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Barren Planet #1
Reckless Rescue
He crash landed on her planet. Can they survive the winter together without falling in love? Stranded on the dying planet of Zerris, Marlee longs for the one thing she can’t have…a family. Due to the noxious gas covering the planet, she can’t conceive a child, and the Council, determined to repopulate the planet, have ended her third—and most precious—relationship. They insist she pick a new mate and try again, but she’s sworn off love and the possibility of ever having a real family. When a ship from the thriving planet of Urslat crashes on Zerris, Marlee rescues the ship’s daring captain, Tyris. His ship is grounded, winter is setting in, and he won’t survive without help. She offers him a deal…he can live with her if he pretends to be her mate so the Council will leave her alone. Tyris agrees and a hungry desire sparks between them as they battle the harsh winter and primitive conditions. Their attraction grows, and soon, keeping their distance becomes impossible, even more challenging than the snow, the Council, and, for Marlee, the risks of a real relationship. Will she risk her heart one last time for a chance at her dream? Or will Tyris be her undoing? Reckless Rescue is the first book in the Barren Planet Romance series. This series is now complete. Each book can be enjoyed alone, but they are best read in the following Reckless Rescue Reckless Rebellion Reckless Recon Reckless Remedy
277 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2013
395 people are currently reading
1615 people want to read
About the author
Rinelle Grey
61 books182 followersRinelle Grey is no stranger to alternate lifestyles. She grew up in a variety of different homes, including a riverside shack with no electricity or running water, and even a tent. She and her sister spent their childhood chasing goats, climbing trees, eating peas and corn out of their mother’s vegetable garden, and occasionally rushing to get their correspondence school work in on time. Despite the difficulties of this lifestyle, she wouldn’t swap it for all the luxuries in the world (though she is rather fond of her running hot water and indoor plumbing now!)
She met her husband in ‘Family Therapy’, an elective they were both taking as part of their psychology degrees. It took several years for them to get together, in fact, their roleplaying characters got together before they did!
They married on the beach at sunrise in 2002, two months after Rinelle popped the question.
Although she had always loved to write, it wasn’t until her daughter was about eighteen months old that Rinelle started writing seriously. Probably not the best stage in terms of having spare time! And time only became scarcer when her daughter gave up her day sleep six months later. But by then, Rinelle had well and truly caught the writing bug, finding time somehow to continue with her passion. Her fast typing speed learnt from spending way too much time chatting on IRC, and the investment in an iPad when they came out, helped immensely.
Rinelle now lives on acreage with her husband and homeschooled daughter. In her spare time, she sells stock photography through an online site to support her family, and is hoping that writing will be able to add to that.
She loves to receive e-mails at [email protected], or follow her on facebook or twitter.
She met her husband in ‘Family Therapy’, an elective they were both taking as part of their psychology degrees. It took several years for them to get together, in fact, their roleplaying characters got together before they did!
They married on the beach at sunrise in 2002, two months after Rinelle popped the question.
Although she had always loved to write, it wasn’t until her daughter was about eighteen months old that Rinelle started writing seriously. Probably not the best stage in terms of having spare time! And time only became scarcer when her daughter gave up her day sleep six months later. But by then, Rinelle had well and truly caught the writing bug, finding time somehow to continue with her passion. Her fast typing speed learnt from spending way too much time chatting on IRC, and the investment in an iPad when they came out, helped immensely.
Rinelle now lives on acreage with her husband and homeschooled daughter. In her spare time, she sells stock photography through an online site to support her family, and is hoping that writing will be able to add to that.
She loves to receive e-mails at [email protected], or follow her on facebook or twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
June 9, 2013
Part of a series. Duh! I should know better. Someone slap me! Well for those people who enjoy stories that continue on to another book then don't let my review sway you. I don't like continuing stories and I wish I'd put more research into series books. I wish I could say I'd continue this series but I won't.
June 14, 2013
Reckless Rescue
I am one of those "sometimes" romantic readers. In this case, this is a SciFi story with a romantic turn which is much, much deeper than that. This book touches on many of the important issues of today. Pollution, overcrowding, diminishing resources, political crimes, the list goes on and on.
Rinelle does a wonderful job of character development and world building. This is a backward world, lost in a corner of the galaxy, left to its own devices and dying slowly from the effects of anysogen gas - a gas that the rest of the galaxy would, literally, kill to gain.
The story is both interesting and well-developed. There is a great deal of creativity that I haven't found recently in the genre. That, in itself, was a great pleasure. That, and the fact that the book doesn't take itself seriously. The characters suffer, but at the same time there is a lightness to the story that kept it from bogging down in angst.
Finally, as a proofreader/editor I was quite pleased to find that the book was very well edited. I see too many self-published books where the author seems to have no care at all for the quality of their writing. It is distressing. In this case, kudos to Rinelle for an excellently proofed work!
Overall, I will be looking forward to the next in the series
__________________
I was asked by the author to review this book. This in no way effects my review of this or any other book in the series. Opinions are my own.
I am one of those "sometimes" romantic readers. In this case, this is a SciFi story with a romantic turn which is much, much deeper than that. This book touches on many of the important issues of today. Pollution, overcrowding, diminishing resources, political crimes, the list goes on and on.
Rinelle does a wonderful job of character development and world building. This is a backward world, lost in a corner of the galaxy, left to its own devices and dying slowly from the effects of anysogen gas - a gas that the rest of the galaxy would, literally, kill to gain.
The story is both interesting and well-developed. There is a great deal of creativity that I haven't found recently in the genre. That, in itself, was a great pleasure. That, and the fact that the book doesn't take itself seriously. The characters suffer, but at the same time there is a lightness to the story that kept it from bogging down in angst.
Finally, as a proofreader/editor I was quite pleased to find that the book was very well edited. I see too many self-published books where the author seems to have no care at all for the quality of their writing. It is distressing. In this case, kudos to Rinelle for an excellently proofed work!
Overall, I will be looking forward to the next in the series
__________________
I was asked by the author to review this book. This in no way effects my review of this or any other book in the series. Opinions are my own.
February 11, 2014
When Tyris read the letter from the government which he had received one morning, wife Milandra was scathing in her response to the orders it contained. Realizing he had hidden something from her all this time caused her to react quickly and without thought. Tyris was devastated – the love he had for his wife was about to be put to the extreme test. What was he to do?
The Colonies were made up of various surviving planets, and Tyris lived on Urslat. It was the only life he had known, but as an extremely good pilot he was used to flying out and about in the solar system, searching for the uninhabited planets which might hold the fuel they needed for survival. So he decided to head off on his own, to find one such planet and therefore return to the good graces of his government, and especially his wife.
Marlee lived on the planet Zerris; this was a planet covered in a gas which caused infertility among the young people – theirs was a dying race, with only approximately 100 living left. The Council made the rules of their small village, hoping to be able to work out a way to repopulate, therefore keeping their people going. When Marlee was forced to separate from her partner and choose another, she realized she had had enough.
When Tyris’ spaceship crashed on Zerris, Marlee was the first to reach his ship. He was unconscious and bleeding, but with the help of other villagers they managed to take him back to the community hall where the nurse tended to him. Recovering, but realizing a winter harsher than any he had encountered before would keep him from leaving, Tyris began to participate in the lives of the villagers, and especially Marlee. Living in Marlee’s house, he learned of the Council’s rules, the ways of Zerris and the horrors of their lives.
Forced together, Marlee and Tyris began to feel a deep attraction to each other. But this couldn’t work, it wouldn’t work – would it? Nothing was as it should be; what would they do? Were they prepared to go against the Council, the rules which they said were for the good of everyone? Would Tyris ever see his family again?
What a fantastic story! Reaching the end, I realized there is another book following this one….I will be picking it up as soon as I can! The author, Aussie Rinelle Grey, has a wonderful imagination, with the plot flowing beautifully, the intrigue keeping me turning the pages. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this novel.
The Colonies were made up of various surviving planets, and Tyris lived on Urslat. It was the only life he had known, but as an extremely good pilot he was used to flying out and about in the solar system, searching for the uninhabited planets which might hold the fuel they needed for survival. So he decided to head off on his own, to find one such planet and therefore return to the good graces of his government, and especially his wife.
Marlee lived on the planet Zerris; this was a planet covered in a gas which caused infertility among the young people – theirs was a dying race, with only approximately 100 living left. The Council made the rules of their small village, hoping to be able to work out a way to repopulate, therefore keeping their people going. When Marlee was forced to separate from her partner and choose another, she realized she had had enough.
When Tyris’ spaceship crashed on Zerris, Marlee was the first to reach his ship. He was unconscious and bleeding, but with the help of other villagers they managed to take him back to the community hall where the nurse tended to him. Recovering, but realizing a winter harsher than any he had encountered before would keep him from leaving, Tyris began to participate in the lives of the villagers, and especially Marlee. Living in Marlee’s house, he learned of the Council’s rules, the ways of Zerris and the horrors of their lives.
Forced together, Marlee and Tyris began to feel a deep attraction to each other. But this couldn’t work, it wouldn’t work – would it? Nothing was as it should be; what would they do? Were they prepared to go against the Council, the rules which they said were for the good of everyone? Would Tyris ever see his family again?
What a fantastic story! Reaching the end, I realized there is another book following this one….I will be picking it up as soon as I can! The author, Aussie Rinelle Grey, has a wonderful imagination, with the plot flowing beautifully, the intrigue keeping me turning the pages. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this novel.
May 2, 2013
Circumstances make that Tyris and Marlee have to live together. He came to her small planet Zerris after being abandoned by his wife. He came searching for new anysogen sources, necessary as fuel for space ships, very scarce in Urslat and the Colonies. And to recover his lost prestige with an heroic action.
Marlee, on her side, has just had to break up her relationship to Nelor, because they had not been able to conceive any children together and that, following Zerris council’s rules, means finding a new partner for eighteen months and have a new try to conceive with the new partner. As Nelor was her third partner, apart from her beloved childhood friend, Marlee is not prepared to suffer again with a new relationship. Marlee is pretty sure that she won’t be able to have any children of her own.
Children are necessary in Zerris to ensure survival. But the anysogen present in their atmosphere reduces fertility. And as time passes, fewer children are conceived and born in this forgotten planet.
But the long and hard winter Tyris and Marlee are obliged to share brings a budding love, in spite of many incertainities in their lives. Will Tyris have the possibility of returning in honor to his planet Urslat? Shall Marlee be accompanying him, as he promised her? They now have two spacecrafts in Zerris, but one is too old and the other one, the Hylista, has most likely suffered irreparable damages, when Tyris crashed there.
I mostly read romance novels and seldom science fiction, but I must say that I became very engrossed in this story full of mysteries, of dramatic events in the past, of rivalities. Why the overpopulated Colonies have forgotten about the former inhabitants of Semala, now inhabiting Zerris?
An intense story of love, survival, space travel and many other little things that make everyday’s life in a planet where nothing is easy. And the author knows very well how to give us the information in small doses, so that we are always in front of unresolved questions for which we wish to have an answer. And we have here a satisfying end, but as it is the first book of a series, we are left looking forward to the next book(s), where we will be able to learnt many other aspects of these characters we have learnt to identify with.
Thanks to the author, I have been able to read this book in exchange of a honest review.
Marlee, on her side, has just had to break up her relationship to Nelor, because they had not been able to conceive any children together and that, following Zerris council’s rules, means finding a new partner for eighteen months and have a new try to conceive with the new partner. As Nelor was her third partner, apart from her beloved childhood friend, Marlee is not prepared to suffer again with a new relationship. Marlee is pretty sure that she won’t be able to have any children of her own.
Children are necessary in Zerris to ensure survival. But the anysogen present in their atmosphere reduces fertility. And as time passes, fewer children are conceived and born in this forgotten planet.
But the long and hard winter Tyris and Marlee are obliged to share brings a budding love, in spite of many incertainities in their lives. Will Tyris have the possibility of returning in honor to his planet Urslat? Shall Marlee be accompanying him, as he promised her? They now have two spacecrafts in Zerris, but one is too old and the other one, the Hylista, has most likely suffered irreparable damages, when Tyris crashed there.
I mostly read romance novels and seldom science fiction, but I must say that I became very engrossed in this story full of mysteries, of dramatic events in the past, of rivalities. Why the overpopulated Colonies have forgotten about the former inhabitants of Semala, now inhabiting Zerris?
An intense story of love, survival, space travel and many other little things that make everyday’s life in a planet where nothing is easy. And the author knows very well how to give us the information in small doses, so that we are always in front of unresolved questions for which we wish to have an answer. And we have here a satisfying end, but as it is the first book of a series, we are left looking forward to the next book(s), where we will be able to learnt many other aspects of these characters we have learnt to identify with.
Thanks to the author, I have been able to read this book in exchange of a honest review.
June 30, 2013
Wowza! What a rush! I couldn’t put this one down for even a second. It was one of those stay up all night and read ‘one more chapter’ until there are none left.
There’s an intensity to Grey’s writing that you feel throughout the novel. Grey’s story is well laid out and intricately put together, but her writing style is what really puts you over the top. This is a show, not tell, type of novel, making everything completely and vividly real. The author combines typical Earthly activities, values, and activities with futuristic yet extremely real events in a seamless manner. Everything combines in such a magnificent manner to create a world that is simultaneously in the future yet vividly in the past. The lives of the characters are simpler yet with much more complex issues than we could ever encounter.
The characters in this novel are brilliant. The main characters are so well developed that you can’t help but love them. You get to know them as intricately as if they were your neighbours (the ones that you like, of course). I really appreciate the fact that the supporting cast are all developed in such a way that they could stand on their own in another novel. No one is simply a name on a piece of paper. They are all real individuals. You get to know everyone in such a way that you either love or hate them. Their trials are so intense and realistic that there’s no in between. It is nice to know, however, that relationships work the same way on all planets as they do on Earth. Watching these characters come together was heart-warming and absolutely hilarious at times.
Overall, this novel was definitely out of this world. I can’t wait to continue on this journey with these characters that I’ve come to know and love.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
There’s an intensity to Grey’s writing that you feel throughout the novel. Grey’s story is well laid out and intricately put together, but her writing style is what really puts you over the top. This is a show, not tell, type of novel, making everything completely and vividly real. The author combines typical Earthly activities, values, and activities with futuristic yet extremely real events in a seamless manner. Everything combines in such a magnificent manner to create a world that is simultaneously in the future yet vividly in the past. The lives of the characters are simpler yet with much more complex issues than we could ever encounter.
The characters in this novel are brilliant. The main characters are so well developed that you can’t help but love them. You get to know them as intricately as if they were your neighbours (the ones that you like, of course). I really appreciate the fact that the supporting cast are all developed in such a way that they could stand on their own in another novel. No one is simply a name on a piece of paper. They are all real individuals. You get to know everyone in such a way that you either love or hate them. Their trials are so intense and realistic that there’s no in between. It is nice to know, however, that relationships work the same way on all planets as they do on Earth. Watching these characters come together was heart-warming and absolutely hilarious at times.
Overall, this novel was definitely out of this world. I can’t wait to continue on this journey with these characters that I’ve come to know and love.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2015
The premise is interesting in this romance between a man from a world with all modern conveniences and a woman from the make-do and mend society on the planet where he crashlands.
While this is not in itself new, the traveller has come from a world where the anysogen fuel for FTL travel is scarce and valued, to seek it on this primitive colony world. The anysogen is here all right but the gas in the atmosphere has accumulated to make the settlers gradually more sterile. A formal arrangement exists whereby a couple must split if they do not produce children in a short time, and try with someone else.
This is a sad and sobering state of affairs for any colony without a way to get off the planet or contact the home world, and these people feel that they were abandoned after a meteor shower forced the overseers to evacuate.
My main criticism is that there is a lot of repetition of the information I have just given. Several times over we find people restating matters, which is only helpful when another nugget of information is added, as occasionally happens. I personally did not like to see women reduced to the status of breeding animals - this came across as the major factor in everyone's life, not how to develop better ways of adapting the equipment they'd been left or how to develop usable fuel from the anysogen.
The simple cabin life is described at length, great if I want to know how to bottle fruit, not so great if I want an SF action adventure. Somehow these people, used to getting snow for six months of the year, don't think to shovel the roof. There is no real high tech on this world, yet they expect to be able to use spacecraft.
Perhaps this book is setting up for the series to follow and the next books will be more lively, and the author will have reduced the repetition. There are adult scenes in the context of a stable partnership, though I think most of us would have been getting there a lot sooner.
While this is not in itself new, the traveller has come from a world where the anysogen fuel for FTL travel is scarce and valued, to seek it on this primitive colony world. The anysogen is here all right but the gas in the atmosphere has accumulated to make the settlers gradually more sterile. A formal arrangement exists whereby a couple must split if they do not produce children in a short time, and try with someone else.
This is a sad and sobering state of affairs for any colony without a way to get off the planet or contact the home world, and these people feel that they were abandoned after a meteor shower forced the overseers to evacuate.
My main criticism is that there is a lot of repetition of the information I have just given. Several times over we find people restating matters, which is only helpful when another nugget of information is added, as occasionally happens. I personally did not like to see women reduced to the status of breeding animals - this came across as the major factor in everyone's life, not how to develop better ways of adapting the equipment they'd been left or how to develop usable fuel from the anysogen.
The simple cabin life is described at length, great if I want to know how to bottle fruit, not so great if I want an SF action adventure. Somehow these people, used to getting snow for six months of the year, don't think to shovel the roof. There is no real high tech on this world, yet they expect to be able to use spacecraft.
Perhaps this book is setting up for the series to follow and the next books will be more lively, and the author will have reduced the repetition. There are adult scenes in the context of a stable partnership, though I think most of us would have been getting there a lot sooner.
August 12, 2013
What I liked:
I loved the premise about the essential FTL fuel becoming scarce, a similar situation to present day with fossil fuels running out, but combined with the horrible side effects of nuclear power when it goes wrong. Marlee and her people are in a terrible, emotionally desperate situation on their planet, with a real moral conundrum that promised much conflict. I liked the idea of Tyris's quest, and the concept of the contraceptive chip being forced on anyone with a criminal record. The romance was sweet and the bedroom scenes tastefully done. Forbidden love (and in a way, this is a play on that trope with partners being chosen, but then forced to break up) is one of my favourite themes, and this story does it with a twist.
What I didn't like:
Emotionally, the story fell flat for me. Considering how many options there were for serious conflict, the tension was lacking, particularly in the romance. It didn't go deep enough. Plus it had a slightly weak plot line toward the end regarding the lack of enthusiasm to escape amongst some of the colony members that wasn't adequately explained. The opening scene also made me dislike the two characters intensely, leaving me with little sympathy for the hero at the start. This was mitigated somewhat throughout the story with Tyris supporting Marlee, but I couldn't empathize with him totally.
In conclusion:
If you like dystopian scifi with romance and aren't looking for the 'everybody dies' scenario, this could be for you. Some interesting world building and differing concepts of society, but not visceral enough for me. I really, really wanted to love this story but can only say it scored a 'like' - I would probably read the sequel to see how the overall story arc develops, although it wouldn't be high on my TBR priorities at the moment.
I loved the premise about the essential FTL fuel becoming scarce, a similar situation to present day with fossil fuels running out, but combined with the horrible side effects of nuclear power when it goes wrong. Marlee and her people are in a terrible, emotionally desperate situation on their planet, with a real moral conundrum that promised much conflict. I liked the idea of Tyris's quest, and the concept of the contraceptive chip being forced on anyone with a criminal record. The romance was sweet and the bedroom scenes tastefully done. Forbidden love (and in a way, this is a play on that trope with partners being chosen, but then forced to break up) is one of my favourite themes, and this story does it with a twist.
What I didn't like:
Emotionally, the story fell flat for me. Considering how many options there were for serious conflict, the tension was lacking, particularly in the romance. It didn't go deep enough. Plus it had a slightly weak plot line toward the end regarding the lack of enthusiasm to escape amongst some of the colony members that wasn't adequately explained. The opening scene also made me dislike the two characters intensely, leaving me with little sympathy for the hero at the start. This was mitigated somewhat throughout the story with Tyris supporting Marlee, but I couldn't empathize with him totally.
In conclusion:
If you like dystopian scifi with romance and aren't looking for the 'everybody dies' scenario, this could be for you. Some interesting world building and differing concepts of society, but not visceral enough for me. I really, really wanted to love this story but can only say it scored a 'like' - I would probably read the sequel to see how the overall story arc develops, although it wouldn't be high on my TBR priorities at the moment.
September 17, 2016
I read this as part of the anthology Sing A Song of the Stars
I didn't realize this was a cliffhanger. I know the story progresses in book 2 but this ending I didn't enjoy. The love story was very slow going and if this weren't part of an ebook anthology I probably wouldn't have finished but I have an old Kindle and it's just easier to go page by page. Why is this part of the review - I don't know. Anyway, I liked the story but didn't love it. 3-1/2 out of 5 stars.
I didn't realize this was a cliffhanger. I know the story progresses in book 2 but this ending I didn't enjoy. The love story was very slow going and if this weren't part of an ebook anthology I probably wouldn't have finished but I have an old Kindle and it's just easier to go page by page. Why is this part of the review - I don't know. Anyway, I liked the story but didn't love it. 3-1/2 out of 5 stars.
July 26, 2013
This book was not quite what I was expecting in many way and yet, I shouldn't be surprised based on what I read in the blurb. It's a Sci-Fi Romance, but its not a Sci-Fi Romance. Now what do I mean by this? It has elements of several genres- contemporary, historical, dystopian and sci-fi that are blended into one story. I make a point of saying this so others who may have been looking for a purer sci-fi romance won't be disappointed. Now, while that is what I was expecting, I wasn't disappointed one iota. The story pulled me in from the beginning and I groaned with disappointment at the abrupt ending that left me impatient for the next installment.
The story opens with Tyris discovering that a lapse in judgment in his past has far reaching consequences. In his world of The Colonies, overpopulation is a problem. The latest solution is to put a fertility inhibitor chip into each person who has a criminal record no matter how minor the crime or how distant in the past it was. Tyris' wife considers this a humiliation and leaves him. This is the catalyst that makes him set out into space to find a lost planet that might contain the coveted fuel, anysogen, that will allow the Colonies to send ships further into space to find inhabitable worlds.
Tyris crash lands onto a planet where the survivors of another world that was destroyed by a meteor have taken up their lives. They live primitively and have set up a set of rules to guarantee their survival. These people struggle with infertility so they have a law that if a couple doesn't conceive within eighteen months then the couple must separate and find new partners and make new attempts to conceive.
Marlee is nearly devastated when her last partner and her cannot have a child because she cares deeply for him. She is determined to never go through the wrenching break-up again so she eagerly accepts the task of caring for Tyris the man who crashed near their village. Tyris' arrival stirs her in ways that no other man has and it isn't easy to hold with her decision, but then again Tyris seems equally determined to keep things to a platonic relationship and has his sights set on finding a way to return to his home world. More is going on around them though and they learn to pay attention both to their own attraction to each other and that the counsel of elders may know more then they are saying about the village's circumstances.
As I said, I was caught up in this story from the get-go. I loved the scenario of the lost group surviving primitively, the stranded space traveler, the doomed romance and the conspiracy plot all blended together. I did lose a little focus when the issue of fertility/infertility seemed to take over so much in the middle of the story, but it wasn't a big deal and the pace picked up again. Truthfully, it made for an interesting bit in the story the unique way it was woven into the plot. In a contemporary romance, it would have just made the story sad, but as a barrier to survival in a sci-fi, it was more exciting as a plot device.
The characters were a strong part of the story. I loved how the story switched between Marlee and Tyris' perspectives. They came from two different worlds and saw things so differently, but yet they learned to work as a couple. They definitely had a nice spark between them that I was happy to see fan into an inferno when they stopped denying themselves because of previous partners.
Now this one does end abruptly just after a spike of excitement both in the action and the relationship leaving me vested in what happens next for everyone.
As to whom I can recommend this? Those who love Sci-Fi for certain, but also anyone who doesn't mind a blend or blurring of the line in sub-genres or a romance that's more of a sweet than a spice even though its not lacking in spice for certain.
The story opens with Tyris discovering that a lapse in judgment in his past has far reaching consequences. In his world of The Colonies, overpopulation is a problem. The latest solution is to put a fertility inhibitor chip into each person who has a criminal record no matter how minor the crime or how distant in the past it was. Tyris' wife considers this a humiliation and leaves him. This is the catalyst that makes him set out into space to find a lost planet that might contain the coveted fuel, anysogen, that will allow the Colonies to send ships further into space to find inhabitable worlds.
Tyris crash lands onto a planet where the survivors of another world that was destroyed by a meteor have taken up their lives. They live primitively and have set up a set of rules to guarantee their survival. These people struggle with infertility so they have a law that if a couple doesn't conceive within eighteen months then the couple must separate and find new partners and make new attempts to conceive.
Marlee is nearly devastated when her last partner and her cannot have a child because she cares deeply for him. She is determined to never go through the wrenching break-up again so she eagerly accepts the task of caring for Tyris the man who crashed near their village. Tyris' arrival stirs her in ways that no other man has and it isn't easy to hold with her decision, but then again Tyris seems equally determined to keep things to a platonic relationship and has his sights set on finding a way to return to his home world. More is going on around them though and they learn to pay attention both to their own attraction to each other and that the counsel of elders may know more then they are saying about the village's circumstances.
As I said, I was caught up in this story from the get-go. I loved the scenario of the lost group surviving primitively, the stranded space traveler, the doomed romance and the conspiracy plot all blended together. I did lose a little focus when the issue of fertility/infertility seemed to take over so much in the middle of the story, but it wasn't a big deal and the pace picked up again. Truthfully, it made for an interesting bit in the story the unique way it was woven into the plot. In a contemporary romance, it would have just made the story sad, but as a barrier to survival in a sci-fi, it was more exciting as a plot device.
The characters were a strong part of the story. I loved how the story switched between Marlee and Tyris' perspectives. They came from two different worlds and saw things so differently, but yet they learned to work as a couple. They definitely had a nice spark between them that I was happy to see fan into an inferno when they stopped denying themselves because of previous partners.
Now this one does end abruptly just after a spike of excitement both in the action and the relationship leaving me vested in what happens next for everyone.
As to whom I can recommend this? Those who love Sci-Fi for certain, but also anyone who doesn't mind a blend or blurring of the line in sub-genres or a romance that's more of a sweet than a spice even though its not lacking in spice for certain.
May 19, 2015
At first when I finished this book, I was annoyed because the book doesn't finish. Instead, if you want to find out what happens, you have to buy the second book. But I enjoyed this one so much that I went ahead and bought the second one anyway. So with that in mind, knowing that the book won't be complete, here goes:
I liked it! A Lot! Tyris made a mistake when young that has come back to bite him now. He lives on a planet (Urslat) where birth is very regulated. Urslat's population is rapidly outstripping its ability to care for them, so only the very best are given permission to reproduce. Despite his responsible position in the military, and having a wife whose father is one of the top-ranking men in the whole planet, he is denied the option and given an implant in the arm that effectively renders him sterile. His wife begins a divorce, and he heads out in a spaceship to find the energy they need, regain his status, and have the implant removed.
Only it doesn't work like that. The planet he's looking for where the energy source had been mined in a happier past has been destroyed by meteors. In fact, the showers are still continuing and his ship gets hit, sending him down on the nearest rock he can find.
Which oddly enough is inhabited. Turns out when the people realized their planet was doomed, they headed out for this new place, the small planet Zerris. Zerris has its own problems. Plenty of energy, but not in a usable form. Worse, everyone and everything is becoming sterile. Reproduction is so prized that if a couple cannot conceive, they are separated and given to others to see if this new match will have better luck.
Enter Tyris. Unaffected by the planet's gas, the community looks to him to mate with Marlee, and starts counting the months. Tyris, too, is counting the months as the bitter winter sets in and any chance of leaving - if it is even possible with his damaged ship - will have to wait for the spring.
There were things that sounded so earth-like and even modern twenty-first century. I had to remind myself that this was probably an earth colony so undoubtedly they would have the same technology, but that is never stated. Even the terms are identical. Computer tablets are called 'tablets." I liked the simple explanation of why everyone knows the simple crafts of the pioneers of earth, I liked watching Tyris learning how to live without all the comforts he is used to. I liked the climate that threatens everyone's survival.
I liked it so much that despite my inner grumbling, I bought the second book.
I liked it! A Lot! Tyris made a mistake when young that has come back to bite him now. He lives on a planet (Urslat) where birth is very regulated. Urslat's population is rapidly outstripping its ability to care for them, so only the very best are given permission to reproduce. Despite his responsible position in the military, and having a wife whose father is one of the top-ranking men in the whole planet, he is denied the option and given an implant in the arm that effectively renders him sterile. His wife begins a divorce, and he heads out in a spaceship to find the energy they need, regain his status, and have the implant removed.
Only it doesn't work like that. The planet he's looking for where the energy source had been mined in a happier past has been destroyed by meteors. In fact, the showers are still continuing and his ship gets hit, sending him down on the nearest rock he can find.
Which oddly enough is inhabited. Turns out when the people realized their planet was doomed, they headed out for this new place, the small planet Zerris. Zerris has its own problems. Plenty of energy, but not in a usable form. Worse, everyone and everything is becoming sterile. Reproduction is so prized that if a couple cannot conceive, they are separated and given to others to see if this new match will have better luck.
Enter Tyris. Unaffected by the planet's gas, the community looks to him to mate with Marlee, and starts counting the months. Tyris, too, is counting the months as the bitter winter sets in and any chance of leaving - if it is even possible with his damaged ship - will have to wait for the spring.
There were things that sounded so earth-like and even modern twenty-first century. I had to remind myself that this was probably an earth colony so undoubtedly they would have the same technology, but that is never stated. Even the terms are identical. Computer tablets are called 'tablets." I liked the simple explanation of why everyone knows the simple crafts of the pioneers of earth, I liked watching Tyris learning how to live without all the comforts he is used to. I liked the climate that threatens everyone's survival.
I liked it so much that despite my inner grumbling, I bought the second book.
June 28, 2013
Reckless Rescue (a barren planet romance) by Rinelle Grey
What a delightful story!
Tyris had everything he wanted. He lived on Urslat in relative luxury. He had married the General’s daughter, Milandra, the girl of his dreams. As a starship pilot, his job gave him both challenge and pleasure. What could be better?
He and Milandra had talked about having a child, but she wasn’t ready. In reality, neither was he. It was not a subject they discussed often. But that changed when he received a notice that he was to report to his doctor for a contraceptive chip, a device that was ordered for criminals.
Tyris wasn’t exactly a criminal, but he had taken part in a protest when he was in college. He thought Milandra would understand. She hadn’t really wanted children anyway…
Milandra exploded. What would people think? What would her father say? How was she ever to hold her head up in public again? She left him.
Later, moping around his brother Kerit, he voiced his fears. MIlandra was never coming back.
But, Kerit countered, he could have her back, and the chip removed, if he found a new source of anysogen, the gas that made star travel possible. With the gas in diminishing supply, he would be a hero. They’d give him anything he wanted.
So began Tyris’ search for another source of anysogen. Perhaps the hidden planet, Semala, the one removed from the starcharts, would be a likely place to start.
But from the beginning of his entry into the Semala system, everything went wrong, and Tyris crashed onto an adjacent planet, not Semala which he had found utterly destroyed by an asteroid.
On this planet he found the survivors, the few who had been able to leave Semala before it was destroyed, in a dying community slowly being made infertile by anysogen gas. Anysogen gas! But with no way to tell anyone back on Urslat of his find.
Tyris, however, found something else that he was not looking for—Marlee.
From the beginning, author Rinelle Grey draws the reader in. You want Tyris to succeed. But you also want Marlee to succeed, and for a time their purposes might be counter to each other.
Ms. Grey does an excellent work in rounding out her characters, not through description, but through dialogue and actions. She builds the drama as events progress, even conspire, in keeping Tyris trapped on this dying planet.
It is definitely a five-star book.
What a delightful story!
Tyris had everything he wanted. He lived on Urslat in relative luxury. He had married the General’s daughter, Milandra, the girl of his dreams. As a starship pilot, his job gave him both challenge and pleasure. What could be better?
He and Milandra had talked about having a child, but she wasn’t ready. In reality, neither was he. It was not a subject they discussed often. But that changed when he received a notice that he was to report to his doctor for a contraceptive chip, a device that was ordered for criminals.
Tyris wasn’t exactly a criminal, but he had taken part in a protest when he was in college. He thought Milandra would understand. She hadn’t really wanted children anyway…
Milandra exploded. What would people think? What would her father say? How was she ever to hold her head up in public again? She left him.
Later, moping around his brother Kerit, he voiced his fears. MIlandra was never coming back.
But, Kerit countered, he could have her back, and the chip removed, if he found a new source of anysogen, the gas that made star travel possible. With the gas in diminishing supply, he would be a hero. They’d give him anything he wanted.
So began Tyris’ search for another source of anysogen. Perhaps the hidden planet, Semala, the one removed from the starcharts, would be a likely place to start.
But from the beginning of his entry into the Semala system, everything went wrong, and Tyris crashed onto an adjacent planet, not Semala which he had found utterly destroyed by an asteroid.
On this planet he found the survivors, the few who had been able to leave Semala before it was destroyed, in a dying community slowly being made infertile by anysogen gas. Anysogen gas! But with no way to tell anyone back on Urslat of his find.
Tyris, however, found something else that he was not looking for—Marlee.
From the beginning, author Rinelle Grey draws the reader in. You want Tyris to succeed. But you also want Marlee to succeed, and for a time their purposes might be counter to each other.
Ms. Grey does an excellent work in rounding out her characters, not through description, but through dialogue and actions. She builds the drama as events progress, even conspire, in keeping Tyris trapped on this dying planet.
It is definitely a five-star book.
March 3, 2013
Ok, just to let you know where I'm coming from, I'm not a huge fan of romance as a genre, I'm more of a fantasy reader, though I like a strong relationship or character driven book - think Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince Series or Anne Bishops Black Jewels books. I'm NOT a fan of Mills and Boon type romance.
The cover and title of this book made me a little concerned that it would be more romance than fantasy/sci fi, and in a way it was - a good way :)
I loved the male main character, Tyris. He's offbeat, interesting, and is willing to risk his own wellbeing to stand up for other people. His situation with his (ex?) wife felt realistic - I wasn't groaning about the angst or cringing at the situation - it felt real, and I was interested to find a "romance" beginning with a breaking of a relationship.
Marlee was an usual heroine too - confident and capable, but a bit random, and fun. More like the best friend you like to go out drinking with `cause you don't know what she'll do, than the typical swooning heroine.
Not the sort of characters you normally find in fantasy / sci-fi or in romance actually - I think that was what made this book so compelling for me.
The setting was great - a backward planet that didn't feel weird. The stuff they did wasn't just harvesting and milking cows, but things like spinning, bottling, and collecting firewood. It didn't take over the book either - just made for a pleasant background feel for the book. It added well to the realism.
I didn't see the ending coming either - but no spoilers :)
It's great to see a self-published author who has gone to the trouble of getting her book properly edited. There weren't any spelling mistakes or awkward grammar to pull me out of the flow of the book. As a bit of a grammar Nazi it makes a real difference for me.
If I have any bad things to say about it, it's probably that there didn't feel like there was enough internal conflict in the book - Tyris could have been more worried about what his (ex) wife will do when he gets back etc. But maybe that would have just made it too angsty :)
If you're after an engrossing, fun, light-hearted read, that's a full length book rather than a stub that so many are, I thoroughly recommend it!
The cover and title of this book made me a little concerned that it would be more romance than fantasy/sci fi, and in a way it was - a good way :)
I loved the male main character, Tyris. He's offbeat, interesting, and is willing to risk his own wellbeing to stand up for other people. His situation with his (ex?) wife felt realistic - I wasn't groaning about the angst or cringing at the situation - it felt real, and I was interested to find a "romance" beginning with a breaking of a relationship.
Marlee was an usual heroine too - confident and capable, but a bit random, and fun. More like the best friend you like to go out drinking with `cause you don't know what she'll do, than the typical swooning heroine.
Not the sort of characters you normally find in fantasy / sci-fi or in romance actually - I think that was what made this book so compelling for me.
The setting was great - a backward planet that didn't feel weird. The stuff they did wasn't just harvesting and milking cows, but things like spinning, bottling, and collecting firewood. It didn't take over the book either - just made for a pleasant background feel for the book. It added well to the realism.
I didn't see the ending coming either - but no spoilers :)
It's great to see a self-published author who has gone to the trouble of getting her book properly edited. There weren't any spelling mistakes or awkward grammar to pull me out of the flow of the book. As a bit of a grammar Nazi it makes a real difference for me.
If I have any bad things to say about it, it's probably that there didn't feel like there was enough internal conflict in the book - Tyris could have been more worried about what his (ex) wife will do when he gets back etc. But maybe that would have just made it too angsty :)
If you're after an engrossing, fun, light-hearted read, that's a full length book rather than a stub that so many are, I thoroughly recommend it!
March 26, 2013
Very interesting premise: counterposition between an overpopulated world and a underpopulated one.
The first is struggling to contain the growth of its population with extreme mesures; the second is trying to do the opposite but still with extreme mesures.
In this book the focus is on the underpopulated planet. Here the young people are so few that in order to have a healthy genetic pool the elders are forcing couples to have children in 18 months, otherwise the couple is split and each one is forced again to choose another partner. All this in an endless circle. Obviously, even if all understand that this is the only way to avoid dying as race and imbreeding, the strain on emotions is enormous.
In this situation a young man from the overpopulated planet charshed on their plant. They're overjoyed because of another probably fertile man literally landing on their soil, while the man, once awaken, is incredulous that people could survive in these hursh conditions (it's winter).
He's coping tough, he's trying to learn and is not afraid to work, so he adapts, but cannot forget and resign himself that he'll never again see his planet, even with all its difficulties and bad parts (their extreme mesures is implanting contraceptive chips).
Obviously, they fall in love with each other and that it descibed really sweetly and well. For her it starts like want for a friend and for him is a necessity for she provides for him at the beginning and teaches him the tasks necessary to survival. But eventually the begin seeing more and more in each other.
My main complaint is that he's avoiding speaking of his wife. Even if he's convinced that she's applied for divorce, he doesn't know it for sure, so I think that it should have been a rather important thing for her to know! But the wife's name is just mentioned and that's it! No, no, no!
Still I will read the next book since it is taking place on the overpopulated planet and I'm curious to know how the things will develop there! All in all a great debut! :D
The first is struggling to contain the growth of its population with extreme mesures; the second is trying to do the opposite but still with extreme mesures.
In this book the focus is on the underpopulated planet. Here the young people are so few that in order to have a healthy genetic pool the elders are forcing couples to have children in 18 months, otherwise the couple is split and each one is forced again to choose another partner. All this in an endless circle. Obviously, even if all understand that this is the only way to avoid dying as race and imbreeding, the strain on emotions is enormous.
In this situation a young man from the overpopulated planet charshed on their plant. They're overjoyed because of another probably fertile man literally landing on their soil, while the man, once awaken, is incredulous that people could survive in these hursh conditions (it's winter).
He's coping tough, he's trying to learn and is not afraid to work, so he adapts, but cannot forget and resign himself that he'll never again see his planet, even with all its difficulties and bad parts (their extreme mesures is implanting contraceptive chips).
Obviously, they fall in love with each other and that it descibed really sweetly and well. For her it starts like want for a friend and for him is a necessity for she provides for him at the beginning and teaches him the tasks necessary to survival. But eventually the begin seeing more and more in each other.
My main complaint is that he's avoiding speaking of his wife. Even if he's convinced that she's applied for divorce, he doesn't know it for sure, so I think that it should have been a rather important thing for her to know! But the wife's name is just mentioned and that's it! No, no, no!
Still I will read the next book since it is taking place on the overpopulated planet and I'm curious to know how the things will develop there! All in all a great debut! :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2013
This is a very interesting book in that it shows two different societies, each dystopian in its own way, with procreation being the main issue in both cases. One society is prosperous, but the price of maintaining this prosperity is depriving those deemed "unworthy" of the right to procreate. The other, set on an inhospitable planet where pollution is making both people and animals infertile, demands procreation, more or less at any cost. While the two setups seem on the opposite ends of the spectrum, they show one universal truth that we, living in the Western world, tend to forget. Individual freedom, especially freedom to love and choose our life partners, is a rarity and a luxury that requires a certain level of prosperity. When a society has to make hard choices, whether to maintain a standard of living or to insure its very survival, freedoms and rights tend to fall by the wayside. It's popular in today's political discourse to separate "economic" and "political" freedoms. This book shows, on a very basic and personal level, how the two cannot possibly be separated.
Moving on to the actual review, the book is very well put together. The characters, the pacing, the balance of exposition and action, even the romantic scenes are all nicely done. I am not a fan of romance, but I liked the way it was built into the story. The world feels complete and thought through, instead of just being a cardboard background for the main characters' relationship. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Moving on to the actual review, the book is very well put together. The characters, the pacing, the balance of exposition and action, even the romantic scenes are all nicely done. I am not a fan of romance, but I liked the way it was built into the story. The world feels complete and thought through, instead of just being a cardboard background for the main characters' relationship. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
July 21, 2016
I am a big fan of Rinelle Grey's Barren Planet books, and this is the one that jump started it all. In this story, Tyris crash lands on Zerris at the beginning of the planet's long, hard winter season. He is rescued by Marlee, who is herself part of a community of people who have been stranded on Zerris for many years. The marooned villagers are very focused on repopulation, so Tyris is a welcome addition. The main theme of this book is a love story, but there are strong sub-themes related to personal rights, exploitation of resources, and the powers of governance. The inter-weaving of these sub-themes, and how they impact Marlee and Tyris, are central to the drama.
Rinelle Grey is very good at crafting a sense of time and place. Because the people on Zerris have been marooned for a long time, their existence is an interesting mix of technology and pre-industrial survival. Tyris is out of his element in this environment and the examples Grey puts together are descriptive, revealing and well done. Finally, Zerris in winter must be utterly miserable. I felt every cold wind and piece of sleet hitting my face.
This book was excellent, as are Reckless Rebellion andReckless Recon. Tyris and Marlee continue their presence in these books, too.
Rinelle Grey is very good at crafting a sense of time and place. Because the people on Zerris have been marooned for a long time, their existence is an interesting mix of technology and pre-industrial survival. Tyris is out of his element in this environment and the examples Grey puts together are descriptive, revealing and well done. Finally, Zerris in winter must be utterly miserable. I felt every cold wind and piece of sleet hitting my face.
This book was excellent, as are Reckless Rebellion andReckless Recon. Tyris and Marlee continue their presence in these books, too.
September 26, 2016
A bland, forgettable romance on a (badly defined) science-fiction stage. I got 30% through, and thought for a moment to quit, but one of the premises was interesting and I always like it when introducing people to how things were done historically (no microwave, no problem, just start a fire ... how do I start a fire?). I considered quitting again at 40%, 50%, and 60% and finally gave up at 70%. I skipped to the end to see if the answers I was hanging around for were answered, and no ... pick up the next in the series.
The heroine in the book is 19, acts 16 - believable but boring. The hero is a live in the moment kind of guy. Neither are deep thinkers. No real difference in the way people talk and act, the "scientifically advanced" planet isn't, the science fiction is so generic it isn't even real world-building, the problem-solving has no "a-ha" cool moments, it's like reading a made-for-TV movie script with no budget written by a high schooler who is following a formula published by a failed actor. No real editing issues and story does follow in a logical order - just bland.
Going to free up some space on my kindle now by deleting this yawn-fest.
The heroine in the book is 19, acts 16 - believable but boring. The hero is a live in the moment kind of guy. Neither are deep thinkers. No real difference in the way people talk and act, the "scientifically advanced" planet isn't, the science fiction is so generic it isn't even real world-building, the problem-solving has no "a-ha" cool moments, it's like reading a made-for-TV movie script with no budget written by a high schooler who is following a formula published by a failed actor. No real editing issues and story does follow in a logical order - just bland.
Going to free up some space on my kindle now by deleting this yawn-fest.
September 15, 2016
If I could give negative stars I think I would. I didn't care for the writing but I was willing to over look that because I liked the story idea. Then I didn't even like the story idea because it became stupid. Younger readers might like this book but I wasn't wowed when a 30 yr old hooks up with a 19 yr old. I was less found of settlement and grew less impressed by their rules and way of life. I wanted a space adventure not a story that mostly fit in with pioneers in West. If I wanted that I would've read a historical.
At the point where I knew it wasn't going to get better I was too far in and wanted to know how it ended. Well the joke was on me. I was surprised when the situation wasn't resolved. What happened to his wife? Will the h get her baby? What about the people left behind on the planet?
I don't care for cliffhangers and to have that pulled on me in this book was the final nail in the coffin. The only plus side here is I didn't pay money for this book.
At the point where I knew it wasn't going to get better I was too far in and wanted to know how it ended. Well the joke was on me. I was surprised when the situation wasn't resolved. What happened to his wife? Will the h get her baby? What about the people left behind on the planet?
I don't care for cliffhangers and to have that pulled on me in this book was the final nail in the coffin. The only plus side here is I didn't pay money for this book.
Read
August 6, 2019DNF at 50%
I was expecting 'sci-fi' but I got a historical fantasy (except for the lack of trolls, orcs, etc)
I didn't like any of the characters and - having checked other reviews which hinted at this being a cliff-hanger - I caught the next space shuttle out of there and left it to them.
Not rating.
I was expecting 'sci-fi' but I got a historical fantasy (except for the lack of trolls, orcs, etc)
I didn't like any of the characters and - having checked other reviews which hinted at this being a cliff-hanger - I caught the next space shuttle out of there and left it to them.
Not rating.
February 25, 2024
2.5/5*
Uniqueness was great, plot twists were crap
I’m interested in the continued plot but the synopsis for the next book looks terrible so probably won’t continue
Uniqueness was great, plot twists were crap
I’m interested in the continued plot but the synopsis for the next book looks terrible so probably won’t continue
March 26, 2017
Tyris lives on an overpopulated planet that actually regulates who can have children. Anyone with a record is automatically on that list. Unfortunately for Tyris, his one moment of protesting caused him to be on the list. No matter the fact that he serves in the military on his planet, his record means he has to be implanted with a contraceptive chip to keep him from having children. His wife leaves him over this which is when he comes up with the idea to set off looking for a planet that has the gas his planet so desperately needs. Hopefully, if he can find it, he can go home a hero and they will remove the chip and his wife will take him back. However, what he doesn't expect is for his ship to crash into this unknown planet covered in gas, be rescued by the natives there, and fall in love with one of them. If only his story was that simple.
I really enjoyed Marlee and Tyris' story. At first I was a little worried knowing that Tyris was married and was clearly the leading male in this romance. However, his wife was such a stuck up person who was more concerned with her image above anything else. So, when her husband is implanted with the birth control chip, instead of being supportive, she freaks out because it makes HER look bad and leaves him. It's implied that she went to file for divorce which is what spurred Tyris into taking off on a search for an unknown planet that may or may not exist. Meanwhile, you have Marlee who lives on a planet that has grown infertile due to the noxious gas in the atmosphere. The council has come up with a creepy way of hopefully keeping the human race alive by pairing of age people together. However, the kicker is, if the couple cannot produce a child within 18 months, they are separated and paired off with a new partner. So, imagine everyone's surprise when a verile male drops out of the sky.
Marlee, for being as young as she was, was very mature. Sure, she had her hang-ups but it was to be expected. We first meet her right at the end of her partnership with her best friend. They were unable to produce a child and therefor the council splits them up. She's devastated and tries to fight against this since she wanted to stay in that relationship. So, when Tyris comes out of nowhere, talks about being able to fix his ship and get back to his planet, she jumps on the opportunity to help him in return for allowing her and her partner passage onto his ship. I mean, the poor girl has been paired off since she was 16 and at 19 years old, she's had enough. I can't blame her for some of the things she does throughout this book.
Tyris was also and interesting character. I mean, at the beginning he is set on finding a planet that has the gas he needs in hopes of convincing his wife to come back to him. However, he ends up stranded on a planet that expects him to start shacking up with the women there. Thankfully, Marlee takes him in and only wants his help in getting her off the planet. They pretend to have a relationship so that the council doesn't pair him off with a different female. Of course, like all fake relationships go, they end up falling in love. Thankfully, it's a gradual thing and not a love-at-first-sight thing. So, their relationship was a slow building, sweet one.
Reckless Rescue was an enjoyable read. There wasn't a whole heck of a lot going on since it follows these two as they live day-to-day on Marlee's planet but it was still a sweet romance. It is a series though so it ends on a cliffhanger. I, personally, felt like the book dragged a lot and a lot could have been shortened in order to turn this into a complete story. Regardless, I still enjoyed this story.
Favorite quote...
"No one should have to change who they are to stop someone abusing them."
I really enjoyed Marlee and Tyris' story. At first I was a little worried knowing that Tyris was married and was clearly the leading male in this romance. However, his wife was such a stuck up person who was more concerned with her image above anything else. So, when her husband is implanted with the birth control chip, instead of being supportive, she freaks out because it makes HER look bad and leaves him. It's implied that she went to file for divorce which is what spurred Tyris into taking off on a search for an unknown planet that may or may not exist. Meanwhile, you have Marlee who lives on a planet that has grown infertile due to the noxious gas in the atmosphere. The council has come up with a creepy way of hopefully keeping the human race alive by pairing of age people together. However, the kicker is, if the couple cannot produce a child within 18 months, they are separated and paired off with a new partner. So, imagine everyone's surprise when a verile male drops out of the sky.
Marlee, for being as young as she was, was very mature. Sure, she had her hang-ups but it was to be expected. We first meet her right at the end of her partnership with her best friend. They were unable to produce a child and therefor the council splits them up. She's devastated and tries to fight against this since she wanted to stay in that relationship. So, when Tyris comes out of nowhere, talks about being able to fix his ship and get back to his planet, she jumps on the opportunity to help him in return for allowing her and her partner passage onto his ship. I mean, the poor girl has been paired off since she was 16 and at 19 years old, she's had enough. I can't blame her for some of the things she does throughout this book.
Tyris was also and interesting character. I mean, at the beginning he is set on finding a planet that has the gas he needs in hopes of convincing his wife to come back to him. However, he ends up stranded on a planet that expects him to start shacking up with the women there. Thankfully, Marlee takes him in and only wants his help in getting her off the planet. They pretend to have a relationship so that the council doesn't pair him off with a different female. Of course, like all fake relationships go, they end up falling in love. Thankfully, it's a gradual thing and not a love-at-first-sight thing. So, their relationship was a slow building, sweet one.
Reckless Rescue was an enjoyable read. There wasn't a whole heck of a lot going on since it follows these two as they live day-to-day on Marlee's planet but it was still a sweet romance. It is a series though so it ends on a cliffhanger. I, personally, felt like the book dragged a lot and a lot could have been shortened in order to turn this into a complete story. Regardless, I still enjoyed this story.
Favorite quote...
"No one should have to change who they are to stop someone abusing them."
May 16, 2015
I liked this book at first. It had everything (well, almost) that I love in a book- scifi, survival and romance. Should be right up my alley. Unfortunately, it fell flat.
Quick Rundown: After Dude's wife leaves him for a government directive that punishes him for participating in a protest once while in college, he leaves on a mission to find a fuel source that is becoming harder to find and the people are extremely in need of it to survive. Easy peasy, right? Find another planet with this fuel source and solve the problem and the government will lift is restriction and wife will come back. But, as things go, things go wrong and he finds himself stranded on a planet where the locals are refugees themselves and living very primitively. Can he fix the ship and get home? Can he have the woman he wants? Can he even survive?
Characterization: This was on the poor side. The two MC's were very blah and didn't communicate well. And I couldn't wrap my head around why dude didn't tell chick he had an ex-wife and if she was even his ex or not was never determined. This made no sense considering that she had had multiple partners in her history literally living among the two MC's so why did he not share? The secondary characters had little depth as well. The politics of the council of elders in this village were so inconsequential so the mystery surrounding them was no big payoff- just lame. I also found the lack of communication across the board in the whole village unrealistic. It's not like they had any entertainment besides chess and a few books. Why did they so rarely talk? The romance was seriously lacking. Most sex scenes were fade to black which is annoying to me but whatever. There was still little about these two MC's that made me feel like they had any feelings for each other besides sleeping in a bed together. Ultimately, I just didn't care about these two MC's because there was nothing given from the author to make a reader care about them.
Plot/Writing: The writing was good. Very few if any editing errors. Great structure. But, the details were missing when it came to the characters and the plot. This book is all about the politics. And the next book looks to be more of the same except on a different planet. I'm so sick of politics in real life, that I don't want a lot of them in my reads where I'm trying to get away from all that. But, others may not think this way, hence my 3 star rating instead of 2 star. This author has the chops, I can tell that but emotion is missing from this story. I'd also like to point out that the chapter graphics were very repelling. The huge holding hands graphic screams 1980's and was very distracting. I felt like a kid whose eyes kept creeping back to the picture instead of focusing on the words.
Overall: I don't recommend and I won't be reading the second one. I just don't care about the characters and from reading the second books description, I don't want to read another book revolving around politics.
Quick Rundown: After Dude's wife leaves him for a government directive that punishes him for participating in a protest once while in college, he leaves on a mission to find a fuel source that is becoming harder to find and the people are extremely in need of it to survive. Easy peasy, right? Find another planet with this fuel source and solve the problem and the government will lift is restriction and wife will come back. But, as things go, things go wrong and he finds himself stranded on a planet where the locals are refugees themselves and living very primitively. Can he fix the ship and get home? Can he have the woman he wants? Can he even survive?
Characterization: This was on the poor side. The two MC's were very blah and didn't communicate well. And I couldn't wrap my head around why dude didn't tell chick he had an ex-wife and if she was even his ex or not was never determined. This made no sense considering that she had had multiple partners in her history literally living among the two MC's so why did he not share? The secondary characters had little depth as well. The politics of the council of elders in this village were so inconsequential so the mystery surrounding them was no big payoff- just lame. I also found the lack of communication across the board in the whole village unrealistic. It's not like they had any entertainment besides chess and a few books. Why did they so rarely talk? The romance was seriously lacking. Most sex scenes were fade to black which is annoying to me but whatever. There was still little about these two MC's that made me feel like they had any feelings for each other besides sleeping in a bed together. Ultimately, I just didn't care about these two MC's because there was nothing given from the author to make a reader care about them.
Plot/Writing: The writing was good. Very few if any editing errors. Great structure. But, the details were missing when it came to the characters and the plot. This book is all about the politics. And the next book looks to be more of the same except on a different planet. I'm so sick of politics in real life, that I don't want a lot of them in my reads where I'm trying to get away from all that. But, others may not think this way, hence my 3 star rating instead of 2 star. This author has the chops, I can tell that but emotion is missing from this story. I'd also like to point out that the chapter graphics were very repelling. The huge holding hands graphic screams 1980's and was very distracting. I felt like a kid whose eyes kept creeping back to the picture instead of focusing on the words.
Overall: I don't recommend and I won't be reading the second one. I just don't care about the characters and from reading the second books description, I don't want to read another book revolving around politics.
June 19, 2013
*This book was provided to me in exchange for an honest and unbiased review*
Well I really wanted to fall in love with this book because I have a little soft spot for sci-fi and dystopian novels. I am, however, addicted to romance at the moment and so I read very little in these genres unless I know it is also fundamentally a romance novel. Because of this I didn't quite fall in love with this book because although I thought it did the future world business quite well, I found the characterisation and romance rather flat.
I was really pleased with the world that was painted where humans had inhabited other planets following the discovery of Anysogen. It showed a great imagination, bravery and attention to detail. I'm currently rewatching the entirety of star trek tng series so to be reading about and watching a world where space travel features has been great. The details the author used made her world believable to me without there being unecessary information overload. I also liked Zerris and the survival community developed there.
There were just a couple of things I found didn't sit well with me. Firstly, the assimilation of Tyris into the community seemed all a bit quick and easy. I would have expected both him to have more difficulty adjusting and the others to have mroe curiousity about the world he was from. Also, I didn't buy the explanation as to why and as that was so integral to the rules of the society and the tension in the book I felt it needed to make a bit more sense than it did to me.
Saying that though I found it refreshing that there were issues to consider in this book that are not usually written about. What do we do about overpopulation? Resources running out? A consumer society reliant upon non-renewable resources? How much say should governments have in personal relationships and procreation? The personal tension in putting society above personal needs/desires?
I loved all those ideas/thoughts/debates going round my head that this book inspired. I'm sorry to say though that I struggled to connect with the characters. I liked them, I liked what the author was going for with the characters, but I just couldn't get emotionally involved with them. I didn't feel the love and connection. It seemed all said not demonstrated. There was little tension, passion, intensity in it. I was apathetic about whether they ended up together or not and apathetic about what happens to the community.
To sum up, a great concept with some interesting ideas to think about. But I found the characters flat and therefore I don't feel particularly engaged with the story or the romance.
Well I really wanted to fall in love with this book because I have a little soft spot for sci-fi and dystopian novels. I am, however, addicted to romance at the moment and so I read very little in these genres unless I know it is also fundamentally a romance novel. Because of this I didn't quite fall in love with this book because although I thought it did the future world business quite well, I found the characterisation and romance rather flat.
I was really pleased with the world that was painted where humans had inhabited other planets following the discovery of Anysogen. It showed a great imagination, bravery and attention to detail. I'm currently rewatching the entirety of star trek tng series so to be reading about and watching a world where space travel features has been great. The details the author used made her world believable to me without there being unecessary information overload. I also liked Zerris and the survival community developed there.
There were just a couple of things I found didn't sit well with me. Firstly, the assimilation of Tyris into the community seemed all a bit quick and easy. I would have expected both him to have more difficulty adjusting and the others to have mroe curiousity about the world he was from. Also, I didn't buy the explanation as to why and as that was so integral to the rules of the society and the tension in the book I felt it needed to make a bit more sense than it did to me.
Saying that though I found it refreshing that there were issues to consider in this book that are not usually written about. What do we do about overpopulation? Resources running out? A consumer society reliant upon non-renewable resources? How much say should governments have in personal relationships and procreation? The personal tension in putting society above personal needs/desires?
I loved all those ideas/thoughts/debates going round my head that this book inspired. I'm sorry to say though that I struggled to connect with the characters. I liked them, I liked what the author was going for with the characters, but I just couldn't get emotionally involved with them. I didn't feel the love and connection. It seemed all said not demonstrated. There was little tension, passion, intensity in it. I was apathetic about whether they ended up together or not and apathetic about what happens to the community.
To sum up, a great concept with some interesting ideas to think about. But I found the characters flat and therefore I don't feel particularly engaged with the story or the romance.
September 20, 2015
Sci-Fi/Romance
Not worth the money...by the way, did I mention this is free on Kindle?
Hmmph! Where to begin... First off, this is pure YA with a few intimate scenes thrown in for good measure. Meaning it's not going to appeal to anyone over the age of 17, but it's inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18. Not much of a market there.
Second, guess what, it's a cliffhanger! And we have a Deus ex Machina, how fun.
Third, inconsistency after inconsistency. If I hadn't needed this for the Seasonal Reading Challenge, I would never have kept reading. Based on the book blurb, I was imagining a woman in her mid-thirties, longing for a family.
Marlee isn't even 20 years old yet! She is pure teenage angst, saying over and over "It's not fair!" or "Why do I always cry at times like these?" Argh! Plus, she prides herself on being optimistic, belittles everyone else for being pessimistic, then proves herself to be fatalistic from the get-go with the "I'll never get pregnant!" tears.
The "hero" is at least 26, and probably older based on his history. Which makes the first half of the novel feel uncomfortable, too much age span, especially when it comes to emotional maturity. The POV flip flops every other chapter, meaning we see just how far apart they are.
The last half of the novel is even more uncomfortable, as our hero and heroine proceed to argue nonstop about whether or not to try for a baby. By the end of the novel, Tyris' voice is indistinguishable from Marlee's.
Fourth, although this is technically Sci-Fi, there is no action and no adventure. About the most exciting thing contemplated was getting head-butted in the stomach by a goat, which, speaking of inconsistencies, is "followed by the knowledge that in a few minutes, she'd be on her behind in the dirt." I guess the laws of physics are different on that planet.
You know that line about never looking a gift horse in the mouth? Well, in this case, I wish I had. Some free things are just not worth it. Don't take my two star review as an indication there is anything remotely redeemable in this novel, all that means is I finished it, albeit under protest.
Not worth the money...by the way, did I mention this is free on Kindle?
Hmmph! Where to begin... First off, this is pure YA with a few intimate scenes thrown in for good measure. Meaning it's not going to appeal to anyone over the age of 17, but it's inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18. Not much of a market there.
Second, guess what, it's a cliffhanger! And we have a Deus ex Machina, how fun.
Third, inconsistency after inconsistency. If I hadn't needed this for the Seasonal Reading Challenge, I would never have kept reading. Based on the book blurb, I was imagining a woman in her mid-thirties, longing for a family.
Marlee isn't even 20 years old yet! She is pure teenage angst, saying over and over "It's not fair!" or "Why do I always cry at times like these?" Argh! Plus, she prides herself on being optimistic, belittles everyone else for being pessimistic, then proves herself to be fatalistic from the get-go with the "I'll never get pregnant!" tears.
The "hero" is at least 26, and probably older based on his history. Which makes the first half of the novel feel uncomfortable, too much age span, especially when it comes to emotional maturity. The POV flip flops every other chapter, meaning we see just how far apart they are.
The last half of the novel is even more uncomfortable, as our hero and heroine proceed to argue nonstop about whether or not to try for a baby. By the end of the novel, Tyris' voice is indistinguishable from Marlee's.
Fourth, although this is technically Sci-Fi, there is no action and no adventure. About the most exciting thing contemplated was getting head-butted in the stomach by a goat, which, speaking of inconsistencies, is "followed by the knowledge that in a few minutes, she'd be on her behind in the dirt." I guess the laws of physics are different on that planet.
You know that line about never looking a gift horse in the mouth? Well, in this case, I wish I had. Some free things are just not worth it. Don't take my two star review as an indication there is anything remotely redeemable in this novel, all that means is I finished it, albeit under protest.
November 21, 2015
Interesting debate regarding population controls on both sides of the extreme
When I was a kid I remember hearing that China had approximately one third of the worlds population within its borders . It was at this time that they instituted the one Child Rule, in that people were only allowed one Child. Exceptions were made if financially the couple could support another. Being the patriarchal society it is boy babies were favored over girls. Now they have an imbalance of men to women . I bring this up because China is one example of how a country has attempted to deal with a population issue, whereas the author of this book touches on another or similar type of extreme population control . I remember thinking to myself as a kid how cruel it was four some parents to abort fetuses that were to be female or who might have any other less desirable characteristic. I found myself reminding myself of this when the storyline touched on the other side of the coin where people were expected to produce at least one or the elders would step in. Those thoughts are what helped me to buy into the potential characteristics of the individual and group as a whole and thus the storyline.
Ads far as grammar and prose, I saw only minor issues that did not detract from the story.
As I stated earlier, based upon actual group behavior characteristics from China, the Island of Java, etc. I could envision us as humans making these types of demands in both overcrowded and sparse populations. I look forward to the continuation of the storyline.
When I was a kid I remember hearing that China had approximately one third of the worlds population within its borders . It was at this time that they instituted the one Child Rule, in that people were only allowed one Child. Exceptions were made if financially the couple could support another. Being the patriarchal society it is boy babies were favored over girls. Now they have an imbalance of men to women . I bring this up because China is one example of how a country has attempted to deal with a population issue, whereas the author of this book touches on another or similar type of extreme population control . I remember thinking to myself as a kid how cruel it was four some parents to abort fetuses that were to be female or who might have any other less desirable characteristic. I found myself reminding myself of this when the storyline touched on the other side of the coin where people were expected to produce at least one or the elders would step in. Those thoughts are what helped me to buy into the potential characteristics of the individual and group as a whole and thus the storyline.
Ads far as grammar and prose, I saw only minor issues that did not detract from the story.
As I stated earlier, based upon actual group behavior characteristics from China, the Island of Java, etc. I could envision us as humans making these types of demands in both overcrowded and sparse populations. I look forward to the continuation of the storyline.
May 18, 2013
I really enjoyed this novel, reading it in two or three sittings. I can't wait for the next one, even though it's not my normal genre (I'm more a fantasy than sci fi person). The beginning is strong, with a good introduction to the lead male character. The interaction between all the characters is well done: I felt Zerris was a real place and I managed to keep track of the different people and their individual stories. The community gave a depth to what is, essentially, a love story. The conspiracy definitely kept me reading, wanting to know more.
The only thing that stopped it being five stars for me was the middle, where I felt the story lost momentum. Then it picked up again and raced to the end at a good pace. The ending left me eager for the sequel, but also a tiny bit disappointed, as I wanted more of an explanation for the actions if the Council (without giving anything away!)
The only thing that stopped it being five stars for me was the middle, where I felt the story lost momentum. Then it picked up again and raced to the end at a good pace. The ending left me eager for the sequel, but also a tiny bit disappointed, as I wanted more of an explanation for the actions if the Council (without giving anything away!)
August 16, 2013
I received a copy of Reckless Rescue in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars
Just reading the synopsis of the book, I wasn't sure I was going to really enjoy reading this story. It sounded too Sci-Fi for me. However, I did enjoy it. It was a bit slow placed for me, but it felt true to the setting and people in the story for it to be slow since they lived in a dying world with little hope of survival of their people. I liked Tyris and Marlee. They were both kind people who wanted to be loved and accepted as they were, not for the child both were almost being punished for not providing in their individual lives. I really liked most of the people in the story. They were strong people who were trying to make the best out of a bad situation. I'm looking forward to reading the next book to see how the rest plays out.
3.5 stars
Just reading the synopsis of the book, I wasn't sure I was going to really enjoy reading this story. It sounded too Sci-Fi for me. However, I did enjoy it. It was a bit slow placed for me, but it felt true to the setting and people in the story for it to be slow since they lived in a dying world with little hope of survival of their people. I liked Tyris and Marlee. They were both kind people who wanted to be loved and accepted as they were, not for the child both were almost being punished for not providing in their individual lives. I really liked most of the people in the story. They were strong people who were trying to make the best out of a bad situation. I'm looking forward to reading the next book to see how the rest plays out.
June 7, 2013
I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn't. The main characters just felt so unrealistic to me that I could never take them seriously. The amount of accidents that surround them just seemed a little to much like pushing them together. I never felt like the two characters actually connected. I couldn't feel any chemistry between them. Tyris seemed like he had two personalities the entire time. One minute he wanted Marlee the next Milandra. I was confused the entrie time over who and what he really wanted. I was also angry that he could just be so wishy washy about making choices. I'm sorry but this just wasn't for me.
January 22, 2018
A bit of a slow build new adult story, but it definitely has potential. Even though it's sci-fi and based in the future where humanity has colonized many, many planets...there is still a "historical" feel. The survivors have been stuck on Zerris for ~20 years without any modern conveniences. No electricity, no running water. There aren't even animals to hunt so they totally rely on food they can grow.
When Tyris crashes there, he's got a bit of culture shock. His main goal is to try to fix his ship so he can go home, but all the villagers seem to care about is having babies...
Sort of ends on a semi-cliffhanger so I'll continue reading .
When Tyris crashes there, he's got a bit of culture shock. His main goal is to try to fix his ship so he can go home, but all the villagers seem to care about is having babies...
Sort of ends on a semi-cliffhanger so I'll continue reading .
May 26, 2013
This was one of those books that I didn't want to put down. Rinelle mixed the sci-fi with a society lost in space whose life style was similar to that of a couple of hundred years ago or from a few select communities of today. No modern medicine or technology the people of the planet live a simple life, but there is a dark shadow which looms over their existence. Can one lost space traveller save them? A very well written book, I enjoyed the romance and the relationship issues of the people on the planet.
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