Skye Kilaen

Violet's business parter signs them up for a job nabbing a guy who's reneged on a contract. Sounds good – except it's a two-person job and Violet prefers to stay several planets away from her partner and estranged wife, Iona.

Followers of my reviews will know I dislike romance but love an established couple. With the estranged Violet and Iona, romance lovers and haters alike will find something to love here.

This punchy little sci-fi novelette introduces readers to two compelling characters show more who just can't seem to stay away from one another. A perfect bite-sized escape from reality. show less

Elsenna is second in command of the king's security forces. She's also a traitor to the brutal, horrible dictator, secretly working with insurrectionists to overthrow the oppressive regime. Oh, and she's also in love with the king's only daughter. What could possibly go wrong.

I make no secret of the fact – in books or in life – I have no use for romance. Too often I find it distracts from a story and/or attempts to stand in for genuine character development. Not so here. The characters show more are flawed and realistic and fully rounded.

Ninestar Press describes this as science fiction romance. I'd describe as a political intrigue thriller tale of found family. Beautifully diverse and disability positive.

If you've ever thought that what the world really needs is Heinlein's classic, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, but left-wing and queer, then this book is for you. show less

Oh, my heart! I legit swooned over this one.

Finn is out of prison but things aren’t looking that great. She’s sleeping on her cousin’s stepsister’s couch, she can’t find a job, she doesn’t have a car… And then, while getting migraine meds at the public clinic, she runs into Vivi, the hot prison nurse that she totally crushed on while locked up. She thought they were friends, but then Vivi left the job suddenly without saying goodbye. Now Vivi seems less than enthused to see show more her, but she also very obviously needs help. Finn wants to be there for her, but what does Vivi want?

I picked up this novella on a whim, started reading it with some trepidation, and then fell head over heels in love. I thought the story of an ex-con would be filled with trauma and darkness, but instead I got one of the fluffiest, low-angst, delightful romances I have read in awhile. I don’t usually like second chance stories, but this one hit all the right buttons.

The romance is so. sweet. First there’s some miscommunication and misunderstanding and general anxiety, but when things get going between Vivi and Finn, it’s so fluffy and just plain old GOOD. It’s not quite as steamy as I usually like my romance novels to be, but that’s ok because the swoon-worthiness is off the charts. These two characters really like each other, the good and bad and everything in between.

Both Finn and Vivi struggle–with each other, with their life circumstances, and with the choices available to them. But while the struggle is portrayed accurately and with empathy, there isn’t a lot of angst. Good things happen, guys! It all seems a little impossible, but things work out! I love it when a romance novel, which by definition includes a happy ending, makes you worry just the smallest bit that it all might go south. It makes it that much sweeter when you get to that happily every after. show less

What a great story, told with great compassion and no small amount of research and skill.

Flawed main characters, the MC with (treated) depression, the love interest repressed and shunned by his family/religion, who face overwhelming challenges with each other and life. Terrific side characters, and an impressive blend of languages, with an on-point ending. I used an embarrassing number of tissues during the last chapters.

If there are flaws, I didn't see them (being not Mormon and sadly show more monolingual.)

Highly, highly recommended. show less