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Collision Course (8th Wing #1)

by Zoe Archer (Goodreads Author)

3.38 of 5 stars 3.38 · rating details · 279 ratings · 78 reviews

In a galaxy torn apart by war...

Mara Skiren is a scavenger, a black-market dealer. Blackmailed into helping Commander Kell Frayne infiltrate a treacherous corner of the galaxy, Mara learns that her biggest danger is from her sexy, by-the-book partner. She's a loner with more than a few battle scars on her heart, but something about Commander Frayne stirs up her long-buried...more

ebook, 141 pages

Published April 4th 2011 by Carina Press (first published March 16th 2011)

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May 27, 2011 Felicia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: vaginal-sf

Oh boy. For laughs, this deserves a 5 guys.

Not to say I didn't enjoy this book, but it is LOLZ-worth indeed. For the benefit of doubt, SF romance RARELY works well actually (see Ann Aguerre's Sirantha Jax for an excellent example) so, granted, this genre is hard to do. And FOR THE RECORD, I've enjoyed other works by this author, but this novella just missed the meat. Er, actually it kinda found it. It's basically lady porn, guys.

QUOTE:
"Sweet meteor candy...This man amazed her...He was one of the...more

21 likes · like · see review

May 27, 2011 Alisha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ac-g

Quick Take:
A solid series-starter, this would make for a good first taste of sci-fi romance for fans of paranormal romance. Some very minor personal gripes couldn't keep me from loving this action-filled, steamy romp.

Review:
A new sci-fi romance series is born! This is a great bit of news, since this segment of the romance genre definitely deserves more love and attention, especially given the increased popularity of its sibling paranormal romance. In my view, Collision Course is sci-fi lite—in a...more Quick Take:
A solid series-starter, this would make for a good first taste of sci-fi romance for fans of paranormal romance. Some very minor personal gripes couldn't keep me from loving this action-filled, steamy romp.

Review:
A new sci-fi romance series is born! This is a great bit of news, since this segment of the romance genre definitely deserves more love and attention, especially given the increased popularity of its sibling paranormal romance. In my view, Collision Course is sci-fi lite—in a good way. It would be a decent segue into its genre from those used to PnR.

This book is aptly named, as it involves the clash between classes, ideologies, and—most specifically—the two main characters. The plot itself is straightforward, with not many asides. The set-up of an epic struggle between corporations 8th Wing and PRAXIS is fun, and carries much potential. It’s pure space opera to the max.

Though there is a good bit of legitimate world-building, the narrative definitely doesn’t hold your hand through visuals. The text is full of what I like to call “nothing words.” Those are science-fiction-sounding wording that ultimately carry no real meaning to the reader; comprehension instead comes from the rest of the sentence, as in “he was as sneaky as a Cormelian sea worm.” But this sometimes happens in science fiction writing, right? One must simply get used to working more actively with the descriptions provided.

I really enjoyed the hero, Kell Frayne. He was intriguing both when serving as the narrative voice, and when being described through the heroine’s head. There’s something rather attractive about the tough and practical yet honorable hero. ^_^ He’s definitely one of the strongest sources of my attachment to the book.

Zoe Archer is quite good at action sequences. My excitement for the book ratcheted up several notches in the third act, where most of the high-octane activity takes place. In that area, the author seems to have a great sense of pacing and tension building.

I must make a small note of one aspect that didn’t thrill me, though. A little bit of the later dialogue felt a bit too trite for my taste. It was discourse between the hero and heroine, too…oh well.

This story is definitely a solid series starter. I’d recommend it to those newer to or unfamiliar with the genre, since its themes are fairly universal and the world built thus far is not too complex.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 12, 2011 Crystal ♥ RBtWBC rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: request-netgalley, best-of-2011

Mara is a tough-as-nails scavenger pilot who likes to be in control, Kell is an elite Black Wraith fighter pilot who fights for what he wants. Put them together and you get a steamy space adventure that takes you through gritty scavenger bars, dangerous energy storms and a war for freedom.

Collision Course drew me in immediately and I didn’t put it down until the last page. I’ve had Archer on my TBR list for a long time now and if Collision Course is anything to go by then I am missing out on so...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 27, 2011 Jacqueline rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, netgalley, kindle-reads, sci-fi-romance

A nice little SciFi romance novella. There wasn't room to develop the sci fi element greatly but what there was was decent. There weren't any glaring bits that made me grimace as sometimes happens when romance authors try sci fi. Attention was paid to piloting ships and description of space and planets in enough detail that it was firmly in the SFR camp rather than the futuristic romance camp.

However the gist of the story is the romance that develops between Mara, a smuggler sort, and Kell, a m...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Suzanne the Mighty ~Satin Seductress~ rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: pdf-kindle, netgalley-arc, sci-fi, romance, action-adventure

Mara is a Scavenger, a smuggler and criminal, but the doesn't stop the 8th Wing from blackmailing her into helping them save one of their pilots and a high tech fighter ship that has been taken from them. Used to flying solo Mara doesn't like having the arrogan Commander, Kell, on her ship, the Arcadia is her home and she rarely allows anyone inside. But Kell quickly gets under her skin and she finds her self reluctantly falling for him.

I don't know if I have just overloaded on sci-fi romance or...more

1 like · like · see review

May 10, 2011 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

Posted at http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?...

Mara and Kell are a smokin’ hot couple. If pages could catch fire due to the heat characters generate, this book would have scalded my hands. Well, it’s an eBook, so my Kobo would have melted…and that would have pissered me off…so maybe that wasn’t such a good analogy. But you catch my drift. But in case you don’t, I’ll spell it out for you: The chemistry between Mara and Kell is spectacular.

After reading Zoe Archer’s Blades of the Rose books and...more Posted at http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?...

Mara and Kell are a smokin’ hot couple. If pages could catch fire due to the heat characters generate, this book would have scalded my hands. Well, it’s an eBook, so my Kobo would have melted…and that would have pissered me off…so maybe that wasn’t such a good analogy. But you catch my drift. But in case you don’t, I’ll spell it out for you: The chemistry between Mara and Kell is spectacular.

After reading Zoe Archer’s Blades of the Rose books and thoroughly enjoying them, I placed Zoe on my “no matter what she writes, I will check it out, unless it’s about man-eating broccoli, then I may just draw the line there” list. I knew (thanks to Twitter) that she was releasing sci/fi romance book, and since she’s on my fancy list (and even though I also often have trouble relating to sci-fi settings), I decided to check it out. And I am really glad I did.

Collision Course takes place in a whole other world/galaxy and is filled with spaceships and other space stuff. The story revolves around Mara, a scavenger, who is blackmailed into helping the 8th Wing track and save one of their pilots and Kell, a member of the 8th Wing who is to accompany Mara on her mission. And even though there is so much “space stuff” going on, you can’t help but focus on this couple. From the moment they meet, the sparks fly. It’s not like their attraction overpowers the plot, but it definitely rides right alongside it.

I love characters like Mara. A strong and independent woman who has worked very hard to get where she is. She has no time for friends, let alone partners or relationships. Yet Kell cracks through. And Kell, confident and smart, is also used to working alone and being alone. He pretty much has one thing on his mind and that is to help in the war against the heartless conglomerate who is trying to pretty much take over space. I really enjoyed watching as Mara and Kell slowly let their barriers down. They worked really well together and, as I mentioned before, their chemistry… well, it worth reading this book just to witness that.

And don’t worry about the fact that this is a novella. It does not read like one. Zoe manages to really give you a good feel for the setting and scenery, a thorough understanding of the characters and their mission and a clean, unrushed ending. Very well written.

Zoe said that each book in this series will focus on a different couple, but that past characters will make an appearance. I am excited about that and can’t wait to see what she cooks up for the members of the 8th Wing. Next up is Lt. Jur’s story in Chain Reaction, which is due out November 28th 2011.

I knew I’d get a good story and a good coupling, because this is a Zoe Archer book after all, but this book surpassed my expectations. It was sweet and steamy and action-filled. It was, simply put, a great book.

4.5 stars(less)

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Apr 14, 2011 Mandi Schreiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Favorite Quote: “Launching,” she murmured, “in five, four, three, two, one. Hang on to your balls, Commander.”

I really enjoyed Zoe Archer’s Blades of the Rose series this past year. Now she has the start of a new series going in a different direction – Sci Fi. I don’t read a lot of sci fi but I had a feeling I would like this one because I love Zoe Archer’s style – and I guessed correctly.

Mara is a scavenger who dips her toes in the black market and because of her somewhat shady career and super...more Favorite Quote: “Launching,” she murmured, “in five, four, three, two, one. Hang on to your balls, Commander.”

I really enjoyed Zoe Archer’s Blades of the Rose series this past year. Now she has the start of a new series going in a different direction – Sci Fi. I don’t read a lot of sci fi but I had a feeling I would like this one because I love Zoe Archer’s style – and I guessed correctly.

Mara is a scavenger who dips her toes in the black market and because of her somewhat shady career and super knowledge of the Smoke Quadrant , she gets blackmailed into helping the 8th Wing, an elite Black Wraith Squadron recover a ship and pilot who have been kidnapped. The ship has special technology wanted by the PRAXIS group, aka the bad guys. It becomes Mara’s mission to go into the Smoke Quadrant and retrieve the kidnapped pilot and lost ship. But the fun begins when she is forced to take on a partner – Commander Kell Frayne of the 8th Black Wraith Squadron.

What really stands out in Collision Course is the chemistry between Mara and Kell. Mara is so strong willed and stubborn. She doesn’t want to take part in this rescue mission, especially with another person. She likes to work alone. Period. But she can’t deny the physical attraction she has to Kell the first time she lays eyes on him. Their banter and flirtation take on a great tone. From the stolen glances, to the pure sexual hunger emanating from Kell. For example, the first night together, Kell sleeps on a mattress in the hallway and Mara is in her room. They are apart yet they still have this incredibly sexy scene – you can feel the tension coming off each of them as they try to not make a move towards a physical relationship. It doesn’t last long and the romance is very hot indeed.

We not only have romance but some great action scenes as well. The world is described nicely and for all of the sci-fi terms there are, the story flows well and I was able to picture the setting in my mind as I read.

A fun ride to watch two such strong characters take a step back and rely on the other to accomplish not only their mission, but a step towards love as well. Collision Course is a sexy novella that I definitely recommend.

Rating: B+(less)

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Aug 04, 2011 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

FANTASTIC Science Fiction Romance!!!!

This is my first Zoe Archer book (Blades of the Rose) and I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to read it specifically for this review.

Mara Skiren, the scavenger, has been blackmailed into a rescue mission for the 8th wing. Mara, who is a one woman crew of her own spaceship, has been forced to have the arrogant Commander Kell Frayne tag along with her for this mission. These two are instantly attracted to each other, but there is no way anything can...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 04, 2011 Sarah (Inklings Read) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, ebook

First off let me say, this was a very entertaining read! You have Mara a stubborn, beautiful, in-control scavenger and you put her with Kell, a sexy, strong, 8th wing officer and you get the recipe for a a great, super-steamy romance!

The characters could not have been more likeable! Mara was the epitome of 'I don't give a shit' kick-ass while Kell was tied to his duty as an 8th wing officer. This contradiction made for some great interactions. It was fun watching each of them learn that neither...more

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Apr 07, 2011 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: novella, review, sci-fi-romance, read-in-2011

Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2011/04/06/...

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: Out Now!
How I got this book: NetGalley

I’m a big fan of space opera romance, and man oh man does Archer deliver one of the best I’ve ever read!

Mara is down on her luck when she gets blackmailed into helping the 8th Wing get back one of their pilots and top secret ships. Because of her special skills (dealing in the black market), Mara really doesn’t have a choice. But her day gets worse wh...more Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2011/04/06/...

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: Out Now!
How I got this book: NetGalley

I’m a big fan of space opera romance, and man oh man does Archer deliver one of the best I’ve ever read!

Mara is down on her luck when she gets blackmailed into helping the 8th Wing get back one of their pilots and top secret ships. Because of her special skills (dealing in the black market), Mara really doesn’t have a choice. But her day gets worse when she realizes she has to work with a partner, the sex on legs Kell.

The two are instantly attracted, but for them both, the mission has always come first. But with danger lurking around every corner, the two quickly fall to their passion. With their enemies, other mercenaries and mercs hot on their heels, they will have to work together to complete their mission, get out alive, and figure out just where life can take them.

I really can’t say enough fabulous things about Collision Course. I loved the world Archer created, and the fact that she didn’t go heavy on the science fiction. It was soft, easy to understand and get involved in, and so compelling I immediately got sucked in. The balance of space battles and romance were the perfect combination to give any romance reader a thrill ride, regardless of the sub-genre.

Mara and Kell were super fun characters as well. Both were strong in their values and beliefs. I enjoyed that they both had such depth to them, even though the story was shorter than your average novel. The history they each had to go through to get to where they are today, was so fun to watch unfold. I loved that Kell was, in many ways, a very alpha hero. And at the same time, he gave Mara a lot of liberties to be her own woman, pilot her own ship, and get them out of some sticky situations. Likewise I enjoyed Mara’s ability to be a super strong heroine, and yet vulnerable and able to change at the same time. Plus, they had this great chemistry together. They burnt hot and steady and I enjoyed watching them deal with that.

The action was great in this as well. I loved the way that Mara and Kell had to rely on each other to continually get out of sticky situations, they way they each played off of the others skills. Again, there were so many things I loved about the world building: the different planets, the in space fights, the neat ships and crazy scenarios were so fun to read.

The book was constantly moving at a fun pace, and I never felt like I was left behind or confused ( as can happen in some Sci Fi Romance). For anyone out there thinking about jumping into the Sci Fi Romance genre, this would be a great starter book for you!

All in all, I give Collision Course an A.

(less)

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Apr 07, 2011 Jill rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-pnr-sci-fi-romance

3.5 stars

When one of the pilots and spacecraft of the Black Wraith Squadron goes missing, there's only one person capable of navigating the Smoke Quadrant. Mara Skiren, scavenger and smuggler. But this rescue mission needs a Black Wraith pilot to fly the stricken craft back to base and Commander Kell Frayne is the 8th Wing's best pilot.

This science fiction romance features two polar opposites. Kell, the dutiful, regimented commander and Mara, the free-spirited smuggler. Their sexual chemistry w...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Denise rated it 4 of 5 stars

Zoe Archer is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. I am a big fan of her Blades of the Rose series, it looks like another winning series is under way with this futuristic space action book, Collision Course.
Mara Skiren is one tough cookie! She wows us with her piloting skills and her fearlessness. Commander Kell Frayne is pretty impressed by her as well, when they are forced together for a mission to save an 8th Wing ship and pilot. Lots of action and sizzling romance scenes in this st...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 17, 2012 Dangerous Romance Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I was a kid, I watched Star Trek, and I'm pretty sure my first crush was Captain Kirk, despite only being in first or second grade. Even then looking I was looking for the romance in the show. Kirk hooking up with green chicks, chicks that could turn into a floating ball of colorful gas, Nurse Chapel, even that time he and Uhura were forced to make out by the men with the big heads. I wanted romance on that ship. What can I say. I was a precocious child.

When I was a teen, it was all about S...more

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Feb 01, 2012 K. Bird rated it 3 of 5 stars

Scifi romance at its best uses future society and other worlds to create characters that reveal some human truth. Sometimes however, the scifi aspect is just a prop-- interchangeable with other locales and times. Sadly, Mara could just as easily been a smuggler in old England and Kell an officer in the British army. Instead, Kell is a black wraith pilot fighting against PRAXIS--a mercenary corporate government taking over the known universe, and Mara is a scavenger coerced into helping him rescu...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Amylynn Bright rated it 4 of 5 stars

Collision Course, a novella by Zoe Archer, is a sexy, fast paced space ride. If I had a criticism for the story it would only be that the sexual attraction the couple feel for each other felt a tiny bit forced, but that is risk an author takes with the novella medium. Nevertheless, Ms. Archer manages to convey to the reader enough motivation for the love story to make sense. She has done an excellent job with back story – keeping it brief enough for the medium while still giving enough informati...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Laurie Green rated it 4 of 5 stars

Zoe Archer's COLLISION COURSE crackled with high megawatts of lust and passion when an unlikely partnership forms--or more accurately is heat-forged--between an elite 8th Wing Wraith pilot and a female smuggler. Loved the building tension, underlying conflicts and evolving mutual respect in this short, but very smart, SFR. The story features tight, fresh dialog and an authentic feel to the politics and military culture.

My one regret was that although the ending was satisfying, it didn't have th...more

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Jun 19, 2011 Tara SG rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: on-kindle

In Six Words---
fast-paced romance with good character building

Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?---
I came across this via NetGalley and decided that it looked like something I would like. I did enjoy it. The author did a good job with world and character building, but the romance seemed a little fast-paced for my taste, but what did I expect with a novella? Mara was tough without coming off untouchable. Kell was controlled and by the rules, which only made him coming undone sexier. I like...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Jon rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: tried-failed

I tried to like this book, I really did. The story and universe sound fairly interesting. But when I start flipping through pages describing just how wet character A is for character Bs [insert synonym for hard here] organ, then that's it. I'm out, I didn't even finish, although I'm sure the two main characters did, in excruciating detail.

I don't mind sex in my books, I don't. But if I wanted sex with a small side of scifi, I would have picked up a Harlequin book or something. And it's a shame,...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Mara rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: futuristic, novella, romance

Ms Archer's books and I travel on different wavelength. I did not like her other novel I read, and definitely did not like this novella. At least the novel had some plot, Collision Course's plot is like Swiss cheese: plenty of holes.

One example only. This story is based on blackmail. The air force strong-arms Mara to help them retrieve a pilot and her craft. If she doesn't, she will be tried as a traitor. I guess this is acceptable. One problem. The moment she out of there, this blackmail stops...more

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Jul 16, 2012 Bry rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi, 2012, romance, kindle, series

Zoe Archer is an amazing author because she is able to write romance novels that are still action packed with twisted plots, complex characters, and suspense. Read any of her Blades of the Rose books to see this.

Sadly though this novella, which I had extremely high expectations of just fell short. Maybe it was because it wasn't a full length book...i don't know. It just wasn't as good as I'd hoped. Mostly though the insta-love pissed me off. I expect that in YA novels because teen's are literal...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Book Chick City rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-science-fiction

Reviewed by Laura for Book Chick City. 7/10 on the blog.

I would definitely describe this book as a romance with a science fiction setting rather than the other way around. But isn't without its fare share of action. Mara Skiren makes a living as a Black Market scavenger, she's also an ace pilot. When one of the 8th Wing's pilots gets kidnapped, only a scavenger can get them in to save her. But Lara is a loner and hates having passengers on her ship.

Commander Kell Frayne needs to rescue his pilot...more

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May 22, 2011 Shannon Mayer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Zoe Archer is officially one of my new favourite romance authors! I've read her Blades of the Rose Series and just finished her sci-fi romance Collision Course which follows Mara Skiren, Scavenger extraordinaire and Kell Frayne, 8th Wing Commander, as they battle the PRAXIS(Not unlike the Empire in Star Wars), smugglers, drone bots, plasma rays, Liden's Lash (a meteor belt that is on fire) and not to mention their feelings for each other. Which by the way are hot, hot, hot!

Mara is coerced into...more Zoe Archer is officially one of my new favourite romance authors! I've read her Blades of the Rose Series and just finished her sci-fi romance Collision Course which follows Mara Skiren, Scavenger extraordinaire and Kell Frayne, 8th Wing Commander, as they battle the PRAXIS(Not unlike the Empire in Star Wars), smugglers, drone bots, plasma rays, Liden's Lash (a meteor belt that is on fire) and not to mention their feelings for each other. Which by the way are hot, hot, hot!

Mara is coerced into helping the 8th Wing and Kell is sent with her on a rescue mission deep into territory that only smugglers and scum traverse. Which is why Mara's help is so crucial being a scavenger herself. Right off the bat the two protagonists lusty feelings are apparent and the sensuality builds with each page, despite the fact that they are on opposite sides of the fence.

Good things about this book- Great characters, fantastic dialogue, very Star Wars feeling without going overboard and making me say, "Oh, that's just like Return of the Jedi", sex scenes were HOT but not overdone and the two characters didn't just jump into bed after meeting there was a lovely build up of tension and the ending was more than believable and, of course, as all romances go, very happy.

Minor improvements- I personally would have loved to see some more build up before the first chapter. Meaning I would have liked some more insight into Mara's past as when you learn about it there is a desire to know just how she survived her last fifteen years coming from the beginnings she did.(Can't say more without putting in a spoiler alert) With Kell, it's easier to see how he became the man he is from the story of his past, but with Mara I think I could have used more background in order to really believe her history, but really, that's only a minor complaint.

I very much enjoyed the book, it is the first Sci-fi romance and I was pleasantly surprised at the satisfaction the blend of the two genre's brought. Action, adventure, romance and moments of humour that made for a great read and one I would highly recommend.
(less)

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May 16, 2011 Sandy Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, science-fiction-romance, 2011

I bought this book on a whim last week. I wanted to read something with a strong romance, and this is certainly that. I'd say it breaks down to about 90% romance and 10% kickbutt sci-fi plot. I liked the SF plot. Mara, a smuggler, is forced to help Kell, an 8th Wing pilot, find another pilot and her ship after they go missing in a dangerous area of the galaxy that only smugglers have experience going through. I wanted more of this plot, which isn't surprising since I usually like my breakdown of...more

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May 11, 2011 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review originally posted at: http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com...

MY THOUGHTS
Collision Course wastes little time introducing us to a world of space travel and fantastical environments, thrusting us right into the action and the tangible romantic tension between our two protagonists. Ms. Archer does a beautiful job of crafting a story lighter on the science fiction element, one that gives us just enough detail to jump start our imaginations into creating images of people and places without bur...more Review originally posted at: http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com...

MY THOUGHTS
Collision Course wastes little time introducing us to a world of space travel and fantastical environments, thrusting us right into the action and the tangible romantic tension between our two protagonists. Ms. Archer does a beautiful job of crafting a story lighter on the science fiction element, one that gives us just enough detail to jump start our imaginations into creating images of people and places without burdening us with so much information that we begin to lose interest. This world and its characters are perfect for those readers who are curious about Sci Fi but perhaps hesitant to give it a try. The flush-inducing sparks crackling between Kell and Mara instantly catch our full attention and hold it throughout, anchoring us in familiar emotion while we travel at unbelievable speeds, meet and hear about unusual creatures, and wander streets in worlds we can hardly fathom.

Kell and Mara are characters who feel fully developed and complex despite the short amount of page time we get to spend with them, brief flashes of their histories giving us just enough understanding to help us relate to the people they've become. Both are incredibly strong and independent, their difficult pasts making it clear to us why they've chosen the separate paths along which they tread, but in them we see enough similarities to be content with watching as their respective bumpy, winding roads begin to smooth and curve in a new direction where a blissful merge of flesh, emotion, and future awaits. Ms. Archer has created two dominant, strong-willed personalities who find themselves unexpectedly vulnerable in the hands of another person, and we as readers just flip the pages smiling as defenses are dropped and trust is given.

Overall, Collision Course is a very quick, easy, and entertaining read with strong leading characters and an intriguing intergalactic storyline. The romance flares bright and hot, the combustible pair of Kell and Mara heating the pages (or e-reader in this case) beneath our fingers, but also fully satisfying our need for an emotional connection to make the physical attraction all the more powerful. Ms. Archer has me positively hooked on this series and I'm counting the days until Chain Reaction is released in November.

Rating: 4/5 (less)

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May 07, 2011 Juli rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun, sexy read! I really liked Mara, the smart, sexy, capable spaceship pilot who makes her way as a space scavenger because she doesn't like following rules or taking orders. She is a perfectionist, and she hasn't lost the ability to think idealistically or romantically. She thinks she's tough, and she is, but she learns in the course of the book that she can admit to some tenderness, and allow herself to love and be loved, without losing her edge or her sense of self.

The man she lea...more

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Apr 26, 2011 chanceofbooks rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-keepers, netgalley, 2011-read

Saturday Short Pick of the Week at Cloudy with a Chance of Books 4/30/20011 http://www.chanceofbooks.com

4.5 Stars. If you haven’t read Zoe Archer’s Blades of the Rose series, you are missing out on one of the most unique voices writing Romance today as she really defies genre classification. That particular series is a historical/fantasy/steam punk/paranormal/ultra-sexy blend of pure awesome. Collision Course is a category/long-novella length Sci-Fi Romance which channels the best of TV Space Op...more Saturday Short Pick of the Week at Cloudy with a Chance of Books 4/30/20011 http://www.chanceofbooks.com

4.5 Stars. If you haven’t read Zoe Archer’s Blades of the Rose series, you are missing out on one of the most unique voices writing Romance today as she really defies genre classification. That particular series is a historical/fantasy/steam punk/paranormal/ultra-sexy blend of pure awesome. Collision Course is a category/long-novella length Sci-Fi Romance which channels the best of TV Space Operas. If you are a fan of Firefly, Stargate, Battlestar Galactica, and the Star Wars Franchise, but really wish there was more focus on the relationship and some very NC-17 love scenes, then you will absolutely ADORE this book and wish it was three times as long.

Mara Skiren is a space scavenger, eeking out a solitary living on her beloved RV sized ship and trying to stay out of the conflict between the 8th Wing resistance fighters and the PRAXIS quasi-governmental forces. Kell Frayne is one of those pesky 8th Wing pilots who want to disturb Mara’s quiet black market living by drafting her to retrieve an 8th Wing pilot and her plane from the Smoke Quadrant—the hub of the blackmarket smugglers.

Now, one of the reasons why I love to watch Sci-Fi but rarely read it is because of all the vocabulary and strange terms—-it often feels like one needs to pick up a second language just to enjoy a story. A lot of Sci-fi writers seem to delight in giving everything a techy name and in extolling the gadgets and inventions of their imaginations while the story languishes and suffers. Archer avoids this pitfall by keeping a lot of details familiar enough to avoid confusion, using similar sounding names, and keeping the techy speak to a minimum. She’s definitely of the Ron Moore (Battlestar creator) school of Sci-Fi writing and focuses on creating a compelling drama that transcends the Sci-Fi setting.

Archer excels at creating kick-butt heroines of the self-rescuing variety who are skilled at what they do and supremely confident in those skills. Mara knows that she’s an ace pilot, and more importantly, Kell knows it too. His trust in her unique skills, goes against his usual MO, but he trusts his instincts where Mara is concerned, and she doesn’t let him down. She rescues him just as many times as he rescues her. They each get a turn being the hero of this particular tale, which makes the action sequences that much more fun and unpredictable. The two are trapped together on her tiny ship, and Kell also trusts his instincts where his attraction to Mara is concerned. Much hotness ensues. Like the majority of Archer’s heroines, Mara is unabashedly sexual and very much an equal partner in that arena. Both Kell and Mara, however, are blindsided by the emotions that go beyond lust. These emotions also color the action scenes, which are very well done with cinematic overtones. The penultimate fight scene played out like the best action movie climaxes.

If you haven’t read Archer, this quick but meaty tale is a great introduction to her talents, and if you are an Archer fan wondering if you should follow her into this genre, the answer is a resounding YES. The amount of action (not *that* kind, although there is plenty of that too) makes her writing appeal to men and those who don’t read a lot of romance. (I recommended both this and the Blades of the Rose to my father with a mumbled warning about the heat level.) I’m not sure if Archer plans on returning to the 8th Wing amid her other series obligations, but I’d love to see a story for Lieutenant Jur (the kidnapped pilot) and other stories set in this universe. It seems a darn shame to only visit it once. (less)

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Apr 12, 2011 Ruth rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction

There were far too many cheesy romantic lines in this book for my taste. The story line itself was a decent read, however, the entire book was laden with so much cheese and sex that it buried the rest of the book. Even when the characters were in the middle of a battle, all they could think about was each other and how much they want to rip the clothes off of the other. The ending was even completely lacking any kind of punch. In order for this book to be done REALLY well, I think it needed to h...more

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Apr 27, 2011 AnnaM rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-sfrs

This story is definitely more Romance than SF, though I think the SF was necessary to the story. The SF wasn't explained as much as I'd like...sigh. But the Romance was solid and satisfying.

This story was like...you know how in an SF book the ship goes on autopilot and the story skips past that downtime to the "action"? This story doesn't skip, it fills all the autopilot time with lots of lust and some sex, with some of the same during the action. It came close to the "would they really think o...more

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May 03, 2011 Lexie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-type-e-book, genre-romance-futuristic, review-blog

Prelim Review: Futuristic/Scifi romance is a hard sell for me because often the author will either make it way too complicated and forget to focus on the romance angle, or focus too much on the romance and make the future sound just like the present just with funky names. Archer, who's historical novels I already adore, made me a happy girl with COLLISION COURSE.

First, and this is a purely superficial thing I love the name Mara and the fact she has white hair. I would have read this book for no...more

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Apr 04, 2011 Inky Reviewer rated it 4 of 5 stars

(http://freshinkreviews.com/2011/04/re...)

Online blurb:
Mara Skiren is a scavenger, a black-market dealer. Blackmailed into helping Commander Kell Frayne infiltrate a treacherous corner of the galaxy, Mara learns that her biggest danger is from her sexy, by-the-book partner. She’s a loner with more than a few battle scars on her heart, but something about Commander Frayne stirs up her long-buried need for an intimate connection.

An ace pilot for the elite Black Wraith Squadron, Kell’s mission is t...more (http://freshinkreviews.com/2011/04/re...)

Online blurb:
Mara Skiren is a scavenger, a black-market dealer. Blackmailed into helping Commander Kell Frayne infiltrate a treacherous corner of the galaxy, Mara learns that her biggest danger is from her sexy, by-the-book partner. She’s a loner with more than a few battle scars on her heart, but something about Commander Frayne stirs up her long-buried need for an intimate connection.

An ace pilot for the elite Black Wraith Squadron, Kell’s mission is to rescue a lost pilot and ship. Unable to deny his attraction to the beautiful, rebellious Mara, he decides bedding her would cool his ardor. But one taste is not nearly enough, and he finds himself sharing more of his real self with her than he has with anyone.

With deadly criminals on their heels and an increasingly dangerous assignment to complete, he’s starting to wonder…if they survived, could he let her go? And will Mara want to stay? (from publisher)

My opinion:
Mara was captured in a bar by the 8th Wing and blackmailed into carrying out a mission with Commander Kell Frayne, the best pilot of 8th Wing’s Black Wraith Squadron. Mara has only worked alone since she was able to buy her ship, the Arcadia, and desperately wants to keep it that way. Her history has given her a loathing and distrust of anything labeled “duty” or “expectation” but threats to imprison her and destroy her hard-won ship force her to go along with 8th Wing’s plan. While Kell is a handsome eyeful and she wouldn’t mind some nighttime recreation with him, she’s a scavenger and he’s 8th Wing and the two just don’t mix.

Kell has developed a protective shell of honor, duty and mission in which he lives his life ever since he joined 8th Wing and remade himself. He’s willing to work with the little scavenger, Mara, to carry out his mission but he’s determined to not let his nearly overwhelming lust for Mara take over. But when stuck inside her small ship for an extended period of time, Kell and Mara get to know each other in ways neither had anticipated and discover maybe scavenger and military pilot are not at such opposite ends of the spectrum. Could there be a way to succeed at their mission without losing each other?

In Collision Course, Ms. Archer does a great job of portraying Mara as a strong female who is completely equal to any man and more than many without crossing the line into the land of the “too strong to believe” Mary Sue heroine. I like that Mara is independent and likes it that way and isn’t shy about trying to keep control. She has fears and anxieties but hides them pretty well under her guise of being a hard-as-nails, highly successful scavenger.

Kell is a strong, elite pilot who fought his way up the ranks from literally nothing. He puts duty before self and starts out hating the idea that he would have to compromise with Mara but learns she makes a worthy adversary and a trusted partner.

Collision Course drew me in quickly and kept me reading, unwilling to put my reader down until I finished the story. There’s a lot of well-portrayed battle scenes as well as hot sex scenes throughout the story and Ms. Archer does a great job of portraying two strong personalities who take each other by surprise. All this in the midst of a science fiction universe that includes everything from scavenger bars to space anomalies to military shakedowns and to underdog freedom fighters. I really enjoyed this book and hope Ms. Archer writes more in this universe.

Collision Course does have a few things that kept it from being even higher rated for me but they are relatively minor overall and tended more toward overuse of foreign/made up terms that distracted more than built world immersion and that I thought a few things were a bit too stereotypical. I also had some questions about physics. My quibbles are, though, minor to the story overall which was fun, fast, sexy and immersive read.

I am always looking for good science fiction romances to review and I’m glad the blurb for this book caught my attention.(less)

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About Zoe Archer

Zoe Archer is an award-winning romance author who thinks there's nothing sexier than a man in tall boots and a waistcoat. As a child, she never dreamed about being the rescued princess, but wanted to kick butt right beside the hero. She now applies her master's degrees in Literature and Fiction to creating butt-kicking heroines and heroes in tall boots. She is the author of the acclaimed BLADES OF...more

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Collision Course (8th Wing #1)

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