High Flyer (Verdant String, #4) by Michele Diener – Review

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, Michelle Diener, romance, scifi, scifi romance, series

About High Flyer by Michelle Diener

Flying the head-of-planet around isn’t a job for the faint of heart. Especially not on Faldine, the planet in the Verdant String whose magnetic fields actively fight against technology, bringing down the ships of the unwary or the incompetent.

Hana thrives on the challenge, though. Thrives on everything about her job. It keeps her from thinking too much about what happened to her during the war, and what she is becoming. A relationship with the head-of-planet himself, though, is more than she wants to deal with.

Iver Sugotti feels like he fell into the role of head-of-planet by default. He knows he’s good at the job, and he’s enjoying the challenge of making tech work on a planet that eats tech for breakfast, but the one thing he really wants–Hana–seems out of his reach.

His pilot has made it clear she’s not interested, and he can only respect the boundaries she’s set. But when someone wants him dead, he and Hana are plunged into an all-out race for their lives. Iver discovers those closest to him have betrayed him, but also, that his pilot is not as disinterested as she seems.

As they try to outwit their enemies, they discover they are far better together than they are apart, and that Hana really is at her best when she’s flying high.

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Review of High Flyer

High Flyer is the fourth action-packed installment in the Verdant String series.  The Verdant String is a goup of planets that have aligned to provide all the inhabitants an idyllic life.  Everybody flourishes.  Seem far-fetched, doesn’t it.  It is – not everybody is happy with this arrangement, which means there is going to be trouble on Faldine.

Hana and Iver are the two that will run into trouble.  Or trouble finds them.  Iver is the Faldine head-of-planet. Hana is his personal pilot.  When someone tries to shoot them down in flight, the adventure begins.  The action is non-stop.  Hana and Iver keep jumping from one bad spot to another.  And as they will be spending a lot of time together, you can expect some romance too.  This couple’s romance began before the beginning of this story.  Though their employer/employee relationship kept them from acting on their feelings before, the events of High Flyer will bring them even closer.  Between flying together, getting shot down and frequent rescuing of each other, it seems these two are meant to be together.

There were a lot of characters on multiple sides.  Too many characters.  I found it hard to remember who was on which side.  Perhaps if I had been able to read High Flyer in one sitting I would have better attuned to who was who.

Having been over a year since the last book, Trailblazer, means I don’t remember the series as well as I would like.  References to prior events had me scratching my head wishing for a better memory.  Still, you can read this as a standalone.  If you have not read the series, you may not be as affected since you won’t know what you should remember.  Having said that, I think this would be a great series to binge read right now.

Some of the questions that I had at the end of Trailblazer (review here) have been answered in High Flyer.  One of the appeals of this series is the mystery of the ancient settlers of the Verdant String.  Each book gives you a little bit more knowledge about them.  High Flyer is no different and this time, I would say the new knowledge is significant.  And it makes me want more.  I am already looking forward to learning even more in the next installment.

Many thanks to the author who provided a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.

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Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia, narrated by Lauren Fortgang – Audiobook Review

Tags

5 stars, audiobook, Book Review, contemporary, Kate Racculia, Lauren Fortgang, mystery

About Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia

Tuesday Mooney is a loner. She keeps to herself, begrudgingly socializes, and spends much of her time watching old Twin Peaks and X-Files DVDs. But when Vincent Pryce, Boston’s most eccentric billionaire, dies—leaving behind an epic treasure hunt through the city, with clues inspired by his hero, Edgar Allan Poe—Tuesday’s adventure finally begins.

Puzzle-loving Tuesday searches for clue after clue, joined by a ragtag crew: a wisecracking friend, an adoring teen neighbor, and a handsome, cagey young heir. The hunt tests their mettle, and with other teams from around the city also vying for the promised prize—a share of Pryce’s immense wealth—they must move quickly. Pryce’s clues can’t be cracked with sharp wit alone; the searchers must summon the courage to face painful ghosts from their pasts (some more vivid than others) and discover their most guarded desires and dreams.

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Review of Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts

This is a book I could not resist.  Edgar Allan Poe has long been a favorite author of mine, so this book, with so many Poe references, called to me.  In answering the call, I was treated to an adventure through Boston neighborhoods while surrounded by several unusual characters whose stories are both fun and heartwarming.

Tuesday and friends her Dex and Dorry, as well as her new acquaintance Archie all join in the hunt for Vincent Pryce’s treasure – sometimes working together, sometimes not, but all ending up in the final leg of the treasure hunt.  Along the way, each character faces their past in order to move forward in the future.  The back flashes during the story did not always make sense, but everything comes together nicely at the end.  The loner who is a whiz at research, the gay man always searching for what he wants, the young girl who misses her mother terribly and the man born to both privilege and abuse make up the cast of characters that I sympathized with.  Each was a hero in his or her own way in this story.

Don’t let the title fool you.  This is not a ghost story.  Tuesday does talk to the ghost of her dead childhood best friend.   Or maybe she has just manifested Abby in head because she needs someone to talk to.  Tuesday and the reader believe both theories, alternatively.  The truth?  Well, you will have to figure that out yourself.

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts is delightful!  The very quirky story of the brainy Tuesday Mooney and her eclectic group of friends takes the reader on a hunt for treasure, adventure, self-discovery, and friendship.

If you are thinking about the audiobook version, go for it.  Narrator Lauren Fortgang delivers a fine performance adding a range of emotions with a calm, pleasant voice.  Nicely done!

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The Opium Smuggler (The Viper and the Urchin, #7) by Celine Jeanjean – Review

Tags

5 stars, Adventure, Book Review, Celine Jeanjean, fantasy, series, Steampunk

About The Opium Smuggler by Celine Jeanjean

Adelma has one dream: to set herself up as a smuggler. But as the daughter of a fisherman, that’s easier said than done.

As she slowly starts to network in the smuggling world, she comes across a man who loudly mocks her looks. What’s a self-respecting wannabe smuggler to do? Punch his lights out, of course. Preferably in front of an audience—adding humiliation to injury.

But the man turns out to be far more powerful than she realised, successfully ensuring no one in the smuggling world will give her work.

With no options left, Adelma turns to one of the most dangerous people in Damsport. No one knows where The Widow comes from, whether she’s truly a widow, or how she came to operate Damsport’s largest criminal network.

Adelma’s first smuggling job is going to be a route that no seasoned smuggler has ever survived. That’s enough of a challenge, but it’ll be even harder with someone after her, determined to make sure she fails.

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Review of The Opium Smuggler

The story of Adelma’s earlier life gives perspective on Adelma and how she got to be who she is.

Adelma is influenced by her father who she loved very much.  “You see, Adelma, my girl, that is how we deal with people what insult us.  Retaliation  is key – never ever let a slight against you pass without answering it.”  This advice from her father made Adelma a force to be reckoned with.  From the first time she was bullied – to Assurak, the man who mocks Adelma early in this story.  Adelma likes to throw punches first and ask questions never.   Pop also said, “People always let you down.  At the end of the day, you can only rely on me and on yourself.”  Wise words that make Adelma trust no one and believe that everyone has a game.

Adelma is influenced by her love of the sea, having grown up fishing with her father.  She sails the boat her father left her.  She is a very capable sailor and because of that believes the life a smuggler will do just fine for her.  After a few small successes, she can’t resist the opportunity to join up with the Widow.

And she is influenced by Radish, who will become the love of her life.  The contentious relationship between Adelma and Radish is highly entertaining.

The story also introduced Two Planks who will become Rory’s friend.  Rory and the rest of the crew are all absent from this story.  This is Adelma’s story alone.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I would like The Opium Smuggler.  Adelma is my least favorite character in The Viper and the Urchin series.  She is loud, sometimes obnoxious, always drinking and often thinks the best way to handle a sticky or annoying situation is through violence.  So no, Adelma has not endeared herself to me.

But I truly enjoyed getting to know Adelma a little better.  Readers of the series should check this out.  If you have not been reading this series, don’t worry.  The Opium Smuggler stands entirely on it’s own.

Thanks to the author who provided a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.

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