Hope's Folly (Dock Five Universe, #3)

Jan 11, 2011 Cathy rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: irban fantasy lovers, sci-fi romance lovers

Shelves: animals, humor, read-in-2011, romance, science-fiction, audiobook, audiobook-recommended, owned-audiobook

I loved this book. It's a typical "we're so in love but can't get out of our own way" romance except for that it's not typical in how well it's done and in the solid and exciting story that goes with it outside of their relationship.

I was nervous as to whether I'd like it or not because of the change in point of view from the first two books, as well as the change in narrator. But the author did such a good job of introducing Phillip in the first two books that it made me eager for his story an...more I loved this book. It's a typical "we're so in love but can't get out of our own way" romance except for that it's not typical in how well it's done and in the solid and exciting story that goes with it outside of their relationship.

I was nervous as to whether I'd like it or not because of the change in point of view from the first two books, as well as the change in narrator. But the author did such a good job of introducing Phillip in the first two books that it made me eager for his story and made it easy to get into this book.

The characters in this book are just great. They're people that I wish I could become dear friends with. They aren't perfect and make a lot of mistakes. But they're good, smart, interesting and fun. Even the supporting characters are well-developed and felt very real. And of course I loved Captain Folly, I'm always a sucker for a good pet. It was nice that he had such a good story behind his presence on the ship and that his presence was used in key ways to develop the story.

What I love best about this book and this series is that it's extremely well balanced between romance and adventure. There's a solid, interesting story here about the political situation in the galaxy overall and about the attempt of these rebels to establish themselves as leaders in the new Alliance. The ragtag team of people trying to get this ship up and running again as a military vessel are interesting, as are their struggles and interactions. People who enjoy science fiction will enjoy this story, even if they aren't usually romance novel readers. It isn't a romance novel, it's a science fiction adventure with a strong romantic element.

I really enjoyed watching (listening to) Rya's crush on Phillip play out. Who hasn't fantasized about meeting their one big childhood crush and falling in love with each other? It made her story really relatable. Plus it helped make the typical romance novel super fast true love story make more sense; they weren't strangers and she was strongly predisposed to fall for him. Phillip falling for her so fast was a bit of a stretch, but it made more sense in light of his back story as seen in the first two books in the series. The guy loves a woman who knows her way around weapons. He loves smart, strong, determined women. And after seeing his ex-wife and dear friend so happily in love, he was feeling lonely and ready to finally find the right woman.

There was a lot of action and a good dose of humor. I found myself talking back to the book a lot, but in a good, soapy "no, no, Phillip, what are you thinking" way, not in a "this is so dumb" way. And boy was there a lot of that! For a mature, experience guy he sure did a lot of dumb stuff when it came to Rya. But it actually all made sense in the context of the well-developed story. It was one of those books where if the characters had just talked to each other they'd have avoided all sorts of heartache, but of course if they'd done that then there wouldn't have been much of a book.

The author also does an extremely good job of describing life on board the ship without it becoming cumbersome or too technical. There are tons of details that made me imagine the ship from corridors and rooms to functions and shipboard lifestyle perfectly, but I never got bogged down in the details.

I actually liked Phillip even better than Sully, the hero in the first two books. Without the psychic stuff, Phillip is more relatable and felt more real. He's become one of my favorite characters ever, although I suspect that narrator had something to do with that, but in his voice and in his portrayal. I liked Rya as much as I liked Chaz, the female lead and narrator of the first two books, even though Rya was younger and a bit more naive. I really enjoyed the foundation, the basic story that's being told through these great characters. There is really solid storytelling here.

I hope the fact that this is science fiction doesn't turn off urban fantasy lovers, because i think they would love it. There are no elves, magic or swords, but there are strong women and men fighting for what they think is right against terrible oppression. There's big time adventure, exciting battles, fun banter, and believable romance. So give it a try!

As for the audiobook aspect of the book, it took me a few minutes to get into the narrator, Christian Rummel. I liked the voice that he used as narrator just fine, but at the very beginning he used a kind of formal, Bostonian-sounding voice for Phillip that put me off a little. But it turned out to be good. It established a bit of Phillip's character as a member of one of the leading families in the galaxy, but soon evened out into one of the warmest, sexiest voices I've heard. He's just terrible at portraying women, but since most of the story is either Philip or narration, it was OK. The truth is that I miss his voice terribly already and have already lined up a few books that he narrated to listen to after I finish the next book in this series.(less)

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Apr 05, 2009 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great book. After the darkness of the previous book I was dubious when I picked this one up - but the only reason I didn't finish it one sitting is because my husband made me go to previously arranged meetings, doctor's appointments, etc. Great characters, great writing, great plot. A 'stellar' [in all meanings of the word:] performance!

Currently available - read in order or you won't have a clue...
1. Gabriel's Ghost
2. Shades of Dark
3. Hope's Folly

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Feb 25, 2009 Frances rated it 5 of 5 stars

Hold on to your hats. Fasten your seatbelts. If you love Science Fiction Romance or action-adventure Space Opera, Linnea Sinclair’s newest addition to the Dock 5 Universe has been released! Hurry to your local bookstore, Amazon, Barn & Noble, Borders, or your best friend’s house and grab it. You are in for a non-stop, roller coaster, fun ride. Click on the title links below for my reviews of the prior books in the series to get a feel for the Dock 5 Universe. HOPE’S FOLLY is a “stand alone”...more

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Feb 14, 2011 Joy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction, romance

Somewhere there is a publisher who knew that I like romance and military SF and thought they'd better publish something for someone who likes both. They call this futuristic romance, of course, not romantic military sf, and in fact, most futuristic romances are probably not milsf. There are other futuristic romances that I have read--one or 2 by the woman who publishes as Krentz/Castle/Quick, and they were kind of not very appealing to me. So I dropped the genre. Sinclair makes it worth picking...more

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Dec 20, 2010 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-uns, scifi, romance

It's been too long since I let myself slip into Linnea Sinclair's Dock Five universe. Way too long. I love science fiction. I love space opera. And this series is just one of the best out there. I read the first book--Gabriel's Ghost--a couple of years ago now and I've read several of Sinclair's other non-Dock Five books in between then and now and thoroughly enjoyed each of them. Games of Command is still my favorite. That Kel-Paten. Gets to me every time. But when I finally picked up HOPE'S FO...more It's been too long since I let myself slip into Linnea Sinclair's Dock Five universe. Way too long. I love science fiction. I love space opera. And this series is just one of the best out there. I read the first book--Gabriel's Ghost--a couple of years ago now and I've read several of Sinclair's other non-Dock Five books in between then and now and thoroughly enjoyed each of them. Games of Command is still my favorite. That Kel-Paten. Gets to me every time. But when I finally picked up HOPE'S FOLLY the other night in desperate need of some good action and romance, I wasn't prepared for how quickly the world would suck me in again. This installment follows a side character from the earlier books--Chaz's ex-husband and confirmed lifer Admiral Philip Guthrie. I love getting the real story on what's going on with a character we've previously only seen through other characters' eyes. And I wasn't disappointed with Philip's story.

Having lost pretty much everything that kept his highly structured life together, Admiral Philip Guthrie isn't exactly comfortable on the other side of the fence. Once an esteemed fleet official and member of one of the most revered (and loaded) families around, Philip now finds himself pulling together an unlikely and undisciplined band of rebels in a last ditch effort to hold off the ever-expanding Imperial fleet. With a wounded leg as a souvenir to remember them by, Philip is older and slower and more thoughtful than he used to be. None of which particularly please him, but all of which endear him to his new crew. And sub-lieutenant Rya Bennton is no exception, though she'd like to be. Rya actually knew Philip as a kid, when she was a wild tomboy and he a handsome soldier with a knack for weapons and strategy. She's idolized him ever since, never thinking she'd actually see him again after her father was killed and Philip disappeared off the map. But suddenly they're on the same beat up cruiser ship together--Hope's Folly--, he's her commanding officer, and he certainly doesn't remember one young girl he once taught how to shoot. Determined to put aside her reservations, Rya ignores her personal feelings in favor of helping keep Admiral Guthrie safe and uncovering what really happened the day her father died.

Delectable. That's what this book is. I read it in two large gulps and felt happily sated afterward. Philip and Rya are the kind of protagonists Ms. Sinclair excel at--essentially noble (if slightly reckless) individuals who put duty before personal desires and are drawn against their formidable wills to the other person for their strength, courage, and taste in weapons. I wondered just how I would like Philip after being slightly prejudiced against him from reading Chaz's version of events. Turns out I like him just fine. Better than fine. He's a gem and he totally deserved his own story and at least a chance at a happy ending after everything he went through. Rya was a different kind of heroine from Sinclair's others. Full-bodied and fully capable of keeping herself safe and dismantling a weapon or a man as needed, I liked the way she took on Philip and his forceful personality. There was less focus in this one on the greater conflict between the Alliance and the Imperial Fleet, though it certainly hangs over every step they take. But I guess I felt as though the relationships between the various people on the Folly took precedence. And wouldn't you know that's exactly what I was in the mood for. The age difference between these two didn't bother me either. They complemented each other so well that other things faded away in the wake of my enjoyment of their antics and halting steps toward understanding. Definitely recommended for fans of space opera and the Dock 5 universe.

Reading Order: Gabriel's Ghost, Shades of Dark, HOPE'S FOLLY, Rebels and Lovers (less)

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Dec 19, 2010 Alana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: space-opera, romance-scifi, favorites

When Admiral Philip Guthrie chose a career in the Fleet over the life his family wanted for him, he never thought he would find himself on the wrong side of the law fighting against a corrupt Empire. Nor did he ever picture himself the commander of a derelict old fruit transport with only a ragtag skeleton crew as support - and a possible saboteur on board. And he definitely never expected Rya the Rebel - the daughter of his first commander - to turn up on board determined to protect him.

Hope's...more

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Sep 03, 2010 Book Calendar rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, science-fiction

Hope's Folly by Linnea Sinclair

I picked up a copy of Hope's Folly on February 6, 2009 at New York Comic Con. They were displaying The Down Home Zombie Blues at the Bantam booth for science fiction and I asked them if they had a new book by Linnea Sinclair. They gave me the Advanced Reading Copy of Hope's Folly. It is due out on February 24, 2009.

It is deeply satisfying to be able to read a good book before anyone else does. There are a few minor elements that probably will be changed, but with...more

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Jun 05, 2010 Sandy Williams rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction-romance, 2009

I have to preface this review by stating how incredibly disappointed I am that this book didn't include a sneak peak for whatever book Sinclair is publishing next. It makes me feel like there's not a "next", which is a frightening thought.

Anyway, I loved Hope's Folly. And, yes, once again Sinclair's made me swoon over her hero. I really started to like Philip Guthrie in Shades of Dark. I'm glad he got his own book and lived up to my expectations. Rya, on the other hand, is probably my second to...more

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Apr 25, 2010 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

The coolest thing about this book (and there are a number of cool things to choose from) is that our hero, Philip Guthrie, is the ex-husband of Chaz, the romantic heroine of two other novels in this series. I've read so many novels (romantic and otherwise) that demonize the romantic heroine's ex. It was nice to not only read books where the exes genuinely liked each other but weren't meant for each other. And then to get to see BOTH characters in new and fitting romances? That was icing.

The most...more

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Oct 04, 2009 Lexie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-romance-futuristic, review-blog, books-owned

This is tied in with Gabriel's Ghost and Shades of Dark (collectively known as the 'Dock 5' novels), so spoilers abound for many events and character relationships, but a brief recounting of the major plot points occurs to keep potentially new readers out of confusion. The book is also populated with characters that readers will know from the two previous novels (not just Sully and Chaz) so old faces are a friendly sight occasionally.

It was different to read a Linnea book where the romantic lead...more This is tied in with Gabriel's Ghost and Shades of Dark (collectively known as the 'Dock 5' novels), so spoilers abound for many events and character relationships, but a brief recounting of the major plot points occurs to keep potentially new readers out of confusion. The book is also populated with characters that readers will know from the two previous novels (not just Sully and Chaz) so old faces are a friendly sight occasionally.

It was different to read a Linnea book where the romantic leads pretty much are on equal footing in most aspects (power, race, motivation), but I have to say I enjoyed it a great deal. It was nice to see both Rya (I love this name now) and Philip struggle with their attraction and respective feelings towards it. Rya was, with good reason it would seem, in serious hero worship of Philip for about two decades and was having trouble reconciling her Heroic Vision of the Man vs. the mundane reality. Philip meanwhile was struggling with not only his guilt over her father's death, but their age differences and I think the awkwardness of Rya's hero worship.

Some people just don't like pedestals.

Time of course is the great equalizer and by the time their romance really begins their main problem was how little time they had left to express those feelings. Imminent death from all sides does that. I will say, for a little while near the end, their relationship hit a common historical romance trope that is sometimes annoying as sin, but by the end of the book Linnea manages to finagle it into a workable solution to their romantic woes.

Rya's fascination with weaponry was amusing and entertaining (I wonder at the fact that Philip didn't think to question if her feelings were for him or his guns), especially the first few scenes that Philip and Rya re-connect (albeit unknowingly). Rya's ex-lover (can't really be considered a boyfriend) was an aggrevation, but not really anything to be concerned over.

Since the major arc of the Dock 5 books hasn't been concluded I sincerely hope for more exploration into the aftermath of the Alliance's reformation in any future books that come out!(less)

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May 23, 2009 E. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Admiral Philip Guthrie is back from his brush with death and trying to marshal his forces that are struggling to overthrow the corrupt Imperial rule. He has substandard ships, lacks even an adequately trained skeleton crew and must struggle to weed out the traitors from the true loyalists. The overwhelming odds that he has to overcome pale in comparison to the complicated feelings that he feels for the daughter of his close friend and colleague Cory Bennton who was killed in the treacherous atta...more

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Apr 30, 2009 Katie(babs) rated it 4 of 5 stars

One author I cannot stop raving about and who deserves much praise is Linnea Sinclair. She writes incredible and imaginative sci-fi stories that make you want to break out the Star Wars movie and watch them all over again. Whenever I read a book by Linnea, I am constantly in awe of her skill as a writer. Not only is she one of my all time favorite authors, but she is responsible for breaking down my own resistance over other genres and those authors I wouldn’t have normally read.

Hope’s Folly is...more One author I cannot stop raving about and who deserves much praise is Linnea Sinclair. She writes incredible and imaginative sci-fi stories that make you want to break out the Star Wars movie and watch them all over again. Whenever I read a book by Linnea, I am constantly in awe of her skill as a writer. Not only is she one of my all time favorite authors, but she is responsible for breaking down my own resistance over other genres and those authors I wouldn’t have normally read.

Hope’s Folly is the third book in her Dock 5 series. And I will tell you that in order to understand her world and get the true sense of what Hope’s Folly is all about, you MUST first read Gabriel’s Ghost and then Shades of Dark. The hero in Hope’s Folly is the ex-husband of Chasidah “Chaz” Bergren, the heroine from the first two novels. Philip received a bad wrap because in Chaz's eyes she thought Philip to be cold, stiff and disapproving. Where as Chaz could let loose, Philip was buttoned up and lived his life to a higher standard. He wouldn’t dare break the rules. In Shades of Dark we see a glimpse of the man that is in Hope’s Folly. Philip is still recovering from the wounds he received while saving Chaz and her lover, Gabriel in Shades of Dark. He is a man in his prime at forty-five who has a limp and must walk with a cane. Lately Philip is feeling pretty run down and old. He was a former Imperial Admiral. He has joined the newly formed Alliance of Independent Republics. The former Imperial Fleet was destroyed by Darius Tage who wants to rule the universe. Philip is now on the side that wants to defeat Tage. Philip also has a personal vendetta against this insane, power hungry man because has harmed many people Philip cares about.

Philip is called to lead a ship into battle. The ship in question is Hope’s Folly, named after a young girl who survived an attack by Tage. Her name is Hope and her pet cat is named Folly. Philip is not amused by with the name of the ship that is also a run down bucket of metal. But Philip has no choice in the matter since the Alliance doesn’t have many ships to go around. He also feels so out of place and wishes he could have Chaz by his side because even though they were far from being the perfect married couple, they are close friends. They have a lot of history together and Chaz is a woman Philip has always admired. Philip now thinks he is on his own. What he doesn’t know is that a woman from is past is about to come into his life again and pull him even more off center than he already is.

Rya Bennton was part of the Imperial Fleet Security Forces and has almost five years of experience under her belt. Rya’s father, who she had a great deal of respect and love for is dead. She has some residual guilt over his death because she couldn’t save him. As Rya makes her way to her dead father’s ship, she comes in contact with Philip. Philip doesn’t recognize Rya at first, but she certainly knows Philip. When Rya was a little girl, she met Philip who came to her house. Rya’s father, Captain Cory Bennton was a mentor to Philip. As most young girls Rya’s age, she had a bad crush on the much older male. Philip is fifteen years old than Rya, but regardless of their difference in age, Rya finds Philip magnetic and the only man she has ever dreamed about for more than just sex. He is her perfect man, the one she could be with and grow old with. But in her mind, she thinks Philip wouldn’t give her a second glance. Rya is a “big” girl, or so she believes. She feels she is too curvy in all the wrong places. Plus, the age factor as well as Philip being her superior does hinder any romance between the two. Fate intervenes and Philip takes Rya on his mission where she becomes a crew member on Hope’s Folly.

When Philip first meets Rya, he is impressed by the way she can handle herself and a gun. He is even in for more of a shock when he figures out that this gun totting woman is the former little girl who used to annoy him. He even nicknamed her, Rya the Rebel, and the last time he saw her was when she was ten and he was twenty-five. It may have been twenty years since they last saw each other, but Rya made quite the impression on Philip. Now as a grown woman, Philip appreciates her in a whole new way. Rya will become his security expert on Hope’s Folly and make sure she stays out of trouble. Rya will keep watch over Philip so no harm can come to him.

It seems Hope’s Folly is in worse shape than originally thought. Plus, there is a saboteur on the ship who wants to take them down and perhaps get rid of Philip. It is up to Rya and some of Philip’s most trusted crew to find the person responsible and get Hope’s Folly into working condition. Philip also has to control his growing attraction to his adorable rebel.

In Linnea’s past books, the action was not so contained as it is in Hope’s Folly. There is no jumping from planet to planet or extensive battles in space. I felt this was more a mystery if anything. A mystery set in space where no one can be trusted and everyone had a gun pointed at each other’s back. Things are very tense on Hope’s Folly as well as the undercurrent of another type of tension all together. The other tension I am talking about is the growing lust that the much older Philip has for the much younger Rya. Both are so far gone over one another, but both tip toe around their attraction for each other because of the situation they have been placed in. How can they act on their love for one another when the whole world is going to hell in a hand basket?

Philip beats himself up over his feelings for Rya. He feels like a dirty old man, and as a man in a position of great power, he doesn’t want to abuse it. He tries to be the constant professional. He also has a bit of a self confidence issue from his scars and limp. He thinks that Rya wouldn’t look at him twice. It was too funny to be privy to Philip’s thoughts about Rya and how he would argue with himself on why he couldn’t have anything with her. As for Rya, her internal thoughts are a great joy to read. Her issues are much like those of a woman unsure about herself and dealing with the man she so wants to love. Rya is not some innocent woman in the ways of sex. She proudly admits to herself that she has had many men and has enjoyed them. That was a bit refreshing since it is the heroine, and not the hero who has had a great deal of fun in bed. Rya is also at odds with her own appeal. She doesn’t seem to care for her body, but also at the same time she realizes she has generous curves and has to live with it. Of course Philip loves Rya’s curves, and everything else she embodies.

One thing I noticed in Hope’s Folly was that there was more of an importance on the relationship of Philip and Rya and how it grew from two co-workers who respected each other to a true loving bond. From the moment Philip and Rya meet, they are so in sync with one another. It was great to see these two people find each other in the vast universe during a time of great unrest. Philip and Rya became a true team who were able to save the day in the end, as well as find a great love with one another. There is passion between the two, but their love was more of a deep abiding one of respect.

Hope’s Folly may not have too many twists and turns, but it is a great story with great characters. There were some funny moments, especially with the way Philip tries to deal with the ship’s cat. I also let out a chuckle or two as Philip tries to come to terms with his feelings for Rya.

Linnea Sinclair constantly impresses with every story she writes. For the longest time I was so stuck on her hero, Gabriel “Sully” Sullivan. I can now say that Philip almost gives Sully a run for his money. Sully may always be my favorite Sinclair hero, but Philip comes in a very close second. (less)

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May 30, 2012 jillz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romantic-sci-fi

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 26, 2010 Erica Anderson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction-romance, 2010-reads

I really enjoyed this book, which is a fast-moving military SF romance with an older hero/younger heroine. Virtually all of the action takes place aboard a military ship commanded by the hero. Although I classify it as a romance, a ship sabotage plot and interactions between the officers are front and center for most of the book.

Heroine is a kick-ass security officer and there is a lot of dialogue revolving around weapons, so if you don't personally fondle your Glock, you should expect a heroin...more

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May 29, 2012 PointyEars42 rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who hated Gabriel's Ghost; Vaginal Fantasy Hangout followers

Shelves: vaginal-fantasy-bookclub-selection, best-instalment-in-the-series, hero-isnt-an-alpha-dickhead, strong-smart-heroine

Is this even by the same author as book #1?! If that hadn't been a VFH book club pick I would never have gotten past the first few chapters. Yes, there's so much familiar material worked in here that I can't believe Lucas Film haven't unleashed their lawyers on it, but Rya has a brain, Philip is a silver fox, their universe is about to go up in flames... and I'm having fun! No way is this by the same author!

I kept picturing Philip as DI Lestrade in BBC's Sherlock, and not entirely for the silve...more

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Mar 14, 2009 Gina rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: sci-fi, futuristic romantic suspense lovers.

Shelves: own, action, adventure, futuristic, mystery, paranormal-supernatural, romantic-suspense, science-fiction, suspense

A great read, even if a little predictable.

(Bookaholic’s Review Note: Make sure to read Gabriel’s Ghost and Shades of Dark before reading this one. That’s a must!)

Admiral Philip Guthrie finds himself now aboard Hope’s Folly, what was once part of the Imperial fleet. Converted to a fruit carrier, the ship was sold to the Alliance under a few conditions: that the ship retain its name, and the cat, Captain Folly, is to remain onboard. Now Philip is in command of the ship, and they are trying desper...more A great read, even if a little predictable.

(Bookaholic’s Review Note: Make sure to read Gabriel’s Ghost and Shades of Dark before reading this one. That’s a must!)

Admiral Philip Guthrie finds himself now aboard Hope’s Folly, what was once part of the Imperial fleet. Converted to a fruit carrier, the ship was sold to the Alliance under a few conditions: that the ship retain its name, and the cat, Captain Folly, is to remain onboard. Now Philip is in command of the ship, and they are trying desperately to get it in working order to fight against the Imperial fleet. Philip, still recuperating from a shattered hip and leg (Shades of Dark), was attacked before getting onboard. It seems the ‘law’ wants him alive. Philip can well imagine why, but he’ll do whatever it takes not to end up in the enemies’ hands.

Rya Bennton had been an Imperial Assassin before her father had been killed. Seeing what is happening to the Empire, she is now on the other side of the law, wanting revenge. Now aboard the Folly, she wants in on the action to bring the Empire down. Philip asks her, if she was ever in the same room with the man who took her father’s life and handed a gun, would she kill him? She answers she would, without a doubt or hesitation. But when Philip hands her his gun, Rya the Rebel is confused. While Philip didn’t actually kill her father, he puts the responsibility on his own shoulders, and Rya won’t shoot him, for she’s been in love with the man since she was a kid, when her father brought Philip home to meet the family.

After the attack on Kirro Station, Rya has put herself in the position of guarding Admiral Guthrie against any more attacks. It seems that, at every turn, their efforts to get the Folly functioning, something happens to set them back. The more Rya looks into it, the more she’s convinced their have a saboteur on their ship. And now she’s determined, not only to keep the man she loves alive, but to find the person who doesn’t want the ship to fly.

**While I liked the book, I sort of found it predictable. Philip believes himself a man who can’t love, and yet, even though he refuses to, his feelings for Rya grow. A strong man, he’s determined to thwart the enemy. It’s his knowledge and determination, his personality and inner struggles that readers will love.

Rya - I loved her. She’s just as strong and determined as Philip. I liked her ‘action first, think later’ attitude, and how she’ll do whatever is necessary.

What bugged me a little was how predictable the romance part of the story was. Woman is in love with the man - man falls in love with the woman - believes it’s his responsability to protect her and is determined to put her out of harms way. Once, just once, I’d love to read the romance part of any book where the male keeps the female with him, no matter what. For once, I want the man to hold her there without the female having to fight to stay there. Just once, I want the male’s chauvinistic pride and arrogant attitude to either take a backseat or not appear at all in a love story. Will I ever get my wish? *eyeroll* I’ll let you know if and when it happens. But then again, I guess most lead male characters have to have a little alpha male attitude. *shrug*

However, besides my romance rant, I loved the action and mystery in the story. The author writes it all so well that it’s as if you’re aboard the ship, watching it all unfold in front of you. Her descriptions put you in the thick of it. I loved the characters’ inner battles. I loved the tension you feel between characters, primary and secondary. Way to go, Ms. Sinclair! Can’t wait for the next installment in the Gabriel’s Ghost universe.(less)

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Aug 09, 2009 Missy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, science-fiction

This book took me quite a while to get into--there were a ton and a half of mentions of technology I knew nothing about (probably because, as I found out later, I was reading the third book in a series), making it difficult to follow all of the abbreviations and ship names and classes. It really picked up for me about halfway through. Suddenly there was tons of action that didn't slow down until the book ended. There was so much action going on up until the last pages that I honestly thought it...more

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Oct 18, 2009 Doranna Durgin rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of her best, I thought, a contrast to the previous title (although I wouldn't miss that one--it's important for the big picture, and it does some interesting things). This is third person, in which she maintains better clarity of plot, and this one is also a grab and run right from the start, plus has the wonderful depth of the universe every step of the way. Adore the characters, though I can't quite reconcile Phillip here with how he behaved in Gabriel's Ghost and in Chaz's past, so some e...more

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Dec 19, 2010 Yvette rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked this one much better than Gabriel's Ghost. I just didn't like the two main characters in GG, and especially didn't get a warm and fuzzy feeling for Sullivan. But Phillip is another matter entirely.

He's older. Yummy. Sexy. And an Admiral! Yes, and our lovely Rya is the kind of girl you'd want to have at your side in any kind of firefight. Somehow I found their romance more believable than Sully and Chaz's, but maybe that's just me.

P.S. I read this book in less than 48 hours. There aren't...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Claire rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, sci-fi

Thanks to Felicia and the VF book club for the recommendation! Haven't read any others in the series (not sure if I will in the future) but it was still pretty easy to jump into the action and figure out the world. Made me realize I haven't read sci-fi in a while and I've missed it!! Enjoyed that Rya was a physically strong woman and had a body to match - not like most UF heroines who are skinny-strong. Philip was a good hero too; not too perfect, admitted his flaws and learned from them, and I...more

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Jun 25, 2011 Anna (Bobs Her Hair) rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: sci-fi romance fans

Shelves: futuristic, science-fiction-romance

Loved it! This book had more romance than Shades of Dark, less sex, more mystery, and some pulse-pounding action. I just wish Linnea Sinclair's endings weren't so abrupt. Maybe Rebels & Lovers will reveal a little bit of Rya and Phillip's relationship similar to the way Hope's Folly gave us an update of Sully's eyesight.

In Hope's Folly, Admiral Phillip Gulthrie is now part of the new rebel Alliance of Independent Republics and wanted by the Empire. Not only is the Empire's Imperial Fleet se...more Loved it! This book had more romance than Shades of Dark, less sex, more mystery, and some pulse-pounding action. I just wish Linnea Sinclair's endings weren't so abrupt. Maybe Rebels & Lovers will reveal a little bit of Rya and Phillip's relationship similar to the way Hope's Folly gave us an update of Sully's eyesight.

In Hope's Folly, Admiral Phillip Gulthrie is now part of the new rebel Alliance of Independent Republics and wanted by the Empire. Not only is the Empire's Imperial Fleet seeking his capture but also the Farosians, who are greedily desperate to seize the Empire's power.

Phillip is given an "ugly, ungainly 850-ton beast" of a ship, formerly known as the Alric Stockwell and renamed Hope's Folly. Captain Cory Bennton, who was executed by the Imperial Fleet, once ran this ship twenty years ago. His assignment is to build a crew, get the ship in flying conditon, and take it to rebel miliary base for repair. Rya Bennton, Cory Bennton's daughter, becomes part of his new crew. She is a trained for security and assassin work. She also once had crush on Phillip when she first met him at the age of ten. Rya is tough, smart, fierce, and determined to protect Admiral Guthrie with her life.

I loved the mystery and suspense in this book. Who was sabotaging the ship? Farosian or Imperial? Death or capture? Then there was the strong attraction between Phillip and Rya. Rya sees not only a lonely man, but also a strong, intelligent, and sexy man. Phillip feels responsible for her father's death. He also feels guilty for being attracted to his former mentor's daughter. "Old Man" he calls himself. "Uncle Phillip" he rejects. To Rya he is her "long-lost always-forever dream hero." (sigh)

As I said before I loved this book! I just wish there had been more to the HEA, but abrupt endings seem consistent with Sinclair's writing. This book includes romance, sabotage, fight scenes, a couple of battles, an enemy in sheep's clothing, and a lucky cat. Overall, I give this book an A and or 5 stars.

I can't wait to read Rebels and Lovers, which features Philip's brother, Devin Guthrie. ;o)

(less)

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Jun 14, 2010 Summer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, sci-fi-futuristic, sci-fi-romance

So in Hope's Folly, Linnea Sinclair's third novel in her Dock Five Universe, it centers around Philip Guthrie (Chaz's ex-husband from previous novels) and Rya Bennton. Rya's father was close to Philip when she was a child and she has grown up with a mild case of hero-worship of him. However that changes with time as she meets him again years later while he's leading the Alliance and Rya's decided to join. Philip has mixed feelings for Rya, he finds her attractive but they have a large gap in the...more

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Jun 28, 2009 Janice (Janicu) rated it 4 of 5 stars

http://janicu.livejournal.com/68736.html

Hope's Folly is the third book in the Dock Five universe. First two books focus on hero and heroine Gabriel Ross Sullivan and Chasidah Bergren as they expose a corrupt empire and go on the run together. They are:
Gabriel's Ghost & Shades of Dark

The premise: In Hope's Folly, Chaz's ex-husband Admiral Philip Guthrie, who has converted to the side of the Rebel Alliance, is starting duties on a newly minted ship - Hope's Folly. Actually, this new ship is...more http://janicu.livejournal.com/68736.html

Hope's Folly is the third book in the Dock Five universe. First two books focus on hero and heroine Gabriel Ross Sullivan and Chasidah Bergren as they expose a corrupt empire and go on the run together. They are:
Gabriel's Ghost & Shades of Dark

The premise: In Hope's Folly, Chaz's ex-husband Admiral Philip Guthrie, who has converted to the side of the Rebel Alliance, is starting duties on a newly minted ship - Hope's Folly. Actually, this new ship is an old clunker but beggars can't be choosers. Philip must command the ship with a new, bare-bones crew, and when one calamity follows another it's hard to tell if it's because Hope's Folly is barely held together with chewing gum and duct tape, or because of deliberate sabotage. In the meantime, one of his new crew is someone Philip is attracted to - Rya Bennton. She's the daughter of his dead friend, Cory Bennton, a death Philip feels directly responsible for, but Rya doesn't know about his role in her father's death.

My Thoughts: I think you MAY be able to get away with reading this book without reading Gabriel's Ghost and Shades of Dark if you just understand that our hero and heroine are ex-Fleet and now rebels fighting against a corrupt Empire. They are also fighting against the Farosians who have their own agenda against the Empire (they support another - Sheldon Blaine, for the throne, but have no problem with capturing key rebels like Philip to use as collateral to free Blaine from the prison planet Moabar). I did a decent breakdown of enemy factions in my Shades of Dark review if you need reminding.

This book has about equal parts romance and intruigue/action (trying to discover if there's an enemy aboard ship while fighting off attackers and keeping it running). The reader discovers before Rya who is responsible for some of the problems on the ship, but there's a good reason for this (the clue is while she's off page), so she makes believable mistakes. I liked the action because it proved how good both of them were at their jobs - Philip as the Admiral of the ship and Rya as security. They have to work together and in the meantime they discover how much in they have common - particularly when it comes to guns (their gun conversations were too cute).

Of course another thing they have in common is Rya's father - Cory Bennton, an officer who Philip respected who was killed by the Empire because of close ties to Philip. Philip considers himself responsible and now worries about what Cory would think about Philip's interest in Rya. Rya on the other hand remembers meeting Philip when she was 9 and he 25. She was crushing on him then. Even now, she thinks of Philip as her "long-long always-forever dream hero" but isn't sure how serious he is about her, which made me laugh because meanwhile Philip's imagining her dad killing him and isn't sure how serious she is about him.

Overall: As usual, pure escapist fun that I have come to expect from this author. Either this or Shades of Dark could be my favorite on of the Dock five series, I haven't decided yet (I liked Shades of Dark for it's dark bits and Hope's Folly for it's light ones). I was interested to see how Philip would be portrayed when he got his own book - turns out he's learned to trust his instincts over "the rules" and has become better for it. I really liked Rya's character too, possibly one of my favorite Sinclair heroines - a tall, strong-minded, amazonian woman with a penchant for guns - really liked her.

News: I just peered at Linnea Sinclair's website and there's a fourth book under way with the working title Tracking Trouble! Yay! Looks like the protagonist will be Philip Guthrie's younger brother Devin. From her website:
"OUT OF OPTIONS…Devin Guthrie can’t forget Captain Makaiden Griggs even though it’s been two years since she was in his family’s employ. A Guthrie does not fall in love with a mere shuttle pilot. Going against his wealthy family’s wishes isn’t an option—not with the Empire in political upheaval, much of it caused by Devin’s renegade older brother, Admiral Philip Guthrie. The Guthries must solidify their standing—financially, politically and socially—or risk losing it all. But when the Guthrie heir—Devin’s nineteen-year old nephew— goes missing, Devin’s loyalty to his family’s values is put to the test. And suddenly the unthinkable becomes the only option available: Devin must break the rules and risk allying himself with the one woman he could never forget—and was forbidden to love."(less)

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Apr 06, 2009 Colleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was my favorite of the 3 Linnea Sincalir books I have read this month. I loved the story line about Rya and Admiral Guthrie. Having known each other for many years Rya and Philip are thrown together for an adventure that is sure to have you turning the pages. Throw in a few space aliens, a couple of bad guys and a big ugly cat and this story will make you sigh and wish you had a boss like Philip. I can honestly say I will never look at a plate of peas the same way again :)

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Mar 30, 2010 Drmeow rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 02, 2010 Veronika Levine rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love reading Linnea's books, and this third book in the Gabriel's Ghost series was just fantastic. I love this futuristic world and the new characters she introduced in this third installment. I'm ready for the next one! If you are into weapons, you'll really love this book as both the main characters are self professed "ammo heads." And the futuristic weapons they describe sound awesome. Again, if you are a fan of science fiction, you will love Linnea. If you like romance, all the better. Giv...more

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May 13, 2009 Cynthia rated it 4 of 5 stars

As usual, too much romance for my tastes--but the rest made up for it. I keep reading Sinclair's work, even though it is largely romance, because she also has good plots and does a good job with character development. Unlike many authors, each of her main characters is a well-defined individual, not "another good guy" or "another beautiful-yet-insecure woman." There was a touch of beautiful-yet-insecure in Rya Bennton (SUCH an annoying clich@eacute;!), but she got past it.

Some of the things that...more

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Aug 22, 2010 gert rated it 2 of 5 stars

wow. what an utter disappointment! there is no comparison between this book and sinclair's previous - both this series and stand alones. the love story was soooo lame, totally unbelievable and super insulting. Sinclair kept inserting the same, lame rationale for Guthrie, admiral of the rebel fleet, to have fallen hopelessly in love with rya I.e. "the only explanation can be I've lost my mind" .

the sf element was also severely less then previous books. and by less, I don't mean less detail or co...more

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Nov 30, 2010 A.B. Gayle rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved the unusual characters who star in this book. The hero, Philip Guthrie, who is trying to come to terms with his loss of mobility and being continually reminded of his age and now being less than perfect. And Rya, not your typical weak feminine TSTL heroine who still sees the integrity of the man underneath and worships the man he was and the man he is now.

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Aug 03, 2009 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction, romance, suspense

This is a great adventure/whodunit/sci-fi/romance type story about people fighting against the evil empire on a shoestring. The books was satisfying in that the guy gets the girl and they live to tell about it. Unfortunately, there's a whole lot left to tell about the rebellion's success. Hopefully there are more books out there.

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Hope's Folly (Dock Five Universe #3)

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