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Stars Across Time
Can love take root in the cracks of time? Air Force pilot Andromeda “Andie” Kim dreams of being chosen to join NASA so she can go to space. Instead, she’s stolen by savage kidnappers from a dystopian future where fertile women are needed for breeding purposes. One of her kidnappers, a man named Mace, goes out of his way to protect her from the other slavers, but she’s not about to trust him. All she wants is to escape and find a way back to her time before she's sold as broodstock and stuck in this ruined world forever. Colonel Aloysius “Mace” Theron of the Cascadian Alliance is a battlefield commander, not a spy, but after twenty years of service, he’s also trusted by his superiors. That’s why they choose him for a top-secret to infiltrate an organization of thieves using a time machine to plunder the past. He’s supposed to find and destroy the machine, not fall in love with one of the captives, but Andie is as much of a fighter as he is, and he’s drawn to her from the beginning. Yet if he fights too hard to protect her, his identity will be discovered and his mission will fail, leaving criminals to terrorize the past, perhaps irrevocably changing history and endangering everyone he knows and loves.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
August 28, 2017
I have to admit that I quit this one at the 50% mark. I put it down one day and found I had no desire pick it up again. After a few weeks passed of me avoiding this in favour of other reads I just had to admit I was never going to find the enthusiasm to return to the story. It was a real pity as I actually had high hopes this would be a fun sci-romance but the story just never managed to hold my attention.
Andromeda “Andie” Kim is on a camping trip with a friend when she and others camping in the area are abducted by time travelling slave traders from a dystopian future! Colonel Aloysius “Mace” Theron is a member of the Cascadian Alliance military who is on a undercover mission to find the time machine used by the slavers and to find the identity of the man behind the slave trade and the location of the slave market itself. His mission comes into jeopardy when he finds himself falling for the recently captured Andie!
It is difficult to assess exactly why this never worked for me as the premise had the potential to be a ton of fun and there was nothing obviously wrong with the writing or the story or the characters, who were likeable enough. The problem was that it all just failed to hold my attention. I felt like I'd read this story a hundred times before and that this particular book had nothing that gave it an edge or made it stand out from the crowd.
All in all I was pretty disappointed with this one. It is actually a double blow as I'm now not likely to try any of the authors other books and she has tons of others with equally fun sounding blurbs. I hate it when that happens!
Rating: 2.5 stars. I'm not going to rate it any lower as it was more bland than awful and I'd probably have forced myself to read the rest of it had my reading time not been so limited of late.
Audio Note: I did not love Tara Sands narration of this. She just had a weird cadence that I found a bit off-putting.
Andromeda “Andie” Kim is on a camping trip with a friend when she and others camping in the area are abducted by time travelling slave traders from a dystopian future! Colonel Aloysius “Mace” Theron is a member of the Cascadian Alliance military who is on a undercover mission to find the time machine used by the slavers and to find the identity of the man behind the slave trade and the location of the slave market itself. His mission comes into jeopardy when he finds himself falling for the recently captured Andie!
It is difficult to assess exactly why this never worked for me as the premise had the potential to be a ton of fun and there was nothing obviously wrong with the writing or the story or the characters, who were likeable enough. The problem was that it all just failed to hold my attention. I felt like I'd read this story a hundred times before and that this particular book had nothing that gave it an edge or made it stand out from the crowd.
All in all I was pretty disappointed with this one. It is actually a double blow as I'm now not likely to try any of the authors other books and she has tons of others with equally fun sounding blurbs. I hate it when that happens!
Rating: 2.5 stars. I'm not going to rate it any lower as it was more bland than awful and I'd probably have forced myself to read the rest of it had my reading time not been so limited of late.
Audio Note: I did not love Tara Sands narration of this. She just had a weird cadence that I found a bit off-putting.
April 9, 2015
Damn, I need to get my hands on more Sci-Fi Romances if all of them are like this...
As most of you know, I'm a science dud. Really. In High School, more often than not, while I used to get good grades in most subjects, I always managed to scrape by in Biology and Chemistry. Physics, on the other hand, I loved. For a brief time, I had a ridiculous dream of becoming an astrophysicist. So I looked up the course online, saw colleges specialising in it, talked to my parents and guidance counsellor about it.To all astrophysicists out there, hats off to you all, because once I saw the kind of grades I needed to get into any of those courses, I immediately had a reality check. I mean, I was a good student, but I wasnt the state topper, or hell, even the class topper ever. But I loved space and I loved anything related to it, so I continued researching and learning about it as a hobby.I may not be Stephen Hawking level good, but I know my stuff.
But this line of fairly straightforward, dumbed down version of time and physics was right up my alley. I dont know much about time travel, but this was perfectly in my line of understanding. There is obviously a lot more, but I'm glad Ms. Lionsdrake didn't make it too complicated.
The plot is perfectly paced and characters are people you can root for. You feel the seriousness of the situation and you get a good feel of the romance. While I was initially wary- because, come on, you're in the future and are this close to being sold off as a breeding mare. This is not the bloody time- but it fit in really well and wasnt out of place. You understand why these two are attracted to each other.
BONUS, the female MC is awesome and the male MC is the sweetest, most amazing thing ever.
My only problem with this is how the supposed future 100 years from has the resources and the scientists to build not one, but two time machines, but are very little technologically advanced (so far as to using airplanes like the ones used in the early 1900s). Whut? I get the fuel bit and I understand the rapid sea level increase which submerged most major cities and landmarks, but this fact made no sense.
Aside from that one problem, I have nothing bad to say. Which is crazy, but pretty satisfying.
As most of you know, I'm a science dud. Really. In High School, more often than not, while I used to get good grades in most subjects, I always managed to scrape by in Biology and Chemistry. Physics, on the other hand, I loved. For a brief time, I had a ridiculous dream of becoming an astrophysicist. So I looked up the course online, saw colleges specialising in it, talked to my parents and guidance counsellor about it.To all astrophysicists out there, hats off to you all, because once I saw the kind of grades I needed to get into any of those courses, I immediately had a reality check. I mean, I was a good student, but I wasnt the state topper, or hell, even the class topper ever. But I loved space and I loved anything related to it, so I continued researching and learning about it as a hobby.I may not be Stephen Hawking level good, but I know my stuff.
But this line of fairly straightforward, dumbed down version of time and physics was right up my alley. I dont know much about time travel, but this was perfectly in my line of understanding. There is obviously a lot more, but I'm glad Ms. Lionsdrake didn't make it too complicated.
The plot is perfectly paced and characters are people you can root for. You feel the seriousness of the situation and you get a good feel of the romance. While I was initially wary- because, come on, you're in the future and are this close to being sold off as a breeding mare. This is not the bloody time- but it fit in really well and wasnt out of place. You understand why these two are attracted to each other.
BONUS, the female MC is awesome and the male MC is the sweetest, most amazing thing ever.
My only problem with this is how the supposed future 100 years from has the resources and the scientists to build not one, but two time machines, but are very little technologically advanced (so far as to using airplanes like the ones used in the early 1900s). Whut? I get the fuel bit and I understand the rapid sea level increase which submerged most major cities and landmarks, but this fact made no sense.
Aside from that one problem, I have nothing bad to say. Which is crazy, but pretty satisfying.
December 29, 2015
~2.5 stars~
I had mixed feelings with this one. Here is my breakdown:
Pros:
* A strong willed (and military trained) heroine
* Offered as a kindleunlimited
* Creative story concept
* A good balance of adventure
* A complete story
Cons:
* I wanted more depth to the story - some specifics would have been nice - Important details seemed to be skimmed over
* I like this author but I wasn’t a fan of the particular writing style used in this story
* The romance was lacking - again I wanted more depth from the hero and heroine and some sort of foundation to their relationship - it had a major insta-love/insta-lust feel to it - they knew little of one another and I was left wanting to know more about their personalities and attraction.
* I almost claimed this one a DNF a couple of times - the plot never really intrigued me
I noticed in other reviews most peoples main complaint was the whole "stolen women to be traded into slavery", and "checking the victims to make sure their virginity was in tact" issue. For some reason in this book it didn’t bother me. Perhaps because the women that were stolen were viewed more by their kidnappers as merchandise? I'm not sure, I was just glad the kidnappers werent raping or beating their women prisoners. They werent kind to the girls by any means, but it wasn’t constant abuse that you usually read about in other "kidnap" style reads (Note to self............i must be reading way to many "dark" reads, I need to find some sweet HEAs to offset this)
I had mixed feelings with this one. Here is my breakdown:
Pros:
* A strong willed (and military trained) heroine
* Offered as a kindleunlimited
* Creative story concept
* A good balance of adventure
* A complete story
Cons:
* I wanted more depth to the story - some specifics would have been nice - Important details seemed to be skimmed over
* I like this author but I wasn’t a fan of the particular writing style used in this story
* The romance was lacking - again I wanted more depth from the hero and heroine and some sort of foundation to their relationship - it had a major insta-love/insta-lust feel to it - they knew little of one another and I was left wanting to know more about their personalities and attraction.
* I almost claimed this one a DNF a couple of times - the plot never really intrigued me
I noticed in other reviews most peoples main complaint was the whole "stolen women to be traded into slavery", and "checking the victims to make sure their virginity was in tact" issue. For some reason in this book it didn’t bother me. Perhaps because the women that were stolen were viewed more by their kidnappers as merchandise? I'm not sure, I was just glad the kidnappers werent raping or beating their women prisoners. They werent kind to the girls by any means, but it wasn’t constant abuse that you usually read about in other "kidnap" style reads (Note to self............i must be reading way to many "dark" reads, I need to find some sweet HEAs to offset this)
June 11, 2023
This whole book read as a romance, but then the ending so I don't know what to think of this.
July 17, 2015
Ruby Lionsdrake does a little genre-mixing in this endeavor. Her Mandrake series has been filled with action, humor and romance in space (very Firefly-esque). Stars Across Time has a slightly misleading title in that the only stars are in the sky - viewed from Earth. Granted, these viewings take place many unknown years apart from the present into the future, and hence the sci-fi tag for this novel. However, readers of post-apocalyptic or dystopian romance might also enjoy this book.
I loved that Lionsdrake took the overdone "breeder" and "stolen women" trope and turned it on its ear. She gleefully had Andie giving her captors every kind of trouble only 4% of the way into the story. Lionsdrake is a master at writing stong, capable women and Andie may be my favorite (although Ankari from Mercenary Courage and Mercenary Instinct) is completely wonderful. Andie is physically confident, smart and well-trained. She uses those talents liberally and attracts the attention of Mace, a soldier who has infiltrated the gang of time-traveling kidnappers. Both Andie and Mace make mistakes during their adventures and quickly recognize they really only have each other to help them get out of their perilous situation.
The action sequences are handled very, very well. Sometimes it is easy to lose track of what is going on during a brawl, but Lionsdrake can describe a physical melee to perfection. She can even tell you what people are doing on the sideline. I liked that Andie's good friend Min-ji, who is abducted at the same time, is awesome at creating a little havoc herself and grows throughout the story. The action sequences take place in various settings, too - all masterfully described.
I don't generally like to lay out much in the plot beyond what is in the book description or in the very beginning, but it is worth noting there are sexual assaults in this book. Women (and men) are stripped and sexually grabbed. There is one instance of dubious consent and one where an assault of some sort is implied, but both are off-scene. Some of the abducted women are very young and their virginity is non-invasively apprised. With that said, Andie, her friends and Mace are all heroes and handle situations before the story devolves into a dark, dark place. Strangely, there is a sort of upbeat energy to the situation, mainly because Andie continues to get the better of the slavers. It is the kind of book where bad things look like they are going to happen but you know the heroes will save the day.
The dystopian future was unevenly handled. The physical changes to the land and man-made constructions were well done. Somewhat less successful was the anachronistic technology of the future. There was an odd mix of low-tech and high-tech with little explanation as to why certain technologies survived and others did not. I wanted more detail here so I understood Theron's time better. Perhaps Lionsdrake is saving some of the mystery for future books in the series.
As is true in the author's Mandrake series, there is a complete cast of engaging secondary characters. I sometimes think she was influenced by old John Ford western films with the squinty-eyed, bumbling henchmen, the earnest lieutenants, the crusty general, the helpful youngsters and the morally-centered hero. There are several menacing villains for both Andie and Theron to fight, and Andie isn't the only one with skills. Theron is a fighting machine. It is a lot of fun reading about him totally dismantling the bad guys....until he doesn't. And that is enough plot teaser for today. Pick up this book if you like sci-fi or dystopian romance liberally mixed with humor and great action where both genders get to be the hero.
I loved that Lionsdrake took the overdone "breeder" and "stolen women" trope and turned it on its ear. She gleefully had Andie giving her captors every kind of trouble only 4% of the way into the story. Lionsdrake is a master at writing stong, capable women and Andie may be my favorite (although Ankari from Mercenary Courage and Mercenary Instinct) is completely wonderful. Andie is physically confident, smart and well-trained. She uses those talents liberally and attracts the attention of Mace, a soldier who has infiltrated the gang of time-traveling kidnappers. Both Andie and Mace make mistakes during their adventures and quickly recognize they really only have each other to help them get out of their perilous situation.
The action sequences are handled very, very well. Sometimes it is easy to lose track of what is going on during a brawl, but Lionsdrake can describe a physical melee to perfection. She can even tell you what people are doing on the sideline. I liked that Andie's good friend Min-ji, who is abducted at the same time, is awesome at creating a little havoc herself and grows throughout the story. The action sequences take place in various settings, too - all masterfully described.
I don't generally like to lay out much in the plot beyond what is in the book description or in the very beginning, but it is worth noting there are sexual assaults in this book. Women (and men) are stripped and sexually grabbed. There is one instance of dubious consent and one where an assault of some sort is implied, but both are off-scene. Some of the abducted women are very young and their virginity is non-invasively apprised. With that said, Andie, her friends and Mace are all heroes and handle situations before the story devolves into a dark, dark place. Strangely, there is a sort of upbeat energy to the situation, mainly because Andie continues to get the better of the slavers. It is the kind of book where bad things look like they are going to happen but you know the heroes will save the day.
The dystopian future was unevenly handled. The physical changes to the land and man-made constructions were well done. Somewhat less successful was the anachronistic technology of the future. There was an odd mix of low-tech and high-tech with little explanation as to why certain technologies survived and others did not. I wanted more detail here so I understood Theron's time better. Perhaps Lionsdrake is saving some of the mystery for future books in the series.
As is true in the author's Mandrake series, there is a complete cast of engaging secondary characters. I sometimes think she was influenced by old John Ford western films with the squinty-eyed, bumbling henchmen, the earnest lieutenants, the crusty general, the helpful youngsters and the morally-centered hero. There are several menacing villains for both Andie and Theron to fight, and Andie isn't the only one with skills. Theron is a fighting machine. It is a lot of fun reading about him totally dismantling the bad guys....until he doesn't. And that is enough plot teaser for today. Pick up this book if you like sci-fi or dystopian romance liberally mixed with humor and great action where both genders get to be the hero.
March 18, 2015
4.5 stars!
Yet another winner from Ruby Lionsdrake! In a departure from the Mandrake Company series, Lionsdrake tackles the Mars Needs Women trope in her customary genre-bending way. Stars Across Time involves a dystopian future (love it), time-travel (love it), growly alpha hero (always love it) and a totally kick-ass heroine (LOVE IT!). An ex-Air Force captain with a tendency to kick people, the heroine grabs your attention from the get-go, and her continued competence and lack of stupidity makes her all the more endearing. Not once does she put herself in the position of having to be saved or engage in hysteria or wringing of hands. Nope. Upon finding herself transported to a future dystopia, surrounded by unwashed, horny creeps for the purpose of being sold in some kind of slave market, our heroine merely dusts herself off, pulls herself up by her bootstraps, and proceeds to conquer the future. The hero is a typical Lionsdrake alpha male; immediately struck by the heroine without it being insta-love, tough as nails but surprisingly reasonable, and of course, very respectful of capable women. That's what we all love in SFR, so you won't find me complaining. The plot was not quite as tightly woven as some of the Mandrake Company, and I did find the action scenes dragged out just a bit too much, leaving me a little confused as to where everyone was and who was still alive, but overall, this was a great read, and a wonderful addition to the genre. I hope Ms. Lionsdrake revisits this world and expands in the future.
Yet another winner from Ruby Lionsdrake! In a departure from the Mandrake Company series, Lionsdrake tackles the Mars Needs Women trope in her customary genre-bending way. Stars Across Time involves a dystopian future (love it), time-travel (love it), growly alpha hero (always love it) and a totally kick-ass heroine (LOVE IT!). An ex-Air Force captain with a tendency to kick people, the heroine grabs your attention from the get-go, and her continued competence and lack of stupidity makes her all the more endearing. Not once does she put herself in the position of having to be saved or engage in hysteria or wringing of hands. Nope. Upon finding herself transported to a future dystopia, surrounded by unwashed, horny creeps for the purpose of being sold in some kind of slave market, our heroine merely dusts herself off, pulls herself up by her bootstraps, and proceeds to conquer the future. The hero is a typical Lionsdrake alpha male; immediately struck by the heroine without it being insta-love, tough as nails but surprisingly reasonable, and of course, very respectful of capable women. That's what we all love in SFR, so you won't find me complaining. The plot was not quite as tightly woven as some of the Mandrake Company, and I did find the action scenes dragged out just a bit too much, leaving me a little confused as to where everyone was and who was still alive, but overall, this was a great read, and a wonderful addition to the genre. I hope Ms. Lionsdrake revisits this world and expands in the future.
September 19, 2016
Miért olyan nehéz sci-fi románcot írni? Ez megint kicsit csalódás volt. Jó ötlet, közepes megvalósítás, hősök között hiányzott a vonzalom, semmi mélység.
Jövőből jött emberrablók, egy technikai fejlődésből visszazuhant társadalomban a régről maradt eszközök működtetéséhez a múltból lopnak erőforrásokat, és az általános terméketlenség miatt nőket is. Többek között egy harci gép pilótáját és egy zseni asztrofizikust (vagy valami hasonlót). És ezek ketten még csak meg sem szöknek. Sőt, a pilóta rákattan az egyik emberrablóra. A koszos, szőrösre. Mert ez annyira valószínű. Ok később kiderül, hogy a pasi beépített ember, de akkor is…
Jövőből jött emberrablók, egy technikai fejlődésből visszazuhant társadalomban a régről maradt eszközök működtetéséhez a múltból lopnak erőforrásokat, és az általános terméketlenség miatt nőket is. Többek között egy harci gép pilótáját és egy zseni asztrofizikust (vagy valami hasonlót). És ezek ketten még csak meg sem szöknek. Sőt, a pilóta rákattan az egyik emberrablóra. A koszos, szőrösre. Mert ez annyira valószínű. Ok később kiderül, hogy a pasi beépített ember, de akkor is…
February 6, 2017
DNF'd at about 40%. While this story could have gotten better as it went, I was just bored. The pace was way too slow for me and I wasn't invested in the characters. I think it's a moderately good book, but it just wasn't for me.
April 21, 2017
I read this one because I was intrigued about the distopian / time travel story line. I was aware that it would have sexual content (because, kidnapping) and was prepared to skim over that. But I had a hard time with constant peril and slavery parts. I liked that the heroine was a strong character who took good care of herself, but her friends were not so lucky. I also felt that there were a number of plot holes, and I felt that the writing was rushed.
May 7, 2018
This was a pretty good read, though predictable. It had a good, well thought out plot and all the characters were strong, well developed to fit the story. It was nothing like anything I have read, and I have read a bunch in the science fiction/alien romance category.
July 8, 2015
This book was a very interesting read for me and had some fresh takes on the plot that I enjoyed.
I really enjoyed the Chick in this book as she was strong, always thinking ahead, always alert for opportunities and a real fighter all the way through- never giving up. Dude was a bit boring for me and I felt he lacked some character depth. I was also disappointed that the author clued us into his purpose so early on in the book. I really would have appreciated being indecisive if he was a good guy or a bad guy for a few chapters at least.
The action scenes were non-stop and I don't recall ever reading another action scene like the ones in this book. The world building was there but I was lacking details to really get a visual in my head. Especially in the boating and water scenes.
I also had many questions about this future Earth. What year was it? This question plagued me from the beginning and it was never answered nor implied. It plagued me because there was this weird mix of the old Wild West and use of some of the technology we use today. I was also missing some more details on the societal life outside of the bad guys. I found it lacking because it was such an interesting concept that I wanted more details of it. I think I would like to have a sequel showing more of characters learning to live in the world but I suppose that's not possible. I won't tell you why as that's spoilers.
Overall: Not as great as the Mandrake book I've read but still a great read and I highly recommend for those interested in all kinds of genres: time travel, action/suspense, dystopian-like, abductions, etc.
I really enjoyed the Chick in this book as she was strong, always thinking ahead, always alert for opportunities and a real fighter all the way through- never giving up. Dude was a bit boring for me and I felt he lacked some character depth. I was also disappointed that the author clued us into his purpose so early on in the book. I really would have appreciated being indecisive if he was a good guy or a bad guy for a few chapters at least.
The action scenes were non-stop and I don't recall ever reading another action scene like the ones in this book. The world building was there but I was lacking details to really get a visual in my head. Especially in the boating and water scenes.
I also had many questions about this future Earth. What year was it? This question plagued me from the beginning and it was never answered nor implied. It plagued me because there was this weird mix of the old Wild West and use of some of the technology we use today. I was also missing some more details on the societal life outside of the bad guys. I found it lacking because it was such an interesting concept that I wanted more details of it. I think I would like to have a sequel showing more of characters learning to live in the world but I suppose that's not possible. I won't tell you why as that's spoilers.
Overall: Not as great as the Mandrake book I've read but still a great read and I highly recommend for those interested in all kinds of genres: time travel, action/suspense, dystopian-like, abductions, etc.
May 18, 2017
Andie the modern woman and Theron the man of her future.
I'm not sure if the story is really worth 4 stars but the characters are. I loved both MCs and the various other side characters (both good and bad).
Andie is a woman who knows herself and is a straight shooter. Smart and trained in combat, she's an ex fighter jet pilot. She goes camping with her friend and they get kidnapped by scum from a future where most women are infertile. Among her captors there's one who isn't what he seems. So the stage is set for Theron and Andie and my only complaint is that they spend so much of the story apart.
Theron is a colonel who doesn't normally do espionage, but knowledge of the time machine(s) must be kept to a minimum. Despite his high ranking, he's not the usual gruff taciturn soldier, but a sweet caring man who can think on his feet. He's not intimidated by Andie's self sufficient strength, but turned on by it.
The overall arc of the story is pretty predictable but the path from A to B is convoluted and entertaining.
The ending is more of an HFN than an HEA, with a lead into a sequel. But as far as I can tell, it was never written. This doesn't hurt the ending though. It's still romantically sweet!
I listened to this on audio and the reader, tara sands, was pretty good.
I'm not sure if the story is really worth 4 stars but the characters are. I loved both MCs and the various other side characters (both good and bad).
Andie is a woman who knows herself and is a straight shooter. Smart and trained in combat, she's an ex fighter jet pilot. She goes camping with her friend and they get kidnapped by scum from a future where most women are infertile. Among her captors there's one who isn't what he seems. So the stage is set for Theron and Andie and my only complaint is that they spend so much of the story apart.
Theron is a colonel who doesn't normally do espionage, but knowledge of the time machine(s) must be kept to a minimum. Despite his high ranking, he's not the usual gruff taciturn soldier, but a sweet caring man who can think on his feet. He's not intimidated by Andie's self sufficient strength, but turned on by it.
The overall arc of the story is pretty predictable but the path from A to B is convoluted and entertaining.
The ending is more of an HFN than an HEA, with a lead into a sequel. But as far as I can tell, it was never written. This doesn't hurt the ending though. It's still romantically sweet!
I listened to this on audio and the reader, tara sands, was pretty good.
March 18, 2015
2.5 stars
I nearly DNF this book several times in the first half. Aside from the bad porn premise of women being abducted to be used as breeding stock, there were some real "oh, hell no" moments and some annoying inconsistencies . But I kept telling myself that this was a Lindsay Buroker (writing as Lionsdrake) book, so there had to be some redeeming value to it.
And there was some. Buroker/Lionsdrake tends to have smart and resourceful women as protagonists and Andie does fit the bill there. The story also picked up some a bit after the halfway point so I did end up finishing it. But I still found it difficult to get past the disappointment and off-putting aspects from the first half to give this more than 2.5 stars.
I have enjoyed Lionsdrake's Mandrake series books more and likely will continue reading from that series, but I'm not sure I could muster any enthusiasm for more in this one. Any more books written under her Lindsay Buroker name, though? Bring 'em on.
I nearly DNF this book several times in the first half. Aside from the bad porn premise of women being abducted to be used as breeding stock, there were some real "oh, hell no" moments and some annoying inconsistencies . But I kept telling myself that this was a Lindsay Buroker (writing as Lionsdrake) book, so there had to be some redeeming value to it.
And there was some. Buroker/Lionsdrake tends to have smart and resourceful women as protagonists and Andie does fit the bill there. The story also picked up some a bit after the halfway point so I did end up finishing it. But I still found it difficult to get past the disappointment and off-putting aspects from the first half to give this more than 2.5 stars.
I have enjoyed Lionsdrake's Mandrake series books more and likely will continue reading from that series, but I'm not sure I could muster any enthusiasm for more in this one. Any more books written under her Lindsay Buroker name, though? Bring 'em on.
March 20, 2015
I bought this book because I adore the author's alter-ego (Lindsay Buroker) and because it features time travel.
The premise of this book feels very old school sci-fi, young women from the present day kidnapped and taken to the future. The kicker here is that the future is LESS technologically advanced - whilst some technology exists most people are back to horses for transport and it is a primarily agrarian society. Most women in the future are infertile (because of the nuclear war, I think) so they have resorted to grabbing women from our time.
Andie is kidnapped whilst camping with a friend. A captain in the Air Force (or former) she has flown fighter jets. When she is captured she fights and plots to escape but one of the kidnappers appears almost nice. wary of Stockholm Syndrome she resists but 'Mace' is actually an undercover military spy (actually a well-known General in the army) who is trying to locate the time machine and send all the kidnapped women back to their own time.
This may be Lindsay's alter-ego but her trademark good guy heroes and clever, kick-ass heroines remain the same. Mace is great, self-effacing, respectful and honourable - what's not to like?
My only criticism is that I thought the book wrapped up too quickly - I could quite easily have seen this as having a cliffhanger ending and look forward with hope for a sequel.
The premise of this book feels very old school sci-fi, young women from the present day kidnapped and taken to the future. The kicker here is that the future is LESS technologically advanced - whilst some technology exists most people are back to horses for transport and it is a primarily agrarian society. Most women in the future are infertile (because of the nuclear war, I think) so they have resorted to grabbing women from our time.
Andie is kidnapped whilst camping with a friend. A captain in the Air Force (or former) she has flown fighter jets. When she is captured she fights and plots to escape but one of the kidnappers appears almost nice. wary of Stockholm Syndrome she resists but 'Mace' is actually an undercover military spy (actually a well-known General in the army) who is trying to locate the time machine and send all the kidnapped women back to their own time.
This may be Lindsay's alter-ego but her trademark good guy heroes and clever, kick-ass heroines remain the same. Mace is great, self-effacing, respectful and honourable - what's not to like?
My only criticism is that I thought the book wrapped up too quickly - I could quite easily have seen this as having a cliffhanger ending and look forward with hope for a sequel.
May 8, 2016
Two things: This cover makes me weirdly happy and SEX-AY SCI-FI YASSSSSS! (I almost feel like I should stop this review here because it can't get any better than bellowing in all caps. CAN IT?!?!)
(Spoiler: It can.)
Okay. So things didn't start out too smoothly between Theron and Andie. You know, because he's one of the kidnappers and everything. But sometimes you have to go with your gut and trust someone who looks like a savage even though he hasn't really done anything to indicate he's going to be a better choice than the other men. I mean, he tried to protect the women kidnapped, but his hands were tied to a point and it's hard to be a good guy when you're playing a bad guy. You know what I mean? No? It's cool. Just roll with it.
Just know that Andie and Theron have their moments. Good moments. They have to trust one another in several sticky situations and they get to do it with style. Sometimes naked style. Because that happens.
What can I say? I like slightly broken worlds. I like good guys trying to make that world better. I like kick-ass women. *thumbs up all around*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
(Spoiler: It can.)
Okay. So things didn't start out too smoothly between Theron and Andie. You know, because he's one of the kidnappers and everything. But sometimes you have to go with your gut and trust someone who looks like a savage even though he hasn't really done anything to indicate he's going to be a better choice than the other men. I mean, he tried to protect the women kidnapped, but his hands were tied to a point and it's hard to be a good guy when you're playing a bad guy. You know what I mean? No? It's cool. Just roll with it.
Just know that Andie and Theron have their moments. Good moments. They have to trust one another in several sticky situations and they get to do it with style. Sometimes naked style. Because that happens.
What can I say? I like slightly broken worlds. I like good guys trying to make that world better. I like kick-ass women. *thumbs up all around*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
August 28, 2017
Andie and her friend Min-Ji were out camping to see a comet when suddenly these men appear and kidnap them. Among the men is "Mace" who takes an interest in the feisty Andie and tries to protect her as much as he can. They and other women and girls are taken to a cave and then to the future to be sold as fertility slaves. Apparently, the earth is a wreck and not many women can produce offspring.
Okay, while the story was good and entertaining, I kept asking myself questions on why things were as they were. Just couldn't believe the mix of primitive and modern technology. But my biggest gripe about the book was towards the end. It felt like the author got in a hurry to finish (deadline, maybe?) and rushed the story along and then it ends. No cliffhanger but it did feel like a sequel could be written.
Okay, while the story was good and entertaining, I kept asking myself questions on why things were as they were. Just couldn't believe the mix of primitive and modern technology. But my biggest gripe about the book was towards the end. It felt like the author got in a hurry to finish (deadline, maybe?) and rushed the story along and then it ends. No cliffhanger but it did feel like a sequel could be written.
May 15, 2016
I've read other stuff by this author and really liked them. This one however, I couldnt get past some of the content. Its not for everyone. I'm no stranger to abductions, kidnappings, slavery added to stories and I've even liked them and did fine with them. I do draw the line at terrorizing women with being raped by a group of men and just the testing for the virgin thing was just awful. It was just too much for me to finish the book. So, I have to say victims of rape etc probably shouldnt read the book. Thats my warning. Sorry....just can't recommend the book.
March 17, 2015
Yes, yes, yes. I would love more about Andie and Theron. Ruby Lionsdarke wrote Stars across Time while taking a break from her Mandrake Company series. Stars Across Time is a time-travel story with some really interesting characters and a great story line. With all of the world building and character development it would be a shame if this were the only story in this setting. The ending leaves room for a whole lot more so I hope to see Andie and Theron again.
January 18, 2016
3.50 / 4 Stars
The book seemed open-ended to me. Mace returns to the past to look for the soldiers they never saw again after they went through the time machine. We assume now that Andie's son is Mace's. So, is there going to be a second book, or is that it? I would have rated it higher if there was more closure.
The book seemed open-ended to me. Mace returns to the past to look for the soldiers they never saw again after they went through the time machine. We assume now that Andie's son is Mace's. So, is there going to be a second book, or is that it? I would have rated it higher if there was more closure.
March 20, 2015
A fun, action packed romance. But, I have to confess, I like the Mandrake Company novels better. That being said, Theron is delightfully awkward.
September 17, 2015
This mark is not for the writing which was good. Just not my cup of tea.
September 30, 2017
Title: Stars Across Time
Author: Ruby Lionsdrake
Publisher: Ruby
ISBN: B00UK8EGP2
Buy Link: Ruby Lionsdrake
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Can love take root in the cracks of time?
Air Force pilot Andromeda “Andie” Kim dreams of being chosen to join NASA so she can go to space. Instead, she’s stolen by savage kidnappers from a dystopian future where fertile women are needed for breeding purposes. One of her kidnappers, a man named Mace, goes out of his way to protect her from the other slavers, but she’s not about to trust him. All she wants is to escape and find a way back to her time before she's sold as broodstock and stuck in this ruined world forever.
Colonel Aloysius “Mace” Theron of the Cascadian Alliance is a battlefield commander, not a spy, but after twenty years of service, he’s also trusted by his superiors. That’s why they choose him for a top-secret mission: to infiltrate an organization of thieves using a time machine to plunder the past. He’s supposed to find and destroy the machine, not fall in love with one of the captives, but Andie is as much of a fighter as he is, and he’s drawn to her from the beginning. Yet if he fights too hard to protect her, his identity will be discovered and his mission will fail, leaving criminals to terrorize the past, perhaps irrevocably changing history and endangering everyone he knows and loves.
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
This was a wild ride starting when Andie and Mim-ji quietly looking through a telescope and ending with them captured and taken through time into the future by kidnappers planning on selling them as fertile breeders. The kidnappers didn't care that some of the women were in reality young girls, but that didn't stop them. They found an unlikely champion in Mace, one of their captures. Andie was drawn to Mace in spite of the situation and when he told her that he, Colonel Theron, was working undercover, to learn the location of the sale and to recover or destroy the time machine her feelings made more sence. It seemed that Andie's belief in him was true when they began to plot out an escape plan. Things didn't work out leaving Andie, Mim-ji and the others are left to fend for themselves. It was a good thing that Andie was an air force officer herself and more than willing to do whatever damage she could for the cause.
This was a wild ride as a twenty-first century military woman faced the wilds of the future with only one man at her side. The two make a fearsome combination, but Andie will fight for herself, her friends and even Theron if the need arises. The men of the future need to learn to never underestimate a woman or suffer their wrath. This book held me spellbound and I hope that their story has just begun.
Author: Ruby Lionsdrake
Publisher: Ruby
ISBN: B00UK8EGP2
Buy Link: Ruby Lionsdrake
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Can love take root in the cracks of time?
Air Force pilot Andromeda “Andie” Kim dreams of being chosen to join NASA so she can go to space. Instead, she’s stolen by savage kidnappers from a dystopian future where fertile women are needed for breeding purposes. One of her kidnappers, a man named Mace, goes out of his way to protect her from the other slavers, but she’s not about to trust him. All she wants is to escape and find a way back to her time before she's sold as broodstock and stuck in this ruined world forever.
Colonel Aloysius “Mace” Theron of the Cascadian Alliance is a battlefield commander, not a spy, but after twenty years of service, he’s also trusted by his superiors. That’s why they choose him for a top-secret mission: to infiltrate an organization of thieves using a time machine to plunder the past. He’s supposed to find and destroy the machine, not fall in love with one of the captives, but Andie is as much of a fighter as he is, and he’s drawn to her from the beginning. Yet if he fights too hard to protect her, his identity will be discovered and his mission will fail, leaving criminals to terrorize the past, perhaps irrevocably changing history and endangering everyone he knows and loves.
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
This was a wild ride starting when Andie and Mim-ji quietly looking through a telescope and ending with them captured and taken through time into the future by kidnappers planning on selling them as fertile breeders. The kidnappers didn't care that some of the women were in reality young girls, but that didn't stop them. They found an unlikely champion in Mace, one of their captures. Andie was drawn to Mace in spite of the situation and when he told her that he, Colonel Theron, was working undercover, to learn the location of the sale and to recover or destroy the time machine her feelings made more sence. It seemed that Andie's belief in him was true when they began to plot out an escape plan. Things didn't work out leaving Andie, Mim-ji and the others are left to fend for themselves. It was a good thing that Andie was an air force officer herself and more than willing to do whatever damage she could for the cause.
This was a wild ride as a twenty-first century military woman faced the wilds of the future with only one man at her side. The two make a fearsome combination, but Andie will fight for herself, her friends and even Theron if the need arises. The men of the future need to learn to never underestimate a woman or suffer their wrath. This book held me spellbound and I hope that their story has just begun.
March 18, 2021
This was a cute book, though I found the first half more exciting than the second half. I appreciated the strength and general kick-ass know-how of the protagonist, Andie. Her confidence and determination constantly kept me from feeling depressed or sorry for her, even when she was in predicaments that were truly bleak (such as being stripped down naked in a cave with a bunch of horny scumbags). Sometimes Andie struck me as a little too strong (unrealistically so), but overall she was likable, so no real complaints there.
The love interest, Theron, was adorable. I appreciated how the author chose to give him some sweet boy-like charm, instead of pigeoning him into the larger-than-life "bad boy" category the whole novel. Moments where Theron was nervous and wanting to impress Andie rang with a lot of sincerity.
One problem I had dealt with the technicalities of time travel and a big contradiction that is present in this story. Near the beginning of the book, it is mentioned (I believe through Theron's narration) that kidnapping women from the past is illegal because it can jack with the future's timeline. That is, a man might kidnap a woman from the past and return to his own timeline to discover that his best friend no longer exists...that whole conundrum. I agree with this premise 100%. This is one of time travel's more universal laws. Yet later in the book, one of Theron's lieutenants discovers that Andie, in her own timeline, But how on earth could the lieutenant find this information about Andie's yet-to-occur past when she is STILL in the FUTURE with them? This was such a huge time travel violation that it was hard for me to overcome it enough to enjoy the rest of the story. Andie was stolen from her own time period. She disappeared from a campground at the age of thirty-something and was never found. Until she returns to her own timeline, any records concerning her should reflect that fact.
I did enjoy the dystopian world Lionsdrake created. It was an interesting mix of old and new, swaying from never-before-seen technology to horse-drawn carriages. If a sequel to STARS ACROSS TIME were to come out, I'd give it a chance.
*Note: This review was originally posted on July 12, 2015 under a different (now deleted) account.
The love interest, Theron, was adorable. I appreciated how the author chose to give him some sweet boy-like charm, instead of pigeoning him into the larger-than-life "bad boy" category the whole novel. Moments where Theron was nervous and wanting to impress Andie rang with a lot of sincerity.
One problem I had dealt with the technicalities of time travel and a big contradiction that is present in this story. Near the beginning of the book, it is mentioned (I believe through Theron's narration) that kidnapping women from the past is illegal because it can jack with the future's timeline. That is, a man might kidnap a woman from the past and return to his own timeline to discover that his best friend no longer exists...that whole conundrum. I agree with this premise 100%. This is one of time travel's more universal laws. Yet later in the book, one of Theron's lieutenants discovers that Andie, in her own timeline, But how on earth could the lieutenant find this information about Andie's yet-to-occur past when she is STILL in the FUTURE with them? This was such a huge time travel violation that it was hard for me to overcome it enough to enjoy the rest of the story. Andie was stolen from her own time period. She disappeared from a campground at the age of thirty-something and was never found. Until she returns to her own timeline, any records concerning her should reflect that fact.
I did enjoy the dystopian world Lionsdrake created. It was an interesting mix of old and new, swaying from never-before-seen technology to horse-drawn carriages. If a sequel to STARS ACROSS TIME were to come out, I'd give it a chance.
*Note: This review was originally posted on July 12, 2015 under a different (now deleted) account.
October 28, 2021
3 Stars for me!
My rating range of this story... 2 - 3.5 Stars
If significant, why?
Main Character Ratings...
H = 6/10
h = 7/10
Narrator Rating(s)
M = n/a
F = 6/10
If below 5/10,why?
Was cheating involved? No
Any major triggers to be aware of? Child rape (generally told about but not described).
Scenes with heat... Yes
What point does it start? 60%
How much of the story? 2%
Anything beyond M/F? No
If yes, explained
Heat Rating... 3/10
Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2
Normal to Descriptive 3-5
Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7
Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above
Was there so much sex or unrealistic sex that you rolled your eyes and/or skipped forward? No
The back story... The h and friends are captured by future time travelers so they can be used as brood mares in their time. The H works for the future Military and is trying to stop the barbaric practice.
The Romance... Instalust between the two but the H works hard to build trust with the h.
The drama explosion... An MC is captured.
Did it feel Real, OK or contrived? Unreal
Was it OTT? Yes
Separation involved? Yes
Was it resolved properly or rushed? Ok
Final Notes... The story could have been a solid 4 Stars listen for me but the ending was pretty convoluted and required too much of a suspension of reality for me. I understood the step back in technology as EMP devices are used with many nuclear bombs and attack strategies. Kill all electronics and winning the war is much easier.
HEA or HFN? HEA maybe
My rating range of this story... 2 - 3.5 Stars
If significant, why?
Main Character Ratings...
H = 6/10
h = 7/10
Narrator Rating(s)
M = n/a
F = 6/10
If below 5/10,why?
Was cheating involved? No
Any major triggers to be aware of? Child rape (generally told about but not described).
Scenes with heat... Yes
What point does it start? 60%
How much of the story? 2%
Anything beyond M/F? No
If yes, explained
Heat Rating... 3/10
Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2
Normal to Descriptive 3-5
Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7
Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above
Was there so much sex or unrealistic sex that you rolled your eyes and/or skipped forward? No
The back story... The h and friends are captured by future time travelers so they can be used as brood mares in their time. The H works for the future Military and is trying to stop the barbaric practice.
The Romance... Instalust between the two but the H works hard to build trust with the h.
The drama explosion... An MC is captured.
Did it feel Real, OK or contrived? Unreal
Was it OTT? Yes
Separation involved? Yes
Was it resolved properly or rushed? Ok
Final Notes... The story could have been a solid 4 Stars listen for me but the ending was pretty convoluted and required too much of a suspension of reality for me. I understood the step back in technology as EMP devices are used with many nuclear bombs and attack strategies. Kill all electronics and winning the war is much easier.
HEA or HFN? HEA maybe
March 29, 2023
Stars Across Time did not end up to be exactly what I initially expected. It's actually more a time travel story than science fiction, and there's not much about "stars" in the story other than a mutual interest of both main characters in space exploration.
The plot in itself is not bad, although there are a few holes here and there and issues that deserved better follow up. I kind of liked the fact that the author did not describe Earth's future as more technologically advanced and brighter than the present. Somehow most science fiction books seem to do so, and this one is refreshing it that sense - maybe a bit more depressing, but also a call to action, telling us that if we keep on depleting the planet's resources as we are doing today, the future can actually be much, much worse.
The only thing that really irked me was the ending. I expected a bit more closure for Andie and Theron's relationship, a certainty that they would be together forever in the end. Instead, I get the feeling that somehow there should be a second book telling us what happened after Theron's return to the "past".
But all in all, if you love the genre, Stars Across Time will still account for a few well spent hours.
The plot in itself is not bad, although there are a few holes here and there and issues that deserved better follow up. I kind of liked the fact that the author did not describe Earth's future as more technologically advanced and brighter than the present. Somehow most science fiction books seem to do so, and this one is refreshing it that sense - maybe a bit more depressing, but also a call to action, telling us that if we keep on depleting the planet's resources as we are doing today, the future can actually be much, much worse.
The only thing that really irked me was the ending. I expected a bit more closure for Andie and Theron's relationship, a certainty that they would be together forever in the end. Instead, I get the feeling that somehow there should be a second book telling us what happened after Theron's return to the "past".
But all in all, if you love the genre, Stars Across Time will still account for a few well spent hours.
July 3, 2020
Very few authors can keep up the action pace as well as Lionsdrake/Buroker. Like her others, this was almost impossible for me to put down. I liked the hero Mace/Theron, who was too compassionate to be a top-notch undercover operative, heroine Andie who was as kick-butt as they come, and several of the secondary characters, particularly Andie's friend Min-ji.
I enjoy time-travel stories and am willing to overlook a bit of hand-waving with the science. Some bits were unnecessarily confusing, like where the heck did those time machines come from? I also found chunks of the plot to be wildly implausible. But that is part of the author's magic, that she can conjure up action sequences that are implausible and yet almost believable.
Would like to read a follow-on with Min-ji and resolution of Andie and Theron's future, etc.
I enjoy time-travel stories and am willing to overlook a bit of hand-waving with the science. Some bits were unnecessarily confusing, like where the heck did those time machines come from? I also found chunks of the plot to be wildly implausible. But that is part of the author's magic, that she can conjure up action sequences that are implausible and yet almost believable.
Would like to read a follow-on with Min-ji and resolution of Andie and Theron's future, etc.
August 17, 2017
I'm sad to say goodbye
This is the first "romance" novel I've read, but after reading most of LB's other works and falling in love with the romances therein (ahm Sicarius and Amarynthe, Leonidas and Alisa), I had to give this a try. It's well worth the read. Theron and Andy are fully developed characters, despite there being only the one book, rather than a series of book, to introduce them. I love how in all the books I've read by LB and now RL, she showcases a strong female lead, I also love the humour! Having never read a romance, I must admit I was worried the sex scenes would be lurid and tawdry, but was pleasantly surprised everything was very tastefully done. I love the yearning that's incorporated into the relationships as well. Well done Ms. Lionsdrake, I would love for this to become one of your series, I'm not quite ready to say goodbye!
This is the first "romance" novel I've read, but after reading most of LB's other works and falling in love with the romances therein (ahm Sicarius and Amarynthe, Leonidas and Alisa), I had to give this a try. It's well worth the read. Theron and Andy are fully developed characters, despite there being only the one book, rather than a series of book, to introduce them. I love how in all the books I've read by LB and now RL, she showcases a strong female lead, I also love the humour! Having never read a romance, I must admit I was worried the sex scenes would be lurid and tawdry, but was pleasantly surprised everything was very tastefully done. I love the yearning that's incorporated into the relationships as well. Well done Ms. Lionsdrake, I would love for this to become one of your series, I'm not quite ready to say goodbye!
November 25, 2018
It took FOREVER to get through this book. Almost a month to get through a 200 page romance novel. that's saying something. I guess it's also saying something that I actually finished this thing.
The plot had promise. The characters had promise. But the further into the story things got, the more unrealistic things got. Too much just didn't add up. We never did find out what time they were teleported to. There were too many disconnects between what was and wasn't available in this new time frame. The whole time paradox thing was at the same time decently done AND poorly done at different moments in the story.
The actual romance part of the book was so... expected. Almost cliche. Ho-hum even.
I realise this is a romance novel first, and a sci-fi/time travel novel second, but there were just too many inconsistencies for me to actually enjoy it much at all.
The plot had promise. The characters had promise. But the further into the story things got, the more unrealistic things got. Too much just didn't add up. We never did find out what time they were teleported to. There were too many disconnects between what was and wasn't available in this new time frame. The whole time paradox thing was at the same time decently done AND poorly done at different moments in the story.
The actual romance part of the book was so... expected. Almost cliche. Ho-hum even.
I realise this is a romance novel first, and a sci-fi/time travel novel second, but there were just too many inconsistencies for me to actually enjoy it much at all.
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September 15, 2024Half-asian, heroine? Yums!
Unfortunately, a few chapters in and I wasn't hooked. Also, I'm all for embracing women independence and confidence, especially in a male dominated sector, but I dunno...the romance wasn't my type and Andie was too tough/unbending for my taste. Military woman and all. I know some people get a kick of that, but I also prefer tough heroines who are able to roll over and show their bellies at times.
Course, it would be disrespectful of me to judge too soon, but when the MCs meet and you don't feel anything...I just know it's not my cuppa tea.
Read this at your own expense :)
Unfortunately, a few chapters in and I wasn't hooked. Also, I'm all for embracing women independence and confidence, especially in a male dominated sector, but I dunno...the romance wasn't my type and Andie was too tough/unbending for my taste. Military woman and all. I know some people get a kick of that, but I also prefer tough heroines who are able to roll over and show their bellies at times.
Course, it would be disrespectful of me to judge too soon, but when the MCs meet and you don't feel anything...I just know it's not my cuppa tea.
Read this at your own expense :)
July 8, 2020
Andie and her friend, along with other women are kidnapped from modern day Washington and taken to a future where fertility rates are low. The bandits who kidnapped them will sell them to the highest bidder as slaves, who can hopefully produce offspring for their new owners. The book focuses mainly on Andie and her plans to escape and free the others, plus her romance with a bandit named "Mace". He is actually an undercover solider trying to find the site of the slave market. Nothing too crazy, but a well written story.
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