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Bubbles In Space #2
Chew 'Em Up
She didn't ask for this...
Now, there's no going back.
Bubbles Marlowe prefers to stick to the shadows. But when one of her cases blows up in the media, the private eye is thrust into the public eye.
The timing couldn’t be worse.
Her best friend is on the run for her life and she needs Bubbles’ help!
Now the wrong kind of people are sitting up and taking notice... And the clock is ticking.
The friends will do anything it takes to get out of HoloCity. Even if it means leaving the planet.
Forever…
Can Bubbles survive her newfound stardom long enough to save her best friend?
Or is HoloCity going to chew them up and spit them out?
<>If you love fast-paced sci-fi action and larger than life characters, you’ll love Chew ‘Em Up because it’s got mystery, high-stakes thrills, and lots of laughs.
Bubbles in Space is an action-packed, glitter fueled, sci-fi adventure series with cyberpunk flair.
Pre-Order Today!
Now, there's no going back.
Bubbles Marlowe prefers to stick to the shadows. But when one of her cases blows up in the media, the private eye is thrust into the public eye.
The timing couldn’t be worse.
Her best friend is on the run for her life and she needs Bubbles’ help!
Now the wrong kind of people are sitting up and taking notice... And the clock is ticking.
The friends will do anything it takes to get out of HoloCity. Even if it means leaving the planet.
Forever…
Can Bubbles survive her newfound stardom long enough to save her best friend?
Or is HoloCity going to chew them up and spit them out?
<>If you love fast-paced sci-fi action and larger than life characters, you’ll love Chew ‘Em Up because it’s got mystery, high-stakes thrills, and lots of laughs.
Bubbles in Space is an action-packed, glitter fueled, sci-fi adventure series with cyberpunk flair.
Pre-Order Today!
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2021
25 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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July 4, 2021Just sent Bubbles in Space #2 Chew 'Em Up to the editor!
Release Day is May 31, 2o21!
Pre-order your copy today for only $2.99! -> books2read.com/u/bQJ9X7
Release Day is May 31, 2o21!
Pre-order your copy today for only $2.99! -> books2read.com/u/bQJ9X7
August 10, 2021
Bubbles is the protagonist of the neo-cyberpunk detective novel series that lost her arm when trying to uncover corruption in the police force. Now a private eye, she struggles to stay ahead of the intricate criminal networks and corruption of Holo City. It's a wonderful homage to 80s cyberpunk and lighter/softer than most books I read while still dealing with harsh subjects.
When her friend, Rae, is fleeing her employers and Bubbles is hunted by a flash mob of assassins, the only option is to get off-planet and to a corporate-run asteroid. Bubbles, of course, finds more problems there than the one she leaves behind.
This is an even better book than the previous. I also note it touches on alcohol abuse and how Bubbles has to deal with the fact her friends frequently don't believe her because of it. That's a very frustrating thing and very true to life. Either way, it's a solid second entry to the franchise and I'm already starting the third installment.
When her friend, Rae, is fleeing her employers and Bubbles is hunted by a flash mob of assassins, the only option is to get off-planet and to a corporate-run asteroid. Bubbles, of course, finds more problems there than the one she leaves behind.
This is an even better book than the previous. I also note it touches on alcohol abuse and how Bubbles has to deal with the fact her friends frequently don't believe her because of it. That's a very frustrating thing and very true to life. Either way, it's a solid second entry to the franchise and I'm already starting the third installment.
July 15, 2021
Well written
I enjoyed reading this novel but I had to deduct a star because of my personal distaste for cliffhangers. I feel that each episode should come to some internal closure.
I enjoyed reading this novel but I had to deduct a star because of my personal distaste for cliffhangers. I feel that each episode should come to some internal closure.
July 3, 2022
This series is FUN!
I'm having such a good time reading through Bubbles' adventures! The will-they, won't-they with Tom and Bubbles is intriguing and I'm already looking forward to book three.
I'm having such a good time reading through Bubbles' adventures! The will-they, won't-they with Tom and Bubbles is intriguing and I'm already looking forward to book three.
July 5, 2021
Bubbles is back and that’s all I needed to hear to scoop this one up.
My favourite part of Chew ‘em Up is the side characters in the first half of the novel. Sal, Cosmo and Mama Adesima are great and Bubbles interactions with them are a lot of fun. Bubbles is at her best when she uses humor when faced with pretty much any situation. There are a few moments where she is overcome with sadness which didn’t work so well for me as they seemed kind of sudden and a bit out of character.
The over-all plot is good although I would have liked more of the hard-boiled detective from Bubbles perspective. The ending felt like there were too many characters and the action seemed to be coming from a lot of different directions.
Over-all, Chew ‘em Up is a fun read.
My favourite part of Chew ‘em Up is the side characters in the first half of the novel. Sal, Cosmo and Mama Adesima are great and Bubbles interactions with them are a lot of fun. Bubbles is at her best when she uses humor when faced with pretty much any situation. There are a few moments where she is overcome with sadness which didn’t work so well for me as they seemed kind of sudden and a bit out of character.
The over-all plot is good although I would have liked more of the hard-boiled detective from Bubbles perspective. The ending felt like there were too many characters and the action seemed to be coming from a lot of different directions.
Over-all, Chew ‘em Up is a fun read.
February 1, 2025
I will never understand why this series isn't more of a big deal in bookish circles. I've been slowly acquiring it over time, but apparently I was too slow, because the series isn't even on the Kobo store anymore. I'll have to track down books 4 and 5 soon.
ANYWAY, it's hard to find someone who does gritty cyberpunk noir with a serious splash of pink and glitter, but boy, SC Jensen delivered yet again. The class consciousness, murder mystery, and tough-talking PI elements that I love in film noir are all there, but we've also got cybernetics, secret androids, flying cabs, and space travel. Like the first book, this isn't a mystery simply plopped into a sci-fi setting, this is a book that's really both.
Bubbles is a great, great noir heroine: a recovering alcoholic with a high-tech prosthetic arm, a questionably trustworthy ex and a solid best friend now in trouble, she slings slang and punches people (and sometimes artwork eyeballs as well - listen, it makes sense in the book). She's tough and vulnerable and endearing and I love her.
Also, Cosmo Regale was back from book 1, and I love him.
ANYWAY, it's hard to find someone who does gritty cyberpunk noir with a serious splash of pink and glitter, but boy, SC Jensen delivered yet again. The class consciousness, murder mystery, and tough-talking PI elements that I love in film noir are all there, but we've also got cybernetics, secret androids, flying cabs, and space travel. Like the first book, this isn't a mystery simply plopped into a sci-fi setting, this is a book that's really both.
Bubbles is a great, great noir heroine: a recovering alcoholic with a high-tech prosthetic arm, a questionably trustworthy ex and a solid best friend now in trouble, she slings slang and punches people (and sometimes artwork eyeballs as well - listen, it makes sense in the book). She's tough and vulnerable and endearing and I love her.
Also, Cosmo Regale was back from book 1, and I love him.
August 12, 2021
Good second installment in this series or rather part 2.
Overall I liked it, gotta love Bubbles and all the pink cyberpunk is so cool, but I missed the fun we had with Cosmo, Dickie and Hammett in the first book. Apart from brief cameos all three of them were M.I.A.
Sadly I wasn't really sold on Rae, again I liked her better in the first book. This time she mostly came across as a naive damsel quite unlike the smart and savvy scientist we met before.
The last third of the book got a bit confusing with trying to keep track of who is doing what why and for whom... I get that "nothing is as it seems" is key to noir, still...
and then it had to end in a quasi-cliffhanger, (ugh, sorry, major pet peeve of mine) so as much as I'd have loved to give this a higher rating it wouldn't be honest.
I'm just glad I waited until book 3 was released to read it otherwise I would probably not have finished the series (point of principle with cliffhangers for me)
Overall I liked it, gotta love Bubbles and all the pink cyberpunk is so cool, but I missed the fun we had with Cosmo, Dickie and Hammett in the first book. Apart from brief cameos all three of them were M.I.A.
Sadly I wasn't really sold on Rae, again I liked her better in the first book. This time she mostly came across as a naive damsel quite unlike the smart and savvy scientist we met before.
The last third of the book got a bit confusing with trying to keep track of who is doing what why and for whom... I get that "nothing is as it seems" is key to noir, still...
and then it had to end in a quasi-cliffhanger, (ugh, sorry, major pet peeve of mine) so as much as I'd have loved to give this a higher rating it wouldn't be honest.
I'm just glad I waited until book 3 was released to read it otherwise I would probably not have finished the series (point of principle with cliffhangers for me)
December 28, 2024
3.5 this series is growing on me!
July 4, 2021
Our heroine suddenly has more attention on her they she likes and that makes her job really difficult. Just want she needs: more challenges.
This is book two of the series, but it is written as a standalone. Feel free to start at any point.
This is a science fiction noir detective story with a cyberpunk heroine. If you think that is an interesting combination, then you have definitely come to the right place. The story is well written but not necessarily easy to read. There is a lot going on and it moves at a fast clip, so it can occasionally be a challenge to keep up with who is doing what to whom. The characters are well done and lots of fun, including both our heroine and several of the extras. There is also a nice mixture of action and humor throughout the story. Overall, it all blends together to make for a fast and fun read. I definitely look forward to seeing more of our heroine in the future.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
This is book two of the series, but it is written as a standalone. Feel free to start at any point.
This is a science fiction noir detective story with a cyberpunk heroine. If you think that is an interesting combination, then you have definitely come to the right place. The story is well written but not necessarily easy to read. There is a lot going on and it moves at a fast clip, so it can occasionally be a challenge to keep up with who is doing what to whom. The characters are well done and lots of fun, including both our heroine and several of the extras. There is also a nice mixture of action and humor throughout the story. Overall, it all blends together to make for a fast and fun read. I definitely look forward to seeing more of our heroine in the future.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
June 2, 2021
Chew Em Up follows on the heels of Tropical Punch. Bubbles Marlowe and her friend Rae become embroiled in another adventure when Rae finds out Libra, the company she works for, is trying to kill her and all her team members. The book starts deep in The Grit at Sal’s Soba and Sake Bar. Libra thugs attack and soon Bubbles and Rae are plunged into the sewers beneath the restaurant to escape. They are saved by Cosmo Regale, rich cosmetic manufacturer, and extreme character. Their only hope is to escape to Asteroid LS-103 and hide out in that mining colony. Lots of near escapes, battles and more quirky characters. The pace is fast and the bad guys and gals are tricky. Ultimately they just scrape by, only to find Rae, who comes out of a coma caused by a head injury during their escapades on LS-103 is not herself. Lots of fast paced action and it’s hard to tell who is a friend and who is a foe. Not only is Rae missing but former police partner Tom is captured by the bad guys, back on Earth, and held for ransom. It helps to have read Tropical Punch first. I’m looking forward to the next book, Pop Em One, which comes out in August just to see what happens. The series is kind of addictive. Holo City and The Grit and it’s characters are compelling.
June 12, 2021
Hard-hitting and gut-punching, Chew 'Em Up delivers!
Oh S.C., you've got my attention now!
Bubbles never faced a tougher case than this new one. Nor one so close to home. Her dearest friend Rae, the woman who saved her life and helped set her on the path to her new career is in trouble. With Rae's life on the line and social media fanatics hounding Bubbles, placing her in harm's way and making every effort to get the act on video, she makes the decision to take her friend and find sanctuary off-world. But is it hope or is it Hades? Only time will tell. Enemies turn out to be allies and friends show their darker sides.
With every turn of the page, S.C. revels a new layer to her world or Cyber-Punk, futuristic reality. And Bubbles shows her true side. The kind of person one desires to have on one's side. Fiercely loyal to those whom she loves; tough, gritty and able to take a hit and come back hard. And oh, that cliff-hanger at the end!
I can't wait for the next book to come out! Pop 'Em One, S.C.!
Oh S.C., you've got my attention now!
Bubbles never faced a tougher case than this new one. Nor one so close to home. Her dearest friend Rae, the woman who saved her life and helped set her on the path to her new career is in trouble. With Rae's life on the line and social media fanatics hounding Bubbles, placing her in harm's way and making every effort to get the act on video, she makes the decision to take her friend and find sanctuary off-world. But is it hope or is it Hades? Only time will tell. Enemies turn out to be allies and friends show their darker sides.
With every turn of the page, S.C. revels a new layer to her world or Cyber-Punk, futuristic reality. And Bubbles shows her true side. The kind of person one desires to have on one's side. Fiercely loyal to those whom she loves; tough, gritty and able to take a hit and come back hard. And oh, that cliff-hanger at the end!
I can't wait for the next book to come out! Pop 'Em One, S.C.!
May 31, 2021
The next fun and exciting sequel in this marvellous series!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat! It continues the saga of Betty ‘Bubbles’ Marlowe, the newly sober, gritty private detective with a penchant for pink.
Written in the style of the old noir detective novels, but with a cyberpunk edge, and lots of humour. It’s an easy, fast-paced read, like eating sci-fi flavoured candy!
Betty and her scientist best friend, Rae, have to leave their home planet in a hurry because someone at Rae’s workplace, Libra Corporation, is trying to kill them. Their escape takes them on a voyage to a mining asteroid and, as usual, it’s hard to tell the good guys and gals from the bad.
Fasten your seat belt for some exciting plot twists and turns! The fun and intrigue kept me captivated. I received an early review copy and read the whole thing in one sitting!
Rating 5/5
This book kept me on the edge of my seat! It continues the saga of Betty ‘Bubbles’ Marlowe, the newly sober, gritty private detective with a penchant for pink.
Written in the style of the old noir detective novels, but with a cyberpunk edge, and lots of humour. It’s an easy, fast-paced read, like eating sci-fi flavoured candy!
Betty and her scientist best friend, Rae, have to leave their home planet in a hurry because someone at Rae’s workplace, Libra Corporation, is trying to kill them. Their escape takes them on a voyage to a mining asteroid and, as usual, it’s hard to tell the good guys and gals from the bad.
Fasten your seat belt for some exciting plot twists and turns! The fun and intrigue kept me captivated. I received an early review copy and read the whole thing in one sitting!
Rating 5/5
June 3, 2021
Better than the last!!
The adventures of Bubbles Marlowe are really heating up! From the desperate shadows of the Holocity grid to the barren blackness of the LunAstro mining colony on the asteroid LS - 103, Bubbles and her greatest friend Rae Adesina flee the murderous wrath of the Libra Mega Corp. The pair of unlikely fugitives carry a hard drive that could hold the secrets to opening endless worlds to human colonization, breaking the oppression power the mega corps and trade zones hold over the desperate masses of Sol. All in a days work for our favorite PI from skid row.
This was a great read. I knocked it out in just three days. Fortunately for me, the next installment drops on August 2nd!
The adventures of Bubbles Marlowe are really heating up! From the desperate shadows of the Holocity grid to the barren blackness of the LunAstro mining colony on the asteroid LS - 103, Bubbles and her greatest friend Rae Adesina flee the murderous wrath of the Libra Mega Corp. The pair of unlikely fugitives carry a hard drive that could hold the secrets to opening endless worlds to human colonization, breaking the oppression power the mega corps and trade zones hold over the desperate masses of Sol. All in a days work for our favorite PI from skid row.
This was a great read. I knocked it out in just three days. Fortunately for me, the next installment drops on August 2nd!
February 21, 2022
Unsurprisingly, Chew 'Em Up was a spectacular sequel that kept me riveted from the very first page. After the way Tropical Punch ended, I knew I had to read the sequel to find out what happened to Rae, and I wasn't disappointed in the least. While Chew 'Em Up stands apart from Tropical Punch in many ways, it's still familiar and contains all the aspects from the first novel that made me fall in love with this series so much.
In this installment of Bubbles In Space, Bubbles is on a mission to discover just what is going on with her friend, Rae. Why do people want to kill Rae? How does any of this have to do with the events that transpired in Tropical Punch? Is someone who she believed to be dead really still alive? The constant action in this novel is nonstop, and there's never a dull moment. While there are times where the plot isn't entirely clear BECAUSE so much is happening, it's nothing that a brief pause and some critical thinking can't resolve. The stakes are high, and there's a lot of double crossing, but I expect no less from this cyberpunk mystery, and it was just as fun as the first one.
There were many things I loved about this novel, including the deeper characterization of Bubbles. I loved that we got to learn a little more about her backstory. About what it was like to battle alcohol abuse. About the struggles she still endures in his recovery, including the times when she's truly sober but others don't believe her. I love how she remains strong and resilient in her recovery. But something new that presented itself this time was Bubbles' vulnerability. In the previous book, I mentioned in my review that for the most part, Bubbles was a snarky, sarcastic badass with pink hair, but that we didn't get to see much of her vulnerable side. This book changed that. This time, while Bubbles still maintains her characteristic snark that made me fall in love with her so much, she also demonstrates her weak points. She experiences self doubt. She doesn't think she's good enough. She struggles with her sobriety. And never in a "poor me" kind of way, either. This was raw and genuine. A glimpse at another side of Bubbles that, until now, we hadn't been privileged enough to see as the reader. This new aspect made her even more believable as a character, but especially as a character in recovery. Once again, I appreciate the author's representation of this.
But let's not lie. I still loved every witty comeback Bubbles came up with. That side of her remained intact, and it provided a bit of comic relief in the process.
Additionally, I really loved that we got to see more of Rae in this one. She interested me quite a bit in the previous book, but she only played a relatively minor character. Here, we actually get to spend quite a bit of time with her. While she's spending most of that under duress, we do get aspects of her personality from before that poke through, and I really love how nicely she contrasts with Bubbles. And Cosmo returned! I hope we continue to get more of him, because he's absolutely mesmerizing. Every time he shows up in these books, I'm captivated from the start. And that we got to see his house AND watch him at work? I don't know what it is about Cosmo that draws me in, but we need more of Cosmo in all our lives. The only thing I was a bit sad about was the lack of Hammett in this book. Where's my sassy pink SmartPet pig?? But that's okay. That was resolved in the end. Knew they couldn't stay away for too long.
The worldbuilding was just as excellent as before, and this time, we go beyond just being on a space cruise ship or skulking around HoloCity; now we're on an industrial, blue-collar ship headed for a colonized asteroid, and that was pretty cool. I've said it before, but I'm not a huge space fan, but something about these books is steadily changing that. Or at least, this is the kind of space I want to read about. LS wasn't nearly as colorful as HoloCity or the Island Dreamer was, and things were a bit more bland and grey there. A little more sterile. And I admit, it was the colorfulness that I liked the most. But we got plenty of that in the beginning, especially at Cosmo's, and it really wasn't a deterrent anyway. If every place Bubbles went to looked and sounded exactly the same as HoloCity did, I think I'd have been put off. I dislike sameness when it comes to worldbuilding, so I feel like this was excellently done. Each new area felt distinct from the last.
Also, I think it's worth noting how impressive the writing is. Yes, there were a few typos in the book, but that was more of a formatting error than it was any fault of the author's. Her prose is lovely. The metaphors she used, her choice of words, all of it painted a vivid picture that helped describe and bring the world to life to me. I could see it in my mind's eye. And it was never overdone. The writing style is descriptive, but it's not like you're reading pages and pages of description that takes away from the overall action of the book. You're getting an excellent balance of both.
Nothing about this book put me off. I can't think of any complaints. The pacing was done well, and although the ending was a fairly major cliff-hanger, I have the third book already, so that's not going to bother me. Now I just need to find out what ELSE happens to Rae. Because she's absolutely lovely, and I think we need to protect her at all costs. And with the promise of even more character development for Bubbles, I'm pretty excited for the third installment.
Read this, I tell you. It's not quite as wild as the first book, but it's still pretty damn wild, and I say that with all the love and adoration I can muster, because in this case, that's a good thing.
In this installment of Bubbles In Space, Bubbles is on a mission to discover just what is going on with her friend, Rae. Why do people want to kill Rae? How does any of this have to do with the events that transpired in Tropical Punch? Is someone who she believed to be dead really still alive? The constant action in this novel is nonstop, and there's never a dull moment. While there are times where the plot isn't entirely clear BECAUSE so much is happening, it's nothing that a brief pause and some critical thinking can't resolve. The stakes are high, and there's a lot of double crossing, but I expect no less from this cyberpunk mystery, and it was just as fun as the first one.
There were many things I loved about this novel, including the deeper characterization of Bubbles. I loved that we got to learn a little more about her backstory. About what it was like to battle alcohol abuse. About the struggles she still endures in his recovery, including the times when she's truly sober but others don't believe her. I love how she remains strong and resilient in her recovery. But something new that presented itself this time was Bubbles' vulnerability. In the previous book, I mentioned in my review that for the most part, Bubbles was a snarky, sarcastic badass with pink hair, but that we didn't get to see much of her vulnerable side. This book changed that. This time, while Bubbles still maintains her characteristic snark that made me fall in love with her so much, she also demonstrates her weak points. She experiences self doubt. She doesn't think she's good enough. She struggles with her sobriety. And never in a "poor me" kind of way, either. This was raw and genuine. A glimpse at another side of Bubbles that, until now, we hadn't been privileged enough to see as the reader. This new aspect made her even more believable as a character, but especially as a character in recovery. Once again, I appreciate the author's representation of this.
But let's not lie. I still loved every witty comeback Bubbles came up with. That side of her remained intact, and it provided a bit of comic relief in the process.
Additionally, I really loved that we got to see more of Rae in this one. She interested me quite a bit in the previous book, but she only played a relatively minor character. Here, we actually get to spend quite a bit of time with her. While she's spending most of that under duress, we do get aspects of her personality from before that poke through, and I really love how nicely she contrasts with Bubbles. And Cosmo returned! I hope we continue to get more of him, because he's absolutely mesmerizing. Every time he shows up in these books, I'm captivated from the start. And that we got to see his house AND watch him at work? I don't know what it is about Cosmo that draws me in, but we need more of Cosmo in all our lives. The only thing I was a bit sad about was the lack of Hammett in this book. Where's my sassy pink SmartPet pig?? But that's okay. That was resolved in the end. Knew they couldn't stay away for too long.
The worldbuilding was just as excellent as before, and this time, we go beyond just being on a space cruise ship or skulking around HoloCity; now we're on an industrial, blue-collar ship headed for a colonized asteroid, and that was pretty cool. I've said it before, but I'm not a huge space fan, but something about these books is steadily changing that. Or at least, this is the kind of space I want to read about. LS wasn't nearly as colorful as HoloCity or the Island Dreamer was, and things were a bit more bland and grey there. A little more sterile. And I admit, it was the colorfulness that I liked the most. But we got plenty of that in the beginning, especially at Cosmo's, and it really wasn't a deterrent anyway. If every place Bubbles went to looked and sounded exactly the same as HoloCity did, I think I'd have been put off. I dislike sameness when it comes to worldbuilding, so I feel like this was excellently done. Each new area felt distinct from the last.
Also, I think it's worth noting how impressive the writing is. Yes, there were a few typos in the book, but that was more of a formatting error than it was any fault of the author's. Her prose is lovely. The metaphors she used, her choice of words, all of it painted a vivid picture that helped describe and bring the world to life to me. I could see it in my mind's eye. And it was never overdone. The writing style is descriptive, but it's not like you're reading pages and pages of description that takes away from the overall action of the book. You're getting an excellent balance of both.
Nothing about this book put me off. I can't think of any complaints. The pacing was done well, and although the ending was a fairly major cliff-hanger, I have the third book already, so that's not going to bother me. Now I just need to find out what ELSE happens to Rae. Because she's absolutely lovely, and I think we need to protect her at all costs. And with the promise of even more character development for Bubbles, I'm pretty excited for the third installment.
Read this, I tell you. It's not quite as wild as the first book, but it's still pretty damn wild, and I say that with all the love and adoration I can muster, because in this case, that's a good thing.
June 10, 2021
Bubbles’ best friend Rae is in danger and needs to get out of HoloCity as fast as possible. Armed with a lot of grit, glittery pink cybernetic parts and high-tech facial modifications, Bubbles and Rae try to outsmart their pursuers and get on the first shuttle to LunAstro Base One. But even there, danger lurks around every corner…
Just like the first book, this story is a joy to read with its extravagant characters, off-the-wall humour and relentless action. What a great series!
I received a preview copy of this book which I am voluntarily reviewing.
Just like the first book, this story is a joy to read with its extravagant characters, off-the-wall humour and relentless action. What a great series!
I received a preview copy of this book which I am voluntarily reviewing.
August 13, 2021
This is the second book in the series and I have read both books.
You do not need to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one. While there is carry-over and character building in each book, you can easily enjoy reading either one of them, on its own, and in any order.
According to the author's notes, these books were written as an homage to the noir pulp books of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, as well as the 1980s cyberpunk movement in sci-fi. I am not a good person to judge, because I do not think I have read any of those books.
While this is billed as sci-fi and takes place either in the somewhat distant future or in another universe, the setting is not critical to the plot. It could just as easily take place on cruise ship or some other earth locale, and it would not change much of the overall vibe. The sci-fi aspects are "lite" and really are not central to the plot, but have more to do with the overall tone of the story.
The things I liked:
There is a plot and the story has a sense of relevance. There is a weight to the happenings and the characters suffer...not just as a result of their bad choices, but also the baddies in the story.
The characters are well fleshed out and there is good differentiation between them.
To a certain extent, even though the settings can be described as "dark" and much of the action is pretty grim, there is an element of hope and a sense that perhaps being a "good" person can make a difference. I gather that is the "cyberpunk" element the author mentioned.
The book is generally well edited. There were a few nit-picky typos here and there, but they did not distract from the story.
While I think the setting was mostly secondary to the story and could have been completely different without affecting the story much, the author DID do a good job of laying out the world of the story. I could picture the scene very well, based on the descriptions used.
The thing I liked less:
I cannot decide if I actually like the main character or not. She often makes poor decisions that do not make a lot of sense. She does not seem consistent in her actions and she questions the motives of people that she has supposedly known and trusted for years. She seems like she can flip like a switch.
Part of this, I think...is out of the notion that all characters need to have a whole lot of built-in flaws and defects in order to seem real, believable and/or redeemable. I am not sure I feel like that is the case. I know a LOT of authors do this and it straddles the line between making the character likable or someone who annoys the heck out of you. I am right there on the line with this MC. There are times when I waver on whether I care about what happens to her or not. That is not something I want to feel regarding a MC.
I understand that you want to show character growth and development as the stories progress. I am not sure there is a lot of that, here. There is a sense of SOME of what the MC has been through and the fact that she has overcome a lot, which is fine and good.
The author was very forthright in discussing the past drinking problems of the MC and relating that to her life. I give her HUGE credit for her honesty and openness in raising these issues. Alcoholism impacts SO many lives and to have frank conversation about that and to see success stories is very important, both in print and in real life. THAT aspect of the MC is dealt with well and has nothing to do with my comments about the likability of the MC.
This is a long-winded way of saying that while I am still on the fence about the MC, the story is good, and worthy of the stars.
You do not need to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one. While there is carry-over and character building in each book, you can easily enjoy reading either one of them, on its own, and in any order.
According to the author's notes, these books were written as an homage to the noir pulp books of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, as well as the 1980s cyberpunk movement in sci-fi. I am not a good person to judge, because I do not think I have read any of those books.
While this is billed as sci-fi and takes place either in the somewhat distant future or in another universe, the setting is not critical to the plot. It could just as easily take place on cruise ship or some other earth locale, and it would not change much of the overall vibe. The sci-fi aspects are "lite" and really are not central to the plot, but have more to do with the overall tone of the story.
The things I liked:
There is a plot and the story has a sense of relevance. There is a weight to the happenings and the characters suffer...not just as a result of their bad choices, but also the baddies in the story.
The characters are well fleshed out and there is good differentiation between them.
To a certain extent, even though the settings can be described as "dark" and much of the action is pretty grim, there is an element of hope and a sense that perhaps being a "good" person can make a difference. I gather that is the "cyberpunk" element the author mentioned.
The book is generally well edited. There were a few nit-picky typos here and there, but they did not distract from the story.
While I think the setting was mostly secondary to the story and could have been completely different without affecting the story much, the author DID do a good job of laying out the world of the story. I could picture the scene very well, based on the descriptions used.
The thing I liked less:
I cannot decide if I actually like the main character or not. She often makes poor decisions that do not make a lot of sense. She does not seem consistent in her actions and she questions the motives of people that she has supposedly known and trusted for years. She seems like she can flip like a switch.
Part of this, I think...is out of the notion that all characters need to have a whole lot of built-in flaws and defects in order to seem real, believable and/or redeemable. I am not sure I feel like that is the case. I know a LOT of authors do this and it straddles the line between making the character likable or someone who annoys the heck out of you. I am right there on the line with this MC. There are times when I waver on whether I care about what happens to her or not. That is not something I want to feel regarding a MC.
I understand that you want to show character growth and development as the stories progress. I am not sure there is a lot of that, here. There is a sense of SOME of what the MC has been through and the fact that she has overcome a lot, which is fine and good.
The author was very forthright in discussing the past drinking problems of the MC and relating that to her life. I give her HUGE credit for her honesty and openness in raising these issues. Alcoholism impacts SO many lives and to have frank conversation about that and to see success stories is very important, both in print and in real life. THAT aspect of the MC is dealt with well and has nothing to do with my comments about the likability of the MC.
This is a long-winded way of saying that while I am still on the fence about the MC, the story is good, and worthy of the stars.
August 16, 2023
Careful: small spoilers ahead.
Chew 'Em Up is the second book in the series Bubbles in Space by writer S.C. Jensen.
The first book, named Tropical Punch, ended quite peacefully…until the last page. Bubbles, the private eye with a cybernetic arm, got a call from a close friend who was in serious trouble. Chew 'Em Up picks up right where we left Bubbles; waiting on her friend to give her all the details of the trouble she is in.
From there on out, still chapter 1, the book is on a roll. The first few chapters feel a bit longer than the rest, this is because S.C. Jensen takes her time to give more details to the world our protagonist lives in. The dirty underbelly of a massive city, we travel with her from the deep sewers where gators dwell -- so they say -- to the literal stars in the sky. What started as a small investigation ended up becoming a search of cosmic proportions.
The pace of the book is good, really good. There are some chapters in between that give you a breather, but just like the old detective noirs from back in the day, there is always something or someone to look out for. We meet some of the colourful characters we got introduced to in book 1, and we meet a couple of new ones; some more interesting than others, hey Mr. Albino Gorilla mutate?
Bubbles in Space is fast paced fun and book 2 make sure you don't forget that. If you like a sassy female protagonist who isn't afraid to enter a confrontation, Bubbles is your gal. She has her own demons to work through too; she is hard on others, but even harder on herself. She left the bottle behind her, but not the guilt that is associated with it. She is tough, but also very lonely sometimes. Those feelings really pop out from the pages: regret, hurt, doubt, blame…no one ever said that the path after alcoholism was easy.
I recommend this book to people who like action, mystery, intrigue and all of that mixed in a science fictional bowl.
Chew 'Em Up is the second book in the series Bubbles in Space by writer S.C. Jensen.
The first book, named Tropical Punch, ended quite peacefully…until the last page. Bubbles, the private eye with a cybernetic arm, got a call from a close friend who was in serious trouble. Chew 'Em Up picks up right where we left Bubbles; waiting on her friend to give her all the details of the trouble she is in.
From there on out, still chapter 1, the book is on a roll. The first few chapters feel a bit longer than the rest, this is because S.C. Jensen takes her time to give more details to the world our protagonist lives in. The dirty underbelly of a massive city, we travel with her from the deep sewers where gators dwell -- so they say -- to the literal stars in the sky. What started as a small investigation ended up becoming a search of cosmic proportions.
The pace of the book is good, really good. There are some chapters in between that give you a breather, but just like the old detective noirs from back in the day, there is always something or someone to look out for. We meet some of the colourful characters we got introduced to in book 1, and we meet a couple of new ones; some more interesting than others, hey Mr. Albino Gorilla mutate?
Bubbles in Space is fast paced fun and book 2 make sure you don't forget that. If you like a sassy female protagonist who isn't afraid to enter a confrontation, Bubbles is your gal. She has her own demons to work through too; she is hard on others, but even harder on herself. She left the bottle behind her, but not the guilt that is associated with it. She is tough, but also very lonely sometimes. Those feelings really pop out from the pages: regret, hurt, doubt, blame…no one ever said that the path after alcoholism was easy.
I recommend this book to people who like action, mystery, intrigue and all of that mixed in a science fictional bowl.
January 11, 2022
I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for posting my honest review. *No major spoilers*.
I wish I had discovered this series sooner, it is simply a very fun read. The world the author continues to build is interesting and intriguing, the characters have depth and the story lines keep you reading!
This book continues story lines from the previous books. Bubbles travels back to space with her best friend. In addition to finding out more about HoloCity and it’s inhabitants, the author builds out the new area in space with some depth. The story has twists (quite a few) and we see that things were not what they seem to be. In this book, the author gives some focus to Bubbles life as an alcoholic and some of the difficulties of recovery.
I like the noir feel to this series especially with sci-fi and cyberpunk mixed in. My only extremely minor observation is that while Hammett the SmartPet pig is cute and helps out, I kind of miss Mittens the evil kitten, lol.
Give this series a try. If you like old time P.I.’s and noir film/books, This may just be for you. So you know, this book ends on a cliffhanger and the author acknowledges this. The story picks up immediately in the next book and the author assures us that the next book ties things together. I gave it 5 stars.
I wish I had discovered this series sooner, it is simply a very fun read. The world the author continues to build is interesting and intriguing, the characters have depth and the story lines keep you reading!
This book continues story lines from the previous books. Bubbles travels back to space with her best friend. In addition to finding out more about HoloCity and it’s inhabitants, the author builds out the new area in space with some depth. The story has twists (quite a few) and we see that things were not what they seem to be. In this book, the author gives some focus to Bubbles life as an alcoholic and some of the difficulties of recovery.
I like the noir feel to this series especially with sci-fi and cyberpunk mixed in. My only extremely minor observation is that while Hammett the SmartPet pig is cute and helps out, I kind of miss Mittens the evil kitten, lol.
Give this series a try. If you like old time P.I.’s and noir film/books, This may just be for you. So you know, this book ends on a cliffhanger and the author acknowledges this. The story picks up immediately in the next book and the author assures us that the next book ties things together. I gave it 5 stars.
December 14, 2021
A wonderful follow-up too the first novel. Our protagonist Bubbles is currently working and a private detective. She used to be a detective with the police force until she that lost her arm when trying to uncover corruption in the police force. She is tough, gritty, and got a mouth on her. I love her spunk and she is always trying to get out of one jam or the other, a little like Magnum PI, but a whole lot better. The writing is superb, a she brings across a real 80’s cyber punk novel. The novel touches on Bubbles and her issues with alcoholism and while she is sober, people still question her. I thought this was pretty true to life. I received this novel through BookFunnel, this is my honest review, and the opinions are our own.
July 7, 2022
Cliffhanger
I didn't feel like the first book ended badly. The adventure was mostly wrapped up. This definitely was a cliffhanger. I hate cliffhangers. Each adventure should end at a logical place. The next in the series, just that one more adventure. Boo hiss.
These stories are fun and exciting.
There was one grammatical error that I found here; there was one similar in the first book. On page 172 "She cut through Rae and I ..." it should be Rae and me. It's jarring, because I didn't notice other errors. Perhaps I was so engrossed in the story.
Since I hate cliffhangers I won't be getting the next book.
I didn't feel like the first book ended badly. The adventure was mostly wrapped up. This definitely was a cliffhanger. I hate cliffhangers. Each adventure should end at a logical place. The next in the series, just that one more adventure. Boo hiss.
These stories are fun and exciting.
There was one grammatical error that I found here; there was one similar in the first book. On page 172 "She cut through Rae and I ..." it should be Rae and me. It's jarring, because I didn't notice other errors. Perhaps I was so engrossed in the story.
Since I hate cliffhangers I won't be getting the next book.
August 6, 2022
Continuous Action
This is the second book in the Bubbles Malone series. Once again Bubbles is up to her neck in death destruction and mayhem. The characters are very avant-garde and the venue descriptions are quite realistic. I don't reiterate a storyline because I feel it takes away from the readers' enjoyment, but I can say the action includes the blitz and grit of Earth, life aboard space travelling ships and on a place not of Earth origin. I highly recommend this tongue-in- cheek adventure/fantasy/sci-fi thriller.
This is the second book in the Bubbles Malone series. Once again Bubbles is up to her neck in death destruction and mayhem. The characters are very avant-garde and the venue descriptions are quite realistic. I don't reiterate a storyline because I feel it takes away from the readers' enjoyment, but I can say the action includes the blitz and grit of Earth, life aboard space travelling ships and on a place not of Earth origin. I highly recommend this tongue-in- cheek adventure/fantasy/sci-fi thriller.
December 15, 2022
This book had me giggle-snorting out loud on multiple occasions. But there was also edge of seat action that had me genuinely worried about Bubbles and her friends. Bubbles’ detective work leaves a lot to be desired (let’s face it, she isn’t that great at her job). But she is tenacious. And her snark and loyalty to her friends are admirable. The story has a satisfying ending, and the cliff hanger is more like a teaser for the next book... which is damn enticing.
December 29, 2021
Bubbles is true to her characters name, and full of oneriness and vinegar
Bubbles may no longer be on the police force, but she's willing to investigate anything and protect her friends from anything not on the up and up. She may not have it all together, but she'll do her best when her best friend comes to her with a problem, and running for her life.
Bubbles may no longer be on the police force, but she's willing to investigate anything and protect her friends from anything not on the up and up. She may not have it all together, but she'll do her best when her best friend comes to her with a problem, and running for her life.
February 8, 2022
Like silk
Love how the language doesn't take away from the sci-fi aspect. It adds to it by putting an old school gangster feel to the modern setting. Jensen blends both seamlessly into a great story.
Love how the language doesn't take away from the sci-fi aspect. It adds to it by putting an old school gangster feel to the modern setting. Jensen blends both seamlessly into a great story.
January 10, 2023
Really enjoyed this second book in the series. It's only flaw is the same as in the first -- the who did what and why and who works for who is quite confusing. I am still excited to start the next one though :)
February 24, 2022
Great fun. Great fury…
Bubbles is in big trouble. She gets sold down the river. Well sorta, it doesn’t look good for our girl. Fun read, I can’t wait for book 3.
Bubbles is in big trouble. She gets sold down the river. Well sorta, it doesn’t look good for our girl. Fun read, I can’t wait for book 3.
October 20, 2022
Still very entertaining.
March 3, 2023
3.5 stars, slightly less interesting than the introductory story---the "usual" IMO.
Cliff hanger ending to set-up book 3
Cliff hanger ending to set-up book 3
March 26, 2023
Great story line.
April 19, 2023
Another good read
Immensely enjoyed book 2 ! Quirky but loveable characters that easily leap off the page, grab your hand and take you on a wild and crazy ride.
Immensely enjoyed book 2 ! Quirky but loveable characters that easily leap off the page, grab your hand and take you on a wild and crazy ride.
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