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A Line in the Ice
Bloodthirsty monsters are emerging from the Antarctic ice, the same creatures that once stalked the battlegrounds of World War I. Back then, a group of soldiers valiantly fought off the beasts—and were never seen again. A century later, an elite military squad stands between civilization and the mysterious return of the enemy. Captain Charlie Weller thinks she's seen everything—until a man crawls out onto the ice, barely alive and muttering about a place called Illyria. Lysander Davies claims to be the descendant of one of the missing soldiers. He insists the monsters are actually gentle creatures, under the control of beings far, far more dangerous... Drawn to the stranger, Charlie believes his stories and agrees to help him. But they both know nothing can come of their feelings for one another, for the only way to save earth is for Lysander to return to Illyria and close the rift behind him, forever... 96,000 words
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2011
48 people want to read
About the author
Jamie Craig
113 books173 followersJamie Craig is actually a pen name for the collaboration of authors
Vivien Dean http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/... and
Pepper Espinoza http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
ABOUT JAMIE CRAIG
Vivien Dean and Pepper Espinoza have been writing and publishing together as Jamie Craig since 2006. They have published with Juno Books, Samhain Publishing, Liquid Silver Books, and multiple titles with Amber Quill Press.
Pepper Espinoza has been writing and publishing erotic romance since 2005. She grew up in Utah and lives there now, where the landscape and history provide a great deal of inspiration for her work. Besides writing, she enjoys playing video games, watching movies, and going to concerts.
Vivien Dean returned to writing in 2005, and has published with Liquid Silver Books, Samhain Publishing, and Amber Quill Press. She currently resides in northern California with her husband and two children.
Vivien Dean http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/... and
Pepper Espinoza http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
ABOUT JAMIE CRAIG
Vivien Dean and Pepper Espinoza have been writing and publishing together as Jamie Craig since 2006. They have published with Juno Books, Samhain Publishing, Liquid Silver Books, and multiple titles with Amber Quill Press.
Pepper Espinoza has been writing and publishing erotic romance since 2005. She grew up in Utah and lives there now, where the landscape and history provide a great deal of inspiration for her work. Besides writing, she enjoys playing video games, watching movies, and going to concerts.
Vivien Dean returned to writing in 2005, and has published with Liquid Silver Books, Samhain Publishing, and Amber Quill Press. She currently resides in northern California with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 7, 2011
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as a part of Novel Publicity's Blog Tour program. I am a blog tour host for them but receive no compensation and only participate for the books I want to, there is no requirement for a review or a positive endorsement as a participant in this program.
A Line in the Ice by Jamie Craig (the pen name used for the combined writing of the erotica-super team Vivien Dean and Pepper Espinoza
is a genre mindbender: Sci-fi, Fantacy, Erotica. The story weaves in and out of genres easily and without jolting the reader. This is how real life works right? When the neuroscientist is at work its not all heaving bosoms, but in his off hours... hells yeah! And there are real ramifications and consequences for the choices you make. A Line in the Ice manages to be realistic and believable while still having monsters and outbound ice science stations and phenomenal sex.
I won't go into the plot too much because the description of the book is spot on. What I will say is that this is a fun read, a fast read, and something that will make you use your mind as well as titillate with it's erotic scenes. I really enjoyed reading this. Questions of morality, personal responsibility, honor and love were all tackled in a fun easily digestible way.
An interesting thing that the authors did with this is they used a lot of Shakespeare. I have a theater background so all of the little asides and references really deepened my experience and enjoyment of the book. For those who don't enjoy or know Shakespeare, the inclusion will not diminish the experience at all, which again, is something which takes a tremendous amount of skill.
I did have a couple of things that bothered me about the book which I'm going to list, but I want to say I think these all have more to do with me than with the authors. Sometimes things just rub me the wrong way but my overall assessment of A Line in the Ice is that you should check it out. I think anyone would enjoy it. Men don't usually pick up erotica but I think they might like this one.
"Pussy" - I hate the word pussy. It sounds awful, like moist or sweat. It's just an ugly sound and every time I read it I lose any of the smexiness of the writing. However, I know a lot of people use it and it's fine and the author has the right to use whatever they want but to me, the sex scenes went from fucking-awesome to ewww with just one word.
Thigh hair - I do not find the hair on the inner thigh of a man sexy. Please stop telling me about it. Once was fine, but now it's making me giggle.
The Cover - The cover art is fine, but I don't think it's a good representation of the book. I'm glad they didn't go for the Romance style cover but I think it could be better.
Charlie (The MC) - In the beginning of the book Charlie is very hard to get a read on and her attraction to Lysander is difficult to believe. By the time you're into the story her character settles down and becomes really interesting and dynamic, I'd have liked to see more of that in the beginning.
All in all, this is an awesome book. I think it's really something special that arcs over what we've come to expect from women writers, especially romance writers. Hat's off to you ladies, I hope lots of people buy A Line in the Ice.
A Line in the Ice by Jamie Craig (the pen name used for the combined writing of the erotica-super team Vivien Dean and Pepper Espinoza
is a genre mindbender: Sci-fi, Fantacy, Erotica. The story weaves in and out of genres easily and without jolting the reader. This is how real life works right? When the neuroscientist is at work its not all heaving bosoms, but in his off hours... hells yeah! And there are real ramifications and consequences for the choices you make. A Line in the Ice manages to be realistic and believable while still having monsters and outbound ice science stations and phenomenal sex.I won't go into the plot too much because the description of the book is spot on. What I will say is that this is a fun read, a fast read, and something that will make you use your mind as well as titillate with it's erotic scenes. I really enjoyed reading this. Questions of morality, personal responsibility, honor and love were all tackled in a fun easily digestible way.
An interesting thing that the authors did with this is they used a lot of Shakespeare. I have a theater background so all of the little asides and references really deepened my experience and enjoyment of the book. For those who don't enjoy or know Shakespeare, the inclusion will not diminish the experience at all, which again, is something which takes a tremendous amount of skill.
I did have a couple of things that bothered me about the book which I'm going to list, but I want to say I think these all have more to do with me than with the authors. Sometimes things just rub me the wrong way but my overall assessment of A Line in the Ice is that you should check it out. I think anyone would enjoy it. Men don't usually pick up erotica but I think they might like this one.
"Pussy" - I hate the word pussy. It sounds awful, like moist or sweat. It's just an ugly sound and every time I read it I lose any of the smexiness of the writing. However, I know a lot of people use it and it's fine and the author has the right to use whatever they want but to me, the sex scenes went from fucking-awesome to ewww with just one word.
Thigh hair - I do not find the hair on the inner thigh of a man sexy. Please stop telling me about it. Once was fine, but now it's making me giggle.
The Cover - The cover art is fine, but I don't think it's a good representation of the book. I'm glad they didn't go for the Romance style cover but I think it could be better.
Charlie (The MC) - In the beginning of the book Charlie is very hard to get a read on and her attraction to Lysander is difficult to believe. By the time you're into the story her character settles down and becomes really interesting and dynamic, I'd have liked to see more of that in the beginning.
All in all, this is an awesome book. I think it's really something special that arcs over what we've come to expect from women writers, especially romance writers. Hat's off to you ladies, I hope lots of people buy A Line in the Ice.
August 17, 2011
Captain Charlie Weller is part of an elite military unit is charge of watching a rift in the ice in Antarctica. They are all that stand between the world and the monsters who want to invade it. When a man crawls out of the rift, Charlie's team rescues him. His tale is fantastic, and will change the fight forever.
This story is a fast paced mix of action and romance. It was perhaps a little too fast paced for me. I found the romance to be almost insta-love. Within a day of meeting and rescuing Lysander from the rift, Charlie is sharing a sleeping bag with him. Is this really the way someone would react to a man who crawls out of an Antarctic rift in the ice when the only other things crawling out are monsters?
I found the concept of WWI soldiers going to another (parallel?) world to drive back monsters to be unique and intriguing. I'd love to hear more of this back story. I'd also like to hear more about the citizens in Illyria, and their history.
Overall, I found the book exciting and thrilling. There is non-stop action, both of the battle and sexual kind. There are a few scenes with explicit erotica, which makes it different from most sci-fi stories. The WWI connection adds a unique historical basis to this genre bending story.
This story is a fast paced mix of action and romance. It was perhaps a little too fast paced for me. I found the romance to be almost insta-love. Within a day of meeting and rescuing Lysander from the rift, Charlie is sharing a sleeping bag with him. Is this really the way someone would react to a man who crawls out of an Antarctic rift in the ice when the only other things crawling out are monsters?
I found the concept of WWI soldiers going to another (parallel?) world to drive back monsters to be unique and intriguing. I'd love to hear more of this back story. I'd also like to hear more about the citizens in Illyria, and their history.
Overall, I found the book exciting and thrilling. There is non-stop action, both of the battle and sexual kind. There are a few scenes with explicit erotica, which makes it different from most sci-fi stories. The WWI connection adds a unique historical basis to this genre bending story.
July 11, 2011
This review is also available at Reflections on Reading Romance
After a great experience with Lois McMaster Bujold’s Cordelia’s Honor, I decided to broaden my horizons and give some sci-fi romance a chance. I’ve always loved Star Trek and Star Wars, and I usually limit my sci-fi enjoyment to the small screen, but when I saw Jamie Craig’s A Line in the Ice, I thought I’d check it out. I’m so glad I did, because it was action-packed and a sweet romance. Jamie Craig is actually writing team Vivien Dean and Pepper Espinoza, and I always have the utmost respect for authors who can write together without killing each other, since I can’t imagine that happening in my household without numerous calls to Emergency Services. However, the two ladies who write as Jamie Craig do so seamlessly, and the end result is a pleasure to read. If you look on their webpage (www.jamie-craig.com) you’ll see that they’ve published a number of erotic romances of many types, but A Line in the Ice is more mainstream. You can find this novel for purchase at Amazon and at the Carina Press webpage .
The novel takes place roughly 100 years after the end of the First World War in Antarctica, with a small band of soldiers from around the world battling mysterious creatures emerging from the ice. These strange animals first appeared during WWI around the world, killing soldiers and civilians and causing widespread panic. A small band of soldiers fought off the creatures at the time, but then was never heard from again. Captain Charlie Weller is part of the present day squad fighting the re-appearance of the creatures in Antarctica, and as the novel begins, she and her partner are fighting off one of the animals, only to see a man emerge from the ice. His name is Lysander Davies, and he tells Charlie and her companions that he’s a descendent of a member of that original band of men from WWI. He claims that the “monsters” they’ve been fighting are actually gentle creatures from a place called Illyria, another world under attack by a vicious group called the Aquorians. Lysander has made the dangerous journey through the rift between his world of Illyria and Charlie’s Earth to warn the humans that the Aquorians are on their way. But the more time he and Charlie spend together, the stronger their attraction, which makes the situation all the more difficult, since Lysander will have to return to Illyria in order to close the rift and save Earth.
What first attracted me to this novel was the author’s use of World War I as the time when the Leviathan (the large animals) began to come through the rift. Since the US had less involvement in WWI than many of our allies, it often receives little attention in history courses and as a result many Americans know little or nothing about the war. Choosing to have these creatures emerge at that time was intriguing to me, and the book didn’t disappoint. Lysander’s Great-Grandfather and the other men from WWI who drove off the Leviathan at the time became trapped in another world, Illyria. Lysander has only heard stories of Earth, including parts of Shakespearean plays that his Great-Grandfather had written down from memory. Unfortunately, Lysander has returned to Earth at Antarctica, one of the starkest spots on Earth, and it’s amusing to see his questions for Charlie about the other parts of the world, along with his introduction to technology his great-grandfather could never have imagined possible.
The setting of the book, Antarctica, was particularly effective, reminding me of sci-fi movies such as Aliens, since the space in which the characters move and interact is so confined and the terrain so unforgiving. The harsh cold and limited access to the outside world creates the feel of being cut off from everyone, which increases the tension between the soldiers and facilitates the growing romance between Charlie and Lysander. At times you forget that they aren’t alone, as they soon only have eyes for each other. There are only six soldiers in this forgotten defense against a growing threat, and Lysander’s frustration over Earth’s growing complaisance concerning the rift and the Aquorian threat is palpable.
My only complaint about the novel would be that we see very little of the Aquorians themselves, only learning of them through Lysander until the action-packed end of the novel. We learn about the threat that they present through his accounts of Illyria and what the other humans learned from their experience there, but I didn’t fully understand their motives in attacking Earth. This seems like a very minor complaint, however, since this was precisely the situation the soldiers in Antarctica faced.
I enjoyed the romance between Charlie and Lysander and thought this was an intriguing world. I’d love to see more about Illyria in the future, especially since it was quite the contrast to the stark setting of the majority of the book. When I asked the authors on Twitter if they had any plans for sequels, they replied that there isn’t anything in the works but not to rule it out either, so for now, I’ll have to settle for reading books from their backlist. I definitely recommend this one if you’re a Sci-fi fan.
I received this book for review from the publisher through NetGalley.
After a great experience with Lois McMaster Bujold’s Cordelia’s Honor, I decided to broaden my horizons and give some sci-fi romance a chance. I’ve always loved Star Trek and Star Wars, and I usually limit my sci-fi enjoyment to the small screen, but when I saw Jamie Craig’s A Line in the Ice, I thought I’d check it out. I’m so glad I did, because it was action-packed and a sweet romance. Jamie Craig is actually writing team Vivien Dean and Pepper Espinoza, and I always have the utmost respect for authors who can write together without killing each other, since I can’t imagine that happening in my household without numerous calls to Emergency Services. However, the two ladies who write as Jamie Craig do so seamlessly, and the end result is a pleasure to read. If you look on their webpage (www.jamie-craig.com) you’ll see that they’ve published a number of erotic romances of many types, but A Line in the Ice is more mainstream. You can find this novel for purchase at Amazon and at the Carina Press webpage .
The novel takes place roughly 100 years after the end of the First World War in Antarctica, with a small band of soldiers from around the world battling mysterious creatures emerging from the ice. These strange animals first appeared during WWI around the world, killing soldiers and civilians and causing widespread panic. A small band of soldiers fought off the creatures at the time, but then was never heard from again. Captain Charlie Weller is part of the present day squad fighting the re-appearance of the creatures in Antarctica, and as the novel begins, she and her partner are fighting off one of the animals, only to see a man emerge from the ice. His name is Lysander Davies, and he tells Charlie and her companions that he’s a descendent of a member of that original band of men from WWI. He claims that the “monsters” they’ve been fighting are actually gentle creatures from a place called Illyria, another world under attack by a vicious group called the Aquorians. Lysander has made the dangerous journey through the rift between his world of Illyria and Charlie’s Earth to warn the humans that the Aquorians are on their way. But the more time he and Charlie spend together, the stronger their attraction, which makes the situation all the more difficult, since Lysander will have to return to Illyria in order to close the rift and save Earth.
What first attracted me to this novel was the author’s use of World War I as the time when the Leviathan (the large animals) began to come through the rift. Since the US had less involvement in WWI than many of our allies, it often receives little attention in history courses and as a result many Americans know little or nothing about the war. Choosing to have these creatures emerge at that time was intriguing to me, and the book didn’t disappoint. Lysander’s Great-Grandfather and the other men from WWI who drove off the Leviathan at the time became trapped in another world, Illyria. Lysander has only heard stories of Earth, including parts of Shakespearean plays that his Great-Grandfather had written down from memory. Unfortunately, Lysander has returned to Earth at Antarctica, one of the starkest spots on Earth, and it’s amusing to see his questions for Charlie about the other parts of the world, along with his introduction to technology his great-grandfather could never have imagined possible.
The setting of the book, Antarctica, was particularly effective, reminding me of sci-fi movies such as Aliens, since the space in which the characters move and interact is so confined and the terrain so unforgiving. The harsh cold and limited access to the outside world creates the feel of being cut off from everyone, which increases the tension between the soldiers and facilitates the growing romance between Charlie and Lysander. At times you forget that they aren’t alone, as they soon only have eyes for each other. There are only six soldiers in this forgotten defense against a growing threat, and Lysander’s frustration over Earth’s growing complaisance concerning the rift and the Aquorian threat is palpable.
My only complaint about the novel would be that we see very little of the Aquorians themselves, only learning of them through Lysander until the action-packed end of the novel. We learn about the threat that they present through his accounts of Illyria and what the other humans learned from their experience there, but I didn’t fully understand their motives in attacking Earth. This seems like a very minor complaint, however, since this was precisely the situation the soldiers in Antarctica faced.
I enjoyed the romance between Charlie and Lysander and thought this was an intriguing world. I’d love to see more about Illyria in the future, especially since it was quite the contrast to the stark setting of the majority of the book. When I asked the authors on Twitter if they had any plans for sequels, they replied that there isn’t anything in the works but not to rule it out either, so for now, I’ll have to settle for reading books from their backlist. I definitely recommend this one if you’re a Sci-fi fan.
I received this book for review from the publisher through NetGalley.
July 28, 2011
I'm not usually a huge fan of romances in which the heroine is in the military or plays some other gun-toting revenge-seeking government operative. It's not that I don't like the idea, since, actually, I think it's pretty great that women are now able to serve as men do, and demonstrate that they are just as capable as men to serve in a military capacity. My problem is more to do with how women in military/enforcement roles in romances are written in. I find too often they are either completely unbelievable, being way too fragile to really be whom they are supposed to be, or the author hits the right note up-front (competent technically and demonstrating admirable intelligence and capabilities) but then everything goes south when the hero appears, with the heroine either completely incongruous as some kind of sex-kitten, or more outrageously masculine than the hero, but with bigger boobs. Either way, I find it a turn off, so I generally steer clear of them.
Well, this one, provided to me by netgalley, wasn't like that. The heroine is credible. She is a highly competent individual, who doesn't loose her marbles either when the hero appears, or when she realizes how deep her feelings for the hero actually are, and her competence at her job, violent as it is, does not desert her when she has to fight standing next to the hero. I also liked her. She seemed a real person, not some superhero, and didn't have a whole bunch of hangups either, but kept a nice balance between emotional and rational internal dialogue.
I have to admit I had my eyes on this book for a while, ever since I read the plot summary in some interview or other. It just intrigued me. Part romance, part sci-fi, part thriller, part "Ice Station Zebra". A bit like an urban fantasy, but set on ice, and set in the present day, but with a rather clever historical twist to it through the hero, and something almost like a time-travel theme, but not really. It's one of those books that's hard to define, and maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much.
There is a good cast of characters, and the secondary players are introduced in such a way that you are not confused by them or their personalities (i.e. they don't all appear all at once), and they actually have important parts to play in the story. The plot is good, but it's how the plot is introduced to the reader that I liked, how it develops with the characters, and the choices they have to make, that just make this such a great read. You are essentially thrown into the thick of it from the first page, and although you can guess most of the background, the details are revealed at a reasonable pace through the conversations of the characters. It really is very well planned and written.
I guess without such a solid pace or great characters the plot would seem silly, but it really worked for me.
I really liked it. 4 stars. Will definitely keep my eyes open for other books by this team.
Well, this one, provided to me by netgalley, wasn't like that. The heroine is credible. She is a highly competent individual, who doesn't loose her marbles either when the hero appears, or when she realizes how deep her feelings for the hero actually are, and her competence at her job, violent as it is, does not desert her when she has to fight standing next to the hero. I also liked her. She seemed a real person, not some superhero, and didn't have a whole bunch of hangups either, but kept a nice balance between emotional and rational internal dialogue.
I have to admit I had my eyes on this book for a while, ever since I read the plot summary in some interview or other. It just intrigued me. Part romance, part sci-fi, part thriller, part "Ice Station Zebra". A bit like an urban fantasy, but set on ice, and set in the present day, but with a rather clever historical twist to it through the hero, and something almost like a time-travel theme, but not really. It's one of those books that's hard to define, and maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much.
There is a good cast of characters, and the secondary players are introduced in such a way that you are not confused by them or their personalities (i.e. they don't all appear all at once), and they actually have important parts to play in the story. The plot is good, but it's how the plot is introduced to the reader that I liked, how it develops with the characters, and the choices they have to make, that just make this such a great read. You are essentially thrown into the thick of it from the first page, and although you can guess most of the background, the details are revealed at a reasonable pace through the conversations of the characters. It really is very well planned and written.
I guess without such a solid pace or great characters the plot would seem silly, but it really worked for me.
I really liked it. 4 stars. Will definitely keep my eyes open for other books by this team.
July 25, 2011
This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.
Expected Release Date: July 4, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Carina Press
Author’s Website: http://www.jamie-craig.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy
During World War I, demonic looking creatures appeared on Earth. Fighting them back through the rift they had entered through, a group of soldiers disappeared along with the creatures. Now, a hundred years later, a new rift has opened in Antarctica, and small secret group of elite soldiers is charged with keeping these creatures from invading Earth.
Captain Charlie Weller is one of these elite soldiers, and thrives on the challenge of fighting these massive creatures while still protecting her teammates. After felling one of the monsters, she is stunned to see a man crawl out of the rift onto the ice, half dead. Taking him back to base, she helps a teammate warm him back up and then is amazed when he introduces himself as Lysander Davies, a descendant of one of the missing soldiers who had gone missing during the first world war. Lysander's claims that not only is he from a place called Ilyria, the world on the other side of the rift, but that the giant monsters Charlie's team has been battling are actually gentle, sentient beings who have been captured by an enemy called the Yellow Cross.
Skeptical, her team is both amazed and thrilled when they discover that Lysander is telling the truth, and the possibility begins to form of using these creatures to help battle the real enemy to protect the people of earth.
It soon becomes obvious, however, that the only way to close the rift is to send Lysander back to Ilyria, but even knowing that their time together will soon come to an end, Charlie cannot help but give into the feelings growing so rapidly between them.
As I was preparing my review, I was very pleased to realize that Jamie Craig also wrote a m/m sci-fi favorite of mine, Outcast Mine. This book has the same easy, fast-paced style as well as the same delicious intensity and forbidden elements to the romance that I'd come to love from them.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Being that it was sci-fi based, it is easier to suspend your disbelief at times, especially in regards to alien creatures and technology, which I think made it easier to swallow some of the details. The open ending makes me hopeful that there will be a sequel, as well as possibly another romance from Charlie's team.
A very solid 4 Stars.
Expected Release Date: July 4, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Carina Press
Author’s Website: http://www.jamie-craig.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy
During World War I, demonic looking creatures appeared on Earth. Fighting them back through the rift they had entered through, a group of soldiers disappeared along with the creatures. Now, a hundred years later, a new rift has opened in Antarctica, and small secret group of elite soldiers is charged with keeping these creatures from invading Earth.
Captain Charlie Weller is one of these elite soldiers, and thrives on the challenge of fighting these massive creatures while still protecting her teammates. After felling one of the monsters, she is stunned to see a man crawl out of the rift onto the ice, half dead. Taking him back to base, she helps a teammate warm him back up and then is amazed when he introduces himself as Lysander Davies, a descendant of one of the missing soldiers who had gone missing during the first world war. Lysander's claims that not only is he from a place called Ilyria, the world on the other side of the rift, but that the giant monsters Charlie's team has been battling are actually gentle, sentient beings who have been captured by an enemy called the Yellow Cross.
Skeptical, her team is both amazed and thrilled when they discover that Lysander is telling the truth, and the possibility begins to form of using these creatures to help battle the real enemy to protect the people of earth.
It soon becomes obvious, however, that the only way to close the rift is to send Lysander back to Ilyria, but even knowing that their time together will soon come to an end, Charlie cannot help but give into the feelings growing so rapidly between them.
As I was preparing my review, I was very pleased to realize that Jamie Craig also wrote a m/m sci-fi favorite of mine, Outcast Mine. This book has the same easy, fast-paced style as well as the same delicious intensity and forbidden elements to the romance that I'd come to love from them.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Being that it was sci-fi based, it is easier to suspend your disbelief at times, especially in regards to alien creatures and technology, which I think made it easier to swallow some of the details. The open ending makes me hopeful that there will be a sequel, as well as possibly another romance from Charlie's team.
A very solid 4 Stars.
August 16, 2011
STORYLINE: Six soldiers are stationed in Antarctica in close proximity to a rift from which monsters are appearing. A man emerges from said rift claiming he’s from a place called Illyria. His forefather fought in World War I and disappeared along with his squadron, after doing battle with Aquorian monsters.
Captain Charlie Weller is attracted to the stranger, Lysander, who is determined to return to Illyria and defeat the enemy who has wiped out his countrymen. It’s hard for the soldiers to believe his story and harder still to make a decision to venture into Illyria and run the risk of leaving the world they know behind.
I liked the fact that the book starts mid-action. I wanted to read this novel, having seen the excerpt from the first chapter. The pacing is good, along with the storyline, so that I finished reading this 96,000 word adventure in no time. The novel is written in such a way that the rift doesn’t seem far-fetched. It is clear that times have changed and the rift between worlds is just another fact of life.
The love scenes are steamy, but a tad bit jarring as they probably slip into erotica. I thought that yeah, Charlie would probably refer to her body parts in blunt language, being a both-foot-on-the-ground kinda girl, but somehow, I built an image of Lysander that didn’t allow me to see him using the same kind of earthy language.
Overall, A Line in the Ice is an absorbing read, even for those like myself who don’t regularly read Paranormal and Sci-Fi books. The explanation of technologically advanced equipment is credible and easily understood. There are no way-out names to confuse me, as sometimes happens with the Paranormal & Sci-Fi genre. The world, both on this side and in Illyria, is familiar but diverse enough to still be interesting. The Aquorians and how they controlled the Leviathan is another cool angle. Clearly, this two-woman team of writers is big on imagination.
SOURCE: I received this book as a tour host on the Novel Publicity Blog Tour for A Line in the Ice. The full review and author interview are posted here == > http://thecharacterdepot.blogspot.com...
Captain Charlie Weller is attracted to the stranger, Lysander, who is determined to return to Illyria and defeat the enemy who has wiped out his countrymen. It’s hard for the soldiers to believe his story and harder still to make a decision to venture into Illyria and run the risk of leaving the world they know behind.
I liked the fact that the book starts mid-action. I wanted to read this novel, having seen the excerpt from the first chapter. The pacing is good, along with the storyline, so that I finished reading this 96,000 word adventure in no time. The novel is written in such a way that the rift doesn’t seem far-fetched. It is clear that times have changed and the rift between worlds is just another fact of life.
The love scenes are steamy, but a tad bit jarring as they probably slip into erotica. I thought that yeah, Charlie would probably refer to her body parts in blunt language, being a both-foot-on-the-ground kinda girl, but somehow, I built an image of Lysander that didn’t allow me to see him using the same kind of earthy language.
Overall, A Line in the Ice is an absorbing read, even for those like myself who don’t regularly read Paranormal and Sci-Fi books. The explanation of technologically advanced equipment is credible and easily understood. There are no way-out names to confuse me, as sometimes happens with the Paranormal & Sci-Fi genre. The world, both on this side and in Illyria, is familiar but diverse enough to still be interesting. The Aquorians and how they controlled the Leviathan is another cool angle. Clearly, this two-woman team of writers is big on imagination.
SOURCE: I received this book as a tour host on the Novel Publicity Blog Tour for A Line in the Ice. The full review and author interview are posted here == > http://thecharacterdepot.blogspot.com...
July 16, 2011
This book definitely gave me the feel of a mid-grade science-fiction movie, a la Ghosts of Mars or something in the same vein. We've got a group of soldiers stationed together in Antarctica. There are six of them, each representing a different country. The conditions are horrible; their accommodations and supplies, meager. But their mission is critical: They're fighting the inhuman beasts appearing in the frigid landscape.
As the book begins, the soldiers discover a man climbing from the rift where the beasts have appeared. He doesn't have gear for the cold and he collapses immediately. The group takes him back to their base to try to figure out who he is and where he came from. Charlie takes a particular interest in him. And as he wakes up, he begins to tell her a fantastic tale about where he came from and why he sought them out.
Lysander claims he is from another world, called Illyria. His people are descended from a group of World War I soldiers lost in a similar rift, decades ago. But his people have been nearly wiped out by an alien race and he's made it his mission to protect Earth from a similar fate. Of course, a romance brews between Lysander and Charlie. But she is cautious, especially once she finds out his plan to return to his home world.
The romance is good, though it progresses at lightning speed. Lysander is a stalwart hero, with a big heart. Frankly, he's almost too good. The story features plenty of action. But I think I felt a bit removed from the danger, because we didn't have a face for the enemy. It was an entire race of bad guys who are a threat to the entire race of humanity. It wasn't a personalized danger, if that makes any sense. The tension was moderate, in both the romance and overall story arc. I was interested in how it all would play out, but not necessarily emotionally invested. It was ok. 3 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
As the book begins, the soldiers discover a man climbing from the rift where the beasts have appeared. He doesn't have gear for the cold and he collapses immediately. The group takes him back to their base to try to figure out who he is and where he came from. Charlie takes a particular interest in him. And as he wakes up, he begins to tell her a fantastic tale about where he came from and why he sought them out.
Lysander claims he is from another world, called Illyria. His people are descended from a group of World War I soldiers lost in a similar rift, decades ago. But his people have been nearly wiped out by an alien race and he's made it his mission to protect Earth from a similar fate. Of course, a romance brews between Lysander and Charlie. But she is cautious, especially once she finds out his plan to return to his home world.
The romance is good, though it progresses at lightning speed. Lysander is a stalwart hero, with a big heart. Frankly, he's almost too good. The story features plenty of action. But I think I felt a bit removed from the danger, because we didn't have a face for the enemy. It was an entire race of bad guys who are a threat to the entire race of humanity. It wasn't a personalized danger, if that makes any sense. The tension was moderate, in both the romance and overall story arc. I was interested in how it all would play out, but not necessarily emotionally invested. It was ok. 3 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
July 2, 2011
The frozen desolate landscape of the Antarctic has become the focal point for a team of 6 military specialists intent on saving the Earth from monsters coming from a rift in the ice. These monsters are not unknown to certain government agencies around the world. They have been battled before, many years ago in Europe during WWI. When Captain Charlie Weller rescues what appears to be a human coming from the rift, it puts the other team members in an uproar. When he claims to be a descendant of Major Davies, a missing soldier from the group who fought the monsters in Europe, the team quickly realizes that Lysander Davies could be the key to ending the invasion.
What a perfect movie this book would make. Drama, action, monsters, a steamy love story, this book packs so many elements into it's story that it's hard to believe it read as smoothly as it did. Jamie Craig blends the real world and fantasy so seamlessly, at times you forget you're reading fiction. This book is very intense and not at all a lighthearted read. This is an edge of your seat, nail biter until the very last page. If you're looking for just a dynamite good book, regardless of the genre, this book is definitely worth a look.
What a perfect movie this book would make. Drama, action, monsters, a steamy love story, this book packs so many elements into it's story that it's hard to believe it read as smoothly as it did. Jamie Craig blends the real world and fantasy so seamlessly, at times you forget you're reading fiction. This book is very intense and not at all a lighthearted read. This is an edge of your seat, nail biter until the very last page. If you're looking for just a dynamite good book, regardless of the genre, this book is definitely worth a look.
August 12, 2011
This book is unique in that the author spins off on the good versus evil plot. A group of soldiers find a freezing and wounded man with a fantastic story to tell. They are forced to believe him after they encounter the beasts that the man speaks of-the soldiers also witnessed the beasts before too. The reader will enjoy getting to know each character quite well. The secondary characters are interesting and have quirks that the reader will come to enjoy. The plot itself is intriguing, not exactly unique. However, the author incorporates World War I so cohesively into the story that many readers will find the novel enjoyable due to the loose basis on history.
The antagonist(s) in the novel would have been more effective had the author touched on them more-the reader heard of them and saw them from a distance, but there was not a lot of dialogue or contact. The events are fairly quick, the reader won't be bored. The characters hold the readers' attention and act to draw the reader into the novel. This novel is recommended for science fiction/mystery fans.
The antagonist(s) in the novel would have been more effective had the author touched on them more-the reader heard of them and saw them from a distance, but there was not a lot of dialogue or contact. The events are fairly quick, the reader won't be bored. The characters hold the readers' attention and act to draw the reader into the novel. This novel is recommended for science fiction/mystery fans.
August 25, 2011
What really worked for me in this book was the characters. Characters are the heart and soul of any story and, to me, more important than plot. This book delivered both. It’s an interesting and imaginative setting, with just enough sci-fi to make it fun, and not so much that non-sci-fi readers would get freaked out.
The characters are easy to get into. Charlie’s got spunk, but she’s not overdone. Lysander’s sensitive but not a wimp. The supporting cast is varied and believable. It’s a great story and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Bravo.
The characters are easy to get into. Charlie’s got spunk, but she’s not overdone. Lysander’s sensitive but not a wimp. The supporting cast is varied and believable. It’s a great story and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Bravo.
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