Tracing The Stars

Book 1, Wanderlust, was good. 'Threshold' was powerfully great. It hit hard and deep, and it ended in an unexpected but wonderful (non cliff-hangy) way. It's left me hoping there will be a book 3 so I can continue along side Shea and Jamie's journey.

Shea returns back to his picket-fence life after a life-changing experience in the cabin where Jamie made him evaluate everything. Shea finds the return eye-opening, realizing that perhaps Jamie was right about Shea's sterile existence being empty and meaningless. Just when Shea begins to miss Jamie to the point of bitterness, Jamie shows up on his doorstep. Jamie is just as surprised by where his feet (and heart) led him as Shea. What follows has Jamie asking hard questions about himself, and Shea making a decision that could flip both their lives upside down.

Everything about the way this novella was written felt raw - but in that good way that leaves your chest aching slightly as you read it, and your eyes fighting between slowing down to read each important, beautiful word, and speeding up in a desperate desire to find out what happens. Loved every page, wishing for more.

I really liked this story. The characters were well written, as were the back stories. I like how hints were given about the stories, but they were allowed to develop naturally, discovered by the reader as the other characters discovered them. It made it hard to understand some of the character's actions and motivations sometimes, but in the end, it was worth the hold-back.

Both Rey and Samuel are dealing with past issues that keep messing up their chance at a stable present and a possibly great future together. They also clash with personality fights, most of which are over the kind of misunderstandings new relationships have. All of the side characters and their stories, like Jennie, were also interesting and helped tie everything together.

The book deals with many heavy issues, and there was a slight feeling of unfinished business at the end. Overall, though, I really enjoyed it and getting to know the town and characters that Arthur created. It made me smile many times and also pulled at my heart to easily earn 4 stars.

This was a freebie novella from Amazon. Though short, it deals with several interesting issues and both of the characters were interesting. Shea is keeping a promise to his recently deceased father by visiting their old family cabin, even if it means breaking in to do it. The cabin is in very bad shape, having been forgotten and abandoned. Well, almost abandoned.

Shea runs into Jamie, a wanderer/writer who had been staying at the cabin off and on over the years, though Jamie doesn't own the cabin, either. Jamie is a prickly, defensive character while Shea is a naive but genuinely kind character. Shea is dealing with how things always have to change, while Jamie is getting Shea to see how safe he'd been living behind his "picket-fence life". Shea, on the other hand, is forcing Jamie to revaluate his assumption that all human beings, including himself, are assholes.

I received this as a freebie. A little quirky in spots, this was a nice, fun romance with several interesting characters, some decent laughs and a few heartstring tugging moments. Kelly is kind hearted and gives Dean as many chances as she can, and Dean, though emotionally dim as a brick sometimes, is a good, appealing guy in his own ways. Dean and Kelly certainly racked up the air miles! The side stories with Tony and Felicia, while enjoyable, were a bit distracting from the main story. I almost wish they hadn't been included, or perhaps not as much of it - and they could have been pulled into their own novel.

This was a scifi post-apoc full of unexpected twists. It came off as a little heavy-handed at some points, but overall it was a fantastic read. The Earth has been invaded by an alien race who are only killing humans that threaten them or use technology. They are also leveling the human cities. Humans have been thrown into the stone ages without tech, electricity, running water, etc. The biggest threat, however, in the collapsing society isn't the aliens - it's other humans.

This appears to be a perma-free on Amazon, so I recommend you go ahead and give it a try for yourself. It's a novella. I'm not sure if this is setting up for a series, but the story does stand on its own and has made me interested in checking out the author's other books.

Http://www.TracingTheStars.com was provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, and it honestly blew us away.

Hold on to your butts, people, because this book is awesome. I'm not new to Sansbury's work. I have previously read and reviewed books from his Tisian Chronicles, including his debut novel The Biomass Revolution. I can honestly say that it has been a treat to watch Sansbury develop as a writer. While the Tisian Chronicles were good and held promise, ORBS is a polished science fiction thriller that really hit all the marks right on point.

A smoother writing style than his previous works has emerged along with a more natural tone and approach for his characters and settings. These stylistic improvements are paired with a great story and a suspenseful thrill ride that keeps you reading, and guessing, right to the very end. I had a very hard time putting this book down.

First, the world building. It's based on Earth and Mars, so most readers already have a good grasp on what the environment could or should look like. Salbury adds to this with good descriptions of the decimation from the solar storms and how the Earth has changed. There are also neat descriptions of Mars from Sophie's dreams. Beyond the environmental descriptions, there are changes in society and technology. The changes are subtle enough to be believable for the near future while still feeling innovative. The NTC wear reflective, glowing goggles, and anyone who has read Biomass Revolution may get a kick out of that like I did.

The characters are excellently scripted as well, each having their own voice and temperament. Sophie is a strong, capable female character without completely losing her feminine side. She reminded me a bit of Jodie Foster from Contact mixed with Sigourney Weaver from Aliens. Brains, leadership, not 100% perfect, real and solidly standing on her own two feet, except when her nightmares make her scream.

She leads a team of specialists into a biosphere to test six months of living in isolation. It is a prep test for a future colonization project on Mars as it becomes clear that Earth is slowly dying from solar storms. It appears to be going well at first, but then Sophie begins having vivid dreams and weird things start happening around the biosphere. The team has to figure out if this is part of the NTC test or something more sinister.

This is where the real mental thriller starts taking place, as Sophie struggles to deal with the reality of her dreams and her scientific mind trying to keep the mission together. Alexia, an A.I. hologram, informs them that the NTC has stopped responding, and Sophie makes the decision to open the biodome to figure out what is going on outside.

Sansbury uses a mixture of perspective shifts between characters to give as many points of view as possible. He also switches to first-person for the chapters in which the AI, Alexis, is the focal character, telling the story through her eyes. The shifting perspectives can be a bit jarring, but over all, I liked the effect. I found Alexis' first-person perspective chapters to be some of my favorites, as it gives the unique viewpoint of how a programmed intelligence might perceive and deal with the events unfolding. The only real style issue I found with this book are that sometimes, a long paragraph of dialogue would not identify the speaker until the very end of the paragraph, leading you to reread the paragraph once you understood who the speaker was so you could properly place the perspective.

Once Sophia leads a team outside, what they find only lends to the mystery and pushes the story forward with fast-paced page-turning momentum. I actually found myself having trouble concentrating on other things until I finished this book. My mind kept wanting to follow the clues, discover the secrets along with Sophie and her team, and not put the book down until I reached the last page. The well written nature of the book allowed me to read it rather quickly, and it never felt like it dragged.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes Science Fiction, Thrillers, or even Post Apocalyptic type books. It won't disappoint.

http://www.TracingTheStars.com was given a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Solar Storms is an optional prequel to ORBS (which is an awesome, blew-me-away book). Solar Storms is a well written short story that deals with the discovery, event and aftermath of a devastating solar storm that hits Earth in 2055, laying waste to much of the midwest United States. It introduces two of the main characters in ORBS, Dr. Sophia Winston and Dr. Emanuel Rodriguez. It also introduces the NTC, or New Tech Corporation, who have privatized space exploration and much of the scientific sector.

The book does a good job of setting the scene, building the world that ORBS will come to exist in and telling the story of the developing disaster. It feels like the beginning of a disaster movie, where they director spends fifteen minutes or so giving a brief history of an event before forwarding to a jumpcut with a date across the screen years later. This book serves that purpose for ORBS.

It gets four stars instead of five simply because I feel like it didn't need to be its own novella. I think this could have served as a good starting place for ORBS (Which is a solid, no question 5-Star read) and should have been incorporated all into one novel. I think the information is very good to know for the reader to have a solid grasp on what is going on in the first chapter of ORBS. It isn't necessary to understand the beginnings of ORBS, but I think it would have made a nice entryway for the book.

http://www.TracingTheStars.com was provided a free review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Removed is S.J. Pajonas' debut novel. I was shocked when I found that out after finishing my read of the book. The book is written like a seasoned pro, mixing so many wonderful elements of style, that I had expected this to be a published author with more books for me to consume. Imagine my surprise when I found only this book and the coming sequel, Released.

The year is 3013, the Earth has been decimated by war and environmental deterioration. Sanaa is a member of Earth's remaining 6.3 million population, living in the last habitable place on the planet - Nishikyo, a city built under a series of domes. I'm not going to give the location of Nishikyo, because that was one of those ah! neat! moments for me and I don't want to spoil it. I will say that the majority of Nishikyo's population is Japanese, or of Japanese heritage, and many of the Japanese traditions are still present.

If this sounds a bit like the futuristic/sci-fi anime - it is, but in a really good and enjoyable way. Any fan of Japanese culture or sci-fi anime will love this, but I think any reader of science fiction will also greatly enjoy the subtle way Pajonas' inserts Japanese culture into her world building. And OH! The world building! It is superb. From cultural inclusions to technology to social structure - this book has it all and not a single info dump was used. Despite the concept of living in domes, Pajonas' makes it all believable.

Some of the usage of Japanese language by the characters may cause a few hiccups for some readers, but anyone who has watched a couple episodes of anime will catch the words Pajonas' chose to use. Most are very common and are used repeatedly, like ohayo gozaimasu (good morning), and irasshaimase (welcome), but Pajonas does include a Japanese glossary at the end of the book. I didn't have need of it, but I watch a good deal of anime. You can also infer meaning from context clues, and not knowing the words does not interfere with the story.

One might bring up this argument - 'it's 3013, wouldn't everyone be speaking English and why would all these Japanese traditions still be around one thousand years from now?'. It is a good question, but here is my opinion on this. They do speak English, with inclusion of Japanese common phrases. As for Japanese culture and tradition surviving after one thousand years? I think you only need to look at Japanese culture today and see how many traditions have already survived a thousand years of change and outside influence. Also, when confined to a dome with the last 6 million people on Earth, traditions may well become the only thing that continues to hold society together.

I, personally, found the strong Japanese culture in this book refreshing from the majority of Westernized science fiction. It added some unique points to the unfolding story, including the mystery and investigation of the yakuza clans that still exist in the city. Think of yakuza like the mafia or other organized crime syndicates. They have been around since Feudal Japan and are steeped in deep tradition and family bloodlines.

Sanaa starts off as an engineer, working on the first ship that will leave Nishikyo / Earth in order to colonize another planet. She is mysteriously taken off this project and put under the tutelage of a man named Sakai,and is given a new task to analyze data in order to find patterns and information about the yakuza clans in Nishikyo. There is a concern that the yakuza clans may try and create a xenophobic and purely Japanese society on the new planet colony, and it becomes Sanaa's job to discover any truth behind this concern with just one year before the first colony ship launches.

This book touches many points about culture and society that I felt were important when looking at both the future of humanity, but also the possibly extinction of humanity. Would we still hold on to tradition? Religion? Xenophobic views? Even when living in domes, would we choose to separate ourselves by culture and status as we do today? Are these domes any different that the cultural districts of big cities like New York? If there was only one guaranteed ship off a dying world, who would you want... or allow... to get on board?

This book deals with these tough questions, and a great deal more, without passing judgment or standing on a soapbox. Despite being a thousand years from now in a society on the brink of extinction, Pajonas' presents these themes in a way that feels close to home and not far out of reach. I think these binding threads between past, present and a possible, plausible future is what makes this debut work something very special.

http://www.TracingTheStars.com was provided a free review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is not the first book I have read by Yamila Abraham, but it is the first sci-fi romance I have read from her, and I do believe it was her first venture into the genre. Yamila is a very prolific writer who is actually well known for her short novellas that are often romantic to erotic and typically focus on m/m relationships in a yaoi style. My favorite book by her is a m/m romance titled Her Twin Brother, which I think is one of her more mature stories with good characters and a contemporary plotline.

Unfortunately, her venture into SciFi Romance, with Alien Bride, was a bit of a miss for me, because it seemed like this novella included all three of my very least favorite Sci-Fi Romance tropes:

Mars Needs Women (Earth women taken to repopulate alien species who are lacking in population or females of their own.)

It's Okay Because He's Handsome (Female protag somehow has a heart bigger than her body and is able to overlook her captor's faults, such as being a tyrant overlord or murdering people because he is handsome, suave and/or has a big cock. This larger than reality heart often comes at the cost of the female protag's morals, values, intelligence and wit.)

It's Not Rape, It's Questionable Consent (Female protag captive is cajoled, drugged or tricked into accepting the alien's sexual advances and surprisingly enjoys the sex... because he's handsome.)

The book starts off a little bit confusing, with the female protag Meritza, having a flashback to her Peace Corp service. This does, however, give us some information on her character. She appears to be a strong female character and I was looking forward to have her put the aliens in their place, because it was pretty obvious she was going to be abducted. The abduction happens in broad day light, with her screaming but no neighbors seeming to care, instead of the alien doing it while she had been sleeping. This serves the purpose of Meritza being able to describe the alien to the reader.

The alien who abducts her is Hor, personal assistant to her intended alien mate, Lord Elentinus. She promptly renames him Whore, and he promptly treats her like crap through the rest of the book. I actually liked Hor's character more than either Meritza or Elentinus. Lord Elentinus turns out to be a bit of a gentleman, but he is still a Lord of an alien race who has enslaved many other worlds, warred with Earth and is now taking Earth women to repopulate his own dwindling species. Meritza is expected to cooperate, give up her reproductive abilities (to the sum of 24 harvested zygotes per year...) and be a good, diminutive bride for Elentinus, or face punishment from an electric collar around her neck.

I wondered quickly where the strong, spicy Peace Corps Meritza went. She is going into survival mode, but I was expecting, or at least hoping, for her to put up more of a fight. Instead, she falls into the 4th trope of 'I left my backbone and brain back on Earth'. This, mixed with a questionably consensual intimacy scene, just didn't work for me as a reader.

Yamila does bring her writing skills to the book, however, and I would like to point out that the book is well written. It has good characters, good world building and a stable plot. It will probably appeal to many readers, especially those in her large fan-base. As a sci-fi romance reader, it just didn't work for me personally.
The storyline has been done numerous times in SciFi Romance, hence why all the devices have become well-known tropes. I was hoping for something a bit more original, perhaps. I will continue to read Yamila's books, regardless, because I know that many of her stories are great and she has good writing abilities.

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[bc:All These Pieces of Me|18629368|All These Pieces of Me (The Stables #1)|C.E. Kilgore|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1381008150s/18629368.jpg|26421102][bc:Obsessive Compulsion|18629668|Obsessive Compulsion (The Stables #2)|C.E. Kilgore|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1381026400s/18629668.jpg|26421765][bc:If You Still Want Me|18629695|If You Still Want Me (The Stables #3)|C.E. Kilgore|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1381028205s/18629695.jpg|26421828][bc:Pierce the Heart|18629705|Pierce the Heart (The Stables #4)|C.E. Kilgore|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1381028808s/18629705.jpg|26421853]

A chance meeting leads to a new world of possibilities for two people who once thought the broken pieces of their lives would never be worth something to someone else.

Brandon
To say that I’m ugly is like saying a cemetery is quiet. Okay, maybe parts of me are attractive, sure. I’d gotten more than my share of second, hungry glances from women at clubs. Then I’d turn to the other side and they’d get a nice big glimpse of Quasimodo. Only the desperately drunk or the 'I can fix you’ chicks took a third look. Not Emma, though. She looked right at them and didn’t miss a beat. The typical stares from folks noticing my face just blend into the background noise as I try to comprehend this odd little woman. She’s still and quiet, clutching her teddy bear like it’s nobody’s business. And maybe it’s not. Maybe least of all mine.

There’s more there, I’m sure. Way more. And for the first time, I think I’m going to actually put in the effort to find out what, because I think it may just completely blow my sorry world apart.


Emma
The guy walking in front of me is seriously massive. I’d heard that everything is bigger in Texas, but this is absolutely ridiculous. There’s also the matter of his face. He has me both ready to swoon and run screaming in the same crazy second. I’m still not sure which of those options my body has decided on. I think the jury is still out on a lot of things to do with my current state of affairs. I wish I could talk the way that I think instead of stammering through life like a little girl who holds onto a damn teddy bear and continues to obsess over the color pink. I can't, though. My brain just doesn't work that way. His gentle brown eyes put me at ease for some reason I haven’t quite worked out yet, and I really want to know his story.

Scars are just part of life and we all have them. Most of us are lucky, though, and have scars we can hide deep down inside. Most of us aren't forced to wear them on our face.

Review originally published on http://www.TracingTheStars.com

This, ladies and gentlemen, was my very first steampunk novel. Though I'm still acclimating to the steampunk genre, this book was fantastic on so many wonderful levels that it could have probably been about shifters (a genre I absolutely loathe) and I still would have given it five stars. Though not perfect, and it did induce a few eye-roll moments, it hit my key factors for a five star rating: excellent characters, excellent romance, excellent world building and the OMG MOAR flag was even triggered. I am already standing in line, eagerly waiting for book #2, A Dark Heart, to be released in November.

So, lets talk about Steampunk. I have always watched from the sidelines, loving the amazing costumes, liking the overall concepts behind steampunk and am fans of steampunk media such as League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Van Helsing, Wild Wild West, and Steam Powered Giraffe. I've never read steampunk, though. When Prince of Hearts came my way via recommendation, I was a bit hesitant. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to separate my normal rating standards from the fact that I might just not understand or end up not liking steampunk as a literary genre.

It's true. I didn't end up liking steampunk as a literary genre. I ended up loving it.

Now, I have no idea if this book includes steampunk genre standards. It is a Victorian steampunk, and I understand there is a bit of slight variation between this and American / wild west style steampunk. I do have the sudden urge to go on a steampunk bender and read anything with gears on the covers, though, to find out.

One thing that did make me snort with a roll of the eyes, which may or may not be genre-typical, is the fact that some objects and concepts in Prince of Hearts seemed to be flippantly made into steampunk by sticking the word steam in front of them. Steam carriage. Steam torch. Steam wireless. Steam. Steam. Steam. I let this little annoyance slide, though, but I don't think it was necessary to call a torch / lighting device a 'steam torch' just to make it seem more steampunk.

The other thing that, again, I don't know if it is steampunk typical - was the reference to famous people of the time period, like Freud and Edison. The Edison reference really irked me, actually, because Edison was not an inventor. He was a shoddy businessman who stole technology from other, real scientists like Tesla. Also, the male protag's (Sasha) identity and ancestry also made me a bit annoyed, wondering why it was so necessary to make these people famous. I would much prefer if he had been a bit ordinary in his background with an extraordinary story. That aside, I do feel the author handled his story rather well, so I couldn't hold my own famous-people-in-fiction-angst against the book.

So, with all my ineptitude regarding steampunk revealed, lets get down to the story and characters. The story involves a prim and proper Aline Finch who has a hidden wild-streak and is secretary/personal assistant to the mysterious Professor Romanov. Romanov, or Sasha, is a 'crime investigator', though his true identity and past are far more interesting. He is much older than he appears, carrying within his chest a Da Vinci Heart that keeps him from aging. He is part of a council of Da Vinci Heart carrying Elders, though he is an outcast because of his origins (which I'm not going to reveal. Go read the book.)

When we enter into their story, we find an Aline Finch who has had quite enough of the Professor's eccentric ways. She's giving him her two weeks, whether he gets it or not, and has plans to marry an archaeologist. There is a serial killer about, however, who is targeting women that resemble Finch and seems to have plans of framing Sasha. When Sasha finds out that Finch has flown the coup, he chases after her for fear of her safety and because the heart he doesn't have isn't willing to let her go.

Finch. I adored her character, rounded spectacles and all. She may be proper on the outside, but inside is a fiery woman who doesn't give Sasha an inch, holds her own in their war of words and has no qualms about going after what she wants, as soon as she figures out exactly what that is. The possible calm, boring life of being married to her bo Charles, or the unending but heart-pounding drama of Sasha. The chemistry between Sasha and Finch sizzles through the pages, driving the story forward.

There were some things about this book that I wasn't expecting, and I'm not going to say what they were, because I hope they catch you off guard too. There were other parts that were obvious but didn't deter from my overall enjoyment of the book.There is 'debauchery' in this book, too, including a few ripped corsets, but I have zero issues with this. This is certainly recommended, however, for mature readers.

The world building in this book was superbly done, steam-labeling everything aside. You get a real good sense of the events, places and time periods without being suffocated by details. There is a good feeling of background and history, including the Crimean war and the Steam Age, and the history carries into the story with as much impact as the character development and murder-mystery plot. There is alchemy, science, automaton mechatronics and things leaning more towards the paranormal. I found it all rather neat and the book never hit a single dull spot.

I think this book has certainly wet my taste buds for steampunk!

This was seriously sweet. And spicey. What a great little free short story. I'll never look at little blue tiles the same way again.

http://www.TracingTheStars.com was provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read a true science fiction adventure story in a long time. The start of a new series, Book 1 : Awakenings does not disappoint. It has all the elements I desire in a good space adventure story - a reluctant hero fumbling his/her way through new alien space, interesting and unique aliens, exciting twists and turns, a good overall plot and a whole lot of fun.

When Nick, the main character, is introduced, two words immediately came to mind - Dennis Quaid. Nick has that same goofy humanism while at the same time being a smart scientist, just like most of the characters Dennis Quaid portrays in Sci-Fi movies (Enemy Mine, Day After Tomorrow, Innerspace, etc). It makes him lovable, easy to understand and easy to relate to. The way Nick reacts to things after being thrown through hyperspace and into far off spot in the galaxy is believable and pretty much the way I picture myself reacting.

The introduction of Nick to things like translation nanites, turbo-lifts, force-fields and alien species is both entertaining and educational without tossing a bunch of info-dumps at the reader. This book is not entirely info-dump free and could stand a touch from an editor for some paragraph breaking and content flow issues. These infractions were minor, however, and didn't take away from the fun read.

This book is fun. There is an overall plot of Nick trying to find a way to fix his hyperspace module to get back home and deal with the two warring alien factions who have stolen incomplete schematics. Nick finds himself on ship full of aliens, who actually look like aliens, who are more refugees than rebels. The two warring factions, the Dragoran and the Mok'tu, have been ravaging other planets, but Nick's hyperdrive technology changes the playing field.

Carrying this plot forward are mini side plots that feel like episodes from the original Star Trek mixed with the antics of Galaxy Quest. There are away missions (no red shirts), mysterious alien objects, a spy on board, alien-culture learning plots, and more running through the corridors than Into Darkness. Sometimes, these plots can meander a little bit and leave you wondering what happened to the main plot of the book, but it always finds its way back to Nick's hyperdrive and the two warring factions.

Although there are a few stumbles, the book delivers on the important things when it comes to classic Space Adventure. It's fun and entertaining. There is never a dull moment or long break between action and adventure scenes. Aliens who look and act like aliens instead of slightly modified humans. Exploration, character development, spies, technology, gun fights, space battles, and an Admiral that looks like a frog.

So, I am right on board the Hyperspace wagon, eagerly awaiting book 2, which means book 1 gets the OMGMOAR 5 star award from Tracing The Stars. This book is recommended for anyone with a sense of adventure, a sense of humor and a belief that humans are by far not the most or only intelligent life in the universe.

This was a pretty great sampling of short stories. Some real gems in this anthology. I especially liked Leaking Pipes by Deanna Wadsworth, Christmas in the Sandbox by Missy Welsh and You Melted Me by Kari Gregg. Plus, it was a free read!

TracingTheStars.com was provided a free copy for an honest review.

Nobility continues the same Futuristic Regency style that Eva Caye seems to have mastered and uses for all the books in this series. Nobility, at 200,000 words, is long. It is a very involved story, focusing on the life of Matthieu Sinclair, who is next in line to take the throne as Emperor. It follows him as he attempts to find his footing, find someone (trust)worthy to be his wife and etch out the fine line between the duties of his nobility and the goals he has for his own life.

The writing style is clearly regency. It is formal, and at times can feel a bit heavy or stuffy, at least to me as I am not a particular fan of Regency. In fact, I rather detest regency style in any form, including 'futuristic'. There is just something about this series and the way Eva Caye does it, however, that I find myself continuing to read, intrigued by the characters, world and story she has created. Also, if you are looking for a book that has political maneuvering, sabotage, courtly events, an imperial, stately flavor, and royal mannerisms out the wazoo - this book has all of the above.

It is clear from the writing that Eva Caye has created a very solid, understood and in depth universe for her series. From political families and factions to planets and other-worldly cultures, this book drips with world-building and detail. Sometimes, this can cause issues with pace and I did end up reading this book in several different spread-out sittings, taking notes along the way. There is comedy, romance, some action and adventure and some science fiction sprinkled around, but sometimes the scenes in between these and courtly discussions felt slow.

I think if this had just been regency with pacing issues, I would have given it three stars. The fourth star was earned by creating a rich universe filled with interesting characters, unquestionable continuity and for making a genre I loath (regency) palpable for a science fiction and contemporary fiction reader like me. The book is also without error, grammatically speaking, and one can tell it was polished to a shine in this regard.

TracingTheStars.com received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid four-star read for me. Great plot, great characters, excellent world building an enough romantic elements to make me smile without making me feel gooey. There were elements, however, that just didn't quite reach the 'this this total awesomesauce!' five star territory for me. It was close, but I don't give half-stars. Let me explain.

The world building in this book is done through mild contextual clues, well written details and subtle asides, and there is a lot of world-building in this book. The reader starts off on an unfamiliar planet in an unfamiliar galaxy, which I can only assume is somewhere far-far-away. The situation, however, is one the reader can probably relate to - being stuck on a plane that has been delayed take-off for over an hour. The plane is a surface-to-orbit starship, but the idea and feelings are the same. Disgruntled passengers, people worried about missing their connecting flights (in this case, it's worrying about making it on board the Nebula Dream cruise ship that is waiting in space), parents dealing with kids, and flight attendants dolling out the complimentary drinks to try and appease.

I appreciated these little familiar bits, even if everything had an alien twist. The delayed take off gives the author a chance to introduce the main character, Nick, and we learn that he is not getting on the Nebula Dream by choice. He is a special forces captain who has been discharged and is being sent home by the quickest route possible, which just happens to be on the maiden voyage of the Nebula Dream, a cruise ship that is planning to break a speed record despite it's less than complete state of construction.

Sound familiar? A common man among rich people and nobility boarding, by chance, a ship trying to go too fast on it's maiden voyage despite being incomplete. Yes, Wreck of the Nebula Dream is a loose retelling of the Titanic story. Luckily, Nick is a much stronger character than DiCaprio's Jack. So, what about Rose? You can't have a Titanic story without a girl, right?
We meet Mara on the same delayed flight, but unlike the socialite Rose who is trying to pander to her parent's wishes while rebelling against them, Mara is a self-supporting business woman with brains to go right along with her beauty. That beauty and her business demeanor stands out to Nick from the beginning, and he admires her from a far and through a couple of brief conversations. There aren't any sparks, possessive callings, tingles or love-at-first-sight tropes you often get with SFR, and I appreciated this. Their relationship develops naturally, by chance, and as they are thrown together to work through a crisis.

So far so good, right? And it is! There were just some bumps, mostly to do with the pacing, flow and dripping detailed world building that had me holding back on five stars.

Although there is action during the delayed flight via a crazy pregnant lady wielding a knife, it felt like it took forever for them to actually reach the Dream. Once on board, it seemed like Nick wandered around the ship a bit lost for a while before anything interesting happened. This did give the reader some set up as to the incomplete state of the ship, but it just felt like it dragged a little in places. I think it might be because some of the descriptions felt heavy to me, but I am admittedly a dialogue and character reader.

Some of the world-building was also a little jarring. This is a complex and unique universe, heavy in history, different alien cultures, technology and customs. There was no hand holding as far as the world building goes. You are dumped into the deep end with a couple pool-noodles as contextual clues, and asked to swim. You experience things as Nick experiences them, with Nick's knowledge of his universe intact. Sometimes this worked really well, but other times I felt myself floundering a little and having to reread sections after figuring out what Nick already knew to be understood.

All in all, this is a very strong science fiction read with a believable romantic element, an interesting plot, well constructed universe and characters you can easily appreciate and relate to.