STAR CAPTAINS' DAUGHTER featured...

...at Christine's blog 'Finding Free eBooks' - http://finding-free-ebooks.blogspot.com/ Right now I'm editing The Star Captains' Daughter for the switch to FREE eBook, actually, but the first twelve chapters are available at http://thestarcaptainsdaughter.wordpress.com/

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For more great stories, check out this Enduring Romance post we keep adding to and feel free to add to it yourself - http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2008/11/great-stories-for-free-dirt-cheap.html

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Thank you, Christine!

New Resources Added

http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/search/label/Great%20Stories%20for%20Free%20Dirt%20Cheap

Blogging Advice for New Authors

Read it, live it, don't forget to link all your sites. Make it fun and EASY for readers to find your books! Thanks, Tia. http://fantasydebut.blogspot.com/2008/12/blogging-advice-for-new-authors.html

THE COMMANDER'S DESIRE by Jennette Green

Princess Elwytha's beloved older brother, King Thor has been brutally murdered, cowardly struck in the back by a distinctive sword. Elwytha knows that sword belongs to the Commander, a fierce warrior loyal to a feuding Prince, so she also knows he must have done the deed. Still, her remaining brother and new King's plot for revenge doesn't sit well with Elwytha. She is to approach the feuding Prince with both an offer of peace and an offer of marriage and then, when their guard is down, slay the Commander. Isn't that as dishonorable as the first attack?

Once arriving at the enemy palace, however, the plan unravels. She finds herself engaged to the Commander instead. This Commander also isn't the cold hearted monster she was told of. He is patient, and kind, and honorable. Elwytha's heart and loyalty is soon conflicted between the brother she loves and the man she could love.

I adored the Commander (he does have a real name, we find out at the end of the book). Elwytha spends most of the novel crying (she cries a LOT) or cussing him out or otherwise being irrationally emotional and the Commander finds this completely fascinating. He is truly a gentle giant. I loved how both Princes had good and bad parts of their personalities. I wasn't quite sure up to the end who was the true baddie. No, wait, I'm still not sure. I know one is definitely a villain but the other? He could be either the villain or the hero in the next novel. You'll have to read The Commander's Desire to decide for yourself (when you finish it, let me know what you think).

The Commander's Desire is an entertaining read. I look forward to reading more about a certain could-be-evil/could-be-misunderstood Prince and will keep an eye out for Jennette Green's sure-to-be sequel.

The bedroom door is securely shut in this historical romance. The gore-a-meter didn't beep once.

10 2008 Book Picks

I read a LOT of books, averaging one romance novel a day, so when Kimber An suggested we put together our top 10 books for the year, I groaned. More than groaned. Ripped at my hair, looked up at the sky (actually up at my oh-so-80's popcorn ceiling) and asked 'why me?' LOL. Yes, very dramatic. I do write in my spare time, you know.

I thought I'd put together a nice cross-section of books I like, a sampler plate for my fellow book lovers (like foodies… bookies? No, that means something else entirely). No order to this so if you're an author, don't get excited about your novel being first or last. Oh, I'm also going to give you all new books (i.e. books I've not mentioned yet this year).

Older Heroine/Hero
SECOND CHANCE by Janis Susan May

This is a Regency tale about, you guessed it, a second chance at love. Verity loved and lost Bradford and now years later, he's back. Both have had a full life apart but neither married or found love again.

A Viking Romance
MY LADY VIKING by Jean C. Gordon

A Viking treasure hunt romance, need I say more? I laughed, I cried, I fed my hubby a can of baked beans for dinner.

A Civil War Short
IN THE SHADOW OF MY HEART by Victoria Pitts-Caine

This civil war romance may only be 6 pages long but those 6 pages are pure poetry. Priced at chocolate bar levels, In The Shadow Of My Heart will last longer. I dreamt about this short. It tugs at your heart.

A Traditional Regency
TWO HEARTS by Barbara Miller

Two Hearts is everything a traditional Regency romance should be. The heroine is spunky, the hero strong, and the dialogue fast and witty. I laughed and I cried.

A Humorous Contemporary
DEALER'S HEART by Cyndi Whitten

This was my favorite contemporary romance of the year (yes, it beat out my own novel – Breach Of Trust). Oh, man, oh, man, Abby, the heroine, is hilarious. I spit lemonade out my nose (and that burns, take my word for it). Abby tries to trick Cole into giving her grandfather back a racehorse. That would be easier if Mother Nature wasn't so set against it. Features hurricanes, flying jeeps, and stuck in the mud cows.

A Medieval Pick
KNAVE'S HONOR by Margaret Moore

Although A Lover's Kiss is my favorite Margaret Moore 2008 title, I've already reviewed that Regency gem, and frankly, I haven't read a bad Margaret Moore book in… well… ever. Knave's Honor is a Medieval and Margaret Moore's Medievals always shine.

A Classic Beast Book
RAVISHED by Amanda Quick

I love my beauty and the beast romances and one of the best of all time is Ravished by Amanda Quick. I love how Harriet has faith in her beast Gideon even through the darkest black moment. What is love without trust?

Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
WIZARD'S DAUGHTER by Catherine Coulter

Tired of vampires and werewolves? What about a wizard story? Very well written, the words flow like poetry. My biggest issue with this novel is the print version has very, very small font.

A Time Travel Rock Star
Time To Keep by Susan Cody

Those that know me know I don't like stories about time travel, I don't like stories about rock stars, and I REALLY don't like stories about uptight businesswomen (businesswomen are busy – for some reason that always translates to being uptight) so I was shocked to love this novella. The writing was wonderful, the characters interesting and fun.

A Cowboy Anthology
Brides Of The West by Michele Ann Young, Billie Warren Chai and Kimberly Ivey

Kimber's must stick together…. Just joking. I know nothing about the American West other than what I've watched in Westerns so I was enchanted and educated with this collection of tales about mail order brides. The bravery of these women amazed me. They traveled half way across the country (where they knew no one) to marry a man they also didn't know. And I fret over attending the hubby's holiday party each year.

Oh, boy, that's it, isn't it? My 10. Now my brain is spent from all that decision making. Maybe I'll lose myself in my to-be-read pile. There are some goodies waiting to be top picks for 2009.

YA SF Updated

http://youngadultsciencefiction.blogspot.com/

Happy Thanksgiving!

For anyone who's surrendered to hopelessness, this book could save your life. Although marketed to children, the story is ageless.

I know you are saying to yourselves -

“But, Mfitz’s SF reviews go up on the fourth THURSDAY, of every month, why is this one showing up on Wednesday?”

I will be traveling and may or may not have Internet access over Thanksgiving weekend so Kimber An said I could post my November review a day early.

Now, before people start to think I’m the some sort of weird stalker fan of Tobias Buckell, Kimber An asked if I would review Ragamuffin so that all three Caribbean space opera books would have reviews on this site. Buckell is a bang-up writer, and a great guy so I had no problem at all with posting a review of his second book. Since I have been up to my eyeballs in home remodeling, trying to make sure we would have floors in our house before the holiday season arrived, I’m pulling up this review originally posted on my personal blog last year when Ragamuffin first came out. Buckell had a serious health scare last week, so if you like his work check out his blog and send him some get well wishes.

Enjoy this review and have a great Thanksgiving!

Ragamuffin is a rollicking big Space Opera. There is a great sky-hook scene early on in the book with the most haunting mental image of a sky-hook I ever come across. The sky-hook is throwaway as far as the plot goes. The character could have used a other way to get off the planet, but I think Buckell chose a sky-hook just for the pure coolness factor. The whole book is like that, with little bits and pieces of cool ideas crammed in all the nooks and crannies and a non-stop roller-coaster plot. Some reviewers have complained the book is cluttered, but I didn't think so. It was like eating rocky road ice cream, there was something yummy in each bite and no two were the same.

Things like wormholes, aliens, sky-hooks, and giant L5 habitats, exist in this universe and are no more exciting, or unusual, to the characters than cars, or condos, are to us. They are part of the landscape not important parts of he plot. This use of SF standbys without stopping to fill in nuts-and-bolt technobabble is part of what makes the book so fun. The other part is the cast of quirky multiethnic characters many of who, even the familiar characters from Crystal Rain, aren't what they seem at first glance. Ragamuffin is not so much a sequel to Crystal Rain as another story set in the same universe. Some characters from Crystal Rain do show up in the book, but the main action happens elsewhere, outside Nanagada

Another interesting thing in the book is humanity's place in this universe. Humans aren't the bright shining conquering heroes, nor are they feisty rebels fighting evil alien overlords, the standard default positions in most SF. In this book humans are marginal, most of what they do doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, except to other humans. They are, for the most part, pawns, bottom feeders, or shady dealers, living on the fringes of civilization because they don't have the political, or technical, clout to take control. This isn't all that cheerful a situation, but it's not completely bleak either. By the end of the book there is some indication that the status quo in the universe is about to get shaken up, and that humans are going to play a part in that, even if they aren't leading the overthrow.

IMMORTAL WARRIOR by Lisa Hendrix

IMMORTAL WARRIOR starts with the Viking raids on Britain; fierce warriors who were sent by their chieftain, Hakon Irontoe, to gain treasure. But they ran afoul of the treasure’s protector- the witch Cwen, who conjured warriors and sent her son to lead them. He died in the fighting.

Cwen’s fury and grief led her to curse the Norse warriors, turning them into shadow beasts. Half man, half animal, each taking the form of his fylgja, or spirit companion whose image he wore on a chain, they were also made immortal so their torment could last forever.

Centuries later, Ivar Graycloak, now known as Ivo de Vassy, has the favor of William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror. He has won many battles for William despite spending his days in the form of an eagle. Ivar has been lonely, and he’s growing tired of his nomadic existence. He longs for a hall of his own- good friends and a good woman in front of his own fire. He gets his wish when William grants him an estate, complete with a wife.

Ivar has two friends from the Viking days; Brand, their leader, who spends his days as a bear, and Ari, who spends nights as a raven. They think Ivar’s crazy- his secret will surely be discovered and it will end badly. But Ivar longs for the warmth of companionship and a home, and is willing to take it for as long as it lasts.

The estate is given with a command to marry the granddaughter of its’ former owner, one Lady Alaida. She isn’t thrilled at being given to some usurper, and plans to take her saved coin and run for a nunnery and pay for sanctuary. Her grandfather has been imprisoned, and she has been besieged by suitors hoping to gain the estate and her. She just wants to work to see her grandfather freed and reinstated as the Lord of Alnwick.

Ari finds her as she runs, convincing her that Ivar is a good man and will be a good lord and husband. She returns to wed Ivar for the sake of her people. She still wants a bit of her own back, though. She shows up to the wedding in the habit of a nun. Rather than show anger at her cheek, he laughs. He likes her spirit.

The wedding night is more than she expected. Ivar is considerate and passionate, treating her gently but seeing to it that she enjoys herself. Ivar has been kind, humorous, and protective of her and the estate. She starts to see all sorts of possibilities for her new life until she wakes the next morning to find her husband gone.

As he is gone every morning, riding out with Brand, never returning until after sundown. Ari becomes her friend and companion during the day, but what she really wants is to spend daylight hours with Ivar. He won’t confide in her his reasons for going out, which infuriates Alaida.

He also hasn’t touched her again. Ari is also a seer, and has had a horrible vision of Alaida screaming over an empty cradle, through the eyes of one who has just flown out the window. Now afraid that a child of his would also have his curse, Ivar has to content himself with talking alone. Alaida knows he has affection for her, and the wedding night proved he has passion, so what is wrong with the man she’s growing to love?

One time proves to be the charm, however, as Alaida learns that she is pregnant.

If you’re like me, you thought of a great old movie, Ladyhawke. The similarity ends with the animal by night, human by day, though. Ivar and Alaida really get to know each other, and you can see their love grow- even though Alaida has to deal with mounting frustration at her husband’s daytime disappearances. Ivar is just adorable, pining for his wife and demanding to know how to care for the baby, including changing nappies. He’s afraid he’ll have to take the babe and leave if it turns into a eagle, so he must know everything about his child’s care.

Lisa Hendrix has written a wonderful fantasy, the kind you want to dig into, not skim. Her characters have believable motives and reactions, and the relationships are as satisfying as the magical setting. The heat level, what there is of it, is highly sensual. It made sense, though. That one night has to start them on the road, so to speak, and provide a lot of impetus for Alaida’s willingness to put up with Ivar’s eccentricities. It’s as much about their emotions as their bodies, and I appreciated it. Thanks, Lisa!

Lisa Hendrix Reviewed Later Today!

As soon as I come home from church.

YA SciFi Updated

http://youngadultsciencefiction.blogspot.com/

Review: In the Dead of Winter

Hello Blog Buddies!

Up for today is In The Dead of Winter by Nancy Mehl. It's a cozy mystey that I found thanks to the great people on the DorothyL list - a wonderful resource for talking about mysteries and finding great books!

This is also considered inspirational fiction. I don't typically read inspirational fiction, so I don't know if this is standard for the genre, but basically there are references to God and the main character is a Christian so occasionally prays, etc. It felt very seamlessing integrated into the story to me.

So, the setup - Samantha "Ivy" Towers returns to Winter Break, Kansas when her beloved Aunt Bitty dies. Aunt Bitty lived above the used book store that she owned and ran. It was a place of warmth and comfort for Ivy, the most home she ever felt. But soon it seems to Ivy that Winter Break isn't as safe as she assumed. The story of her aunt falling from the book store ladder doesn't add up and Ivy needs to find out the truth.

If you love winter and Christmas and cozy mysteries in front of cozy fires this book is for you! Some others you might enjoy along these lines are Death of a Cozy Writer by G.M. Maillet and Christmas at Cliffhanger Inn by Christine E. Collier.

Great Stories for Free & Dirt Cheap

Good morning, Blog Buddies. Kimber An here.

We always encourage you all to buy your favorite authors' books new, because that's how they make money. If they don't make money the publishers won't publish their books and you won't have any new stories to read. But, let's face reality here. If you have to choose between milk for your children or buying your favorite author's book new, whatcha gonna do? These are hard economic times we're living in. Stories have always been essential to emotional well-being during such times. This is how Bugs Bunny became some a huge star in World War II.

So, please, do buy your favorite authors' books new, if you can. If you can't, I, for one, won't fault you. It's more important that you just keep reading.

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After the financial issue, there's also the question of choice when it comes to buying books. If you happen to love a certain genre/subgenre which is stuck in Trend Hell right now, you're not going to have much choice in the New Releases. You might be able to find one or two Paranormal Romance novels without blood-sucking dead guys, for example, but it won't be easy. In that case, pop over to any of the blogs or websites which specialize in sorting through the Endless Parade of Sameness and make a list before proceeding with any of the other options. http://theromancereader.com/

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FREE

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Trade books with your friends!

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InterLibrary Loan. Many people know you can have books sent to you from other libraries within your state or county, but a lot of people don't know you can have a book sent to you from anywhere in the nation. I live in Alaska and I once got a book from Colorado, I think it was, sent all the up here to me for FREE. Find your local library's website. I'll use Anchorage because I don't live there anymore. http://lexicon.ci.anchorage.ak.us/ Notice that the web address isn't the same as the actual name. This can make it difficult to find your library's website, but persevere! Go to the library's website and search for the words, InterLibrary Loan, or something similar. You'll notice it's near the bottom of the Anchorage site under the heading, 'Special Services.' You can have a book sent from any participating library in the United States send to you for FREE. I think it took a week or two for my book to arrive.

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Internet.

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There are free short stories and full novels all over the Internet. Project Gutenburg is a huge database of free electronic novels. You can obtain some of the greatest stories ever written from their site. My husband downloaded WAR OF THE WORLDS by H. G. Wells there. http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page Here's one just for Romance novels- http://www.talewins.com/Browzer/novels.htm

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Published Authors.

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Many published authors give away free books in promotional contests, so check on their websites and blogs regularly for such offers. Susan Grant recently offered one of her best novels, CONTACT, in a contest, autographed and everything. http://susangrant.blogspot.com/ Also, many of them offer free stories as a way to get you hooked on their regular books. You'll find a collection of Linnea Sinclair's stories at the bottom of this page- http://linneasinclair.com/bar.htm And some published authors also have serial novels http://www.brokentype.com/frostbite/ {FROSTBITE by David Wellington is a Horror novel, which we don't review here.} and novels to download for free http://www.spacejock.com.au/Hal1Download.html sometimes temporarily and sometimes indefinitely.

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Unpublished or Self-Published Authors

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There are many authors out there whose novels have not been published in the traditional sense. Some people assume it's because the novels are crap. Not true. A lot of the time, it's simply because the novels appeal to a small audience, which means they couldn't make enough money to make it worth while to a regular publisher. So, if you're looking for variety, these stories are the way to go! Do bear in mind that most unpublished and self-published authors cannot afford professional editing, so be a little more forgiving. Here's an author whose site also lists other free on-line novels- http://www.free-online-novels.com/ Here's my own serial novel- http://thestarcaptainsdaughter.wordpress.com/

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Dirt Cheap

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Great books can be found at yard sales and thrift stores, like those operated by charities. Salvation Army, Value Village, and Bishop's Attic are the names of some of Alaska's thrift shops. Now, here's a trick. If you can't find what you're looking for there, sometimes you can find books in *New Condition.* Buy them and take them to your local Used Bookstore which excepts trades. They'll get new stock and you'll get the books you really want at an even greater discount.

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Used Bookstores can be so wonderful. Title Wave Bookstore in Anchorage, Alaska is so beloved by my family we consider it a vacation destination. http://www.wavebooks.com/catalog/index.php It now sells both used and new books and will ship books free anywhere within Alaska. I predict Used Bookstores will profit hugely during this difficult economic time. Barnes & Nobel had better pay attention!

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Self-published novels through Lulu.com http://www.lulu.com/en/buy/?cid=en_tab_buy vary widely in price, but many can be found for free or very cheap (under, say, $3.)

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Likewise, ePublishers' prices vary widely too. Some are more reasonable than others. http://www.ebookcrossroads.com/epublishers.html If you don't have an eBook reading device, like the Kindle from http://www.amazon.com/ you should be able to read ePublished books on your computer.

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Speaking of Amazon.com, you can get a lot of books for Dirt Cheap there too, including self-published. Also, eBay is awesome. http://books.shop.ebay.com/Books__W0QQ_sacatZ267?_trksid=p3907.m21 The best way to save money when ordering print copies on-line is to buy paperbacks. Shipping & Handling charges can be aweful, especially if you live near the Arctic Circle like me! I know Amazon.com has Super Saver shipping too. Explore your options.

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That's all I can think of for now. If any of you have other suggestions or want to recommend Free or Dirt Cheap stories on-line, please do so in the Comments. Thank you!

YA SciFi Updated

http://youngadultsciencefiction.blogspot.com

THE HOST by Stephanie Meyer

Heather has a lively review/discussion going. http://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/2008/11/stephenie-meyers-host-is-it-science.html