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Tales From The SFR Brigade
Experience love and adventure among the stars in ‘Tales from the SFR Brigade,’ a free digital anthology of eight Science Fiction Romance stories.
• A space captain discovers the cyborg she loves just might be her greatest enemy.
• A mind-wiped prostitute risks all when she recruits a dangerous stranger to help her escape a terrible fate.
• A prisoner-of-war confronts the comrade who loved her, then left her for dead.
• A space-obsessed physics teacher is kidnapped by a far-too-charming alien.
• An apocalypse survivor battles the biomech-enhanced hunter who seeks to capture her.
• A young artist must choose between her comfortable life on Earth or a war-torn space colony with her beloved.
• A daring thief is on the run from the alien law man who is determined to bring her to justice.
• A widowed rebel leader tries to save the last remnants of humanity, one stranger at a time.
From Earth to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, explore the worlds of Science Fiction Romance with stories from Linnea Sinclair, Marcella Burnard, Erica Hayes, Liana Brooks, Pippa Jay, Berinn Rae, Amy Laurens, and Kyndra Hatch.
Download ‘Tales from the SFR Brigade’ for free today.
Available at Smashwords, Kobo, Apple, Diesel, Barnes&Noble and Amazon.
• A space captain discovers the cyborg she loves just might be her greatest enemy.
• A mind-wiped prostitute risks all when she recruits a dangerous stranger to help her escape a terrible fate.
• A prisoner-of-war confronts the comrade who loved her, then left her for dead.
• A space-obsessed physics teacher is kidnapped by a far-too-charming alien.
• An apocalypse survivor battles the biomech-enhanced hunter who seeks to capture her.
• A young artist must choose between her comfortable life on Earth or a war-torn space colony with her beloved.
• A daring thief is on the run from the alien law man who is determined to bring her to justice.
• A widowed rebel leader tries to save the last remnants of humanity, one stranger at a time.
From Earth to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, explore the worlds of Science Fiction Romance with stories from Linnea Sinclair, Marcella Burnard, Erica Hayes, Liana Brooks, Pippa Jay, Berinn Rae, Amy Laurens, and Kyndra Hatch.
Download ‘Tales from the SFR Brigade’ for free today.
Available at Smashwords, Kobo, Apple, Diesel, Barnes&Noble and Amazon.
276 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2013
53 people are currently reading
583 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Cassels
9 books54 followersJC Cassels, a native of Tampa, Florida, traces her lifelong fascination with SF/Adventure to watching Star Trek on a tiny black and white portable television aboard the family boat as a child. The Space Opera trend that followed the release of Star Wars fed an obsessive need for swashbuckling adventure set in deep space. Today, JC feeds that need by writing her own adventures, heavily inspired by 1960's television adventure shows like Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Wild Wild West and fueled by Firefly reruns.
When not writing in her haunted hospital, JC lives with her husband, three children, five dogs, four chickens and a horse in a century-old house in a tiny rural community, and enjoys spending her free time sewing, camping, and heckling theoretical physicists on the Science Channel.
When not writing in her haunted hospital, JC lives with her husband, three children, five dogs, four chickens and a horse in a century-old house in a tiny rural community, and enjoys spending her free time sewing, camping, and heckling theoretical physicists on the Science Channel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 22, 2024
Being a Sci-Fi Romance lover like I am, I was salivating for the opportunity to read a sampling of so many 'new to me' authors in the genre. Usually with a short story anthology it is a bit hit or miss and I was prepared for this contingency, but holy guacamole!!! They were all big hits with me and I will most assuredly be hunting down more of these author's efforts.
As I started reading, I encountered the forward letter explaining the way this anthology came about. It's a nice little story of its own. A few authors of similar genre came together and that built to a huge network of them who now call themselves the Science Fiction Romance (SFR) Brigade. And some of these folk in turn have turned their talents toward this sampler.
Another cool thing about the book is that after each story concludes there is a short piece about what inspired the story. I have a nosy nature and like to know stuff like that so I found the little extra bit along with the author's bio appealing.
Okay, now that I've danced around the stories for a little while, let's get to it. There are eight stories that range in length from short shorts to a shorter novella. I do not plan to do full reviews on each story, but I'll give a few thoughts. Each story is a different facet to Sci-Fi Romance and it was fun getting something different with each tale.
The first story, Imprint by Pippa Jay, is about a female thief and the Space Marshall who tracks her and brings her to justice. It was a nice romp that pitted the hero and heroine against each other in an enemies to lovers romance.
Second story, Allure by Amy Laurens, is a military romance where a young couple has only one night before the man jumps on his rocket shuttle and heads off to war. This is one of the shortest stories that doesn't have much development time, yet is still rather engaging.
Then Nobody's Present by Marcella Burnard was an alien romance where a female scientist gets all her dreams of space travel and using her skills come true in a unique way. I was a bit confused about the alien backstory, but still enjoyed the main plot just fine.
The other really short story was The Stranger by Kyndra Hatch. I really wished this one could have had more time to develop. It felt like I was jumping into the story right at the tale end. It was a really poignant piece for all that in that a female resistance fighting captain searches out the last remaining bonded humans who were separated in the war to get them off planet to a free planet where hopefully they can find their bondmate. She has never stopped looking for her long lost bond mate.
Mission Nam Selon by Linnea Sinclair is a part of a series and was more novella length. I had no trouble reading this one as a standalone, but I really liked the characters and am dying to know their backstory in the full-length novel that introduced the series. It's an ongoing romance between a Captain in a freedom fighting group and a cyborg who defected from the Triad group who are trying to conquer everyone. They have to part for separate missions and there is worry over potential danger that does indeed come to fruition.
Prime Sensations by Liana Brooks was a second chance romance when a captured woman who was made a slave suddenly comes face to face with the lover who left her behind to the enemy three years before. All was not what it seemed and now they can start over if she can learn to trust again.
Envy's Revenge by Berinn Rae was a unique piece told in first person of a girl who is a survivor. The planet was ravaged by a horrible disease that took mostly the women and then it all degenerated into war and isolated city states vying for power. Life is hard and brutal and she just wants to remain free. Things change when a a mech hunter comes for her.
The final entry, Whiskey and Starshine by Erica Hayes was a western that could have been set in space, parallel earth or a future earth. Not sure, but its got the saloon, the gamblers, dance hall girls, bartender, gunslingers and the show down to prove it.
So all in all, this was one of my best experiences with an anthology and I loved experiencing each unique piece that ranged in heat from sweet to spicy when it came to the romance. Sci-Fi Romance lovers should definitely pick this one up.
As I started reading, I encountered the forward letter explaining the way this anthology came about. It's a nice little story of its own. A few authors of similar genre came together and that built to a huge network of them who now call themselves the Science Fiction Romance (SFR) Brigade. And some of these folk in turn have turned their talents toward this sampler.
Another cool thing about the book is that after each story concludes there is a short piece about what inspired the story. I have a nosy nature and like to know stuff like that so I found the little extra bit along with the author's bio appealing.
Okay, now that I've danced around the stories for a little while, let's get to it. There are eight stories that range in length from short shorts to a shorter novella. I do not plan to do full reviews on each story, but I'll give a few thoughts. Each story is a different facet to Sci-Fi Romance and it was fun getting something different with each tale.
The first story, Imprint by Pippa Jay, is about a female thief and the Space Marshall who tracks her and brings her to justice. It was a nice romp that pitted the hero and heroine against each other in an enemies to lovers romance.
Second story, Allure by Amy Laurens, is a military romance where a young couple has only one night before the man jumps on his rocket shuttle and heads off to war. This is one of the shortest stories that doesn't have much development time, yet is still rather engaging.
Then Nobody's Present by Marcella Burnard was an alien romance where a female scientist gets all her dreams of space travel and using her skills come true in a unique way. I was a bit confused about the alien backstory, but still enjoyed the main plot just fine.
The other really short story was The Stranger by Kyndra Hatch. I really wished this one could have had more time to develop. It felt like I was jumping into the story right at the tale end. It was a really poignant piece for all that in that a female resistance fighting captain searches out the last remaining bonded humans who were separated in the war to get them off planet to a free planet where hopefully they can find their bondmate. She has never stopped looking for her long lost bond mate.
Mission Nam Selon by Linnea Sinclair is a part of a series and was more novella length. I had no trouble reading this one as a standalone, but I really liked the characters and am dying to know their backstory in the full-length novel that introduced the series. It's an ongoing romance between a Captain in a freedom fighting group and a cyborg who defected from the Triad group who are trying to conquer everyone. They have to part for separate missions and there is worry over potential danger that does indeed come to fruition.
Prime Sensations by Liana Brooks was a second chance romance when a captured woman who was made a slave suddenly comes face to face with the lover who left her behind to the enemy three years before. All was not what it seemed and now they can start over if she can learn to trust again.
Envy's Revenge by Berinn Rae was a unique piece told in first person of a girl who is a survivor. The planet was ravaged by a horrible disease that took mostly the women and then it all degenerated into war and isolated city states vying for power. Life is hard and brutal and she just wants to remain free. Things change when a a mech hunter comes for her.
The final entry, Whiskey and Starshine by Erica Hayes was a western that could have been set in space, parallel earth or a future earth. Not sure, but its got the saloon, the gamblers, dance hall girls, bartender, gunslingers and the show down to prove it.
So all in all, this was one of my best experiences with an anthology and I loved experiencing each unique piece that ranged in heat from sweet to spicy when it came to the romance. Sci-Fi Romance lovers should definitely pick this one up.
June 11, 2015
There was a lot of punch packed into this well-edited and well-done collection. I enjoyed each and every one of the stories and will look into purchasing other titles from some of the authors.
"Imprint" by Pippa Jay was one of my favorite stories in the collection. The first three sentences of the first three paragraphs had me totally hooked. The cat and mouse shenanigans of Tevik and Jiona drove the first part of the story, but Jay did a terrific job of building romance and heat - even in their thoughts and memories. Greats twists and turns throughout and interesting sci fi elements.
"Allure" was very short and left me wanting a little more of the story.
If there is a sequel to "Nobody's Present" by Marcella Burnard, I'll be looking for it. This book was another home run in the collection. I liked how the intelligence of Finlay Selkirk appealed to Trygg Carrollus and that she had a real opportunity to let that part of her character shine in the story. The sequence of events happened so fast about 3/4 of the way into the story that I felt a longer treatment would have been appropriate.
Kyndra Hatch's "The Stranger" fit well into the anthology. I liked it even though it was short. Nice, romantic twist.
Although she is a queen of romantic sci-fi, I've read only one of Linnea Sinclair's books. I liked the story of "Mission: Nam Selan," but felt a little lost since I hadn't read the prequel stories and was unfamiliar with the characters. I felt the offerings by Jay, Burnard, Brooks and Rae were every bit as good.
"Prime Sensations" by Liana Brooks took you on an adventure suited for many more pages. I really liked Lana and Kaleb and would have liked to see their story fleshed out in a full book. Great descriptions, great world and very appealing characters and plot. Five stars.
"Envy's Revenge" by Berinn Rae was everything you expect to see in a well-written short story. Contained plot within a larger context, limited characters and appropriate but hopeful conclusion. Having this story take place over several days added to the depth of the story. Very well done and some nice heat.
I had a harder time liking "Whiskey and Starshine" by Erica Hayes, largely because of the abuse suffered by the heroine. She was such a victim it was hard to feel hopeful about the romance. However, like all of the stories, it was well-edited and very descriptive. I could picture Hayes's settings very vividly. This story was an interesting mix of Old West and sci fi.
If you like sci fi romance at all, definitely pick up this anthology and read each story. You won't regret it.
"Imprint" by Pippa Jay was one of my favorite stories in the collection. The first three sentences of the first three paragraphs had me totally hooked. The cat and mouse shenanigans of Tevik and Jiona drove the first part of the story, but Jay did a terrific job of building romance and heat - even in their thoughts and memories. Greats twists and turns throughout and interesting sci fi elements.
"Allure" was very short and left me wanting a little more of the story.
If there is a sequel to "Nobody's Present" by Marcella Burnard, I'll be looking for it. This book was another home run in the collection. I liked how the intelligence of Finlay Selkirk appealed to Trygg Carrollus and that she had a real opportunity to let that part of her character shine in the story. The sequence of events happened so fast about 3/4 of the way into the story that I felt a longer treatment would have been appropriate.
Kyndra Hatch's "The Stranger" fit well into the anthology. I liked it even though it was short. Nice, romantic twist.
Although she is a queen of romantic sci-fi, I've read only one of Linnea Sinclair's books. I liked the story of "Mission: Nam Selan," but felt a little lost since I hadn't read the prequel stories and was unfamiliar with the characters. I felt the offerings by Jay, Burnard, Brooks and Rae were every bit as good.
"Prime Sensations" by Liana Brooks took you on an adventure suited for many more pages. I really liked Lana and Kaleb and would have liked to see their story fleshed out in a full book. Great descriptions, great world and very appealing characters and plot. Five stars.
"Envy's Revenge" by Berinn Rae was everything you expect to see in a well-written short story. Contained plot within a larger context, limited characters and appropriate but hopeful conclusion. Having this story take place over several days added to the depth of the story. Very well done and some nice heat.
I had a harder time liking "Whiskey and Starshine" by Erica Hayes, largely because of the abuse suffered by the heroine. She was such a victim it was hard to feel hopeful about the romance. However, like all of the stories, it was well-edited and very descriptive. I could picture Hayes's settings very vividly. This story was an interesting mix of Old West and sci fi.
If you like sci fi romance at all, definitely pick up this anthology and read each story. You won't regret it.
June 29, 2013
In the interest of full disclosure - I have a story in this anthology. My review and rating is based solely on the other seven stories in the collection, and NOT my opinion of my own.
Allure - I had the privilege of beta reading this before it was even submitted, and it still had me swallowing tears after the first couple of pages. Short and achingly sweet. If you aren't sniffling by the end you have no heart.
Nobody's Present - normally I don't go for the Mars needs women type story - one of my least favourite tropes - but this one pulled me right in and made me love it. *salutes author*
The Stranger - another short and sweet story, of love rediscovered. I would like to see this developed as a longer story.
Nam Selan - I'm a relative newcomer to Linnea's work, pointed there by Laurie Green, but I have read Games of Command. That book is a favourite because of Kel-Paton and Sass, so meeting them again was such a pleasure.
Prime Sensations - another I got to beta read, and despite disliking creme brulee I think of it with fondness everytime I hear it mentioned after this story. How to write sensuous without the sex. ;)
Envy's Revenge - grim and gritty view of a dystopian future. Despite that, the romance is very sweet and believable.
Whiskey and Starshine - a definite tang of Firefly! Lovely descriptions, intense romance and evocative of the Wild West in space.
Each story had a very distinctive flavour, and in spite of being short, I had no problem visualizing each 'world'. The characters were believable and often enthralling. I would love to read more stories set in each universe. This is one of the few books I've read recently that I would go back and read again.
Allure - I had the privilege of beta reading this before it was even submitted, and it still had me swallowing tears after the first couple of pages. Short and achingly sweet. If you aren't sniffling by the end you have no heart.
Nobody's Present - normally I don't go for the Mars needs women type story - one of my least favourite tropes - but this one pulled me right in and made me love it. *salutes author*
The Stranger - another short and sweet story, of love rediscovered. I would like to see this developed as a longer story.
Nam Selan - I'm a relative newcomer to Linnea's work, pointed there by Laurie Green, but I have read Games of Command. That book is a favourite because of Kel-Paton and Sass, so meeting them again was such a pleasure.
Prime Sensations - another I got to beta read, and despite disliking creme brulee I think of it with fondness everytime I hear it mentioned after this story. How to write sensuous without the sex. ;)
Envy's Revenge - grim and gritty view of a dystopian future. Despite that, the romance is very sweet and believable.
Whiskey and Starshine - a definite tang of Firefly! Lovely descriptions, intense romance and evocative of the Wild West in space.
Each story had a very distinctive flavour, and in spite of being short, I had no problem visualizing each 'world'. The characters were believable and often enthralling. I would love to read more stories set in each universe. This is one of the few books I've read recently that I would go back and read again.
June 29, 2013
The SFR Brigade Mid-Summer Blog Hop just ended and as it did SFR Brigade published their first book of short stories titled Tales from the SFR Brigade. This is a free ebook. I downloaded and read immediately and loved every story.
World building: These are short stories so there is not a lot of time to world build. In spite of that each author manages to include just the right amount of information about the world their readers need. All are stand alone with the exception of Linnea Sinclair’s story. The back-story is in Games of Command.
Characters: There are some well drawn characters in each story. After meeting them in the short stories I would love to see them in full-length books or novellas.
Writing: These are some exceptionally well-written short stories with short but well developed plots. After finishing the entire volume I was ready to go back and re-read every story again.
I do have one suggestion. I would have liked a clickable
Table of Contents. As I read I bookmarked the start of each story so I could easily find them again.
This was a great idea and I hope that there will be future volumes. There was a wealth of writing talent in Tales from the SFR Brigade. I look forward to seeing more from each author.
Tales from the SFR Brigade is an ebook. Remember it is free so be sure to download and read.
World building: These are short stories so there is not a lot of time to world build. In spite of that each author manages to include just the right amount of information about the world their readers need. All are stand alone with the exception of Linnea Sinclair’s story. The back-story is in Games of Command.
Characters: There are some well drawn characters in each story. After meeting them in the short stories I would love to see them in full-length books or novellas.
Writing: These are some exceptionally well-written short stories with short but well developed plots. After finishing the entire volume I was ready to go back and re-read every story again.
I do have one suggestion. I would have liked a clickable
Table of Contents. As I read I bookmarked the start of each story so I could easily find them again.
This was a great idea and I hope that there will be future volumes. There was a wealth of writing talent in Tales from the SFR Brigade. I look forward to seeing more from each author.
Tales from the SFR Brigade is an ebook. Remember it is free so be sure to download and read.
August 10, 2013
It's an interesting idea, mixing sci-fi (often thought of as a "guy" genre, especially the kind of swashbuckling space opera seen here) with the quintessential "chick lit" of romance. For the most part, the combination works out well, with plenty of action and suspense to go with the hearts and flowers. It's light sci-fi to be sure -- more Star Trek than William Gibson -- but fans of both genres should find plenty here to satisfy.
The other interesting tension at play here is the obvious desire to make the heroines fully fleshed out people, with strength and agency, while still indulging the fantasy of being swept off your feet by a dashing alpha male. The authors thread that needle pretty successfully as well; even the most distressed damsels in these stories don't just sit around and wait to be rescued...but it's still a thrill when their Knight in a Shining Spacesuit turns up.
I particularly enjoyed: "Imprint" by Pippa Jay, about the complicated relationship between a daring thief and an alien cop; "Mission: Nam Selan" by Linnea Sinclair, a clever military/espionage thriller; and "Envy's Revenge" by Berinn Rae, about a woman defending her small bit of turf against invading pirates.
Spaceships and laser guns with plenty of smooching and happy endings for all...what's not to like?
The other interesting tension at play here is the obvious desire to make the heroines fully fleshed out people, with strength and agency, while still indulging the fantasy of being swept off your feet by a dashing alpha male. The authors thread that needle pretty successfully as well; even the most distressed damsels in these stories don't just sit around and wait to be rescued...but it's still a thrill when their Knight in a Shining Spacesuit turns up.
I particularly enjoyed: "Imprint" by Pippa Jay, about the complicated relationship between a daring thief and an alien cop; "Mission: Nam Selan" by Linnea Sinclair, a clever military/espionage thriller; and "Envy's Revenge" by Berinn Rae, about a woman defending her small bit of turf against invading pirates.
Spaceships and laser guns with plenty of smooching and happy endings for all...what's not to like?
July 26, 2013
excellent collection, with several outstanding stories inside.
July 11, 2013
DISCLAIMER: I'm on of the authors so this review is for the other stories in the anthology.
Imprint - I beta read this story and loved it. It's an enemies-to-lovers story that was a perfect way to kick off the anthology.
Allure - I beta read this one too, Amy's my twin after all. It's her first real foray into SFR and she knocked it out of the park with a story about love and what matters most.
Nobody's Present - Sassy female in a contemporary SFR. Fans of Gini Kochi's TOUCHED BY AN ALIEN series will eat this up.
The Stranger - Heartbreakingly short. I loved it. I love to see it expanded to a novel. It's all about finding true love in unexpected places.
Nam Selan - I've been a big fan of Linnea's for years so this addition to the Alliance Command was something I loved. It has Brandon Kel Paton, if you know who he is you know why you want to read this. If you don't know the sexy cyborg I suggest starting with GAMES OF COMMAND so you get the full story.
Prime Sensations - Mine! My completely biased opinion is that you'll love this.
Envy's Revenge - Beautiful world building that put me in mind of Ilona Andrews' Edge series. The Mars clan would feel comfortable here. Evocative writing with a very compelling main character.
Whiskey and Starshine - A space western written like a Western. I enjoyed this even though I didn't immediately fall in love with the characters. It's a solid ending to a great anthology.
Imprint - I beta read this story and loved it. It's an enemies-to-lovers story that was a perfect way to kick off the anthology.
Allure - I beta read this one too, Amy's my twin after all. It's her first real foray into SFR and she knocked it out of the park with a story about love and what matters most.
Nobody's Present - Sassy female in a contemporary SFR. Fans of Gini Kochi's TOUCHED BY AN ALIEN series will eat this up.
The Stranger - Heartbreakingly short. I loved it. I love to see it expanded to a novel. It's all about finding true love in unexpected places.
Nam Selan - I've been a big fan of Linnea's for years so this addition to the Alliance Command was something I loved. It has Brandon Kel Paton, if you know who he is you know why you want to read this. If you don't know the sexy cyborg I suggest starting with GAMES OF COMMAND so you get the full story.
Prime Sensations - Mine! My completely biased opinion is that you'll love this.
Envy's Revenge - Beautiful world building that put me in mind of Ilona Andrews' Edge series. The Mars clan would feel comfortable here. Evocative writing with a very compelling main character.
Whiskey and Starshine - A space western written like a Western. I enjoyed this even though I didn't immediately fall in love with the characters. It's a solid ending to a great anthology.
June 28, 2013
Before I start, I should note that I edited four of the stories in this book as part of the production process.
As a reader, I can, however, comment on the stories. All I can say is, I loved each one of them. This is a fantastic collection of SFR stories from a varied group of writers. Each story is unique, with it's own concept of what constitutes SFR. From beginning to end, one is taken on an emotional journey through the highs and lows of relationships in other times and places. Great stuff!
As a reader, I can, however, comment on the stories. All I can say is, I loved each one of them. This is a fantastic collection of SFR stories from a varied group of writers. Each story is unique, with it's own concept of what constitutes SFR. From beginning to end, one is taken on an emotional journey through the highs and lows of relationships in other times and places. Great stuff!
July 24, 2013
What a delightful assortment of yummy morsels! Eight amazing shorts stories from eight amazing SFR writers, dishing out tantalizing samplers to whet the appetite. I thoroughly enjoyed each story, and wished these teasers would blossom into full length novels. Each writer's distinctive style shouts out, and their imagination and creativity into moulding a story with few words is brilliant. Some of the writer's I am familiar with, others, I will most definitely be seeking out and reading their stuff. Cheers to you all! And kudos to the SFR Brigade for compiling this incredible anthology!
September 10, 2013
I picked this book up yesterday when I was looking for some fun and relaxing reading. Like all anthologies, the stories varied, but overall I was delighted. Out of 8 stories, three would have gotten 5 stars as stand alones, most of the rest were enjoyable reads that I would recommend to fans of the genre. There was one story I couldn't finish - the MC annoyed me too much. The writing and story itself were fine, so I expect most readers would enjoy it.
I'll be looking for more from these authors, and recommend this anthology to anyone looking for some good SFR to pass the afternoon with.
I'll be looking for more from these authors, and recommend this anthology to anyone looking for some good SFR to pass the afternoon with.
October 19, 2013
I wasn't disappointed in a single story in this anthology. Kudos to the SFR Brigade writers.
September 9, 2014
This is a strong collection of science fiction romance short stories by authors that are part of a collective, called the "SFR Brigade", established in 2010. Although there were occasional misses in the collection, overall I was very impressed with the quality and engagement of these stories; I tend to rate anthologies 3 stars because of the ups and downs, but this was such a strong collection I'm rating it 4 stars.
I didn't rate any of the stories 5 stars, and I think that is a combination of a few factors: 1) I require a deep emotional or psychological impact for 5 star ratings, which is harder to achieve in a short story format, 2) a few of these were set in universes from one or more of the author's novels, so they felt like teasers, 3) it is hard to combine romance with other genres because the romance aspects tend to be so intense and distracting (at least to me), and 4) many of these were peppered with "fun dialogue", aka "witty banter", and although that is entertaining, those tend to be 4 star experiences for me personally.
The concept of "science fiction romance" is an interesting one, and although I won't go into a debate about gender here (the lack of male authors in this anthology unfortunately reinforces some stereotypes), it does seem worth discussing from a science fiction perspective. Disclaimer: my background is primarily in science fiction, so my point of view will be different than someone coming from a background primarily in romance. My musings run along these lines: do the romantic elements in these stories enhance the science fiction elements, or is the science fiction just used as a gimmick on what would otherwise be considered a romance story? While I admit a few stories felt more like the latter, in general these stories were great examples of how the two genres can be merged smoothly. Remember, the idea isn't rocket science (ha, ha) - classic sci-fi novels have often incorporated romance in the main story to great effect (off the top of my head, Dune, The Snow Queen, and Speaker for the Dead come to mind).
That said, I noticed occasional weak points where stories put their main plot on pause while the characters info-dumped their romantic lives, or snuck in a quickie between space battle scenes. I think this was partly a problem of the short story format; these types of pauses and scene changes would be more natural in a novel/novella format. Alternatively, I noticed that in the stronger stories the science aspects altered the nature of the romantic relationships. Some examples: relationships with aliens or androids, constrictions on relationships due to dystopia, and technology that altered emotional states. I found those stories to be the most interesting and true to the nature of what science fiction is all about, at least to me.
I have included brief comments for each story below; you can use the links to see what other good stuff these authors have written. Note that this collection is available *free* at many vendors, presumably to get the word out about the authors, the genre, and the SFR Brigade itself. I definitely recommend this collection, and I will be following many of the authors with interest.
Imprint by Pippa Jay (4 stars) - The characters were interesting and unique, the story flowed, and the romance was spicy. Some believability quibbles, but the future world was interesting.
Allure by Amy Laurens (3 stars) - Not sure I believe the world-building entirely. It set up some interesting tensions, but it's hard to understand the impact of the story without knowing more of the world details.
Nobody's Present by Marcella Burnard (2 stars) - I wanted to bump it to 3 stars because some of the science and action sequences were interesting, but in the end, the story was ridiculous! Not believable, and the romance - yeah, I don't consider kidnapping romance, and I don't consider three conversations "love" either.
The Stranger by Kyndra Hatch (3 stars) - Slightly fun, but woefully short, or at least, uneventful.
MISSION: Nam Selan by Linnea Sinclair (4 stars) - Fun, engaging, action-oriented tale. Smoothly written and very character-driven; I think I would enjoy the main books set in this universe. The story has kind of a "romp" feel, even though it was supposedly a harrowing adventure; I think the telepathic cat takes some of the seriousness out of it. Bad Thing! Protect Sass Momma!
Prime Sensations by Liana Brooks (4 stars) - Definitely more romance, but an interesting action-oriented plot and backstory, too. The crystal necklace was a fascinating idea. Would enjoy reading more by this author.
Envy's Revenge by Berinn Rae (4 stars) - Loved this character: her backstory, her gumption, and her narration. The world story was possibly contrived, but the ramifications and considerations were handled well and drove the plot. Her lascivious musings could have benefited from more subtlety, and there was a danger of a Sleeping Beauty complex here, despite the characterization, but still a very strong entry.
Whiskey and Starshine by Erica Hayes (4 stars) - What could have been a cliched story was saved by subtle world-building, a poignant idea about memory suppression, and some steamy scenes. The author's inspiration was spot on: "cowboys with lasers".
I didn't rate any of the stories 5 stars, and I think that is a combination of a few factors: 1) I require a deep emotional or psychological impact for 5 star ratings, which is harder to achieve in a short story format, 2) a few of these were set in universes from one or more of the author's novels, so they felt like teasers, 3) it is hard to combine romance with other genres because the romance aspects tend to be so intense and distracting (at least to me), and 4) many of these were peppered with "fun dialogue", aka "witty banter", and although that is entertaining, those tend to be 4 star experiences for me personally.
The concept of "science fiction romance" is an interesting one, and although I won't go into a debate about gender here (the lack of male authors in this anthology unfortunately reinforces some stereotypes), it does seem worth discussing from a science fiction perspective. Disclaimer: my background is primarily in science fiction, so my point of view will be different than someone coming from a background primarily in romance. My musings run along these lines: do the romantic elements in these stories enhance the science fiction elements, or is the science fiction just used as a gimmick on what would otherwise be considered a romance story? While I admit a few stories felt more like the latter, in general these stories were great examples of how the two genres can be merged smoothly. Remember, the idea isn't rocket science (ha, ha) - classic sci-fi novels have often incorporated romance in the main story to great effect (off the top of my head, Dune, The Snow Queen, and Speaker for the Dead come to mind).
That said, I noticed occasional weak points where stories put their main plot on pause while the characters info-dumped their romantic lives, or snuck in a quickie between space battle scenes. I think this was partly a problem of the short story format; these types of pauses and scene changes would be more natural in a novel/novella format. Alternatively, I noticed that in the stronger stories the science aspects altered the nature of the romantic relationships. Some examples: relationships with aliens or androids, constrictions on relationships due to dystopia, and technology that altered emotional states. I found those stories to be the most interesting and true to the nature of what science fiction is all about, at least to me.
I have included brief comments for each story below; you can use the links to see what other good stuff these authors have written. Note that this collection is available *free* at many vendors, presumably to get the word out about the authors, the genre, and the SFR Brigade itself. I definitely recommend this collection, and I will be following many of the authors with interest.
Imprint by Pippa Jay (4 stars) - The characters were interesting and unique, the story flowed, and the romance was spicy. Some believability quibbles, but the future world was interesting.
Allure by Amy Laurens (3 stars) - Not sure I believe the world-building entirely. It set up some interesting tensions, but it's hard to understand the impact of the story without knowing more of the world details.
Nobody's Present by Marcella Burnard (2 stars) - I wanted to bump it to 3 stars because some of the science and action sequences were interesting, but in the end, the story was ridiculous! Not believable, and the romance - yeah, I don't consider kidnapping romance, and I don't consider three conversations "love" either.
The Stranger by Kyndra Hatch (3 stars) - Slightly fun, but woefully short, or at least, uneventful.
MISSION: Nam Selan by Linnea Sinclair (4 stars) - Fun, engaging, action-oriented tale. Smoothly written and very character-driven; I think I would enjoy the main books set in this universe. The story has kind of a "romp" feel, even though it was supposedly a harrowing adventure; I think the telepathic cat takes some of the seriousness out of it. Bad Thing! Protect Sass Momma!
Prime Sensations by Liana Brooks (4 stars) - Definitely more romance, but an interesting action-oriented plot and backstory, too. The crystal necklace was a fascinating idea. Would enjoy reading more by this author.
Envy's Revenge by Berinn Rae (4 stars) - Loved this character: her backstory, her gumption, and her narration. The world story was possibly contrived, but the ramifications and considerations were handled well and drove the plot. Her lascivious musings could have benefited from more subtlety, and there was a danger of a Sleeping Beauty complex here, despite the characterization, but still a very strong entry.
Whiskey and Starshine by Erica Hayes (4 stars) - What could have been a cliched story was saved by subtle world-building, a poignant idea about memory suppression, and some steamy scenes. The author's inspiration was spot on: "cowboys with lasers".
January 5, 2014
In general I have to say, that not only for a free publication this anthology is of remarkable quality. Out of the collected stories there’s only one that felt superfluous to me, as it didn’t add anything new to it, and due to it’s short length never build up to a whole story, making it seem more like filler.
For the rest of the stories goes, that the writing is good to excellent, and that if I was more of a fan of traditional romance I would give a higher rating overall. As it stands, some of the stories left me personally with this better not examine to closely feeling, that, if it had been a novel, had for some of the included material ended in a did not finish.
I was also glad to see that in spite of there being a Romance label attached to it, the authors did take the time to talk about something else but just sex (there are actually only two semi-explicit sex scenes to be found in the whole book – faith in the writing half of humanity restored).
Kudos also go to the editor, for selecting stories that between them cover a wide range of the SF-Romance genre.
Lastly I wish to express that I was glad to see that Linnea Sinclair isn’t just there, as happens at times with anthologies, to have a big name on the cover, but does deliver a delightful SF tale that works even if you aren’t familiar with the world it’s set in.
The stories:
Imprint, Pippa Jay – A futuristic Crime Romance. Didn’t enjoy the world building that much, there’s something about the imprint idea that always gives me a shiver, I favour free will all the way, but the ending is sweet.
Allure, Amy Laurens – Again, I had problems with the world building, it feels a lot like traditional frontier/settlers romance and, for my personal likes, is too focused on a love, honour & duty message.
Nobody’s Present, Marcella Burnard – This was the first story that genuinely, positively surprised me. Going through a bunch of unsavoury romance tropes that made me fear the worst, it could well have led down to it becoming some breeder fantasy, and then taking a sudden left turn for the better, ending on a lovely “This Island Earth” note.
Well played!
The Stranger, Kyndra Hatch – Well, I’ve got not much to say about this one. It’s kind of nice to read, but didn’t add anything, IMO.
Mission: Nam Selan, Linnea Sinclair – As stated above, positively loved this one. Great Space Opera feel, with a smitten of romance. Perfectly balanced.
Prime Sensations, Liana Brooks – More Space Opera. The romance plays a more important role in this one. Partly loved it, partly disliked it. There’s initially a lot of cattiness going on between the female leads, a lot of slut shaming; not something I’m terribly fond of as I feel it only works to strengthen certain negative stereotypes about women. But the author’s exploration of sexual attraction between the genders felt more genuine, and more sensual, to me than it does in most romance tales, have to give her credit for that.
Envy’s Revenge, Berinn Rae – Dystopia. I was glad to see the anthology covering yet more diverse genre aspects with this. If it hadn’t been for this holding one of the above mentioned more explicit sex scenes, I’d have been tempted to put in YA, for that is where dystopian stories seem to dwell mostly these days. The use of a first person view, and the fact that the characters age gets never clearly defined underlined that.
Overall a story I didn’t feel entirely comfortable reading, but did enjoy nonetheless.
Whiskey and Starshine, Erica Hayes – An Italo Western in space setting, well on a different planet. Same as Envy’s Revenge this story builds on a setting in which women are little more than (sexual) prey, taking the topic a step further; if it hadn’t been for that I might have enjoyed it a lot, so it ended up my least favorite.
It did, however, add to genre diversity, I have to give it marks for that at least.
For the rest of the stories goes, that the writing is good to excellent, and that if I was more of a fan of traditional romance I would give a higher rating overall. As it stands, some of the stories left me personally with this better not examine to closely feeling, that, if it had been a novel, had for some of the included material ended in a did not finish.
I was also glad to see that in spite of there being a Romance label attached to it, the authors did take the time to talk about something else but just sex (there are actually only two semi-explicit sex scenes to be found in the whole book – faith in the writing half of humanity restored).
Kudos also go to the editor, for selecting stories that between them cover a wide range of the SF-Romance genre.
Lastly I wish to express that I was glad to see that Linnea Sinclair isn’t just there, as happens at times with anthologies, to have a big name on the cover, but does deliver a delightful SF tale that works even if you aren’t familiar with the world it’s set in.
The stories:
Imprint, Pippa Jay – A futuristic Crime Romance. Didn’t enjoy the world building that much, there’s something about the imprint idea that always gives me a shiver, I favour free will all the way, but the ending is sweet.
Allure, Amy Laurens – Again, I had problems with the world building, it feels a lot like traditional frontier/settlers romance and, for my personal likes, is too focused on a love, honour & duty message.
Nobody’s Present, Marcella Burnard – This was the first story that genuinely, positively surprised me. Going through a bunch of unsavoury romance tropes that made me fear the worst, it could well have led down to it becoming some breeder fantasy, and then taking a sudden left turn for the better, ending on a lovely “This Island Earth” note.
Well played!
The Stranger, Kyndra Hatch – Well, I’ve got not much to say about this one. It’s kind of nice to read, but didn’t add anything, IMO.
Mission: Nam Selan, Linnea Sinclair – As stated above, positively loved this one. Great Space Opera feel, with a smitten of romance. Perfectly balanced.
Prime Sensations, Liana Brooks – More Space Opera. The romance plays a more important role in this one. Partly loved it, partly disliked it. There’s initially a lot of cattiness going on between the female leads, a lot of slut shaming; not something I’m terribly fond of as I feel it only works to strengthen certain negative stereotypes about women. But the author’s exploration of sexual attraction between the genders felt more genuine, and more sensual, to me than it does in most romance tales, have to give her credit for that.
Envy’s Revenge, Berinn Rae – Dystopia. I was glad to see the anthology covering yet more diverse genre aspects with this. If it hadn’t been for this holding one of the above mentioned more explicit sex scenes, I’d have been tempted to put in YA, for that is where dystopian stories seem to dwell mostly these days. The use of a first person view, and the fact that the characters age gets never clearly defined underlined that.
Overall a story I didn’t feel entirely comfortable reading, but did enjoy nonetheless.
Whiskey and Starshine, Erica Hayes – An Italo Western in space setting, well on a different planet. Same as Envy’s Revenge this story builds on a setting in which women are little more than (sexual) prey, taking the topic a step further; if it hadn’t been for that I might have enjoyed it a lot, so it ended up my least favorite.
It did, however, add to genre diversity, I have to give it marks for that at least.
July 14, 2013
A must read! This book was every bit as good as the anthologies you pay good money for from Berkley and the other big NY publishers. I learned about it from Pippa Jay, who is in my SFR group, and got even more excited when I saw Linnea Sinclair had a story in here. This isn't the type of anthology where the headliner is leagues better than the rest, though. No, they were all consistently high quality, fantastic reads. There was only one story in it that I didn't care for, and that was probably just a matter of personal taste. SFR fans won't want to miss this one.
December 20, 2013
This anthology is a fun romp through sci-fi romance. I will be looking for more of these authors' works. And, I MUST HAVE A FURZEL!
July 8, 2021
Wildly varying in both length and quality, Tales from the SFR brigade never reached the potential its authors promised.
Overall there's not a single story that's really good, even those from authors I usually enjoy. Many were weak, too short for the story they packed, or baffling. A few were particularly bad in my mind.
It's free, so that frees you from the burden of deciding whether or not to buy. Grab it and make your own mind.:)
Overall there's not a single story that's really good, even those from authors I usually enjoy. Many were weak, too short for the story they packed, or baffling. A few were particularly bad in my mind.
It's free, so that frees you from the burden of deciding whether or not to buy. Grab it and make your own mind.:)
January 30, 2014
This ebook freebie is a wonderful collection of science fiction romance short stories. If you’ve never read a sci-fi romance and was curious about the genre, pick up this anthology. Although a few of the stories felt that they lacked a real conflict and resolution, most of these stories were wonderful. There is a wide variety of sci-fi subgenres in here including some steampunk.
December 31, 2018
2.5 stars.
A pretty average read. Some of the stories were quite depressing. Probably shouldn't have read this during the holidays. Most were also too short to make much sense. The only one worth mentioning is Linnea Sinclair's short story with Lady Sass and Kel from Games of Command
A pretty average read. Some of the stories were quite depressing. Probably shouldn't have read this during the holidays. Most were also too short to make much sense. The only one worth mentioning is Linnea Sinclair's short story with Lady Sass and Kel from Games of Command
January 22, 2014
A generally good collection, where the SF was integral to most stories. That's high praise from me, because what really really annoys me in this genre is a generic story where it reads like the author has thought "Oh, I'll set it on a spaceship, then I can call it SFR".
Though I have to deduct a gazillion stars from the author who wrote (in her 'about the author/about this story' section) "Envy's Revenge came about after I read a news story of a new virus that evolved from relatively innocuous bacteria." Really? A virus evolving from a bacterium? If that's really what the news story said, then please seriously consider changing your source of news!
Though I have to deduct a gazillion stars from the author who wrote (in her 'about the author/about this story' section) "Envy's Revenge came about after I read a news story of a new virus that evolved from relatively innocuous bacteria." Really? A virus evolving from a bacterium? If that's really what the news story said, then please seriously consider changing your source of news!
July 29, 2015
Disclaimer: I am a proud, card-carrying member of the SFR Brigade, however, I did not take part in any stage of the creation of this anthology and am reading each story for the first time. The five-stars were, in my opinion, earned by this anthology and I would have given this anthology 5 stars regardless of its connection to the SFR Brigade group. We are a group of like-genre writers who openly support and critique one another.
Review: - 5 Stars
This is a collection of works by many talented Science Fiction Romance authors. I have created separate, spoiler free reviews for each story in the anthology. Together, the stories came together in an impressive example of the best in the genre and earned five stars.
Story 1 - Imprint by Pippa Jay
Imprint starts the anthology off with a strong, well written story full of fantastic world building, allure and a tension driven plot that pits a human female criminal against a Deluvian male law enforcement Marshal. This story blew me away and set a high expectation for the rest of the stories to follow it. It showed the depth of storytelling that I have come to expect from Pippa Jay, having read both Keir and Terms and Conditions Apply. In Imprint, Jiona is a woman on the run from both the Marshal who has been hot on her heels for months and from the crime syndicates she has been working to bring down in a vigilante style justice that required less than legal actions. Tevik is the Marshal who has been tracking her, almost capturing her time and time again, while fighting to keep his priorities straight and his heart out of the game. In typical Pippa Jay style, Imprint will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing until the very last page.
Story 2 - Allure by Amy Laurens
Allure shows the variety of the stories within the anthology, moving from the suspenseful and hard-edged Imprint to a sweetly, softly written short story about two lives being separated by a distant planetary war. Sara's fiance, Ash, has been called to war and they spend his last night on Earth together, contemplating what might have been and what possibility there is for a future.
Story 3 - Nobody's Present by Marcella Burnard
In this story, Burnard shows a flexible writing style and voice that includes humor, intelligent science fiction and heart-string pulling moments. Burnard offers a strong and smart female lead who is chasing after her dream of taking part in the private space race, but who ends up getting into space much sooner that she bargained for. Though it does fall into the much used 'Mars needs women' category, I found the way that it was done and explained to be a troupe-bender and unique. This is a lengthy novella that was a treat to find included in this anthology.
Story 4 - The Stranger by Kyndra Hatch
This is a very short but enjoyable story with compact, well done world building that leaves you wanting more of it. It has an appealing military sci-fi feel to it, complete with a strong female character, body armor, a stolen enemy ship and a wounded solider.Though a touch predictable, I still found it very enjoyable and it makes me want to read whatever else Kyndra Hatch has written. I think her writing style is right up my alley.
Story 5 - Mission: Nam Selan by Linnea Sinclair
Sinclair's short story contribution is a continuation of her Alliance Command series. Knowing that Sinclair is one of the most well known names in the SFR genre, I was looking forward to this story, but I was also worried it might require a reading of the Alliance Command series to understand what was going on, a series I have not yet had the chance to sit down and consume. While I do feel that having read the Alliance Command series would have helped with some points of confusion and made the story more enjoyable, the story is able to stand on its own rather nicely. It is a complete story of love and trust being put to the test in a dance of political intrigue and finesse as Sass is forced to deal with her ex-lover, Zanorian, much to the unhappiness of her new love, Kel-Paten, in order to broker a treatassist with a bunch of space pirates. Though ordered not to follow Sass on the mission, Kel-Paten has other ideas when a possible premotion puts his heart at war with his cybernetically enhanced mind. When he shows up at the treatassist, however, not everything is as it seems.
Story 6 - Prime Sensations by Liana Brooks
One of my favorite stories from this anthology, Prime Sensations has excellent world building, a deeply faceted love story of past regrets colliding with an uncertain future and great characters that make me wish it was a longer story or part of a series. It has certainly put Liana on my "must-read authors" list. Prime Sensations begins with Lana, an indentured human slave solo-piloting a trash hauler for the Iloni, the corrupt government force or "evil empire" in this universe. Her ship is boarded by pirates, and the way she handles herself with them made me fall instantly in love with her moxie. The boarding party, however, turns out to be someone she never expected to see, but the surprise goes both ways. Kaleb thought Lana died during a mission three years prior and her sudden reappearance sends his heart and world grasping for gravity.
Story 7 - Envy's Revenge by Berinn Rae
Envy's Revenge is an unexpected mix of gritty, dark storytelling and a beautifully sweet romance that kept me guessing. Envy has been surviving alone in her swamp for years, fighting off the pirates and the scavengers that come in search of the last treasures of a crumbling civilization: women. When a mecha-enhanced hunter comes into her swamp, he fights her carefully laid traps and patently waits for her defenses to drop. When they do, the impact could change her life forever. I absolutely loved how this story played out, and the ending was unexpected and heartwarming.
Story 8 - Whiskey and Starshine by Erica Hayes
Whiskey and Starshine ends the anthology with a romp through a frontier wild-west-esque universe, complete with a saloon, dolled up hussies, gun slinging and, of course, whiskey. Allie is a whore with a past she can't remember after being implanted with a chip by the Syndicate and sold into slavery. Cade is her owner, a Syndicate slave-trader with a bad attitude and cold, heartless eyes. Jericho could be Allie's saving grace when he walks into the bar, even if she can't remember him the way he remembers her. This was a fast-paced, rip-roaring good time read and cemented the five-star rating for the overall anthology.
Review: - 5 Stars
This is a collection of works by many talented Science Fiction Romance authors. I have created separate, spoiler free reviews for each story in the anthology. Together, the stories came together in an impressive example of the best in the genre and earned five stars.
Story 1 - Imprint by Pippa Jay
Imprint starts the anthology off with a strong, well written story full of fantastic world building, allure and a tension driven plot that pits a human female criminal against a Deluvian male law enforcement Marshal. This story blew me away and set a high expectation for the rest of the stories to follow it. It showed the depth of storytelling that I have come to expect from Pippa Jay, having read both Keir and Terms and Conditions Apply. In Imprint, Jiona is a woman on the run from both the Marshal who has been hot on her heels for months and from the crime syndicates she has been working to bring down in a vigilante style justice that required less than legal actions. Tevik is the Marshal who has been tracking her, almost capturing her time and time again, while fighting to keep his priorities straight and his heart out of the game. In typical Pippa Jay style, Imprint will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing until the very last page.
Story 2 - Allure by Amy Laurens
Allure shows the variety of the stories within the anthology, moving from the suspenseful and hard-edged Imprint to a sweetly, softly written short story about two lives being separated by a distant planetary war. Sara's fiance, Ash, has been called to war and they spend his last night on Earth together, contemplating what might have been and what possibility there is for a future.
Story 3 - Nobody's Present by Marcella Burnard
In this story, Burnard shows a flexible writing style and voice that includes humor, intelligent science fiction and heart-string pulling moments. Burnard offers a strong and smart female lead who is chasing after her dream of taking part in the private space race, but who ends up getting into space much sooner that she bargained for. Though it does fall into the much used 'Mars needs women' category, I found the way that it was done and explained to be a troupe-bender and unique. This is a lengthy novella that was a treat to find included in this anthology.
Story 4 - The Stranger by Kyndra Hatch
This is a very short but enjoyable story with compact, well done world building that leaves you wanting more of it. It has an appealing military sci-fi feel to it, complete with a strong female character, body armor, a stolen enemy ship and a wounded solider.Though a touch predictable, I still found it very enjoyable and it makes me want to read whatever else Kyndra Hatch has written. I think her writing style is right up my alley.
Story 5 - Mission: Nam Selan by Linnea Sinclair
Sinclair's short story contribution is a continuation of her Alliance Command series. Knowing that Sinclair is one of the most well known names in the SFR genre, I was looking forward to this story, but I was also worried it might require a reading of the Alliance Command series to understand what was going on, a series I have not yet had the chance to sit down and consume. While I do feel that having read the Alliance Command series would have helped with some points of confusion and made the story more enjoyable, the story is able to stand on its own rather nicely. It is a complete story of love and trust being put to the test in a dance of political intrigue and finesse as Sass is forced to deal with her ex-lover, Zanorian, much to the unhappiness of her new love, Kel-Paten, in order to broker a treatassist with a bunch of space pirates. Though ordered not to follow Sass on the mission, Kel-Paten has other ideas when a possible premotion puts his heart at war with his cybernetically enhanced mind. When he shows up at the treatassist, however, not everything is as it seems.
Story 6 - Prime Sensations by Liana Brooks
One of my favorite stories from this anthology, Prime Sensations has excellent world building, a deeply faceted love story of past regrets colliding with an uncertain future and great characters that make me wish it was a longer story or part of a series. It has certainly put Liana on my "must-read authors" list. Prime Sensations begins with Lana, an indentured human slave solo-piloting a trash hauler for the Iloni, the corrupt government force or "evil empire" in this universe. Her ship is boarded by pirates, and the way she handles herself with them made me fall instantly in love with her moxie. The boarding party, however, turns out to be someone she never expected to see, but the surprise goes both ways. Kaleb thought Lana died during a mission three years prior and her sudden reappearance sends his heart and world grasping for gravity.
Story 7 - Envy's Revenge by Berinn Rae
Envy's Revenge is an unexpected mix of gritty, dark storytelling and a beautifully sweet romance that kept me guessing. Envy has been surviving alone in her swamp for years, fighting off the pirates and the scavengers that come in search of the last treasures of a crumbling civilization: women. When a mecha-enhanced hunter comes into her swamp, he fights her carefully laid traps and patently waits for her defenses to drop. When they do, the impact could change her life forever. I absolutely loved how this story played out, and the ending was unexpected and heartwarming.
Story 8 - Whiskey and Starshine by Erica Hayes
Whiskey and Starshine ends the anthology with a romp through a frontier wild-west-esque universe, complete with a saloon, dolled up hussies, gun slinging and, of course, whiskey. Allie is a whore with a past she can't remember after being implanted with a chip by the Syndicate and sold into slavery. Cade is her owner, a Syndicate slave-trader with a bad attitude and cold, heartless eyes. Jericho could be Allie's saving grace when he walks into the bar, even if she can't remember him the way he remembers her. This was a fast-paced, rip-roaring good time read and cemented the five-star rating for the overall anthology.
July 18, 2017
I enjoyed this collection quite a bit. Six of the eight were a win for me.
July 14, 2018
The big draw here for me was Linnea Sinclair's Mission Nam Selon
Love going back into that world with Sass and Kel-Paten
Love going back into that world with Sass and Kel-Paten
June 4, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyable
What a great way to find new authors and try a different genre. All the stories were entertaining and I have found some new writers to follow for future reading. Well worth the effort.
What a great way to find new authors and try a different genre. All the stories were entertaining and I have found some new writers to follow for future reading. Well worth the effort.
September 17, 2014
I love short story collections....even if I don't like Story A, I'm pretty sure to like at least one of the others....
I bought this collection because two authors I really like (Linnea Sinclair and Marcella Burnard) have stories in this collection.....and I LOVED their stories!
There were a lot of authors I wasn't as familiar with (but you can bet I'm going to be looking for them now!), but I enjoyed almost all of the stories. Some of them felt like set-ups for other novels/series, so now I have new novels and series to look for.
Quick, enjoyable, good summer-time fun!
I bought this collection because two authors I really like (Linnea Sinclair and Marcella Burnard) have stories in this collection.....and I LOVED their stories!
There were a lot of authors I wasn't as familiar with (but you can bet I'm going to be looking for them now!), but I enjoyed almost all of the stories. Some of them felt like set-ups for other novels/series, so now I have new novels and series to look for.
Quick, enjoyable, good summer-time fun!
December 24, 2014
Free.
Imprint, 4 stars.
Allure, 3 stars. Way too short. Not much of a story.
Nobody's Present, 3 stars.
Strangers, 4 stars. Would like to learn more about this world.
Mission, 3 stars.
Prime Sensations, 3 stars.
Envy's Revenge, 4 stars. diamond in the rough.
Whiskey and Starshine, 4 stars.
Imprint, 4 stars.
Allure, 3 stars. Way too short. Not much of a story.
Nobody's Present, 3 stars.
Strangers, 4 stars. Would like to learn more about this world.
Mission, 3 stars.
Prime Sensations, 3 stars.
Envy's Revenge, 4 stars. diamond in the rough.
Whiskey and Starshine, 4 stars.
April 18, 2015
That was a fun read. Some of the stories were better, some were worse, but all were well-written and quick to read. This book is a reminder for those of us who enjoy SFR of just what can be there to enjoy.
July 29, 2016
Lots of short stories (some very very short :) Some are 3*, some 4* but I enjoyed the majority so rounded up. There are some new ideas here, good chemistry between characters and perfect for when you only have a couple minutes to read.
January 6, 2015
Some better than other but mostly pretty darn good, 2015 will be for me the year of SFR I think .
August 5, 2015
An amazing, fun, intense, fast-paced book of short stories. I hope the authors write more stories from these varied worlds.
August 31, 2015
Great anthology. Wide variety of stories, great ideas, and lovely writing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews