Rinelle Grey

For a debut novel, I am impressed. This story centers around two completely different lifestyles clashing together. It has both of the main characters, Marlee and Tyris, questioning what (and who) they thought they wanted for their futures. The relationship is well done and believable. The world building (both of Tyris's home world and Marlee's village) very well done. Grey creates believable backdrops to two very different planetary settings, each with their own pros and cons. It makes you show more question which you would choose if given the choice. Tyris's world is technologically advanced, but it has an overpopulation issue resulting in restricted pregnancies as well as the typical "first world" issues of nuclear family isolation. Marlee's world, on the other hand, is a technologically backwards planet (due to isolation from the main colonies) who rely on hard work, farming, animal husbandry and ingenuity to survive. On the flip-side they have a strong community in which everyone relies on one another out of necessity They live simply, but, one would argue, they also live richly.

The romance between Tyris and Marlee isn't a simple one, either. It is full of internal conflict as each questions what it is they really want for their future. Once they figure out what they want, they must then decide if they are willing to do what it takes to try and take it. Some would argue that the romance is a slow development in the book, but I found it to be sweet and the reasons behind the caution are justifiable.

There were a few plot points that I wasn't 100% on board with and my analytically mind did question some explanations, but the story does keep you guessing about certain things and characters until the final pages and beyond. It is a good, enjoyable story. This is a series and the story does continue into the next book. show less

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 show more 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
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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. [bc:Reckless Rescue|17405439|Reckless Rescue (a barren planet romance #1)|Rinelle Grey|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361438688s/17405439.jpg|24243636] show less

I am sooo very surprised at how much I really liked this book. I am normally far from a sci-fi girl and only read this because I had to choose something different for a book challenge I am completing. WOW! I am completely floored because I LOVED Turis and Marlee and all of the characters in this book. I have went back and forth a few times between 4 and 5 stars and I don't care about the few editing errors in the book or the fact that what was happening should NEVER have happened.
I didn't show more care about the crazy rules I just liked the story itself and all of the characters made the book what it was.

Completely Floored at how well the book was written and how much I am ready to read the second book in the next series......... show less

Well paced fantasy story with likeable characters. I especially appreciated that they didn't go storming off over miscommunications or misunderstandings like in so many stories, but acted with common sense. Also, not a single glaring spelling or grammatical error! How refreshing!

Overall, clever and enjoyable. 4.5 stars.