Sally Malcolm's Blog, page 2

Loose Cannon by Sidney Bell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you're looking for angst, look no further.

Strong writing, strong characterisation - the two secondary characters who will have their own books are especially well drawn, and definitely make me want to read their stories - and plenty of plot to carry you through the 100+k words.

There's some violence, so beware if that's not your thing, and some mysteries that won't be solved until later books. The romance tugs at all the heart strings, full of angst and doubt, but with a happy ending of course.

Recommended for romantic suspense fans, although there's slightly less suspense than in Bell's debut book 'Bad Judgment'. I'll definitely be reading books two and three!



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Merry & Bright by Joanna Chambers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this collection of three short stories set around Christmas and the New Year. They’re cosy, without being twee or cloying, and very rich given their short length. Chambers does a great job of fleshing out the characters, and the romances are full of sweet yearning and tug at the heartstrings in all the right ways.

If you’re looking for a festive read, this is the collection for you—perfect for a cosy night in with your favourite Christmas treats!


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Bad Judgment by Sidney Bell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book.

The two heroes were extremely engaging in very different ways. Embry was my favourite, so different from your usual romance hero—dark, angry, damaged, and genuinely morally ambivalent for much of the book. I think some readers may not like his choices, but I adored him from his first scene. Brogan was also very well drawn—a more recognisable character from the genre, but his characterisation was well done and I cared about him from the beginning. Their romance was hot and sweet, full of emotion and totally drew me in. Both characters live on in my mind and I finished the book a couple of days ago.

What I loved most about Bad Judgement was that it doesn’t always follow the template of the genre (except the HEA, of course). It felt so fresh and the plot was twisty and angsty and compelling. It deals with some pretty dark issues, so if that’s not your cup of tea then maybe it’s not for you. It’s not a cosy mystery but it never felt heavy or lecturing and the pacing is perfect all the way through—I couldn’t put it down, and I tried because I wanted to make it last!

The writing style is polished and clever, which made it a real pleasure to read. It’s also long and, as a fast reader, that’s something I really appreciate. I loved having these characters with me for a few days and wondering what was going to happen next.

I’ll be buying the author’s next book and eagerly awaiting it’s follow up. I’m thrilled to have discovered such a talented new author! :D

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Excited to say that my Stargate SG-1 novella, Behind Enemy Lines will be in print in time for Christmas! :) 

Ten years after STARGATE SG-1: Fragile Balance, General Jack O’Neill has a problem. His clone, created by the rogue Asgard, Loki, has gotten into trouble — and drawn the attention of Homeland Security.

But when Daniel comes up with a radical solution to keep the young O’Neill out of the hands of the authorities, General O’Neill must decide how much he’s willing to risk to save one angry young man. And his clone must decide how much he’s willing to trust the friends who walked away from him ten years earlier. 

As tensions rise off-world, the young O’Neill is forced to confront who he really is — and to decide whether his new life is worth fighting for…

I touched on Jack's clone in a short story I wrote for the STARGATE: Far Horizons anthology and I loved having the opportunity in this novella to return to that character and give him the ending I felt he'd earned!

Hexslayer by Jordan L. Hawk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hexslayer was just the book I was looking for—a fun and exciting read to take the grey out of the autumn days. I love the universe Hawk has created with these books and there are a lot of hints in this book about a coming storm that I’m looking forward to reading about in future (hopefully) books.

The relationship between Nick and Jamie was prickly to start with, leavened with both sweetness and angst. I loved how Jamie’s injury was included in the book, how it informed but didn’t define his character, and how at one point it even becomes an advantage. In truth, I could have done with a tad more angst during the ‘Oh no will they break up?’ section of the book. But that’s just my taste, because I LOVE the angst—so long as there’s a happy ending, which with Hawk you know there will be. The plot was fun too, and strong enough to keep me guessing but not to overwhelm the central romance.

Overall, this is perfect escapist reading and I thoroughly recommend the whole series.



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A Forbidden Rumspringa by Keira Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Although this isn’t a historical romance, much of it reads like one because of its setting within the contemporary Amish community in Minnesota. One of the book’s strength is its world building. The author brings the Amish world to life without sentimentalising or demonising her protagonists. She has obviously done a lot of research, but it’s woven deftly into the story without overwhelming the characters.

The romance between David and Isaac is sweet and anguished and beautiful. It’s a slow burn, but well worth the wait. For both of them it’s a sexual awakening that challenges their most profound beliefs about themselves, their lives and the world in which they live and this gives the story a poignancy that’s piercing.

And, oh boy, the angst. The inevitable consequences of the heroes’ exploration of their relationship, of their doubts and of the world beyond their community, leaves them with no easy resolution to their situation. The author doesn’t sugar-coat this either—there can be no fairytale ending for David and Isaac and they’re forced to choose between their families and community and their love for each other.

I loved this book for its melancholy, for its moments of joy and, ultimately, for its hopeful ending. Recommended.

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We had an awesome time at LFCC 2017! 
The hall was buzzing all three days with that special atmosphere of fun, acceptance, and escapism that I adore about conventions. It really was wonderful and a real thrill to be part of it!
Thanks to everyone who stopped by our stand to buy some books and say hello, it was wonderful to meet you all. As an author I spend a lot of time alone with my PC, so it’s a treat to meet readers in person and to talk about books and all things Stargate. I’m always blown away by the kindness and generosity of people who take the time to come along to tell me how much they’ve enjoyed a particular book. I can’t thank you enough. 
Until next time, here are a few pics with some of the many awesome fans we nabbed over the weekend!
Me & Sam!
Kree!
Loved this t-shirt!
Me & Jack!
Freakin' awesome cosplay!

Blank Spaces by Cass Lennox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blank Spaces is a sweet, engaging romance.

I warmed immediately to Vaughn’s artistic sensibilities and the sense of isolation and detachment that stem from his confusion about his asexuality. He seems to float through the world around him, observing it but not letting it touch him. If not happy at the start of the novel, he’s content to have traded the possibility of a romantic relationship for the guarantee of never having to be sexually intimate again. But, nevertheless, he’s lonely and longs for the romantic love he thinks will be impossible for him to find.

Jonah is the perfect foil for Vaughn. He’s very much rooted in sensation, using strings-free sex to blot out the deep pain of his troubled past. And, like Vaughn, he also believes that he’s fundamentally unlovable and that sensation is all he can expect from personal relationships. Jonah doesn’t believe he’s worthy of being loved—and certainly not by a guy like Vaughn.

Their journey towards each other through the book, each learning to accept their own nature and to accommodate the needs of the other, is sweet and angsty and had me rooting for them even when I couldn’t see how they’d reach their happy ending. (I loved the ending, btw: non-traditional, but charming and happy and perfect for this pair.)

The writing is polished and the story, involving mysterious thefts from the art gallery where Vaughn works, is handled well and has a satisfying resolution. It doesn’t intrude on the romance, but serves it and provides enough plot to keep the pages turning at a good pace.

For me, this book had all the feels with the added benefit that Vaughn’s asexuality brought something different to the m/m genre. Recommended for anyone looking for a sweet, fun romance with a good dollop of angst and an ending that leaves the heroes happy and in love.



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Maurice by E.M. Forster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

These days we'd probably call this an 'own voice' novel, but there weren't many own voice authors writing about being gay in 1913 which makes this book uniquely fascinating to me.

A central theme, or message, of the book—and the conclusion which Maurice eventually reaches—is that being gay is natural. I was particularly struck by the notion of the 'greenwood' as a place of sanctuary for Maurice. He considers how many men 'like him' had escaped to the greenwood in England's past, a place where they could live naturally--in harmony with both nature and their own nature--rather than being subject to the laws of society. It's also essential for Maurice to strip himself of his class baggage in order to fully embrace his nature—and to, literally, embrace his lover Alec. (Interesting that Forster writes a sexually liberating game keeper over ten years before Lady Chatterley's Lover was published.)

I was also delighted and a little surprised to find the book had a HEA—and, in fact, that Forster had never considered anything else. As a result, some critics have described Maurice as a fairy tale. They’re wrong. Forster dedicated the book to ‘A happier year’ and over a century since it was written, we’ve moved far closer to that happier year than Forster appeared to imagine possible in his Terminal Note written in 1960. That makes me happy—as does the thought of Maurice and Alec together, forever, in the greenwood.


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False Colors by Alex Beecroft  
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful book, beautifully written. The historical detail is incredibly rich, but is woven into the story through the character voices so well that it never feels like the author showing off how much research she's done.

The two protagonists are appealing, despite them both being blind and pig-headed at times. I love that the romantic conflict comes from their own weaknesses rather than from external drivers, although there are plenty of external threats to their relationship. What I also loved is that, while there is explicit sex in the book, both characters are overtly seeking love at a time when love was more dangerous than sex between two men.

Although this is most definitely a romance, it is also a great seafaring adventure. As such, it contains graphic descriptions of violence, sickness, and one torture scene that's disturbing--but none of this is done to shock, it's all an essential part of the story and the reality of the world at the time.

This is also a long and satisfying read, which I appreciate as someone who reads a lot and too fast. By the end of the book (which is as sweet and gratifying as the characters deserve) I felt totally immersed in the world Beecroft created and was sad to say goodbye. 

I highly recommend this book! 

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