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Code Name: Gypsy Moth
An Imajin Qwickies Sci-fi/Romantic Suspense Novella with a dose of Campbell Humor
It isn't easy running your own bar in the final frontier...especially when you’re hiding a secret.
Nell Romana loves two running The Blue Angel Bar, and Dalamar, a notorious modern-day knight for hire. Too bad he doesn't know she is actually a spy working undercover for the Federation.
The bar is a magnet for all sorts of thirsty frontier types, and some of them don’t have civilized manners. That’s no problem for Dalamar, who is built like a warlord and keeps everyone in line. But when he is called away on a routine job, Nell uncovers a rebel plot to overthrow the Federation. Her cover blown, she has to act fast and alone—and more than their love is put to the test.
It isn't easy running your own bar in the final frontier...especially when you’re hiding a secret.
Nell Romana loves two running The Blue Angel Bar, and Dalamar, a notorious modern-day knight for hire. Too bad he doesn't know she is actually a spy working undercover for the Federation.
The bar is a magnet for all sorts of thirsty frontier types, and some of them don’t have civilized manners. That’s no problem for Dalamar, who is built like a warlord and keeps everyone in line. But when he is called away on a routine job, Nell uncovers a rebel plot to overthrow the Federation. Her cover blown, she has to act fast and alone—and more than their love is put to the test.
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First published April 1, 2015
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6 people want to read
About the author
Melodie Campbell
46 books106 followers"the Canadian literary heir to Donald Westlake"
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
NEWS: THE GODDAUGHTER DOES VEGAS is on the Ontario Library Association 2020 Forest of Reading GREAT STORIES list!
THE B-TEAM has been shortlisted for the 2019 Arthur Ellis Award for Excellence in Crime Writing! Melodie Campbell is a double finalist this year, with A SHIP CALLED PANDORA (Mystery Weekly Magazine) being a finalist in the short story category.
THE GODDAUGHTER'S REVENGE has won the DERRINGER AWARD and the ARTHUR ELLIS AWARD for Crime Writing!
The Toronto Sun called her Canada's "Queen of Comedy." Library Journal compared her to Janet Evanovich.
Melodie got her start writing comedy so it's no surprise that reviewers and editors have called her fiction "hilarious" and "laugh-out-loud funny". She has over 200 publications, including 40 short stories, 15 novels, and has won 10 awards for fiction.
"The Goddaughter" a comic mob caper, has been called "Just right for Janet Evanovich fans...impossible not to laugh" by Library Journal.
"The Goddaughter's Revenge" from Orca books, was dubbed 'Real Gold' by the Hamilton Spectator. It won the Derringer Award in the States, and the Arthur Ellis Award in Canada.
Book 5 in the series, "The Bootlegger's Goddaughter" was a finalist for the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak Award. Book 6 in the series, "The Goddaughter Does Vegas" is now available.
Top 100 Bestseller "Rowena Through the Wall," was the first novel in the Land's End comic time travel fantasy series. The entire Land's End trilogy is a Top 50 Amazon Bestseller (all books).
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
NEWS: THE GODDAUGHTER DOES VEGAS is on the Ontario Library Association 2020 Forest of Reading GREAT STORIES list!
THE B-TEAM has been shortlisted for the 2019 Arthur Ellis Award for Excellence in Crime Writing! Melodie Campbell is a double finalist this year, with A SHIP CALLED PANDORA (Mystery Weekly Magazine) being a finalist in the short story category.
THE GODDAUGHTER'S REVENGE has won the DERRINGER AWARD and the ARTHUR ELLIS AWARD for Crime Writing!
The Toronto Sun called her Canada's "Queen of Comedy." Library Journal compared her to Janet Evanovich.
Melodie got her start writing comedy so it's no surprise that reviewers and editors have called her fiction "hilarious" and "laugh-out-loud funny". She has over 200 publications, including 40 short stories, 15 novels, and has won 10 awards for fiction.
"The Goddaughter" a comic mob caper, has been called "Just right for Janet Evanovich fans...impossible not to laugh" by Library Journal.
"The Goddaughter's Revenge" from Orca books, was dubbed 'Real Gold' by the Hamilton Spectator. It won the Derringer Award in the States, and the Arthur Ellis Award in Canada.
Book 5 in the series, "The Bootlegger's Goddaughter" was a finalist for the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak Award. Book 6 in the series, "The Goddaughter Does Vegas" is now available.
Top 100 Bestseller "Rowena Through the Wall," was the first novel in the Land's End comic time travel fantasy series. The entire Land's End trilogy is a Top 50 Amazon Bestseller (all books).
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 6, 2018
A sci-fi fantasy romance that kept my interest throughout. The storyline was intriguing about Nell, a spy, working undercover for the Federation as a barkeeper in another galaxy. She is a tough and strong woman. Her boyfriend, Dalamar, built like a warlord, is quite capable of taking care of anyone who tries to harm his woman. Danger lurks for Nell and she just may need Dalamar when her life is in jeopardy.
This was a quick and enjoyable read and the first book I have read by this author. I plan to look at more of her work.
This was a quick and enjoyable read and the first book I have read by this author. I plan to look at more of her work.
September 27, 2017
Code Name: Gypsy Moth By Melodie Campbell
Don't care for space books but listened to a bit of it, several times.
Just can't get into them. Other works by the author are mentioned at the end.
Free from Smashwords
Don't care for space books but listened to a bit of it, several times.
Just can't get into them. Other works by the author are mentioned at the end.
Free from Smashwords
May 31, 2015
I was looking for a light read between novels. Code Name: Gypsy Moth by Melodie Campbell was described by the author as 'Scifi-romantic suspense novella with humor.' Humor sounded good, so I decided to give it a try.
Characters are the best thing about this book. Gypsy Moth is full of colorful characters. Figuratively and literally. Main character Nell steamrolls onto the pages and relentlessly propels the constant action in this little adventure in space. Tough guy mercenary Dalamar is the boyfriend and the genetically enhanced clone soldier Alpha is the straight man in many a humorous conversation. Aliens of different shapes and skin tones add the literal color to the cast of characters.
There is plenty of action in this story. It takes place in a bar, so, of course, there should be a fight or two to make it a real bar. Plus, the heroine is well versed in self-defense, so given the opportunity, she will kick ass. Ms. Campbell does an excellent job writing the action scenes. I had no problem visualizing what was going on.
Despite the wonderful characters and non-stop action, I could not get into this story. I kept looking for a plot and what I found was three different story lines that were not definitively connected and never really resolved. I'm not going to go into detail of each of the story lines but they are 1) Dalamar and Wallen, 2) green guys and Gallistro code and 3) spying for the Federation.
#3 is Nell's main story, so I'll address that one. 'The Federation states were the good guys.' That is what Nell states in this story so you have to go with it. What makes them good? Don't know? What makes the other guys bad? Don't know. Who are the other guys? Rebels. That's all I know. Oh, and they conspire. The lack of a solid plot left me a bit unsatisfied when the book ended.
So let's analyze the author's description: Scifi-romantic suspense novella with humor.
Novella – yep – 22,000 words. A quick read. Nice. And there is definitely humor. Since this was my main reason for choosing the book, this pleased me. The clone, Alpha, who does not understand slang, is the source of much of the humor. But Nell also provides a few grinning moments with her smart alecky observations. Code Name: Gypsy Moth takes place on a Charlie's Station – as in space station. Plus aliens, a clone and assorted tech. So there is the sci-fi element. Nell claims Dalamar as her boyfriend, though, as of the timeline in this story, they are already a couple. So the romance element was weak, with no real romantic interactions between the two. A secondary couple, clone Alpha and geek Shelley, hinted a cute budding relationship, but it did not get far. As far as suspense, since I kept wondering what the story was about, I guess it Code Name: Gypsy Moth qualifies as suspense also.
I thought this book had a lot of potential, with the great characters and well written scenes and that is almost enough to recommend it. But as a whole, Code Name: Gypsy Moth is merely a series of scenes with well hidden plot.
I received a review copy from the author.
Characters are the best thing about this book. Gypsy Moth is full of colorful characters. Figuratively and literally. Main character Nell steamrolls onto the pages and relentlessly propels the constant action in this little adventure in space. Tough guy mercenary Dalamar is the boyfriend and the genetically enhanced clone soldier Alpha is the straight man in many a humorous conversation. Aliens of different shapes and skin tones add the literal color to the cast of characters.
There is plenty of action in this story. It takes place in a bar, so, of course, there should be a fight or two to make it a real bar. Plus, the heroine is well versed in self-defense, so given the opportunity, she will kick ass. Ms. Campbell does an excellent job writing the action scenes. I had no problem visualizing what was going on.
Despite the wonderful characters and non-stop action, I could not get into this story. I kept looking for a plot and what I found was three different story lines that were not definitively connected and never really resolved. I'm not going to go into detail of each of the story lines but they are 1) Dalamar and Wallen, 2) green guys and Gallistro code and 3) spying for the Federation.
#3 is Nell's main story, so I'll address that one. 'The Federation states were the good guys.' That is what Nell states in this story so you have to go with it. What makes them good? Don't know? What makes the other guys bad? Don't know. Who are the other guys? Rebels. That's all I know. Oh, and they conspire. The lack of a solid plot left me a bit unsatisfied when the book ended.
So let's analyze the author's description: Scifi-romantic suspense novella with humor.
Novella – yep – 22,000 words. A quick read. Nice. And there is definitely humor. Since this was my main reason for choosing the book, this pleased me. The clone, Alpha, who does not understand slang, is the source of much of the humor. But Nell also provides a few grinning moments with her smart alecky observations. Code Name: Gypsy Moth takes place on a Charlie's Station – as in space station. Plus aliens, a clone and assorted tech. So there is the sci-fi element. Nell claims Dalamar as her boyfriend, though, as of the timeline in this story, they are already a couple. So the romance element was weak, with no real romantic interactions between the two. A secondary couple, clone Alpha and geek Shelley, hinted a cute budding relationship, but it did not get far. As far as suspense, since I kept wondering what the story was about, I guess it Code Name: Gypsy Moth qualifies as suspense also.
I thought this book had a lot of potential, with the great characters and well written scenes and that is almost enough to recommend it. But as a whole, Code Name: Gypsy Moth is merely a series of scenes with well hidden plot.
I received a review copy from the author.
May 3, 2015
I will preface this by saying I'm not a big Sci-Fi guy. But, saying that, Ms. Campbell's wonderful sense of humour and sharp wit made me read it. It reminded me of Spider Robinson's "Lady Slings the Booze" from back in the day when I read sci-fi (except this doesn't have a brothel attached). Some of the aliens and their technical do-dads was a little cumbersome, but I found the characters charming. I look forward to the next outing.
After a second read through, I changed the star rating from a 3 to a 4. Not only was the humour sharp, but so was the plot. I found myself sad it ended and I can positively say that I will be in line for the sequel.
After a second read through, I changed the star rating from a 3 to a 4. Not only was the humour sharp, but so was the plot. I found myself sad it ended and I can positively say that I will be in line for the sequel.
April 3, 2015
A fun romp through space with a feisty protagonist who holds her own against the bad guys and leads a fascinating double life. I smiled while reading the whole story, enjoying the humor and the plot twists.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews