Pineapple in Winter

The Glory Box #1

by Claudine Marcin

Set upon a dystopian landscape, 'The Glory Box' is a four-part mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

‘Pineapple in Winter’ begins as The Confederation of The United Western Territories is called to a special summit. In the audience, the mysterious Agent Hanita Michaels: lover of yoga and black stilettos. Her target? Dr. Vytas Boyd: astrophysicist and caramel-eyed heartthrob.

He recently discovered that a second ice age is coming, and they only have ten years to prepare. But do they know the whole truth? Everything appears to be going as planned until eight strangers arrive and tell a story that rewrites their history and sets a new path for the future.

Continue the story with book two, ‘The Children of Autumn’, now available!

Genres: Fiction, Dystopia

180 pages, Paperback

Published May 23, 2020

About the author

Claudine Marcin is the Maryland-based award-winning author of the short story "The Stairs" and is also known for the four-part romantic sci-fi mystery series titled "The Glory Box". She is a member of the Maryland Writers Association and the Harford County Writer's Group as well as a spirited football fan, poet, amateur photographer, and artist. For more information about Claudine’s books and to join her mailing list, visit her website at www.claudinemarcin.com

Facebook.com/mmadtales
Twitter.com/marcinclaudine
Instagram.com/claudinemarcin

Reviews

[Peter Topside]

I am not a fan of science fiction, unless it’s HG Wells. I always feel like the stories get so overcomplicated and require you to take an in-depth training on the genre before diving into the stories, just to make heads or tails out of it. And for someone like me, who will only occasionally veer into it, I am almost always left very uninterested. So when this book was first made available to me, I went in trying to be open-minded and optimistic. And much to my surprise, I enjoyed it very much. The writing itself, early on, left me uneasy, but it very quickly transcended into a much higher quality, becoming deeper and more meaningful, leaving me to be able to fully appreciate the story and its characters. So I love books with small casts of characters, and this was just that. You have four main characters, all with their own ambitions, struggles, and backgrounds, and that was done very well. The sex scenes felt a little out of place, especially the second one, but they were written tastefully. The premise was definitely a solid sci-fi concept, and, coming from a science background, I appreciated the depth and explanation of how this new world came to be. The author did a very nice job keeping everything easy-to-read and moved the story at a good pace. There were a few points that I felt could have been expanded upon, but that may be covered in the next installments. So if this author and story can bring a hardened anti-sci-fi guy like me around, it can definitely be enjoyed by any avid or casual reader, too. As a side note, the dedication of the book was extremely sweet and showed how hard working and sincere the author was in her efforts, too.

[John Gilbert]

The Glory Box started out strongly with the premise that Earth will be knocked out of its orbit due to the explosion of Jupiter some years ago and that there will be a resulting five year deep freeze which needs to be prepared for. I enjoyed the first half of this book, the first of a four book series, but there just wasn't enough to keep my interest up. There are four main characters and their love lives seem to be the basis for the narrative, but for me it just did not sustain my interest. I really wanted to like it more.

Sorry Claudine.

DNF at 50%

[Bonnie]

A little techical at times. The mystery of it kept me reading. All in all a short read. I do not normally read science fiction but it was fun to read something different.

[Donna Foster]

A genuine zest for life with an atmosphere created to benefit all in this intriguing look into the future and an upcoming event.

[Ray]

A buffet of genres, sci-fi, romance, action and fantasy. The book is an easy beach weekend read. The author uses enough of each genre to keep the read engaged and wanting more. A few good hooks to keep the reading thinking and wanting to know more of what happened or what is about to happen. One note if you don't have a grasp of Eastern European language you my want to have a smart phone near by to translate a few sentences. Which I found to be fun. I felt like I was using my Ovaltine decoder ring to unravel the secret message. The book ends with all is well...or is it? Pineapple in Winter is the first in a series of four books. Books 2 The Children of Autumn and book 3 If Summer Were a Place are available now with the author finishing book four of The Glory Box series. I give Pineapple in Winter 4 summer suns a great summer weekend read.

[Saint Vitas]

Scientists prepare for an ice age

This is a mass destruction story from a new angle and it worked. the characters are understandable even when the science is not. the plan is to save as many Peop!e as possible. think about how you would do it.

[Stephanie Gabinet-Bethoulle]

I felt like this was a fresh take on how a future Earth would handle/survive an inevitable disaster. I was quickly pulled into the story, although I feel like the real story is only just beginning. I have some questions I hope the next books will answer! I’m looking forward to them.

[Phyllis]

Page turner! Hard to set down...I read this book in one sitting because I couldn't wait to see what happens next. Very suspenseful - I just wish it had been longer. The story is different from anything I've read before about a subject I'd never thought about. It ends with a cliffhanger so once I finished I actually read it again to better understand the unanswered questions. Very good book...I highly recommend it. I can't wait for the next one!

[Debra]

I'm not keen on science fiction, but this book was given to me. At first it seemed science heavy, but as it progressed there was a nice balance of character development and along with the plot that kept me engaged. I enjoyed the intrigue and look forward to the following books in the series.
I respect the breadth of research and knowledge necessary to write a novel such as this. My understanding of science increased while reading the story.

[John Moore]

I have read a great many books but none that kept me so thoroughly engrossed in the characters and plot. This book is so well written by Ms. Marcin you will not want to put it down. Refreshingly unique in the dystopia world within which it is written. I highly recommend this book.

[Paul]

Intriguing! That was the one word I decided on to describe the book “The Glory Box – Pineapple in Winter”. I found it to be a very complex but entertaining plot line with many complicated subplots! But the subplots were woven together in such a way they held your interest as both mythical and mysterious. The overall scenario made me think of what a Nuclear Winter might look like! Ms. Marcin is excellent at character descriptions and she obviously has a vivid imagination. I’m sure it was my own lack of comprehension but sometimes I got a little lost in the segues or transitions in time. But that was minor. The last chapter goes a long way in tying many things together but also laying the foundation for wanting to read more. So, I’m glad I bought all four books at the same time. Good reading!

[Beverly]

The first part of a predicted ice age. The population is attempting to prepare for its coming and have even put many into an extended hibernation. When a group of individuals show up from an area of the planet thought to be a wasteland, they realize they may to adjust their thinking about the future.

[Sanna Jackson]

A book that captivated me almost from the start. By midpoint, I was falling asleep trying to figure out the mysteries and secrets of the book. Intriguing dystopic story, that continues to unravel the mystery of what happened on the earth after Jupiter exploded. Life, love, and scifi mystery <3

[Christine Fran]

I was really thrilled to learn I won an advanced copy of this book because it certainly sounded interesting! From the onset, I could not put it down. I was immediately plunged into a thrilling sci-fi event which dictated the course of the book. This one event sets off a chain reaction of cosmic imbalances which threaten life on earth, or what life still exists. And for how long? Teams of brilliant scientists, engineers and medical professionals team up to help devise a plan to save humanity from an inevitable ice age that is forecasted to last five years. Fate plays an important role in the book for, without it, there wouldn’t be a plot!

I am hooked and anxiously await Book #2’s release. Just a few critiques because I rated the book 4 stars...

-I would’ve loved to have spent more time witnessing the ice age and the events which led to the safe securing of earth’s citizens leading up to it.

-too much emphasis on directionality and movement. “Hanita’s left leg was now resting over his right thigh; her right knee touching his left knee.” I know this level of description certainly helps us get a mental picture of body language and, in this case, the sexual tension rising (no pun intended.) It just got to be a bit much after awhile.

I am excited by how the book ended, leaving readers with the knowledge that a smooth transition into Book 2 is on the horizon. Love the concept...right up my alley. I just wish more emphasis was placed in the “why” and “ how”.

.

[Ann Stevenson]

The Glory Box, Pineapple In Winter was a captivating story that had me wanting more! I loved the way Claudine wrote in such detail and how all the pieces of the puzzle come together in the end! I cannot wait for the sequels to come out and to finish the story that was started in Pineapple in Winter!

[Mary Kate Myers]

This book was a fantastic read! The characters were intriguing, well written and interesting. I really enjoyed the different sciences that were discussed and developed throughout the book. There were also some exciting twists and surprises. I'm looking forward to reading book 2!

[Caitlin Hooker]

Looking forward to the next book to see what happens! Thanks Claudine for the copy!

[Cheryl]

I won this book on Goodreads. I didn't really enjoy it, didn't seem the time to read about the destroying of most of the world and the coming of a years long winter

[Marissa Martine]

This book is honestly such an amazing book. The characters, the plot the story it is all so engaging. I won this book as a part of a giveaway and honestly I am so happy that I now can add Claudine to The list of my favorite authors. You are someone who enjoys science fiction but also with an injection of humanity this is such a wonderful book to pick up and read. And I am BEYOND excited for the next installment!!!

[MK Whiting]

Surprising till the end

This story was ever changing from the first chapter.
The characters were believable and personable.
The setup for the next book was nicely done.
The title only became relevant in the last few pages.
The novel does show humanity at is best and worse.
A good read.

[Marsha Coffey]

This book was very well written. I enjoyed the suspense throughout, and such an interesting plot. This could happen in our lifetime, but then again it makes you think, has it already happened just differently. Loved the book. A must read! Going to start on the next one very soon for sure!

[Joseph Schylaske]

I have never reviewed a book before but I had to for this little gem. I've been trying to find a good book for a while now and The Glory Box is exactly what I've been looking for. The characters feel so real it's like I can reach through the pages and touch them. My favorite character is Alice. It also gets strange towards the end and that's exactly what I like in a book STRANGE! If you like books that are about the world coming to an end then this book is for you!. I can't wait to read the next book in this series The Glory Box: The Children of Autumn.

-Joe

[SH]

As someone who isn’t particularly into sci-fi, I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy this book—but I couldn’t have been more wrong! The vivid descriptions of the characters, events, environments, and settings truly immersed me, making it feel as though I was right there alongside them. The plot was captivating from the start, and I found myself rooting for the characters as they faced seemingly impossible challenges. I was so hooked that I couldn’t put the book down, even when I should have been working or sleeping. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to dive into the second book!

[Jennifer Warmuth]

Fantastic Story!
The Glory Box Pineapple in Winter is a thrilling and original sci/fi, apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic story. Claudine Marcin delivers fascinating world-building with vivid descriptions, interesting characters, and a surprising and unpredictable plot that captures the reader’s attention from start to finish. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading book two in the series.

[Michelle Rojas]

Original story line that captivates the reader. I am an avid sci- fi reader and this story was a non stop page turner. I loved the depth of characters . The author goes to great lengths to describe the scene in vivid details pulling the reader in and wanting to read more. I for one am very excited that this story is a series. I can’t wait for the next one.

[Sarah]

Once I sat down and started reading this book, I was absolutely hooked. I'm upset it took me so long to actually read it though, as I've had it for months. But the way the story is written is gripping and I saw it playing out like a movie in my head. I loved the characters and the story line and I'm looking forward to see how it's continued in the other books!