Sunday, June 1, 2014

SFR News & Links For June 2014



New releases

MORALITY (To Be Sinclair #8) - Eva Caye


What can jolt an 18-year-old Princess from her worries about her sex life? Her training in Grandmother's secret stelluric science, of course!

Daughter of the most brilliant scientist on the planet, Princess Grace Encino-Sinclair fights to have a private life, quite difficult to achieve since she has been trained to so many Imperial secrets and is constantly followed by Sentinels. By using her scientific and political knowledge, as well as her consummate social skills, to balance Imperial needs and demands, her relentless duties see her dealing with one mind-boggling near-disaster after another, with objectivity but also with heart. When the most unthinkable assassination of all occurs and everything goes downhill from there, Grace suddenly finds herself the most highly trusted person in the Empire, the power behind the Imperial throne....

Discover the power of ladies as the backbone of Demesne society in this novel of social intrigues, ethics, and justice, as Princess Grace defines the true meaning of morality!

This science fiction romance is the final book of the eight-part To Be Sinclair series. The saga continues with NOBILITY and ends with MORALITY, which detail the romances and political struggles of the future Emperor and the power behind the throne. Several scenes describe sexually explicit behavior.

LANA'S COMET (Outer Settlement Agency) - Lyn Brittan

Drill Instructor Cyprus Dhoma lives and dies by the Outer Settlement Agency badge on his shoulder. Every soldier in the solar system wants to be him and just as well, he's trained half of 'em. But when a loud, obnoxious and completely insane recruit signs up for the next round of basic training, it'll test the famous control and reputation he's spent years building up.

Lana hates the military. Everything about OSA completely, totally and unredeemingly sucks - except for the hottie instructor with the bad attitude. He may be annoyed with her now, but she's on a secret mission and needs his help. It'll take a lot of work to bring him in line, but she'll be doggoned if she doesn't get him in tow. Besides, a man that cute shouldn't be that pissed off.

Interracial Sci-Fi Romance Futuristic Novella.

[Edited 6/5/14 to add the following title]

CORE PUNCH (mystery/crime) - Pauline Baird Jones


A kiss may be all they have life expectancy for.

When an inter-galactic cop exchange program serves up an alien partner for NONPD Detective Violet Baker, she can’t help wishing the handsome alien would be a little less Joe Friday about keeping the pleasure out of their business. Yeah, he’s kind of purple and she can’t pronounce his name to save her life, but he’s almost the only guy in the New Orleans New police department that she’s not related to. 

Dzholh “Joe” Ban!drn has come a long way hunting the evil that has infiltrated Vi’s floating city. When he meets his charming partner, he discovers another reason to stamp out evil. If only he wasn’t keeping so many secrets from her…

When an epic hurricane heads their way, they are sent dirt side to New Orleans Old (NOO) on a rescue mission. But murder and sabotage strands them in the heart of the raging storm. 

As they fight for their lives, Joe realizes that the evil he’s hunting is actually hunting them….
THE CONSORT (Tellaran Series) - Ariel MacArran

After spending a year enslaved by the Az-kye, Commander Kyndan Maere has good reason to hate them. On the eve of peace between the Tellaran Realm and the Az-kye Empire, Kyndan finds himself drawn into a duel for the hand of Alari, the First Imperial Daughter. When their passion ignites, Kyndan learns the only thing harder than winning this princess would be losing her . . .

QUEEN OF SWORDS (Sanctify #1) - Katee Robert

When the cards tell Ophelia Leoni she's supposed to marry the Prince of Hansarda, the gunrunner grits her teeth and boards the starship that comes for her. It doesn't matter if the ship's commander is the gorgeous stranger she just spent a wild, drunken night with. As a Diviner, she’s painfully aware the cards don't lie. Ever.

Boone O’Keirna knows Ophelia is trouble the second he sees the way she moves. Not about to let the little hellcat marry his sadistic half-brother, Boone pretends to be the Prince’s emissary and kidnaps Ophelia. Too bad they can’t be in the same room without him wanting to throw her out an airlock–or into bed.

Even as they fight each other–and their explosive attraction–Ophelia and Boone sense something is wrong. Too much is going their way. Soon, they realize while the cards may never lie, the truth is sometimes hidden between them...and the future king of Hansarda is not one to take defeat lying down.

ON HER WATCH (Don't Tell #2) - Rie Warren


The year is 2071 and all hell has broken loose. As the government tries to control the territories that were once the United States, an armed rebellion erupts . . .

AWOL from her military post, Lieutenant Liz Grant will do anything for the rebels she now calls friends. Her latest mission: return to the Beta Corps army and obtain classified information that could turn the battle in the revolutionaries’ favor. There’s only one problem: Commander Linc Cutler.

Strong, coldly handsome, and always in control, Linc is perplexed by the beautiful soldier brought in for questioning. He doesn’t know if he believes her explanation for why she went missing. He only knows his intense sexual desire for her cannot be denied.

Awards

Courtesy of Love in the Margins, I learned about the Swirl Awards. Mission statement: "…the Swirl Awards was created to promote romance without color barriers!"

SENSORY OVERLOAD, an erotic SFR by Areana Senoj, is among the finalists! Check out the complete list here.

Resource on diversity

For authors interested in diversifying their sci-fi romances, here's an in-depth article about Alternate Visions: Some Musings on Diversity in SF. The article contains many great insights as well as possible inspirations for characters and settings.

Never give up, never surrender!

In Selling the Moon Buggy (On Rejections, Part III), Laurie A. Green (Spacefreighters Lounge) provides personal examples to illustrate why mainstream print publishers are wary of releasing more science fiction romance:

So the problem, as I understand it, is that these publishers do not see science fiction and romance working together. They must have forgotten that classic commercial about mixing chocolate and peanut butter, huh? Or is it possible that they experimented with the merger and it didn't work out for them? Peanut allergies, mayhap?

In short, they don't yet know how to sell SFR. It'll probably take a runaway bestseller from the digital-first indie realm to show them the money.

New "SF Obscure" feature at Smart Girls Love SciFi & Paranormal Romance

RK launched a new "SF Obscure" feature in which she will "…try to track down some of the SF/Fantasy shows and actors of yesteryear. (some series maybe best forgotten, but always good for a laugh)." First stop, THE SECRETS OF ISIS!

I have fond memories of that show and RK's post reminds me that I need to revisit it on DVD since I have ISIS in my collection!

Mark your calendars

Issue #3 of the Sci-Fi Romance Quarterly releases on June 15!

Now I turn the mike over to you. Got any SFR news/links to share?

Joyfully yours,
Heather