Different World, Different Rules ~ Guest Post by Lolita Lopez & $100 GC #Giveaway #scifirom

Different World, Different Rules

Guest Post by Lolita Lopez

The most exciting part about writing sci-fi romances is that there are few rules that can't be broken. If you can dream it up and find a way to make it plausible, you can write it.

Ships with constant gravity? Yep. Interstellar travel? Check! A planet orbited by three moons? Why not! Earth human colonists living in the far reaches of the galaxy? Sure! Big, sexy men who are at least seven feet tall and deliciously muscular? Um…yes, please!

Writing about life on other planets also allows me to play with different cultural norms. The premise of the Grabbed series—that Earth descendants who have colonized a small planet under the protection of a warrior race called the Harcos hold a quarterly lottery to provide brides to these super sexy sky men—wouldn't fly on real Earth. You can't just go around chasing women through the woods, collaring them and taking them home where you plan to make sweet, sweet love to them. Like—people get arrested for that sort of thing, you know?

But, if you create a whole new world where the cultural ideas are slightly shifted from what we consider to be good and right and true and where those taboo tropes like capture fantasy are accepted…well…you get some interesting possibilities for your erotic romance!

Saved by Venom

By Lolita Lopez

Grabbed, Book Three

Synopsis: 

To escape her father's debt to a loan shark, Dizzy seeks refuge in the upcoming Grab. She’d rather belong to one of those terrifying sky warriors from the battleship Valiant than to the sleazy criminal who wants her as his plaything.

The years of constant war haven’t been kind to highly decorated sniper Venom. Only the promise of earning a wife kept him going through deadly battles. Catching and collaring Dizzy fills him with incredible hope. Finally he has a woman of his own, a mate to love—and bind and adorn with his ropes.

After a brazen Splinter attack, the Shadow Force uncovers secrets about Dizzy’s late mother that entangle her in a web of deceit. To save Venom, her father and an operative named Terror, Dizzy digs deep and risks it all.

Venom refuses to stand idly by while Dizzy’s haunted past threatens the future they’re trying to build. He finally has a reason for living—and he’s not giving her up.

A little about the character Venom:

Rank: Land Corps Captain, SRU second-in-command

Specialty: Sniper

Mate: Dizzy

Ranked as the third best shot in the entire land corps force, Venom is nonetheless the most deadly of all their snipers. During the Sendarian siege, he volunteered to take a risky position outside the wire to keep the desperately needed supply routes open. Haunted by that battle, he lives for the day he can take a mate. Currently, he's the second-in-command of the SRU Alpha Team aboard the Valiant.

Sneak Peek Excerpt:

Dizzy gasped at the terrible, pained shout that echoed in the forest. Birds scattered as the guttural groan tore the stillness. She slid to a stop in the freezing cold snow and tried to slow her ragged breaths. Was that a man?

Was it the man?

She gulped hard and licked her lips. Glancing back in the direction of the awful sound, she tried to decide what to do. A sky warrior like the rugged, intimidating one who had been eying her would only make a sound like that if he was in big trouble.

The race officials had warned them that people hunted in these wounds. The gun laws out here weren’t like the strict zero-tolerance laws in The City. It was rumored everyone in the sticks had a weapon.

Maybe the sky warrior chasing her had been shot? Did he need help?

She warred with her conscience only a moment before exhaling roughly and turning back in the direction she’d come. Pressing a hand to her temple, she tried to gain control over the dizziness threatening to swamp her. She hated this damn sickness! Running and playing had been nearly impossible as a child. She couldn’t predict when the waves of nausea and dizziness would hit her but they usually happened at the worst times.

Like right now.

Bracing herself on a tree, Dizzy closed her eyes. She inhaled steadying breaths and performed a series of slow maneuvers that usually helped abate the uncomfortable swirling some. Today, thankfully, it worked. She managed to get moving again without feeling like she was going to puke or fall flat on her face.

The sounds of a struggle met her ears. She heard rattling chains and grunting. Hiding behind a tree, Dizzy licked her lips and gathered her courage before sliding to the side and peeking out at him.

Seated on the snow, he gripped a long, thick chain in both gloved hands and jerked hard. Her eyes widened at his shocking display of strength. When her gaze moved lower, she gasped at the sight of the awful-looking trap closed around his lower leg. The snow around his leg remained white and pristine so he wasn’t bleeding badly. Even so, the injury he would sustain if the trap wasn’t removed quickly would be a terrible one.

Trembling with cold and fear, she stepped out from behind the tree and revealed herself to him. His gaze snapped to her and she took a nervous step back. He let the chain fall from his hands. The tension eased from his face, softening his harsh features and making him look less vicious. They stared at one another for the longest time.

Finally, Dizzy found enough courage to move closer to him. Her footsteps crunched on the firm, packed snow. He glanced at her bare feet and scowled. “Why the hell did you take off your shoes?”

Taken aback by his gruff tone, she froze in place. Squeaking with fright, she explained, “The soles were too slippery. I nearly face-planted on a tree stump and decided it wasn’t worth the risk.”

He grunted. “You’ll care when you lose those toes to frostbite.”

Her stomach trembled violently and she stared at her frigid feet. “Are you serious? Am I really going to lose my toes?”

Available From:

Ellora’s Cave | Amazon | B&N

Author Bio:

While browsing bookstore shelves as a teenager, Lo discovered the erotic writings of Anaïs Nin and A.N. Roquelaure. Certain her mother would not approve, Lo smuggled the books home and squirreled them away in the most likely of places: under her bed. Late at night, she delved into the sensual worlds both writers created.

As a co-ed studying biochemistry and genetics at Texas A&M University, Lo dabbled in creating naughty tales to entertain her friends. Study for a midterm or pen a deliciously dirty story to delight her small band of fans? Not surprisingly, Lo is now on an extended sabbatical from college.

Luckily, Lo stumbled onto the world of erotic romance publishers. She realized there were other readers and writers who loved and craved breathtaking romance with the spiciest of love scenes. She took a chance and submitted her first novella. The rest is history.

Lo lives in Texas with her Viking throwback of a husband and mischievous preschool-aged daughter. She also writes super sexy romances and scorching hot erotica under the pen name Roxie Rivera.

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Prefer to hold a book? My science fiction romance stories are now IN PRINT! #scifirom #dystopian

On the one-year anniversary of my first print anthology, INTERGALACTIC HEAT, I'm excited to announce that I have a second print anthology available. The Underground series, three futuristic dystopian GLBT stories are now available in the REBELS AND ROMANCE book.

Rebels and Romance

The Underground series

In the future...

The corporation Planet Core holds all of the power. They place restrictions on the lives of those living within their boundaries, including who they can love. And there is no escape.

Deception runs deep...

The rebel group, calling themselves The Underground, is disputing the corporation’s leadership. With the desire for freedom, they will fight.

And betrayal can come from anyone...

Will the rebels defeat Planet Core, or end up fighting for their lives?

Available From:

Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Barnes & Noble

Contains the stories:

Never Gonna Let You Go

Never Gonna Desert You

Never Gonna Say Goodbye

Intergalactic Heat

a 1Night Stand collection

A date on a space station? Alien lovers? Madame Evangeline, owner of the exclusive 1Night Stand dating service is known to be magical in fulfilling the ideal dates of her clients, but she’s outdone herself this time, bring together beings from Earth and beyond. As long as applicants are willing to let go of their pasts and open their hearts and minds, she will find their perfect match, whether they be a former sci-fi television star, a nurse, an employee of the Space Service, a former Marine, or even an extraterrestrial. Because everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after…

Available From:

Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Barnes & Noble | more

Contains the stories:

Beneath the Starry Sky

Celestial Seduction

Unknown Futures

Satin Sheets in Space

Sudden Breakaway

Bio:

Jessica Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.

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Crushing on your neighbor? What if he's an alien? ALIEN ADMIRER by Jessica E. Subject #SFRB

Good day peeps! I'm excited to announce my newest release, Alien Admirer, which is the second book in the Alien Next Door series.

Alien Admirer

Alien Next Door book 2

By Jessica E. Subject

Erotic Sci-Fi Romance

ISBN: 978-0991932023

He fills her with forbidden longing…

Widowed for over a year, Sera longs for the company of her younger, sexier neighbor, the one man she can never have—unless she plans to rob the cradle. It’s too dangerous…

She’s the only one for him…

Adam never wanted to settle down…until Sera. But even when her children give him the green light, he must prove age is an alien concept...

Will Sera give him a chance, or will Adam be left in the cold, never more than her alien admirer?

Available From:

Amazon (US/UK/Canada) | All Romance | Smashwords | more

Excerpt:

What is it going to take to convince her I want her? On the ride home, he’d persuaded himself to give up on Sera. Until he’d seen her on the porch. He had to seize what might be his lone opportunity.

“Why do you have such a problem accepting that I’m attracted to you?”

She faced him again, her cheeks glowing with color. “I don’t have a problem with that. In fact, I’m flattered. I have a problem with how much I’m attracted to you, how even on my date, I couldn’t get you out of my head.”

It was all the invitation he needed. Closing the space between them, he held her, pressing his lips to hers. 

Sera moaned, her body tight against his. She didn’t push him away, instead wrapping her arms around him, running her foot up and down the back of his calf.

He clutched her thighs, pulling her up to straddle his waist. Every moan encouraged him to keep going. He wanted more.

“Inside,” she said in a breathless whisper. “Take me into the house.”

All right! Grasping and fumbling with the handle, he managed to open the door without letting her go. Focused on her in his arms, he shuffled around blindly until his knees met her couch. He laid Sera on the cushion, but she clung to him.

“No, my bedroom. And be sure to close the door.”

Her room? Holy shit! Before that moment, he’d expected several days of trying to win her over before she invited him to her room, if she ever even acknowledged his feelings.

He carried her up the butcher block wood steps, to the bedroom he’d helped build. While he’d helped build every part of the house, the master bedroom remained the one room he hadn’t entered since Sera moved in.

Sacred, just like her body.

Bio:

Jessica Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous. 

When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.

Website/Blog | Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph

Top Ten Words of an Alien Vocabulary - Guest Post by @CaraBristol #scifirom #Breeder

Top Ten Words of an alien vocabulary

By Cara Bristol

Reality creates language, but language creates reality too. An author uses words in the literal sense to tell a story. But within the story, words have a message of their own. Here are ten “Parseon” words that contribute to the reality of Breeder, a science fiction erotic romance.

Baronian Ilyx – A mammal with a leathery flat tail, embedded with slightly venomous quills.

Sudon – A paddle made from the tail of the Baronian Ilyx. Although the quills are removed, protrusions in the stiff leather remain and retain trace amounts of venom. A padding with a sudon creates fierce stinging.

Protocol – A compilation of law and culture, the ultimate authority. Protocol divides the race into castes, and deems females as inferior, unworthy beings. Protocol makes loving a breeder illegal.

Drakor – Literally a carrion-eating rodent, but to call someone a drakor is the vilest insult. Drakor is most often used to describe social deviants.

Breeder Containment Facility – a warehouse for females awaiting purchase/breeding.

Alpha – An alpha (lower case) is a male who tested and deemed by Protocol to be physically fit, strong, aggressive and dominant. By virtue of their superior genetics, only alphas are permitted to reproduce. An Alpha (uppercase) denotes one of only five ruling Commanders of planet Parseon.

Beta – A male of secondary status. Betas have been tested and deemed by Protocol to lack aggression and dominance, so they fulfill the support functions of Parseon society and serve as domestic partners to alphas. It’s been said that betas can be exceptionally cruel.

Breeder – Female. The most inferior, substandard members of society. Their primary function is to serve as reproductive incubators for alphas. Their secondary function is an ancillary sexual outlet for betas. Few alphas would lower themselves to engage in intercourse with a breeder—except for mating or to take possession of another alphas property.

Bridge of Amity – A formal ritualized gesture/position ostensibly used to demonstrate friendship. In reality, the first one to initiate a bridge of amity in effect neutralizes an enemy’s defenses.

Enclave – a settlement of drakor. A group of males who have accepted females as their betas.

There’s a word that’s not on this list because it doesn’t exist in the Parseon language….love.

BREEDER by Cara Bristol:

To secure his legacy, Commander Dak, a ruling Alpha of planet Parseon, purchases Omra, a breeder slave. He intends to impregnate her, produce a son, and hand her off to his anointed beta partner. As Dak and Omra discover a sexual bliss banned by law, he begins to question the traditions and ways of his people, causing him to jeopardize his command and endanger the life of the woman he has come to love.

Breeder explores the concepts of gender roles and social prohibitions against deviant behavior. It includes graphic M/F and some M/M sexual content and violence, including nonconsensual domestic discipline.

Available from:

Loose ID | Amazon | All Romance

Excerpt from Breeder:

If not for the sneeze, Dak would have exited the musty, dank corridor. But the muffled sound caught his attention. When he squinted into the darkened cell, he spotted a female crouched on a straw mat in the corner. He hadn’t noticed her on his way into the Breeder Containment Facility; the habitation unit had appeared empty.

Dak turned to the BCF director and sighed. “What about her?”

The beta’s already crooked mouth drooped farther in distaste. “My apologies, Commander. You don’t want that one.”

Sival’s disparagement piqued Dak’s interest. The director’s opinion had proven worthless; none of the breeders he’d preselected for inspection had rated close to satisfactory.

“I would like to see her,” Dak insisted.

“Very well, Commander.” Sival saluted and opened the habitation cell with a master entry card. Dak stepped into the small enclosure. The director followed, and the metal gate clanked shut.

The naked female drew into a tighter ball and tucked her face deeper into the crook of her arm. Other breeders had preened as soon as they’d noticed him and his chest-insignia identification. He wasn’t just an alpha. He was the Alpha.

This breeder’s lack of respect and failure to adhere to Protocol by acknowledging his presence struck him as odd. Dak frowned. “Is she mentally deficient?”

Sival tightened his lips. “No, stubborn, ill behaved. She would not befit an Alpha Commander.” He nudged the female’s hip with the toe of his boot. “Rise to your feet.” She did not respond, and he moved to prod her again. Dak forestalled him with a wave and grasped the female’s arm.

“You will stand.” He hauled her upright. She averted her face, so he grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. Tangled hair the color of black heating stones fell back from an oval face to reveal eyes like the Parseon moon. The glimmer of intelligence that sparked within the violet depths aroused his interest more than anything else he’d seen so far. Nature had bestowed the Parseon people with an exceptionally strong immune system so that they rarely required medical intervention, but breeders by nature were weak, and so many of the ones he’d seen had seemed dull or ill or both. This one’s skin, when unsmudged by grime and dirt, probably glowed like the pale sands of the Ospian Sea. He supposed, as breeders went, she wasn’t unattractive, although the stench emanating from her was. His beta would throw a fit if he dragged such a creature into their domicile.

“Why is she so filthy?” he asked.

“She refuses to bathe.”

As Dak scrutinized her facial features for shape and symmetry, he noted little imperfection or dysgenics other than her lack of hygiene and her gender. When cleaned up, she would please the eye, but to bear his sons, it mattered more that she be healthy and strong.

He released her face, stepped back, and assessed her from head to toe. He exceeded the height of most males, alphas included, while she stood smaller than the average female. The top of her head failed to even meet his shoulder. She was thinner than other breeders too, although her chest bore an abundance of fatty breast tissue. In the chill of the cell, her nipples had puckered to hard points. Despite the coolness, he was experiencing a rise in temperature. A dormant lust chose that moment to kindle, causing heat to coil in his abdomen and groin. He could not remember the last time he’d experienced such a spontaneous reaction—if he ever had. With the pads of his fingers, he probed the sides of her neck for swollen areas. The way she trembled under his touch aroused a sliver of sympathy. Breeders lacked courage, and uncertainty frightened them. Not all alphas and their betas treated breeders well. If he chose her, she would be adequately fed and housed. His command consumed his time and energy, which left his beta alone for long stretches. A breeder would relieve Corren of household chores and provide him with a physical outlet as well.

“What is she called?” Dak asked.

“Her sire named her Omra.”

Peace, it meant.

He parted Omra’s lips with his fingers and slipped a digit into her mouth, running it along her upper gum line to check the solidness of her teeth. At a flash in her eyes, he jerked his hand away a centisecond before she snapped her jaws together, so that her incisor only grazed the tip of his finger.

Sival’s face reddened. “Commander, I apologize. I will have her flogged.”

“Unnecessary. I will take care of it.” He unclipped the sudon from his belt.

You can find CARA BRISTOL here:

Author website | Twitter @CaraBristol | Facebook

Book Spotlight: The Descartes Legacy by Nina Croft. Enter to WIN a $25 gift card! #scifirom #SyFy #giveaway

The Descartes Legacy

by Nina Croft

Lucas Grafton has spent the last ten years hunting the Conclave, a secret organization who took everything from him: his wife, his child, his very identity. Now he has a lead—an imminent terrorist attack on London—code-named Descartes.

Born with a genetic illness, Jenna Young has always known she was different. But the unexpected death of her father catapults her into a world of murder and terrorism she never expected. In order to stay alive, she must solve a twenty-five year old mystery—and her only ally a hard bitter man in search or retribution, her only clue the Descartes Highlands, an area on the near side of the moon.

Luke’s need for revenge collides with Jenna’s hunt for the past, and together they must stand against the Conclave. All the while uncovering the truth behind Jenna’s illness, a truth that will make Jenna question her very humanity.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Excerpt:

When she pulled herself up, the room whirled around her. Somehow she managed to follow Luke out of the kitchen and down the hallway. Pushing open a door, he gestured to her to enter. “Try to sleep, and we’ll talk in the morning.”

Jenna swayed as she passed him. Putting her hand out for balance, she encountered the hard heat of his chest. Swearing softly, he closed his eyes for a second. Then he picked her up, carried her into the bedroom, and placed her gently down on the bed.

“Come on, Jenna, just a few more minutes and you can sleep.”

“I’m fine, really I am. Just everything keeps spinning.”

He straightened. Was he leaving? She didn’t want to be alone, and she had to swallow the urge to ask him to stay. Instead, he disappeared through another door and came back seconds later carrying a black toweling robe and a washcloth. He crouched in front of her, and gently wiped her face with the damp cloth.

Jenna closed her eyes and gave herself up to his touch. She was floating, suspended in time, only aware of his closeness, his hands gentle as he stripped her clothes. Her body responded to his touch, a heavy warmth building inside her.

When she was naked, he wrapped the robe around her shoulders. “Sleep.”

Exhaustion rolled over her and she lay down on top of the blanket. She would rest a little while then get up and shower. Curling herself into a ball, her injured hand held against her chest, she was vaguely aware of Luke moving around the room, picking up her clothes. His presence reassured her, and she closed her eyes.

But behind her lids, she saw the blond man who had snapped her finger. He came toward her, his eyes mocking, and the same sense of helplessness washed over her.

That had been the worst thing, even worse than the pain. The feeling she had been powerless, that they could do what they liked to her, and she could do nothing to stop them.

Tears rolled down her cheek, soaking the pillow, but she couldn’t seem to stop. The mattress depressed as Luke sat down beside her. He didn’t speak, just leaned back against the wall and pulled her into his arms. He smelled of warm man, clean sweat spiked with some exotic after-shave. Sighing, she burrowed her face against his chest, and finally drifted into sleep to the throb of his heart.

Giveaway!!

At the end of The Descartes Legacy tour, Nina will give away $25 Gift Card.

Enter the rafflecopter draw below for your chance to WIN!

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Author Bio:

Nina Croft grew up in the north of England. After training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of 9-5 work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds on a remote farm in the mountains of southern Spain.

Anytime, anyplace, anyone…love finds a way.

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Music from The Underground #dystopian #playlist

Hello everyone! It's cooling down here, with a few days of frost already, but I'm okay with that. I do love fall. :)

Two days ago, the last book of The Underground series, NEVER GONNA SAY GOODBYE, released from Decadent Publishing. Will the rebels defeat Planet Core once and for all, or die trying?

Available From:
Decadent Publishing | Amazon.com | All Romance | B&N | more

Plus, you can get the first book in the series, NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO, for only 99 CENTS from Amazon and All Romance.

When writing this series, listening to the right music was key. I had to feel the angst of the rebels, their longing for freedom, and the love they had for each other. Love that led them to sacrifice so much, including their lives.

Here are some of the key songs for this series:














So, what music would you recommend for a dystopian world? I'm always looking for suggestions. :)

Bio:

Jessica Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to sexy. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.

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What About The Cats? Guest Post by @MariaHammarblad #scifirom #OperationEarth

WHAT ABOUT THE CATS?

Guest Post by Maria Hammarblad

Cats? What in the galaxy is this woman babbling about? Cats?

They’re relevant to my book. Honest!

In the first draft of Operation Earth the book had one cat: the heroine’s. This feline is named BonBon after my dog Bonnie, and she plays a big part in Rachael’s life.

Sometimes people ask why so many of my characters have cats; I’m more known for being a dog person. It just turns out that way. I like cats, I just don’t have one living with me right now. My heroines are often cat people, or end up in a setting where a cat seems… right.

Anyway, BonBon has an important part in the story. Rachael wants to be a good kitty mom, she talks to the cat, and worries for the cat. When the alien Peter first comes into their lives, BonBon hides from him. It goes like this:

The cat trotted out of the bedroom, stared at him, and froze. A moment later it fled across the room, seeking shelter under the sofa.

“Bonbon?”

Peter sighed.

“She knows I’m not of this world. Animals never like us.”

“Really? They know?”

Maybe the intruders were different on a level so deep only an animal’s senses could detect it. Her first instinct was to try to soothe the cat, but if he was right, nothing she did or said would help.

Later in the story Peter gains the cat’s trust. This is an unprecedented event, but it had to happen. I don’t think Rachael would ever have trusted him if Bonbon remained under the sofa, hissing at his feet. I sure don’t trust people my dogs don’t like; they’re much better judges of character than I am.

My editor is a big cat lover and cat rescuer, and she helped me tweak the details to make the cat more believable. She also suggested that if one cat could take to one alien, maybe the same thing happened in more places. Since the aliens have always been shunned by animals, maybe they in turn were fascinated with the kitties, and brought some to the mother ship. Given a little time, they’ll probably take over.

Reviewers and blog hosts who read the book have asked, “Why cats? Wouldn’t other animals be easier to 
get along with?” Now you know. =)

Operation Earth by Maria Hammarblad

Seven billion people on Earth go about their daily lives, and no one is prepared when a global EMP slows the world to a crawl. With all our technology incapacitated, everything changes. Within days alien soldiers line the streets, and life will never be the same. In the midst of chaos, Rachael Hill struggles to adapt to the new order, doing her best to keep herself and her cat alive.

On a ship far above the planet surface, Peter just got his new Earth name, and can’t even remember his identity from the last world he visited. It’s another day on the job, one more planet on a never-ending list. That is, until Rachael bumps into him, dropping exotic objects all around his feet. His culture taught him females should be obeyed and protected, but he never had an urge to leave himself at a woman’s mercy until now.

Rachael’s neighbor Ryan hounds her to join a brewing resistance movement and make a stand against the newcomers. She still befriends Peter, enthralled by his enigmatic personality and hypnotic golden eyes. Would falling in love with an alien be treason against humanity? When the rebellion gains momentum and open conflict with the newcomers is a fact, Rachael’s personal insurrection might be her doom, or bring salvation to us all.

Published August 11 2013 by Desert Breeze Publishing.

Available From: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Maria Hammarblad:

Born in Sweden in the early 1970's, Maria showed a large interest for books at an early age. Even before she was able to read or write, she made her mom staple papers together into booklets she filled with drawings of suns and planets. She proudly declared them, "The Sun Book." They were all about the sun. She also claimed, to her mother's horror, that her being on Earth was a big mistake and that her alien family would come and bring her home at any moment. This never happened, but both the interest in space and the passion for bookmaking stayed with her.

As an adult Maria's creativity got an outlet through playing bass in a number of rock bands, and through writing technical manuals and making web pages for various companies and organizations. She did write drafts for a few novels, but the storytelling muse was mostly satisfied through role playing online on Myspace. It was here, while writing stories together with people from around the globe, she stumbled onto Mike. They started talking out of character, and she moved over to Florida to him late 2008. Today the two are married and live in the Tampa Bay area with three rescue dogs.

Besides writing and playing bass, Maria enjoys driving off-road, archery, and Tameshigiri.

Upcoming releases

Borealis XII, to be released by Desert Breeze Publishing October 11, 2013

Fun Facts

Favorite color: Blue
Favorite food: Chicken with cashew nuts
Doesn't eat: Mammals
Favorite TV Show: Star Trek TNG and Leverage
Favorite animal: Border Collie
Quotes: "Full Speed Ahead" and "Caffeine is good for you"

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Want Some Older Alpha Males? Check out @Clare_Dargin's guest post! #scifirom #sfrb #scifitweet

It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage.

Guest Post by Clare Dargin

A very cool quote that meant absolutely nothing to me when Indiana Jones first said it back in 1981 but now that its 2013 I totally understand it.  And now that I think about it, I guess it was the same thing that the makers of the Expendables were trying to say when they made those two movies.  Some guys just get hotter with time. 

From Edward Norton, Patrick Wilson, Shemar Moore to Dwayne the Rock Johnson, I love a man with a little mileage on him.  Be it with experience, age or a combination of both there’s nothing hotter than a man who’s a bit older and still got it.  Yes there are some hotties out there rockin’ their twenties but thirty-somethings and older should not be left out the game!

I guess it all started with Star Wars.  You see, when I was a kid, my dad took me and my brother and my mother to see Star Wars when it first came out.  And of course like everyone else I was blown away by the whole thing.  But my six year old mind, though enthralled by all the characters on the screen, only saw Luke as the cool friend but was enthralled by Darth Vader and had a major crush (or my child like equivalent of one)  on Han Solo.  The loveable rogue who’d seen it all, Han Solo with his cool ship and loyal best friend made me swoon.

Of course that dissipated as he fell madly in love with Leia and while Luke morphed into his acrobatic sword wielding Dark Jeddi.  I soon kick Han to the curb and fell for Luke and his hardened gaze.  The black double breasted shirt (yes ladies and gentlemen it was the 80’s what can I say? He was sharp!) pants with the tall boots and the black glove on the injured hand, he was hot!  Yes the dye was cast. 

The difference between the Luke in Star Wars and the one in Jedi was age and experience.  He’d seen it all and lived to tell the tale.  Not only did he have that compassion in his heart for the people he loved but he was willing to do what he had to in  order to defend them from the threat that sought to destroy them.  And then that hot bod too.   Mmmmmm.

Some of the coolest heroes of late have not been in their twenties.  Like Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Hawkeye in the Avengers.  Or if you go to tv don’t forget Aaron Hotchner and Derek Morgan in Criminal Minds two men who are forty plus!  So who says an alpha male hero has to be in his twenties to be hot?  Not me!

Colonel Medoro Keegan is just such a man.  Forty-two years old he’s seen it all and  somehow managed to keep that boyish gleam in his eye despite having lived through his fair share of hell.  A passionate man who knows what he wants and not afraid to go after it, he still understands that none of it means anything without someone to share it with. 

The second book in my futuristic romance series The Cold Warriors Universe is now available. 

A New Threat? After a long and vicious war, peace is on the horizon for Earth and its allies. However, a series of mysterious attacks on several secret military installations causes hostilities to rise once again.

Redemption. Having left under a cloud of disgrace, retired Marine Colonel Medoro Keegan is called back to duty.

Bound. His wife Caitlin, the only surviving member of her team, chooses to embrace life, albeit grudgingly, as a cryo soldier. Seen as sub-human, she is forced to serve a planet that denies her rights as a person.

Driven. Guided by their sense of duty and belief that some things are bigger than them, they are determined to risk it all.

Hope. The cost of war is high. Can their love and marriage survive? Or will it be killed off by the very same mission that brought them together?

Genre: Sci-fi romance, military romance, 

interracial/multicultural, futuristic, end of the world

Heat level: 2

Word count – 43k

Cover art by LFD Designs

Excerpt from Ice & Peace

Caitlin was a sight for sore eyes. She was beautiful. Her petite frame was perfectly accented by the curves of her figure. And her brown eyes and coffee-brown skin was smooth, creamy.

Standing at attention, she did not meet his gaze. Though it was customary not to do as a sign of military courtesy, he could tell she was not doing it for that reason. Her gaze was different. Circling her, he tried to see if he could catch her watching him out of the corner of her eye. In fact, she appeared to be staring blankly ahead.

Peering directly at her, he spoke in a soft tone. “At ease.”

She relaxed.

“Cate. Can you hear me?”

“Yes, sir,” she responded mechanically.

Pain pierced his insides. She was definitely not there. Keegan placed his hands on his hips and hung his head in defeat. The one thing that was supposed to go right did not. For whatever reason, they had placed her in a deeper state of mental control than she’d ever been in. He controlled the hostile emotions brewing with him. Touching her face gently, he felt her icy skin.

This is unacceptable! Not here. I will not let this happen here. Not under my command.

“Chief, listen up,” he said in an authoritative tone. He knew in this state, it was the only way he could speak to her and still have her respond.

“Yes, sir.” Her gaze became even more distant.

Her response fueled his anger. “You are going to hightail it down to the doc and receive a full examination. Tell him it is based on my orders. He will know what to do. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

Knowing that she was under the influence of cryo neurotransmitters, Keegan figured the only way to combat it was to get someone to reverse it. They usually wore off once she was away from the stimulus triggers for a long period of time. But considering her stimulus triggers were high-ranking officers in uniform and combat situations, being around here meant she was going to be in a drone zone for a very long time. The last thing he needed was a zombie on board, especially one in charge of the lives others.

Only the jerks in psyche warfare thought doing this to someone would be a good idea. As long as he was running the ship, none of that would be allowed. There weren’t going to be any super zombies soldiers on board his ship. And he’d rollover in his grave before he let them do it to his wife.

“After you come back from the doc, you will report to me, understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are there any questions?”

“No, sir.”

“Dismissed.”

She did an about face before leaving the room. Keegan clasped his hands behind his back. In the blink of an eye, his joy had turned to sorrow. Now faced with the responsibility of looking after his wife, he wondered how could he handle the burden of command and still protect the woman he loved.

Ice & Peace is available from 

Decadent Publishing, All Romance, Barnes & Noble and Amazon 

as well at other eBook Retailers.

Also visit me on the web at:

Clare’s Blog 2: The Haven | Facebook | Twitter

Crystal Power - Guest Post by author Pippa Jay - @PippaJayGreen #scifi #YAlit

Crystal Power

by Pippa Jay

I’ve always had an obsession with shiny things, and especially crystals. Just like a magpie, anything with a bit of sparkle attracts me. I dabbled in alternative therapies and witchcraft as a teen, an area where the mystical properties of crystals play a part. And reading (and adoring) Anne McCaffrey’s Crystal Singer trilogy introduced me to the idea of using crystals in scifi. Quartz crystal is used in a lot of modern tech already – who hasn’t heard of quartz watches? A more recent innovation is the use of nanocrystals for memory storage.

So when deciding on a particular type of technology for Gethyon’s universe, it was a logical choice. Crystophile technology is the norm, and a field in which Gethyon himself excels. At one stage in the story, his knowledge pays his way. But at the beginning, it’s a piece of crystophilic technology – a CHI device (crystalline holographic imager) – that lands him in trouble in the first place.

Excerpt:

As the door closed behind his grandfather, Gethyon rose and went to the table. A large, clear octagonal crystal lay nestled in a protective bed of fabric, glittering faintly in the slivers of light that trickled beneath the edges of the black curtains. An Χ—the company emblem of the ancient Greek letter chi taken from the acronym for Crystalline Holographic Imager—was carved into one facet of the device. Gethyon traced the emblem, a rare smile touching his face. This was his one treasure, the one sure thing he had. Lifting it from its box, Gethyon clutched the CHI in his hands and activated it. A representation of the galaxy filled his room with a translucent blackness. Stars glittered and planets glowed before his eyes.

Take me away from here… He stared deep into the image, his longing to be out there burning in his chest. Take me far away.

Something within him stirred, forcing him to focus deep inside the image. Warmth flowed from his chest, through his arms and into the crystal. Suddenly, the image opened and surrounded him; the room transformed into the dark void of open space, the stars orbiting him in slow rotation, a supernova within the grasp of his free hand.

Gethyon gasped in shock and dropped the CHI device; the illusion vanished, leaving the inactive crystal gleaming at his feet.

***

To celebrate the release of Gethyon, I’m offering you a piece of crystal that could have come straight from his story. This hexagonal gem is exactly how I visualized the CHI (though this one is green to match Gethyon’s eyes, lol) and although this one won’t generate any pretty pictures for you it will look pretty. Just use the rafflecopter form below to enter, and in the comments tell me what’s your favorite piece of scifi technology that you’d like to have for real.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GETHYON by Pippa Jay

A YA Science Fiction Novel

​Released by Champagne Books 3rd June 2013 

​

His father died. His mother abandoned him. In the depths of space, darkness seeks him.

Abandoned by his mother after his father’s death, Gethyon Rees feels at odds with his world and longs to travel the stars. But discovering he has the power to do so leaves him scarred for life. Worse, it alerts the Siah-dhu—a dark entity that seeks his kind for their special abilities—to his existence, and sets a bounty hunter on his trail.

When those same alien powers lead Gethyon to commit a terrible act, they also aid his escape. Marooned on the sea-world of Ulto Marinos, Gethyon and his twin sister must work off their debt to the Seagrafter captain who rescued them while Gethyon puzzles over their transportation. How has he done this? And what more is he capable of?

Before he can learn any answers, the Wardens arrive to arrest him for his crime. Can his powers save him now? And where will he end up next?

AVAILABLE FROM: 

BURST | Kobo | Amazon UK / US | Omnilit

Book Trailer: 

Author Bio:

A stay-at-home mum of three who spent twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay bases her stories on a lifetime addiction to science-fiction books and films. Somewhere along the line a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. Between torturing her characters, she spends the odd free moments trying to learn guitar, indulging in freestyle street dance and drinking high-caffeine coffee. Although happily settled in historical Colchester in the UK with her husband of 20 years, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head. Her works have won a SFR Galaxy Award, and finaled in the Readers Favorite Award Contest and the Gulf Coast RWA Chapter Silken Sands Self-Published Star Award.

LINKS: Website