Review: Decrypted by Lindsay Buroker

Read from July 16 to 29, 2015

Synopsis: Professor Tikaya Komitopis knew that bringing Admiral Rias Starcrest home to meet her family wouldn’t be easy, not when he led the fleet that decimated her nation during the war. She isn’t surprised when people believe she’s been brainwashed, that Rias is still loyal to the empire, and that he has nefarious plans for her homeland. She is, however, surprised when Rias’s designs to build a submarine lead them to stumble across an ancient secret shrouded in mystery, time, and lies.

If revealed, this secret could mean devastation for Tikaya’s entire nation. It could also mean choosing between her people… and the man she loves.

Decrypted is the sequel to Encrypted and is loosely tied in with the author’s “Emperor’s Edge” series.

Review: Solstice Day Gifts by Lindsay Buroker

Read from June 25 to 26, 2015 — I own a copy

Synopsis: After a year full of adventure, intrigue, and tragedy, Sicarius agrees to spend Solstice Day on a tropical island with Amaranthe, resting and relaxing far away from the chaos of the new republic. But there are a couple of problems. First off, the island is riddled with old wanted posters of Sicarius, along with countless people who would like to collect the bounty. Second… Amaranthe is hoping for a Solstice Day gift.

Sicarius, having never given a gift in his life, finds the second problem far more daunting.

This holiday-themed short story takes place after Forged in Blood II and before Republic.

Review: The Lazarus Experiment

Read from April 17 to 23, 2015 — I own a copy

Synopsis: In 2084, in Upstate New York, Dr. Jonathan Kelton, scientist and chemistry professor, returns home after spending a year in a coma. He has literally been put back together after a catastrophic explosion in his home lab, an event that remains mysterious to him. Under the care of the enigmatic Dr. Rose, he discovers strange gaps in his recent memory — even as he tries desperately to re-bond with his wife, with whom he was in a faltering marriage, and his seven-year-old son. When the body of his one-time 28-year-old, female graduate student surfaces in the Hudson River after a storm — having been mutilated and submerged a year earlier — Jonathan is devastated to find himself accused of her murder. In fact, as he pieces together memories on his own — with the aid of a remote psychiatric device he creates for himself — he starts to recall details of a possessive and dangerous affair with her; in the face of a jealous boyfriend, a demanding, drug addict half-brother, a possibly sinister connection to a bomb plotter at their own university, and also, the girl’s own increasingly sadomasochistic tendencies. Even as he worries that the doctor’s radical, experimental surgery has left him subject to some form of mind control because of his memory lapses, Jonathan tries to race the police to find out who murdered this scared and wayward girl, to protect himself and his family. Did he ever really know the truth? Can he find out who does? Or could he himself really be the killer?

AWW2015 sign up post

It’s that time of the year again, when I pledge to read and review at least 10 Autralian Women Writer’s books.

This year I’m planning to read some of the more well known authors as I’m incorporating a number of them into another reading challenge.

You’ll see the likes of Tara Moss, Keri Arthur, and Kylie Chan. They will however be rubbing shoulders with some of my favourite Indie AWW authors too, like Tahlia Newland, Alison Stuart, and Georgina Anne Taylor.

If you haven’t signed up yet, you can by visiting the AWW website.

 

 

AWW2014 Round up

So I’ve been a little slack with my reviewing on here, and I’ve not gotten around to posting all my Australian Women Writers (AWW) 2014 reviews yet, so here’s my round up post with their details, but keep your eyes peeled for reviews in early 2015 (while I catch up on my backlog).

This year, I read 22 books by Australian women writers, that’s one more than last year in total. My reading list was dominated by romance, thanks to Steam eReads who provided a large number of Aussie Romance books for me to read.

Favourite AWW2014 book goes to…

The only AWW2014 book to get 5 stars, and also one of only three this year in my 93 books.

My best reads from 2013

How did you celebrate the close of 2013? Some champagne with friends or loved ones? How about thrashing about on a dance floor, the exertion forcing beads of sweat to your brow? Perhaps you had a quiet one, tucked up in bed and asleep before the clocks struck midnight?

Celebrate the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014 – the year of accomplishment.