Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Bantam (2005), Mass Market Paperback, 480 pages
Description
Award-winning author Linnea Sinclair brings her special sizzle to science fiction with this action-packed blend of otherworldly adventure and sexy stellar romance. . . . After a decade of piloting interstellar patrol ships, former captain Chasidah Bergren, onetime pride of the Sixth Fleet, finds herself court-martialed for a crime she didn' t commit-and shipped off to a remote prison planet from which no one ever escapes. But when she kills a brutal guard in an act of self-defense, someone even more dangerous emerges from the shadows. Gabriel Sullivan--alpha mercenary, smuggler, and rogue--is supposed to be dead. Yet now this seductive ghost from Chaz's past is offering her a ticket to freedom--for a price. Someone in the Empire is secretly breeding jukors: vicious and uncontrollable killing machines that have long been outlawed. Gabriel needs Chaz to help him stop the practice before it decimates Imperial space. The mission means putting their lives on the line--but the tensions that heat up between them may be the riskiest part of all.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
A fun read. Chasidah (Chaz) Bergren is on a prison planet having been wrongly accused and court-martialed. Killing a prison warden in self-defence, the man who she loves and thinks is dead turns up, Gabriel Sullivan. He has secrets and she has to wonder does he love her or love what she can do to
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help him. Through romance and intrigue they find out about each other and where they are going. Show Less
LibraryThing member DLester
My Synopsis:
Chasidah Bergren, Captain in the Sixth Fleet was framed for a crime she didn't commit and sentenced to a prison planet from which no one escapes. To her surprise a ghost from her past offers her freedom for a price. Gabriel Sullivan, pirate, mercenary, poet was presumed dead until he
But, there's a lot more to Sully than meets the eye. He is bent on destroying a gen lab that is breeding uncontrollable animals that will cost the lives of hundreds of innocent people unless he can stop them. Chaz is the only person who can help him.
Their attraction to each other is palpable. Good girl, meets bad boy! How will they find the time to explore their feelings with so much at stake? Is Sully what he seems or is there something lurking in his past that he doesn't want Chaz to know about? You really should read and find out!
My Thoughts:
Where can I start with this book. I knew before hand that Linnea Sinclair was considered one of the best in the paranormal romance genre. Having won many awards and selling outrageous numbers of books. So I was prepared to be impressed. This was my first foray into the genre and I was excited to read this one. I certainly wasn't disappointed.
From the first page to the last this was a great book! Not only a love story but one of learning about tolerance and finding out the ideas you've always held about people are not always correct. It's a story about prejudice and acceptance.
The storytelling itself was very well crafted. These are characters that the writer has to dream up from scratch. The reader has no previous knowledge of what a 'stolorth' or a 'Taka' is, so description is key. Making the reader visualize in their minds what these characters not only look like but what they are all about. Very well done.
The main characters Chasidah and Gabriel are so different that the adage 'opposites attract' is very apt. She is the pride of the Empire, a Captain, used to following rules and regulations while he is reckless and daring, a pirate she has chased herself more than once. Their love story shows a depth of understanding that most people never reach. Can you accept someone even though it goes against everything you've been taught to believe? Can you love someone who capable of changing how you look at the world?
Chasidah Bergren, Captain in the Sixth Fleet was framed for a crime she didn't commit and sentenced to a prison planet from which no one escapes. To her surprise a ghost from her past offers her freedom for a price. Gabriel Sullivan, pirate, mercenary, poet was presumed dead until he
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saved her life.But, there's a lot more to Sully than meets the eye. He is bent on destroying a gen lab that is breeding uncontrollable animals that will cost the lives of hundreds of innocent people unless he can stop them. Chaz is the only person who can help him.
Their attraction to each other is palpable. Good girl, meets bad boy! How will they find the time to explore their feelings with so much at stake? Is Sully what he seems or is there something lurking in his past that he doesn't want Chaz to know about? You really should read and find out!
My Thoughts:
Where can I start with this book. I knew before hand that Linnea Sinclair was considered one of the best in the paranormal romance genre. Having won many awards and selling outrageous numbers of books. So I was prepared to be impressed. This was my first foray into the genre and I was excited to read this one. I certainly wasn't disappointed.
From the first page to the last this was a great book! Not only a love story but one of learning about tolerance and finding out the ideas you've always held about people are not always correct. It's a story about prejudice and acceptance.
The storytelling itself was very well crafted. These are characters that the writer has to dream up from scratch. The reader has no previous knowledge of what a 'stolorth' or a 'Taka' is, so description is key. Making the reader visualize in their minds what these characters not only look like but what they are all about. Very well done.
The main characters Chasidah and Gabriel are so different that the adage 'opposites attract' is very apt. She is the pride of the Empire, a Captain, used to following rules and regulations while he is reckless and daring, a pirate she has chased herself more than once. Their love story shows a depth of understanding that most people never reach. Can you accept someone even though it goes against everything you've been taught to believe? Can you love someone who capable of changing how you look at the world?
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LibraryThing member Jenson_AKA_DL
Chasida Bergren was a military girl born and bred, until she was framed for a crime she did not commit and sentenced to Moebar a prison known to be Hell in planetary form. After she is almost raped and murdered by a prison guard a chance for escape comes from an unexpected quarter. Her former
Rumored to have been killed but very much alive, Sully has come in search of Chasidah with a desperate deal, use her military knowledge and skills to help him expose an illegal breeding lab and he will help her escape. But, is that all Sully wants, or does he have an even deeper hidden reason for risking Hell to save her?
Gabriel's Ghost was an intriguing story with lots of twists and turns. Definitely steeped in traditional science fiction complete with space ships, space stations, military agendas and a host of otherworldly creatures it is also a compelling love story. I really liked the main characters of Sully and Chaz who were both portrayed with very human flaws and feelings. I also really liked Ren's character. My only complaint is that towards the end of the book we kind of lost track of Ren when he had been such a major character in the first part. Overall I really thought this was a great sci-fi action adventure with a generous enough helping of romance to keep my girlie girl side very happy.
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nemeses, the mercenary Gabriel "Sully" Sullivan.Rumored to have been killed but very much alive, Sully has come in search of Chasidah with a desperate deal, use her military knowledge and skills to help him expose an illegal breeding lab and he will help her escape. But, is that all Sully wants, or does he have an even deeper hidden reason for risking Hell to save her?
Gabriel's Ghost was an intriguing story with lots of twists and turns. Definitely steeped in traditional science fiction complete with space ships, space stations, military agendas and a host of otherworldly creatures it is also a compelling love story. I really liked the main characters of Sully and Chaz who were both portrayed with very human flaws and feelings. I also really liked Ren's character. My only complaint is that towards the end of the book we kind of lost track of Ren when he had been such a major character in the first part. Overall I really thought this was a great sci-fi action adventure with a generous enough helping of romance to keep my girlie girl side very happy.
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LibraryThing member jjmachshev
What a fabulous read. "Gabriel's Ghost" by Linnea Sinclair is an amazing blend of romance, science fiction, fantasy, and suspense that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. I broke down and picked up this book because its sequel "Shades of Dark" will hit the shelves on July 29, 2008 and I
Chaz is suspicious when she's 'rescued' from her unjust sentence on the prison planet by an old foe and almost lover. Gabriel was supposed to be dead, and Chaz had secretly mourned him...so what was he doing rescuing her? If they're caught, they'll both die. What's in it for him?
The emotions between these two jump off the page. Neither trusts the other at first, and both have old scars that need to be exposed and healed. As they work together to smoke out a group using kidnapped women to breed deadly animals, they gradually learn each others secrets and learn how to open themselves up to love.
The universe Sinclair creates is peopled with a plethora of fascinating aliens and interesting new worlds yet still struggles with prejudice, fear, love, forgiveness, religious fanaticism, greed, kindness, and betrayal. It's one hell of a story regardless of the setting. The heat between the lead characters is WWAAAYYYYY hot and very moving. To be accepted with all our differences and flaws is, to me, the essence of love and that's what this book is all about.
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was curious as to whether or not to put it on my shopping list. I'm so glad I read this book and I already put the new one on my 'must buy' list!Chaz is suspicious when she's 'rescued' from her unjust sentence on the prison planet by an old foe and almost lover. Gabriel was supposed to be dead, and Chaz had secretly mourned him...so what was he doing rescuing her? If they're caught, they'll both die. What's in it for him?
The emotions between these two jump off the page. Neither trusts the other at first, and both have old scars that need to be exposed and healed. As they work together to smoke out a group using kidnapped women to breed deadly animals, they gradually learn each others secrets and learn how to open themselves up to love.
The universe Sinclair creates is peopled with a plethora of fascinating aliens and interesting new worlds yet still struggles with prejudice, fear, love, forgiveness, religious fanaticism, greed, kindness, and betrayal. It's one hell of a story regardless of the setting. The heat between the lead characters is WWAAAYYYYY hot and very moving. To be accepted with all our differences and flaws is, to me, the essence of love and that's what this book is all about.
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LibraryThing member rocalisa
Linnea Sinclair's new book, Shades of Dark, has just been published (yes, of course I've bought it) and is a direct sequel to Gabriel's Ghost. Since, as much as I can love a book while I'm reading it, my poor memory retains little of the details, I decided to reread Gabriel's Ghost before moving on
I found the book very slow going at first (a definite case of problems with the reader, not the book) but I still enjoyed rediscovering Chaz and Sully as they discovered each other and the problems facing the Empire they live in. Chaz is a wonderful heroine - full of totally reasonable doubts for the situation she finds herself in, strong, stubborn and sometimes implusive but never stupid - and Sully is a hero to die for. He's the strong and silent type, carrying a huge (and reasonable) fear of rejection and plenty of internal pain and hidden secrets, but determined to succeed in all his endeavours, including making Chaz a permanent part of his life.
They make a great couple, and Sinclair has created a great world in this space Empire facing rot at its core. It is large, real and solid and easily large enough for more stories to be told in it.
Knowing that one of the minor characters is the central character in Sinclair's next book (Philip Guthrie, and the book is to be called Hope's Folly), I found myself noticing the secondary characters more this time around. It was nice to realise that they are generally all well fleshed out and add significantly to the story rather than just being there as window dressing. I liked Philip a whole lot on this read and I rather hope Thad might get a book one day too as he was a lot less stuffy than I remembered him being.
I'm glad I took the time to reread Gabriel's Ghost and I'm looking forward to reading Shades of Dark, just as soon as I can fit it into my insane reading schedule.
Gabriel's Ghost
Linnea Sinclair
Empire Series, Book 1
9/10
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to the new book (which I haven't had a chance to do yet as my TBR has exploded with lots of new books coming out - four on 29 July alone - and a bunch of library holds coming in for me).I found the book very slow going at first (a definite case of problems with the reader, not the book) but I still enjoyed rediscovering Chaz and Sully as they discovered each other and the problems facing the Empire they live in. Chaz is a wonderful heroine - full of totally reasonable doubts for the situation she finds herself in, strong, stubborn and sometimes implusive but never stupid - and Sully is a hero to die for. He's the strong and silent type, carrying a huge (and reasonable) fear of rejection and plenty of internal pain and hidden secrets, but determined to succeed in all his endeavours, including making Chaz a permanent part of his life.
They make a great couple, and Sinclair has created a great world in this space Empire facing rot at its core. It is large, real and solid and easily large enough for more stories to be told in it.
Knowing that one of the minor characters is the central character in Sinclair's next book (Philip Guthrie, and the book is to be called Hope's Folly), I found myself noticing the secondary characters more this time around. It was nice to realise that they are generally all well fleshed out and add significantly to the story rather than just being there as window dressing. I liked Philip a whole lot on this read and I rather hope Thad might get a book one day too as he was a lot less stuffy than I remembered him being.
I'm glad I took the time to reread Gabriel's Ghost and I'm looking forward to reading Shades of Dark, just as soon as I can fit it into my insane reading schedule.
Gabriel's Ghost
Linnea Sinclair
Empire Series, Book 1
9/10
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LibraryThing member Darla
Gabriel's Ghost is about Chasidah (Chaz) Bergren and Gabriel (Sully) Sullivan. Chaz was a starship captain until she ended up on a prison planet. Sully was a smuggler and mercenary she'd been up against several times, until his supposed death. And now her one-time adversary is rescuing her and
Seems someone is breeding jukors, incredibly vicious, impossible-to-control monsters, and Sully's involved with a group trying to stop it, but they need an insider to help: Chaz. It also probably has something to do with Sully's feelings for her.
I can't summarize the complexity of this book in a couple short paragraphs. There's very thorough worldbuilding, including different races and religions and the accompanying prejudices, as well as a variety of mental powers. There's also complex emotional development, not just of the romance, but also of family relationships and of the dissolution of prejudices and the reaction to fear and trauma. And not least, there's an exciting suspense plot, with plenty of edge-of-your-seat action and divided loyalties and surprising twists.
My only complaint was that Chaz kept getting blasted with one traumatic revelation after another, and at one point, it got to be a bit much. I'm all for pushing characters to their limits, and I enjoyed it here, too, but it did make me say "you have got to be kidding."
I have one more Linnea Sinclair book in my TBR pile, and I'll be looking for more.
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asking for her help.Seems someone is breeding jukors, incredibly vicious, impossible-to-control monsters, and Sully's involved with a group trying to stop it, but they need an insider to help: Chaz. It also probably has something to do with Sully's feelings for her.
I can't summarize the complexity of this book in a couple short paragraphs. There's very thorough worldbuilding, including different races and religions and the accompanying prejudices, as well as a variety of mental powers. There's also complex emotional development, not just of the romance, but also of family relationships and of the dissolution of prejudices and the reaction to fear and trauma. And not least, there's an exciting suspense plot, with plenty of edge-of-your-seat action and divided loyalties and surprising twists.
My only complaint was that Chaz kept getting blasted with one traumatic revelation after another, and at one point, it got to be a bit much. I'm all for pushing characters to their limits, and I enjoyed it here, too, but it did make me say "you have got to be kidding."
I have one more Linnea Sinclair book in my TBR pile, and I'll be looking for more.
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LibraryThing member phyllis2779
Very good combination of science fiction and romance. More SF than romance with some mildly erotic scenes occasionally thrown in. The plot was interesting and the book ends as if there will be a sequel, which there is. The action scenes are a trifle slow but but are adequate. The main thing that I
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found questionable about the book is why and how the hero, Gabriel Sullivan, becomes fixated on the heroine. She has a certain charm but doesn't seem particularly unique or charismatic. Probably this stems from the fact that most of the backstory of the hero is missing -- which is something that the heroine, Chasidrah, constantly wonders about but is conveniently (for the author) told not to ask to show her trust and faith in the hero. Show Less
LibraryThing member Aerrin99
This book would have been much better had it stuck with being a science fiction book and not also tried to be a romance.
That is not to say that I do not enjoy romance in my science fiction - or indeed any fiction. I do, quite a bit, and it's why I picked up this book. But I prefer my romances to
What we are presented with here are a ridiculous number of mentions about just how dreamy Gabriel Sullivan (did we mention that he's a poet /and/ a smuggler? Why yes we did, at least four times.) is, how strong, how mysterious, how attractive. If I'd had another book on hand, I would have put this one down after the first two chapters, because I was sick of the heroine swooning in her private thoughts.
Which is really a shame, because behind the romance is actually a fairly solid sci fi adventure. When she's not busy falling apart over her love life, it turns out that Chaz is fairly capable. When we aren't busy watching the contrived misunderstandings interrupt the romance, they're busy exploring an interesting and fairly-well built universe. When we don't have to watch Chaz doubt Sully and then flagellate herself for doing so, they're on a mission that's exciting and interesting. When we aren't wrapped up in how wrapped up they are in each other (and you know, I never really understood /why/ - the reasoning for their sudden romance is all in a backstory that is mentioned, but never really explored), it turns out that there are quite interesting secondary characters who populate the tale.
It's a pity, really. I had a hard time enjoying the science fiction for the Harlequin cliches that fill this book.
That is not to say that I do not enjoy romance in my science fiction - or indeed any fiction. I do, quite a bit, and it's why I picked up this book. But I prefer my romances to
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flow naturally from story and character, and to reflect two capable, thinking adults who have actual reasons for their decisions. What we are presented with here are a ridiculous number of mentions about just how dreamy Gabriel Sullivan (did we mention that he's a poet /and/ a smuggler? Why yes we did, at least four times.) is, how strong, how mysterious, how attractive. If I'd had another book on hand, I would have put this one down after the first two chapters, because I was sick of the heroine swooning in her private thoughts.
Which is really a shame, because behind the romance is actually a fairly solid sci fi adventure. When she's not busy falling apart over her love life, it turns out that Chaz is fairly capable. When we aren't busy watching the contrived misunderstandings interrupt the romance, they're busy exploring an interesting and fairly-well built universe. When we don't have to watch Chaz doubt Sully and then flagellate herself for doing so, they're on a mission that's exciting and interesting. When we aren't wrapped up in how wrapped up they are in each other (and you know, I never really understood /why/ - the reasoning for their sudden romance is all in a backstory that is mentioned, but never really explored), it turns out that there are quite interesting secondary characters who populate the tale.
It's a pity, really. I had a hard time enjoying the science fiction for the Harlequin cliches that fill this book.
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LibraryThing member flemmily
I'm not a huge fan of first person narrator books, but I really liked this one. I think it's because Chaz is such a good heroine. It's also fascinating to ride along in her mind as her relationship develops with a slightly frightening man. A little dark and creepy in the beginning, but more warm
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fuzzy towards the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member rocalisa
I really liked this. When I started, I didn't think I was going to like it as much as "Finders Keepers", partly because I'd really liked that one, and also because there seemed to be an early focus on physical attraction, which is one of the things that annoys me about romance novels when they go
Chasidah (how the heck am I supposed to pronounce that?) is a solid character with far more back story than I expected. Or for that matter, than Sullivan expected. Things kept popping up that we hadn't know that showed what had shaped her into the person she was. The same was true for Sullivan, and I particularly liked it that some of those things slotted them solidly into the world Sinclair created for the novel. Sometimes, characters seem to sort of float across the background but remain aloof in their own story rather that rooted to their surroundings. I didn't feel that in this case, for all that they were fugitives on the wrong side of the law - or at least the establishment. I think Sinclair did a better job of world building in this book than in "Finders Keepers" (where some of that floating feeling existed for me) and I'm delighted to hear there is going to be a sequel. There's so much going on in the politics etc that it would be criminal not to explore it all further.
The same is true for Chaz and Sully's relationship. At the end of the book, they had reached not an ending but a starting point and I'm pleased I'll find out what comes next. They still have a lot of work on, not so much in their relationship itself, but in how it and they fit into the universe.
I saw a comment on a mailing list that said a reading hadn't liked the book because she didn't like the power imbalance between the hero and heroine. I read that when I was about a third of the way through and it made me hesitant about carrying on reading, but I didn't find that at all. Yes, on one level there is a big imbalance, but it is an external thing rather than an internal one. The pain Sully carries about what he is and what he can do is a great leveller, that keeps him human and grounded - and careful. If he had been arrogant about his abilities and used them without care for what was right or wrong, or even what others thought, I wouldn't have liked him and would have want him brought down in size. In fact, he needs building up rather than pulling down, and that is what Chaz can do for him, making her just as strong as he is in her own way.
Some of the minor characters are strong and alive - mostly Ren, along with, surprisingly I thought, Phillip and Thad. The rest of Sully's crew and the monks from the beginning, while significant to the plot, aren't so well established, but I've really only noticed that now I'm thinking about it, so it didn't really hurt the story at all. The villains are vague and shadowy, but since the main characters are opposing their actions rather than the individuals, it is appropriate for the story. In the sequel, I hope we may find out more about them, and whether their reasons and motivations are as simple and venal as indicated here.
Hmmm, what else? Ren is a delightful character, solid and stable and essentially serence, despite his disability and everyone around him's reaction to his presence. Now that Chaz, and with her the reader, knows things are not as simple with the Storloth as it initially appeared, I rather hope that truth will begin to be uncovered in the Empire and some prejudices removed, or at least reduced. However, the world is solid enough that I can see that may not happen and our heroes will just have to remain unaccepted fugitives.
Lastly, with Chaz being the narrator, we only learn the full truth about Sully at the end, when he opens up enough to take the risk and explain things to her. The whole thing is fascinating and I hope will be further explored in the sequel. The major question that kept nagging at me through the story, one of only two things that marred the flow of the tale, was where he got his training. He's very skilled not only at what he does, but at hiding it, and I doubt we managed that on his own. Who did he trust enough to train him and will we meet that person or persons?
And, really lastly this time, that other thing that marred the flow. Like I said above, how the heck am I supposed the pronounce Chasidah?
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overboard on the "fire though the veins" stuff and the like. However, the story quickly settled down into a complex plot and and even more complex relationship. Chasidah (how the heck am I supposed to pronounce that?) is a solid character with far more back story than I expected. Or for that matter, than Sullivan expected. Things kept popping up that we hadn't know that showed what had shaped her into the person she was. The same was true for Sullivan, and I particularly liked it that some of those things slotted them solidly into the world Sinclair created for the novel. Sometimes, characters seem to sort of float across the background but remain aloof in their own story rather that rooted to their surroundings. I didn't feel that in this case, for all that they were fugitives on the wrong side of the law - or at least the establishment. I think Sinclair did a better job of world building in this book than in "Finders Keepers" (where some of that floating feeling existed for me) and I'm delighted to hear there is going to be a sequel. There's so much going on in the politics etc that it would be criminal not to explore it all further.
The same is true for Chaz and Sully's relationship. At the end of the book, they had reached not an ending but a starting point and I'm pleased I'll find out what comes next. They still have a lot of work on, not so much in their relationship itself, but in how it and they fit into the universe.
I saw a comment on a mailing list that said a reading hadn't liked the book because she didn't like the power imbalance between the hero and heroine. I read that when I was about a third of the way through and it made me hesitant about carrying on reading, but I didn't find that at all. Yes, on one level there is a big imbalance, but it is an external thing rather than an internal one. The pain Sully carries about what he is and what he can do is a great leveller, that keeps him human and grounded - and careful. If he had been arrogant about his abilities and used them without care for what was right or wrong, or even what others thought, I wouldn't have liked him and would have want him brought down in size. In fact, he needs building up rather than pulling down, and that is what Chaz can do for him, making her just as strong as he is in her own way.
Some of the minor characters are strong and alive - mostly Ren, along with, surprisingly I thought, Phillip and Thad. The rest of Sully's crew and the monks from the beginning, while significant to the plot, aren't so well established, but I've really only noticed that now I'm thinking about it, so it didn't really hurt the story at all. The villains are vague and shadowy, but since the main characters are opposing their actions rather than the individuals, it is appropriate for the story. In the sequel, I hope we may find out more about them, and whether their reasons and motivations are as simple and venal as indicated here.
Hmmm, what else? Ren is a delightful character, solid and stable and essentially serence, despite his disability and everyone around him's reaction to his presence. Now that Chaz, and with her the reader, knows things are not as simple with the Storloth as it initially appeared, I rather hope that truth will begin to be uncovered in the Empire and some prejudices removed, or at least reduced. However, the world is solid enough that I can see that may not happen and our heroes will just have to remain unaccepted fugitives.
Lastly, with Chaz being the narrator, we only learn the full truth about Sully at the end, when he opens up enough to take the risk and explain things to her. The whole thing is fascinating and I hope will be further explored in the sequel. The major question that kept nagging at me through the story, one of only two things that marred the flow of the tale, was where he got his training. He's very skilled not only at what he does, but at hiding it, and I doubt we managed that on his own. Who did he trust enough to train him and will we meet that person or persons?
And, really lastly this time, that other thing that marred the flow. Like I said above, how the heck am I supposed the pronounce Chasidah?
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LibraryThing member shelleyraec
I generally am not a fan of science fiction. I think mainly because the author has to spend so much time detailing the environment, inhabitants and cultures that the book often loses momentum for me and I lose interest unless the main characters are really strong. This was particularly true in the
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first 2/3rds of this book where I just couldn't find a way to relate to or care about the main charcters that much. That was especially not helped by the dual personality thing going on which, while I figured it's purpose out reasonably quickly, it was dislocating.That said, I really enjoyed the last third when I'd learnt enough about the main characters to be invested in them being successful in both the mission and the relationship.I probably won't seek out the second in the series though I'll pick it up if I run across it. Show Less
LibraryThing member SunnySD
Sentenced to life on Moabar, the you're-going-to-die-as-soon-as-winter-comes, penal planet, Captain Chasidah Bergren isn't holding her breath for rescue. So when it arrives in the person of former adversary, long-time pirate and presumed dead man Gabriel Sullivan, she's a tad reluctant. But given
Telepathy, genetic manipulation, and a terrifying secret - hot stuff. Well-plotted, with a nice balance of romance and adventure.
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her situation and Sully's cause, it's not long before she's on board and off planet.Telepathy, genetic manipulation, and a terrifying secret - hot stuff. Well-plotted, with a nice balance of romance and adventure.
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LibraryThing member gregandlarry
Good story. Interesting universe. Plenty of action. But there was something missing.
LibraryThing member JenneB
I was reading an article in a library magazine about the romance genre, and this was one of the books they recommended.
I do like romance novels sometimes, and SF usually, but this was like the worst of both genres combined.
On the one hand, there was way to much exposition about the trade conflicts
Come on, lady. Why do you think?
I do like romance novels sometimes, and SF usually, but this was like the worst of both genres combined.
On the one hand, there was way to much exposition about the trade conflicts
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in the Empire or whatever, and on the other hand also way too much of the "he's so annoying but why oh why do I feel this rush of feeling whenever he touches me?" sort of thing.Come on, lady. Why do you think?
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LibraryThing member AB_Gayle
This has one of the best starts of any book you will ever read. Chaz and Sully are a great couple of characters. It's unusual for Linnea to do her books in first person POV but it worked so well in this book. We needed to be deeply in Chaz's head as Sully had to remain that enigmatic unknown. Any
The whole Dock 5 series is great. Intricate but logical world building and an absorbing plot that has enough legs to carry a whole series. Scifi Romance at its best.
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head hopping would have spoiled this book so it's a great example of when and why to use this limited viewpoint.The whole Dock 5 series is great. Intricate but logical world building and an absorbing plot that has enough legs to carry a whole series. Scifi Romance at its best.
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LibraryThing member snitchbitch
A shame there's no half star available in ratings. While it's not a perfect 5, it's worth more than a 4! I really enjoyed this story, and I can't wait to get my hands on the second in the series.
The book is fast paced, and slows down at the right moments. As soon as I read the first page I couldn't
Fans of the Romance genre - even if you're not a fan of SciFi, you should give this a go!
The book is fast paced, and slows down at the right moments. As soon as I read the first page I couldn't
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tear my eyes away - I simply had to know what was going to happen next. The balance between SciFi and Romance was well done, really well done. The characters were interesting, flawed and engaging. Fans of the Romance genre - even if you're not a fan of SciFi, you should give this a go!
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LibraryThing member HeartlessOne42
I read this for the Vaginal Fantasy Hangout book club, so I suppose I should review it somewhat. Though I usually enjoy sci-fi, and generally enjoy romance, this book was pretty lame. The female lead started out seemingly strong-willed, independent, fierce, everything you could want in a
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sci-fi/romance heroine. Halfway through the book she turns into this wishy-washy, muddled femme-bot without two brain cells to rub together and it felt like she was constantly turning to one male or another to save her. The hero in the book starts out as the rakish pirate type who you want to hate yourself for liking, but again, halfway through the book, I just ended up hating him. He lied to the heroine constantly, justified his actions with some sad tales of woe from his past, and never learned from his mistakes, so continued to do the same things over and over again through the second half of the book. I truly wanted to like the book, it had the potential to be an excellent story, the ideas were original (for the most part) some of the secondary characters were truly lovable and well written, but the main characters were the sort of people I would avoid in public places if I knew them in real life. I won't be reading the rest of the series, or probably anything else by this author. The only reason I even gave it two stars, was that I truly liked one of the secondary characters enough that he made it worth finishing the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Read and enjoyed this - but I enjoyed it so much I immediately went on to the next book, before reviewing, so I'm going to have to try to remember what was in this one. I liked Chaz, Sully was annoying for most of the book - as layer after layer of his lies (mostly of omission, but still) were
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uncovered. Ren was great, although some of the lies were about him - but he's uncovered pretty early. I like most of the characters here - everyone is pretty fleshed-out, and have their own motivations for their choices. Interesting universe...I'd have liked to see a little more of the conflict from the average Joe's perspective, because from Chaz and Sully's POV, it was rather too blatant. But they had a lot of data most people didn't (also I think I'm drifting into the second book here). The romance was not to my taste - misunderstandings is one thing (and a trope I hate) but here the misunderstandings were deliberate and cultivated. Sully's Deep Secret was...well, let's say, if he wanted anything out of Chaz more than a passing friendship, he needed to tell her early and in detail - not hide things and ask her to trust him (by way of completely mistrusting her). Bah. But she managed to peel him, and still thought he was worthwhile (that was the surprising part...). She had a lot more patience with him than I would have, even if he was a brooding poet etc. Overall, I think it's an excellent SF story with an annoying romance attached. But as I said, as soon as I finished it I went on to the next book - it's definitely worth reading, and probably worth rereading. Show Less
LibraryThing member Janicemo
good space story
LibraryThing member lexilewords
I'm not sure which cover I prefer. I like the blue color of the redesign, but I think that the original cover conveys more of the story. I have the original cover however so that wins extra points just because it helped me pick it up (though I thought that Ren was Gabriel since he looks more like a
I'll say right away I was so happy this was a first person POV from Chaz. I normally prefer those books to third person POV because it helps me feel more 'in tune' with the character. Plus we learn things as they learn things. Which in this case is a wonderful thing because we start with Chaz already planetside and fighting to live. Her past and the events leading up to the prison planet are spread throughout the book as if Gabriel (aka: Sully)'s apparent save from death.
Both of them have heavy enemies and very little time to uncover the plot that Sully found out (the breeding of jukors, though of course this goes deeper then that). Vast Intergalactic Governments are just never the good guys. Except in Accidental Goddess and really they were kind of pandering to a force of evil unintentionally. Plus Chaz wants her good name back, her rank and to be clear of the stigma that she didn't create. They had a large order to fill.
Sully was exasperating, holding things very close to the chest and giving out extra information as it suited him (or when forced to). I'm not talking about his heritage, but facts that needed to be known about the mission they were trying to complete. I would have given Chaz my full support if she took a shot at him once or twice. He was also prone to posturing for the sake of impressing Chaz (especially when he ex-husband was involved).
The only real complaint I have is that it obviously ends in a way that opens itself up to a sequel. Unlike with Accidental Goddess or Games of Command, I think I would have been okay with Gabriel's Ghost being by itself. I had no additional questions regarding Sully or who he was and would have been okay if jukors were never revisited.
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ghost then Gabriel does).I'll say right away I was so happy this was a first person POV from Chaz. I normally prefer those books to third person POV because it helps me feel more 'in tune' with the character. Plus we learn things as they learn things. Which in this case is a wonderful thing because we start with Chaz already planetside and fighting to live. Her past and the events leading up to the prison planet are spread throughout the book as if Gabriel (aka: Sully)'s apparent save from death.
Both of them have heavy enemies and very little time to uncover the plot that Sully found out (the breeding of jukors, though of course this goes deeper then that). Vast Intergalactic Governments are just never the good guys. Except in Accidental Goddess and really they were kind of pandering to a force of evil unintentionally. Plus Chaz wants her good name back, her rank and to be clear of the stigma that she didn't create. They had a large order to fill.
Sully was exasperating, holding things very close to the chest and giving out extra information as it suited him (or when forced to). I'm not talking about his heritage, but facts that needed to be known about the mission they were trying to complete. I would have given Chaz my full support if she took a shot at him once or twice. He was also prone to posturing for the sake of impressing Chaz (especially when he ex-husband was involved).
The only real complaint I have is that it obviously ends in a way that opens itself up to a sequel. Unlike with Accidental Goddess or Games of Command, I think I would have been okay with Gabriel's Ghost being by itself. I had no additional questions regarding Sully or who he was and would have been okay if jukors were never revisited.
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Subjects
Awards
P.E.A.R.L. (Nominee — 2002)
RITA Award (Finalist — Paranormal Romance — 2006)
Original publication date
2002-02-14
Physical description
480 p.; 6.86 inches
ISBN
0553587978 / 9780553587975