We spent a ton of time inside the head of Rhis as he agonized over his love for Trilby which was very sweet and squee. But, surprisingly, there was very little direct interaction or conversation between Trilby and Rhis for a good portion of the book. And although we, as the reader, know that Rhis is heartbroken over Trilby's rejection after he manipulated her, he never actually apologizes and explains clearly to Trilby herself about his reasoning or about his feelings. Plus, although it was sweet to see Rhis, an otherwise arrogant and cold bastard, fall helplessly in love with Trilby, it also struck me as a little ridiculous that this man would go from a harsh, emotionless commander to one that would openly cry in front of his subordinates. All in the blink of an eye.
Throw in (i) a few plot holes and inconsistencies (I thought Rhis and Trilby were supposed to be fake engaged when they decide to masquerade as freight shippers on the Shadow's Quest? What happened to that?), as well as an ending that left some loose strings (What was up with Kospahr? He was built up as this evil character and played too large part in the book to have nothing said of him in the end, one way or the other. Also, what exactly was the result in the end? An Imperial/Conclave war? Destruction of the Conclave? It seemed like the bad guys in the Conclave were really just some private parties, not the whole system), and a few points have to be knocked off the rating too.
Still, an overall enjoyable read and I wish I could find more authors in this genre niche of pure romances in a suspenseful space/science fiction setting.
P.S./Note to Authors: Do not include the detail of a bushy mustache for your otherwise dreamy hero. It may be hipster cool and all right now, but on the page it does not come across as appealing. As another reviewer mentioned, all I could see in my head was Tom Selleck or a 70s porn star regardless how the hero was otherwise described. It's surprising how such a small detail could detract from my enjoyment so much.
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