Paradise 21 (A New Dawn, #1)

Aug 29, 2011 aobibliophile™ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“The only paradise is paradise lost” - Marcel Proust, French Novelist and Author, 1871-1922

Aries Ryder escapes from the spaceship New Dawn. it is the only home she has ever known in her entire life but she cannot allow the union with her chosen mate Lieutenant Astor Barliss to take place. the gravitational pull of Sahara 354 causes Aries' pod to crash on the desert planet. Aries encounters its indigenous inhabitants and meets another human, an Outlander named Striker. together, they will forge a...more “The only paradise is paradise lost” - Marcel Proust, French Novelist and Author, 1871-1922

Aries Ryder escapes from the spaceship New Dawn. it is the only home she has ever known in her entire life but she cannot allow the union with her chosen mate Lieutenant Astor Barliss to take place. the gravitational pull of Sahara 354 causes Aries' pod to crash on the desert planet. Aries encounters its indigenous inhabitants and meets another human, an Outlander named Striker. together, they will forge a bond that would bring them to a new planet where they hope to start anew and build a better world.
what an awesome and enjoyable ride to the stars this has been. i love everything about this book. the plot is actually quite simple but the author has woven her own magic and made it very interesting. her characters are three dimensional and memorable. even the bad guys like Barliss are endearing to a certain degree. although Sahara 354 may remind me of Frank Herbert's Dune, it has it own appeal and provides a suitable background to the story. the descriptions of New Dawn, Outpost Omega and the alien ship with its strange hieroglyphs and cargo evoked amazing images. nothing prepared me though for one detail that played a significant role in Aries' rescue. this was contrived by Reckon, a Coder whose loyalty appeared questionable and constantly niggled at my thoughts. my imagination went into overdrive when i read how it was done and i think you will too!
author Aubrie Dionne has written a very readable sci-fi romance adventure that even hard core fans of the genre would appreciate. i highly recommend this as well to those who are:
- hesitant to read science fiction
- curious about it and do not know where to start

this book has my vote!

Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a copy of Broken from the author herself. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.(less)

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Aug 31, 2012 Sophia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-romance

What a very exciting Sci-Fi Adventure! It just hit the ground running with a young gal crash landing on an inhospitable planet and going into survival-mode.

Aries is part of a group of colonists that have been in space for several generations after escaping the dying earth. The colonists live by a very specific code and one of those codes is accepting an assigned marriage to keep the bloodlines strong. They are also given assigned careers based on how they test. Aries is stifled by these restrict...more What a very exciting Sci-Fi Adventure! It just hit the ground running with a young gal crash landing on an inhospitable planet and going into survival-mode.

Aries is part of a group of colonists that have been in space for several generations after escaping the dying earth. The colonists live by a very specific code and one of those codes is accepting an assigned marriage to keep the bloodlines strong. They are also given assigned careers based on how they test. Aries is stifled by these restrictions and makes her escape to a nearby desert planet that will just sustain life though not for a whole colony. When she reaches the planet, she instantly gets into trouble with an indigenous tribe of lizard-like people and a sandworm, but gets rescued by Striker, a pirate. Aries had been taught the pirates are low lifes and soon learns that her education might not have been accurate.

Striker was marooned on the desert planet by his shipmates who betrayed his trust and took his ship. He has made the most of his circumstances, but has no plans to allow Aries anywhere near his heart. Striker has found and started repairing a spaceship crashed there and its from an advanced alien civilization leaving behind the hope of their dying species. Aries agrees to help him finish putting it back together so they can get off the planet. She is in agreement with his plans to carry the precious alien eggs, gather the orphans from a dying space station and journey to a fresh new earth-like world that Striker found a map to.

Before they can fulfill their goals, everything falls apart. Aries' promised male is determined to have her back and the pirates who abandoned Striker discover that he encoded his map and now they need him. I won't offer any spoilers to the exciting ending so I'll stop here.

I really enjoyed the plot with its blend of the Sci-Fi world building, adventure, intrigue and romance. The explanations are given in such a way that the plot doesn't bog down, but its easy to follow. I liked the descriptive voice that really made me see the barely surviving remnants of the people from old earth and what that would be like between the colonists' world and the pirates' world where one has all the advantages and riches from earth and the other having to scavenge to stay alive.
The romance was gentle and on the sweet, clean side.

The focus is more on the adventure, but the characters are not neglected. There are multiple points of view used to tell the story in third person so I got several perspectives and it helped get to know the characters and their motivations.

Nice start to a series. Recommended for any Sci-Fi Romance lover who likes their romances on the sweet and clean side.(less)

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Mar 11, 2012 Sana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

What attracted me towards Paradise 21 was the synopsis, I haven't read much sci-fi books and this one seemed good enough to read. So despite the cover which seems to scream steamy romance, I was hooked from the first sentence.

Matched with a manipulating, power-hungry Barliss to preserve the gene pool aboard New Dawn, Aries Ryder couldn't have it worse. She is not your typical heroine; because even though she is a first class Lifer on New Dawn, she wants out. So she plans her escape and lands on...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned-e-books, favorites

Wow, this was a really good book. I loved the romance that happens in it too. I can relate to Aries as well. I would not want to be forced into a loveless marriage so I could “produce” more perfect DNA. Meaning kids. Yeah, not happening, lol. I do not blame her for leaving the New Dawn, which is a colony ship, which is on its way to Paradise 21, another planet far away, but the New Dawn won’t get there in her lifetime. Anyway, it has excitement, romance, a hot guy , and I mean Striker.

I did not...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Theresa Milstein rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a very exciting book review for me. Why, you ask? I read this in rough draft form for Aubrie Dionne last year and I’m in the book acknowledgements for being a beta reader. This is also the first time I’ve seen a book from its beginnings to its publication. I wouldn’t have agreed to write this post if I wasn’t certain I’d love the final version of the book.

The book begins with Aries about to crash land on a desert planet, which had me swept in from the beginning. I liked Aries’s combinati...more This is a very exciting book review for me. Why, you ask? I read this in rough draft form for Aubrie Dionne last year and I’m in the book acknowledgements for being a beta reader. This is also the first time I’ve seen a book from its beginnings to its publication. I wouldn’t have agreed to write this post if I wasn’t certain I’d love the final version of the book.

The book begins with Aries about to crash land on a desert planet, which had me swept in from the beginning. I liked Aries’s combination of independence and vulnerability. From there, we learn more about Aries and why she had to leave through her unattractive intended, Commander Barliss’s point of view. Next we meet Striker, the space pirate who was abandoned on the forsaken planet. His charisma reminded me of Indiana Jones. While Striker is an asset to the desolate planet, the creepy creatures that also live there are not. Soon we’re introduced to Tiff, the petite Goth girl with a bite who abandoned Striker, and whom she still has feelings for. She regrets her decision to stop believing in him, but is she too late?

Aubrie Dionne builds three believable worlds in this book: on the ship Aries left behind, on the planet Aries finds, and on a pirate ship where Tiff subsides.

The author is skilled at getting in the heads of several characters enough that we feel we know them. It’s tricky for authors to pull off multiple points of view, but she does it well. Each character has dimension and a distinct voice. Even if I didn’t agree with or particularly like a character, I related to their perspectives.

While each of these characters travels through space, winds up on Paradise 21, and hurtles through space again, they go on their own inward journeys. The book had a good balance between action and character development. Caring about the characters made me invested that much more in their fates. I found myself pulling for Aries and Tiff, even though I wanted Striker to end up with Aries. Their chemistry was undeniable.

Paradise 21 is filled with interesting plot twists. The author is a master at writing action scenes that make me think, Oh no! They’re never getting out of this one!

Aubrie Dionne pulled off a terrific feat. Before I read her work, I was sure I didn’t read Science Fiction. Space Opera, what’s that? Apparently, if you throw a little romance into the mix in a future with space travel and distant planets, I’m hooked.

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Aug 18, 2011 Ambur rated it 5 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Paradise 21. I knew it wasn't going to have Earth as its setting, and that somehow Aries was going to meet a handsome man named Striker. I knew these things from the blurb on Goodreads, but they didn't prepare me for this book...at all! Instead, I was wowed by a book that was way more than I expected. I expected to like it obviously, or I wouldn't have signed up to read it for a blog tour, but I definitely didn't expect to get as wrapped up in...more I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Paradise 21. I knew it wasn't going to have Earth as its setting, and that somehow Aries was going to meet a handsome man named Striker. I knew these things from the blurb on Goodreads, but they didn't prepare me for this book...at all! Instead, I was wowed by a book that was way more than I expected. I expected to like it obviously, or I wouldn't have signed up to read it for a blog tour, but I definitely didn't expect to get as wrapped up in this story as I did. When I finished Paradise 21, I was honestly upset that it was over...I was like "I want to more!!!" :P

Now that I have professed my love for this book, it's time for some details. The characters were fantastic. Aries was amazing! The fact that she'd grown up on a ship where they basically discouraged any type of original thought didn't deter her at all. She was amazing; smart, determined, thrifty, and selfless when those that she loved were at risk. I have to admit, I love seeing heroines who use their heads, and when they don't like what it's saying, they follow their heart. Then there was Striker...oh my, my, my. If I ever try and land on a strange planet from my cramped life on a spaceship, I hope I find a space pirate like him...now I know what you're thinking, "That won't happen...seriously...ever!" And, you know what, you're right! It won't, but a girl can dream, can't she? :P

Along with Striker and Aries, were Barliss, Aries' betrothed, Tiff and Drifter, Striker's ex-crewmates, and a few newbies thrown in. I'll admit, I was not a fan of Barliss. He was heartless, and was willing to do anything to get his way. He was basically a 40-something bully who was doing it all in the name of the cause. Tiff and Drifter, were also pretty selfish. They staged a mutiny on Striker, and abandoned him on Sahara 354...which I guess turned out alright, since that's where he met Aries. ;) I also really liked Loot, who was rescued by Tiff when he was little, he was just so darn sweet, and so loyal. :)

I thought the story itself was fantastic! Aubrie did a fantastic job crafting the world of Paradise 21. I felt it was realistic, and it the perfect amount of descriptive. Hopefully you understand what I mean by that. haha I'll clear it up though, just in case. By saying Paradise 21 was the perfect amount of descriptive, I mean that it wasn't overly descriptive, which frankly bores me after a while, or not descriptive enough. It was just right. I felt like I could actually picture the world around Striker, and Aries, and it was as if I was really there.

Along with the characters, and descriptions, I loved the romance of this story. I was definitely a fan of Striker and Aries, and I loved them together. The whole concept of choice was huge in Paradise 21, too. It made a big impact on me. Aries grew up on the New Dawn, where everything was chosen for her. Her job, her husband, and all other choices were decided for her based on the fact that they had an obligation to pass on their unique genetic code. Their whole lives were lived as machines basically, and their main operative was to mate, and pass on their DNA so that a generation in the future would reach the ship's destination, Paradise 21. I loved that Aries was fighting so hard to have choices, and that she was so passionate about being able to have them at all, it was kind of inspiring, and makes you think about how we kind of take the fact that we have choices for granted. Ergo, I loved that Paradise 21 made me think, and examine my own choices. It's always nice when a book blows away your expectations...and Paradise 21 definitely blew mine out of the water...or should I say into outer space. ;)(less)

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Feb 22, 2012 Melanie McCullough rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Aubrie Dionne's writing is phenomenal. The book never left me wanting or tempted to skim through in an effort to get to the good stuff. The entire novel is the good stuff. She revved up the action when I needed her to and slowed the pace at just the right moment.

Aries isn't your run-of-the-mill kick-ass heroine. She's spent her entire life aboard the New Dawn, a colonial ship heading for a planet where mankind can start over. She's vulnerable and complex. She's not sure what she's going to do o...more

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Feb 03, 2012 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, adventure, sci-fi

Aubrie was a new author to me and I loved this book by her! Once I started the book, I didn't want to put it down.
Aries is a lifer on a Colonial ship and her genetic code is needed to continue humanity as they search for Paradise 21, a replacement for planet Earth which has been destroyed by man. She is betrothed to a dedicated lifer, Barliss, who she can't stand.
Stryker is a oh-so-sexy and competent pirate that Aries meets when she attempts to escape from the Colonial ship.
Lots of pirates... a...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Budd rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sciencefiction, romance

Aubrie Dionne is a fellow blogger, so when she announced a blog book tour for her new Scifi/romance novel Paradise 21, I offered my services. I didn't know that her publicist was going to send me the book to read. I haven't ever read a romance novel before and I am pretty sure I wasn't the target audience. I am always willing to read outside my comfort zone, and this book gave me the opportunity.

This book is a romance novel but it is very PG-13. I am pretty sure that I couldn't have made it thr...more Aubrie Dionne is a fellow blogger, so when she announced a blog book tour for her new Scifi/romance novel Paradise 21, I offered my services. I didn't know that her publicist was going to send me the book to read. I haven't ever read a romance novel before and I am pretty sure I wasn't the target audience. I am always willing to read outside my comfort zone, and this book gave me the opportunity.

This book is a romance novel but it is very PG-13. I am pretty sure that I couldn't have made it through a seriously steamy romance. Dionne keeps the romance element at its basic and throws it in on top of a space opera in which the Earth has destroyed itself and was abandoned by the haves, leaving the have nots to die. One such ship, The New Dawn, has been traveling through space for hundreds of years towards a paradise planet where humanity can settle down.

Some of the have nots were able to hijack ships once they figured out that the were going to left to die. So space has a pirate class that are barely surviving. This group was not afraid to throw themselves into worm holes and find themselves even with the new dawn as the story takes place.

Aries is the main character of the book and she isn't happy with the puritanical ways of the new dawn. As a woman she is already a second class citizen and she is betrothed to a man that she can not stand. She decides to make a break for it using an escape pod. Of course, her controlling fiance doesn't want to lose face by losing her. She sets down on a desert planet. This planet is full of sandworms, lizard men, and the dreamy marooned pirate Stryker. Will her fiance find her? Will they survive the sandworms and lizard men? Will the space pirates die in space when they run out of resources? You know what they say; you will have to read the book to find out.

Overall- I enjoyed the book. I was super skeptical as it was all romancy, but the scifi story kept me interested. It was a very quick read and I burned through it. I now wonder if women actually think like the character of Aries, it might explain a few things, or if that is just how female characters in romance novels think. The scifi is light and fun, so if you are a hard scifi buff you might not enjoy this much. Dionne doesn't try to explain how things work in her story which is great for light scifi. Better to not say anything than to say something and be wrong. The audience I would really recommend this to are the wives/girl friends/moms of scifi readers that don't read science fiction. This book will ease them into the genre with a story told from the perspective of a strong female character that feels trapped. Guys if you were ever curious about romance novels and wanted to give one a try, this might be the one. While I probably won't seek out future romance novels, I will be keeping a look out for Dionne's next book.

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Mar 05, 2012 Melissa Haggerty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Paradise 21 by Aubrie Dionne has a very interesting concept. Earth was finally destroyed by humans, and the people left on space ships. Well some of the people. Aries is part of the Lifers who are traveling for hundreds of years to find a new home. Their entire lives are controlled by computer decisions.

Striker is a pirate. His ancestors were deemed genetically imperfect and left to die on Earth. They stole ships and now Striker has dedicated his life to finding a new world to live on. He has b...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Majanka rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: drama, science-fiction, romance

Life on the New Dawn is predictable to say the least. Original thoughts are discouraged at all levels, future spouses are selected by a computer and rebellion is certainly out of hte question. Naturally, sooner or later someone is going to try and escape. However, since escape is usually noticed fast, and the properties of some possible refugee-planets aren’t necessarily ideal either. But that doesn’t stop Aries, our heroine, one of the few people aboard the colony ship actually capable of formi...more Life on the New Dawn is predictable to say the least. Original thoughts are discouraged at all levels, future spouses are selected by a computer and rebellion is certainly out of hte question. Naturally, sooner or later someone is going to try and escape. However, since escape is usually noticed fast, and the properties of some possible refugee-planets aren’t necessarily ideal either. But that doesn’t stop Aries, our heroine, one of the few people aboard the colony ship actually capable of forming a single self-created thought. When she finds herself, to her horror, paired to Lieutenant Barliss, a heartless and sometimes even cruel man whose determination to follow the set system of rules is without boundaries, Aries knows she has to make a run for it. She would rather die than spend her entire life in this prison she is forced to call home.

But her escape backfires at first as she is being held hostage by alien creatures and natural inhabitants of the planet she chose as destination. Luckily for Aries, a marooned space pirate called Striker comes to her rescue. Hurt beyond repair by a former love of his, Striker is reluctant to open up his heart for anyone again. But as his attraction towards Aries grows, and she begins to see him romantically as well, they just can’t deny their feelings any longer. For Striker, Aries presents a long-awaited second chance at love, life and happiness, and for Aries Striker represents freedom, hope and a chance at a future of her own choosing.

Aries and Striker work together to repair the space ship Striker has been using for shelter, their now only hope of leaving this planet. Unfortunately, Aries gets captured and Striker’s old crew pops up out of nowhere with a debt to collect. They want him to interpret a coded map leading straight to Paradise 21, the paradise and salvation man kind has been searching for ever since Earth became uninhabitable by man’s own mistakes.

The main reason why Aries’ life seems so predetermined is because her supposedly only goal in life is to pass on her unique genetic code, so that one day in the future their offspring would be able to reach the New Dawn’s true destination, Paradise 21, hence the title of the book. Choice, and being unable to choose one’s own future, is a major concept in this book, and it’s an interesting one as well. What would you do if your only purpose was to procreate so that one day your ship could reach a Paradise-like Planet? Would you follow the rules as set before you, or would you take a chance at the unknown and try to escape, with possible fatal results? Furthermore, this book talks about Paradise 21, a mythical utopian planet the post-apocalyptic survivors have been looking for since the day they were forced to leave Earth. It’s utopia and its existence is widely debated since no one has ever ventured there before. The thought alone that its properties and climate would be fit to keep humans alive would be a long shot, if such planet existed to begin with. But Paradise 21 is more than just a destination: it’s hope. For the humans aboard the New Dawn and for Striker’s crew of space pirates, it’s their final hope.

As you can see from my last paragraph, Paradise 21 really leaves room for thought. It talks about the freedom of choice and how much one would be willing to sacrifice to gain that freedom, but it also talks about hope at the end of a most catastrophical disaster, and humanity’s unfailing ability to always find said hope, even in the darkest of days. I’m usually not a big fan of science fiction, because I generally see it as a genre filled with cliché books and substandard writing, but Paradise 21 made me reconsider. This book is fast-paced and action-filled with multi-layered and complex characters, interesting villains and some pretty strong thoughts about choosing one’s own destiny and the perseverence of hope, against all odds. Barliss, Aries’ former fiance, was one of the characters I personally found the most interesting, especially as he changes towards the end and shows us the monster he was all along. There is no villain more interesting than one who thinks he is doing the right thing.

If you like science fiction, Paradise 21 definately is an excellent choice. If you don’t like science fiction, you shouldn’t pass by this book either. It reads like a movie script, leaving you barely room to breathe and relax, but at the end it keeps you with some unanswered questions, the desire to read more about these characters and this dystopian, futuristic world they’re living in, and a whole lot of questions in your mind about how much you would be willing to sacrifice to the things we deem as being normal in today’s world. I loved this book, and I recommend it to everyone who’s looking for something different and unique.(less)

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Sep 08, 2011 Rhianna rated it 4 of 5 stars

A Cauldron of Space Opera Seasoned with Dystopian Romance

The New Dawn is on a mission. A mission to carry the human race from their dead Earth to a new world suitable for a new beginning. Generations have lived and died aboard the ship and most will not live to see Paradise 21. It is the purpose of those who live aboard to continue the species through carefully computer chosen espousement and breeding. Passing on genetic code from parents to children is the primary purpose of the New Dawn's cur...more A Cauldron of Space Opera Seasoned with Dystopian Romance

The New Dawn is on a mission. A mission to carry the human race from their dead Earth to a new world suitable for a new beginning. Generations have lived and died aboard the ship and most will not live to see Paradise 21. It is the purpose of those who live aboard to continue the species through carefully computer chosen espousement and breeding. Passing on genetic code from parents to children is the primary purpose of the New Dawn's current inhabitants. But Aries doesn't want the man chosen for her.

In a desperate attempt to flee the husband chosen for her by the Guide she flees in an escape pod landing upon a desert planet known as Sahara 354. It's only a matter of time before her husband-to-be demands the New Dawn hault its progress to bring her back. With very little to sustain her and no idea where she can truly hide from her match she comes upon a man, a human man, without the genetic refinement of generations of selective breeding. A man known as Striker who has been marooned by his former lover. Together they discover a way off Sahara 354 and a love that defies the Guide's mandated match for Aries. But when her fiance finds her and Striker's own past attempts to break them apart a galaxy's worth of adventure is in store if they are ever to find their happy ending.

Oh scifi romance, how do I love thee? Peppered with lots of cool aliens and rogue-ish menfolk. Thank the maker because PARADISE 21 has a good sampling of both. It's a little bit Star Wars and a tiny bit dystopian. The very idea of a giant spaceship filled with people who know they'll never see the new world is a bit depressing. It's not hard to understand why Aries might want more, why she'd be willing to take her fate into her own hands. Then the more screentime her betrothed gets the more you WANT her to run.

I'm a total geek for alien races in scifi romances (Cheryl Brooks I am looking at you!) and was so pleased that Dionne made a point to show the natives of Sahara 354 as well as a second race I don't want to get spoilery about. It really added an element I NEED to love a space opera-y romance.

Strangely enough the only thing I didn't really care for here was the actual romance. I kind of felt like it was a romance of convinience. I know, I know that sounds bad. But think about it... Aries lands on a planet where there's only one other human, he happens to be male and she happens to fall for him and he for her all in a matter of a couple of days...? Enh, I guess it beat the alternative but still. That kind of softened the chance I'd love the story for the romance aspect. Even still as a science fiction space adventure with a romance it was alright.

On the whole it was pretty good if you like both a storyline and romance. Secondary characters do get a lot of screen time, sometimes without the hero or heroine being directly involved so there's potential set-up for sequels. I liked PARADISE 21 a lot but couldn't quite say I loved it. Neither Aries nor Striker felt really special or original and their romance wasn't quite as hard won (emotionally) as I would have liked but it was an enjoyable read. Recommended for scifi romance fans who don't want an overload of love scenes and like secondary characters to be well developed.
**ARC received via NetGalley/Publisher.(less)

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Aug 15, 2011 Laurie Jenkins rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action, adventure, aliens, fantasy, fiction, futuristic, dystopian, kindle, read-in-2011, science-fiction

This book is unquestionably, without a doubt, my favorite Science Fiction book this year. It began well, and by the end, I was just totally blown away. The characters captured my imagination and tugged my heartstrings. Each of them is distinctive and fully-fleshed, with believable history and motivations.

Aries is a beautiful woman who dares to flaunt the rules and restrictions imposed upon all the pioneers aboard the colony ship. Regardless of consequences, she is determined to escape the confi...more

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Aug 03, 2011 Lucy Bright rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This played out like a movie. I loved the scope, loved the action. I've not really read sci fi romance before (but was excited to!) and was curious as to how the balance of character and plot developement would be handled, whether we'd get much of a world. Actually, we got several worlds!

Aries is a complex character and I was pleased that we didn't get another kick-ass chick. There's a vulnerability that conflicts with her journey; I felt for her. The stakes were high enough for me to connect. I...more

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Aug 01, 2011 Veronica Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you're a fan of fast paced science fiction with a romantic twist, Paradise 21 does not disappoint. The story's heroine, Aries Ryder, belongs to a group of post apocalyptic people drifting through space in search of Paradise 21, a fabled human friendly planet. Unfortunately, they've been adrift in space for several generations; fuel is running low and the food supply has begun to lose its variety and nutritional value. Unable to accept the cold and ruthless social climber chosen for her as a...more

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Jul 21, 2011 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was really impressed with this book. The premise drew me in, which I found surprising, since I don’t usually care too much for space operas. Aries was a fascinating lead character, one whose struggle for autonomy in her incredibly regimented life was easy to identify with. In the hands of a lesser author, Aries could have been a kind of Mary Sue, but Ms. Dionne managed to give Aries’s naivete resonance and keep her interesting regardless of the situation she was in. The world she inhabited was...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, net-galley

What would you do if your entire life had been decided for you? Would you run, even if there was a big chance that running meant your death? Is death better than a life of personal prison? These are the decisions Aries has to make in Paradise 21.

Aries has done everything expected of her all her life. But what nobody knows is that she doesn’t really buy into the program she was raised to believe in. She will now risk anything to escape. I liked Aries character. She was strong, smart, and compass...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Cocktails and Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi, blog-tour, 2012-reading-challenges

How would you feel if a computer picked your "perfect" job and mate? What would you do if your "perfect" choices weren't what you wanted? These are questions that face our heroine, Aries in Paradise 21.

Born and raised on the spaceship, New Dawn, Aries is one of the "chosen" lifers who have been selected to repopulate Paradise 21 with perfect human specimens after fleeing from a destroyed Earth. While she was always seen as being compliant, Aries questions the direction her life is taking. She pl...more

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Oct 16, 2011 Vanessa theJeepDiva rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, blog-tour, ebook, science-fiction

Paradise 21 is a sci fi that takes place in the 27th century. Earth is no more. The surviving Earthlings that fled the dying planet now live in space ships, roaming space looking for a paradise planet to colonize and begin new life on. These are the people known as Lifers. They are keeping their superior DNA spread through arranged marriages while living life as dictated by “The Guide.” The less fortunate those who were deemed to have inferior DNA and not selected to leave a rotting Earth rioted...more Paradise 21 is a sci fi that takes place in the 27th century. Earth is no more. The surviving Earthlings that fled the dying planet now live in space ships, roaming space looking for a paradise planet to colonize and begin new life on. These are the people known as Lifers. They are keeping their superior DNA spread through arranged marriages while living life as dictated by “The Guide.” The less fortunate those who were deemed to have inferior DNA and not selected to leave a rotting Earth rioted stole a few colony ships and over took a space station by force. Their survival instincts have kept them alive for several hundred years, but their resources are almost out.

In a desperate attempt to run from an arranged marriage and a life that has been prescribed to her Aries flees the ship, her only known home the New Dawn. The knowledge that the ship she was been born on, raised on, will likely die on pushes her to the decision to eject herself into space in an escape pod. This is the first of many decisions she makes benefiting herself with her own life choices.

Striker has been abandoned on a desert planet for the past five years after his crew mutinied and stole his ship. On the ship is a highly coded very hidden map to an uninhabited paradise. Little does Striker know that after 5 unsuccessful years of attempting to locate the map and then decode it his ex-lover along with the mutinous crew members are on their way to retrieve him.

Sahara 354 quickly becomes a very popular desert planet. Aries has safely landed her escape pod on this desert planet that has mildly hospitable conditions. New Dawn and Aries betrothed Barliss have arrived looking for her. The Morphic Marauder has arrived with its crew looking for Striker. Not to mention that the indigenous inhabitants are none too happy about all of the above.
Tiff and Barliss are seeking Striker and Aries for very selfish reasons. Barliss is the narcissistic power hungry fiancé that Aries fled from. She is his ultimate trophy wife. Barliss sees Aries as a means for his political gains and career advancements. Tiff is Striker’s ex-lover who assisted in the coup that left him alone in the desert for the past five years. Tiff and the rest of Striker’s previous crew know they need him to decode the map. They know that they can no longer live on the deteriorating space station.

I was amazed at the amount of action that was stuffed into this book. The readers also get into the minds of a number of characters including the villains. I liked the way this book lets the readers come to know the characters. The characters are fleshed out extremely well. Their pasts are shown, the reasons for some of the decisions that they have made along with some potential futures. The all of the various settings are exceptionally realistic. The realism of the whole book is actually amazing. Dionne has painted a very vivid picture for her readers.

I only have two very minor complaints. The first is mostly my own fault. It has nothing to do with the book, the writing, or the author. I was a little disappointed in the fact that I had thought this was a romance. It is not a romance. The hero and heroine form a loving bond, they become a couple, but there is no love story romance in this book. I also felt that two of the conflicts wrapped up a little too perfectly. Barliss and Tiff caused a great deal of drama. They also had very negative roles in Striker and Aries lives. For those conflicts to get the resolution that they did, it just seems too easily resolved in my opinion.

I saw on the Dionne’s website that she is currently working on a tie in novella for her New Dawn series called A Hero Rising. Book #2 Tundra 37 is currently going through edits. I enjoyed Paradise 21. I can easily see myself continuing reading this series. I am very curious as to where Dionne will take her Space Pirates and Lifers.
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Aug 03, 2011 Jody rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Earth has come to an end and only Lifers, those deemed genetically and mentally desirable, are slated to undertake a centuries long journey to reach a New Eden called Paradise 21. With her career and future husband chosen for her, Aries is feeling like a prisoner on the ship New Dawn even with seemingly every luxury before her. She takes a drastic step to gain her freedom and crash lands on a dangerous planet where she's saved by sexy pirate Striker. Striker was abandoned on this deadly planet b...more Earth has come to an end and only Lifers, those deemed genetically and mentally desirable, are slated to undertake a centuries long journey to reach a New Eden called Paradise 21. With her career and future husband chosen for her, Aries is feeling like a prisoner on the ship New Dawn even with seemingly every luxury before her. She takes a drastic step to gain her freedom and crash lands on a dangerous planet where she's saved by sexy pirate Striker. Striker was abandoned on this deadly planet by a duplicitous woman and is a bit leery to open his heart again. But something about Aries draws him and when her fellow Lifers return for her he'll sacrifice everything to get her back.

This is the first installment in a fast-paced and thought-provoking sci-fi series that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The premise is intriguing and encourages political discussions about what makes up a perfect society. Should societies be populated only by those that are seen as perfect or is variety what a society should strive for. Through the use of opposing characters Aubrie Dionne has given credence to both sides of the coin and this concept will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

Paradise 21 is full of likable and distinctive characters. So many conflicted individuals makes for a story full of twist and turns and highly emotional moments. Add in an exciting and vivid gallery of alien creatures and the story becomes even more memorable.

Aries and Striker make for a loving couple but are in the very early stages of a relationship in this story. Those wanting a hot and heavy romance will be disappointed, especially when the couple barely kisses. Along with the good, there's definite bad in this story. Aries' intended, Barliss, is manipulative and willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead. He's mentally abusive to Aries and in a final act of career advancement becomes the monster he appeared to be all along. It's an interesting twist and one that leaves you gasping.

This story was a non-stop thrill ride that has me very excited for the follow-up. The ideas in this book are thought-provoking and provided pulse pounding action. Fans of sci-fi will definitely want to get this book and be sure to be on the lookout for the next installment in the New Dawn series.(less)

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Oct 03, 2011 Kara-karina rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.25/5
To my profound relief this wasn't an advertised paranormal romance. It was a balanced sci-fi with a splash of romance.

The world-building was what really fascinated me, not the relationship between two people thrown together by circumstances. The world-building was vivid and writing felt so smooth I couldn't believe how fast I finished reading the book.

Aries escapes her ship which is more like a big city where the colonists live and work and preserve their precious DNA until they get to New...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Paradise 21 is the first book in the series A New Dawn by Aubrie Dionne and a Sci/Fi Romance from Entangled Publishing.

Book Blurb:

Aries has lived her entire life aboard mankind’s last hope, the New Dawn, a spaceship traveling toward a planet where humanity can begin anew—a planet that won’t be reached in Aries’ lifetime. As one of the last genetically desirable women in the universe, she must marry her designated genetic match and produce the next generation for this centuries-long voyage.

But Ar...more

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Nov 16, 2011 Ruth Hill rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

I will say up front that I am not usually a science fiction enthusiast. I enjoy classic science fiction like War of the Worlds or The Time Machine. I chose to review this book because it was a romance, and it was something a little different.

I went into this reading with an open mind. And I really found the writing style interesting, and I was intrigued by the story line. The love story fascinated me, and the science fiction elements were not too "out there."

About halfway through the book, I fo...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Valerie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In the not so distant future, Earth is a wasteland - uninhabitable, polluted, and dying. The remaining forefathers discovered a planet, light years away, capable of hosting survivors. So, they gathered all of the best and brightest - the most genetically predisposed to repopulate a new colony, and sent them off into space. Life on the ship is ordered and everyone has a job to do. However, your job is also determined by your genetic testing - very little freedom of choice here.

Aries is one of tho...more

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Jul 06, 2011 Cherie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Aubrie Dionne’s Paradise 21, the chance for freedom resides where the heart is.

Aries is a Lifer, residing on the New Dawn and bound by whatever fate test scores and a computer cook up for her. Longing for a life of her own, she escapes to Sahara 354, a land of eternal day, sandworms, lizard-people, and a smoking hot space pirate named Striker. When her betrothed-to-be lands on the planet in search for her, Aries may have to give up her long-lost freedom for the man she loves.

Paradise 21 is be...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi-fantasy, romance, relationships

I’ve enjoyed author Aubrie Dionne’s beautifully lyrical Seasons of Fantasy short stories and, as an aspiring writer, wondered how her prose would translate into a full-length novel. Having just read Paradise 21, I can confirm the musical qualities of her writing blend well with the speed, direction and depth of a science fiction novel to create well-drawn characters, complex situations and a really good read.

Coming from two dystopian futures, protagonists Aries and Striker find a third way. Arie...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Sarah Gilman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Paradise 21, Dionne introduces us to Aries and Striker, a romantic pairing full of chemistry and spirit. The romance is a bright light in a world where mankind is fighting for survival in a hostile universe.

Aries shuns a life aboard a colony ship traveling to humanities’ last salvation. Computers dictate careers and assigned marriages ensure that humanity avoids a genetic bottleneck. Following in her friend’s footsteps, Aries makes a bid for freedom, and ends up on a desert planet full of hos...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Cinnamon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review

I've heard variations of this story before, but never with the fantastic elements of romance and suspense that Ms. Dionne throws into her writing. A dying race must do anything it can to survive. For Aries, one of the last human women who should keep the human race going, her duty is to pair up with the compatible match assigned to her and have children. Without these children, the New Dawn, a spaceship taking the last of Earth's hopes to a new planet, will eventually become unmanned and another...more

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Nov 15, 2011 Lindsey Duncan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction

Paradise 21 is a fast-paced, energetic ride through a space opera universe populated by generation ships, space pirates and exotic, hostile planets. The cast is sizable but never unmanageable, with some intriguing personalities and character quirks. The action scenes are particularly enjoyable: the author has a way of writing that makes you want to read faster, a gripping anxiety for the characters.

I do consider this space opera, not science fiction – though the events and places in Paradise 21...more

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Aug 20, 2011 Rhiannon Ellis rated it 5 of 5 stars

There's nothing I love more in a romance novel than a strong female protagonist, and that's exactly what you get in Paradise 21. I liked the heroine, Aries, instantly; from page one I knew she'd take me for a ride that was--pardon the pun--out of this world.

Rejecting her oppressive life aboard the New Dawn, where one's destiny is determined by a cold, sterile process rather than their heart's desire, Aries sets off on the dangerous journey of a lifetime.

Ms. Dionne's emotively written Paradise...more

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Paradise 21 (A New Dawn #1)

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