SF Review-a-Palooza: Borealis "That Syncing Feeling," "The Pirate and the Professor," and "Sunsinger."

LOTS of SF book reviews.

Major thanks to Long and Short of it and Night Owl review sites for their very kind words about my SF books.

First off:
Borealis: THAT SYNCING FEELING
New from Desert Breeze Publishing


PLEASE VOTE!!!
The newest Borealis novella, "That Syncing Feeling" is up for a vote this weekend (Oct. 29-30)for Book of the Week. Read the full Review OR Vote.

Here are some snippets from the review:
Rating: 4.5 Books
Reviewed by Foxglove

That Syncing Feeling is a sweet and delightful love story, filled with adventure and humor, and unusual creatures.

Michelle Levigne has added to the Borealis family with a romantic story of finding love where you least expect it, and with the most unlikely couple. I found this to be a fun filled and action packed adventure, with tongue in cheek humor, sweet first love and lots of danger along the way.

Nureen Keala is smart, courageous and a bit of a dreamer. She is following in her grandfather's footsteps, and trying not to disappoint those in command of the Fleet. ... I loved Nureen, with her daring attitude and her sassy remarks. I liked that she didn't instantly believe Creed was the real deal, but made him prove his identity. ... I like Creed's determination and his tenacity, and the way he finally was able to come to terms with his feelings for his best friend's granddaughter.

The secondary characters in this are few but interesting. Tessur is a morphing shape changer, able to become anything that is even remotely organic, and this talent saves the day more than once in this adventure. My favorite comic relief was the addition of three TPP scientists assigned to keep watch over Tedrin Creed, Drs. Moek, Kerli and Lairy. They were clueless as to Creed's intentions, and his ability to trick them was priceless.

There is a bit of adventure and danger as the trio of Nureen, Tedrin and Tessur make their escape from Borealis, and I was on the edge of my seat through most of the story. Do they make it back to their dimension and find a life together? You'll just have to read That Syncing Feeling to find out.

NEXT:

THE PIRATE AND THE PROFESSOR
A Commonwealth Universe novella
Reviewed by Long and Short of it


FOUR books
Reviewed by Aloe

Ms. Levigne does an excellent job of creating a fantasy world that has harsh and unrelenting weather and is full of dangerous animals and plants. She adds enough description to make it seem real. That makes the story much more realistic, even if it is a fantasy.

Kiryn blockades her planet to keep it safe. No one passes the blockade without her approval, which is very hard to get. When a ship arrives with another ambassador on it, she has her doubts about his authenticity and his purpose. However, he has a sharp mind and can bring her a new prospective; she wants someone to talk over strategies with.

The author makes her female character tough and her personality strong. I like that a lot. Darrak is brainy and good looking, but has no real physical strength. He gets his nickname "The Professor" from all the books he reads (I can relate to that!).

It's fun to watch the two characters dance around each other. She's not sure she should trust him. He's attracted to her and hopes for more than a working relationship. And while they are still deciding how to act, their shuttle gets shot down and they end up in a river. She can't swim; he can. And it's his book knowledge that keeps them warm and fed while they try to get back to the station.

The story has a nice flow, the author adds plenty of action and danger to it, and the two main characters complement each other well. I really enjoyed reading this one. Why don't you go take a romp in space and have fun meeting Kiryn and Darrak? If you enjoy fantasy novellas, this is a good one.


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SUNSINGER
Sunsinger Chronicles #1
Reviewed by Night Owl Reviews/Laurie-J
Score: 4.50 / 5 - Reviewer Top Pick

Told from the viewpoint of a young teen, this story easily captured my imagination. Mankind has spread to the stars. With the discovery of Knaught Points, ships are able to enter ports in space and emerge into whole new galaxies. These areas in space are beautiful, mysterious, and deadly. Now, though, humans everywhere are under attack by an aggressive and formidable alien species. Bain Kern is an orphan on a colony world that has been targeted by the aliens. He is among a group of orphans being evacuated from the colony. The captain of the ship, Sunsinger, takes a liking and interest in Bain, offering him an opportunity he had dreamed of for years, if he can prove his mettle and show her he can learn quickly.
I loved the description of the Sunsinger, an old trader vessel. I felt as if I were aboard the ship experiencing the many wonders of an infinite space for the first time, too. The aliens remain a decidedly malignant and frightening force throughout this book. Mankind is being systematically exterminated. We are given the idea that in other places the fight for the very survival of our species is taking place; we are desperately fighting against a stronger, merciless invading force. But this book does not take us to those struggles, rather it focuses on the evacuation and the attempt to get the orphans safely away to a place called Refuge. It is a well-told coming of age adventure that should not be missed.