Michelle, Wishing you the very best for your Birthday. :-D

Hope’s Folly (Dock 5 #3)
Bantam
ISBN-10: 0553592181
ISBN-13: 978-0553592184
Science fiction
February 24, 2009

Hold on to your hats. Fasten your seatbelts. If you love Science Fiction Romance or action-adventure Space Opera, Linnea Sinclair’s newest addition to the Dock 5 Universe has been released! Hurry to your local bookstore, Amazon, Barn & Noble, Borders, or your best friend’s house and grab it. You are in for a non-stop, roller coaster, fun ride. Click on the title links below for my reviews of the prior books in the series to get a feel for the Dock 5 Universe. HOPE’S FOLLY is a “stand alone” but a quick background update will enhance your reading experience.

The first book in the Dock 5 series was the 2006 RITA Award winning GABRIEL'S GHOST, in which we meet Captain Chasidah (Chaz) Bergren, Gabriel (Sully) Sullivan, and Imperial Fleet Admiral, Philip Guthrie. Philip is Chaz’s ex-husband and a real tight-a$$ed, by-the-book, kinda guy, except…

In SHADES OF DARK, the second in the Dock 5 series, the Empire has fallen to pieces, and Chaz and Sully rescue Philip immediately after he sees all of his senior officers murdered. He is forced to reassess everything that he has ever believed. He finally understands Chaz and Sully’s deep love, and can only wish them the best. In the last conflict of SHADES, Philip’s leg is shattered and he almost loses his life to “once more” save Chas, Sully and the rebel Alliance. Perhaps he isn’t quite the up-tight, by-the-book guy that I first thought…

When HOPE’S FOLLY begins, Philip has lost everything and is on the run from the imperial bad guys. He is now a rebel Admiral without a fleet. Only partially recovered, with a still healing leg, he is traveling to take command of Hope’s Folly, a decommissioned imperial cruiser/orange hauling freighter, named after the resident cat, Captain Folly! What can Philip say? The price was right, and rebels (i.e. beggars) can’t be choosy. He knows there is going to be trouble when assassins try to kill him before he ever leaves the Kirro Space Station. He knows there is going to be trouble when the gorgeous woman aiding him turns out to be the daughter of his best friend, mentor, and one of his murdered officers. He remembered Rya Bennton as the green-pea flinging brat, Rya the Rebel, whom he first taught to shoot a gun. Now she’s a statuesque beauty and security expert who gets really turned on by big guns. “Can I fondle it?” That had to be one of the funniest lines that I have read in years.

After trials, tribulations, and foiled assassination/kidnap attempts, Phil assumes command of his new flagship…err, well, sort of. Nothing is going according to plan. They are running against a deadline (the imperial bad guys are coming and killing people along the way), and everything keeps suspiciously breaking down…and smelling of oranges. Philip’s got a cat in his bed when what he really wants is his security officer. He can’t trust anyone; there’s a spy onboard; and he can’t afford distractions. He’s already screwed up one marriage, is too old for Rya, and he’s too busy to love or be loved. He has a job to do…but (sigh), she certainly is incredible. Her father would kill him if he knew what he was thinking!

Rya Bennton has had the best security training that the Empire has to offer…but they killed her father. She has come to Kirro Station to join the Alliance, and protects a distinguished “older/crippled” gentleman from an assassination attempt before she realizes that: 1) he isn’t “that” much older; 2) she knows him; and 3) he is the “always and forever dream hero” of her childhood.” He might not be interested in her, but she can keep him safe and be the best security officer he ever had. Besides, he has that really big gun.

Linnea does an especially good job of balancing the story from Philip’s and Rya’s Points of View. Philip and Rya are intelligent, principled, dedicated people, with terrific senses of humor. They are a perfect match for each other, and I thought their problems realistic. It’s wonderful to watch characters grow as individuals as their respect for each other develops. By the end of the book you know that what they have found will last. I particularly enjoyed Philip’s growth from being a “company man” to being a maverick doing whatever it takes, molding a totally dissimilar group of people into a team able outsmart the best that the Empire can throw at them. I liked seeing Rya learn to trust her instincts, and do what she knows to be right. I liked seeing her finally realize that she is attractive and loveable.

HOPE’S FOLLY is much lighter in tone than either GABRIEL’S GHOST, or SHADES OF DARK. Even though the majority of the book takes place in a shipyard, the layers of tension only escalate with each malfunction. There’s no doubt that they have a saboteur onboard. I couldn’t tell who it was and was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I kept asking myself, “Are there more than one?” Besides being a Science Fiction Romance, HOPE’S FOLLY is an excellent thriller. The stakes are raised on every page, so that I now have band-aids on my knuckles.

One additional thing that I would like to pass on to Romance fans: HOPE’S FOLLY is character driven with an excellent suspense plot. In addition to superb characterization, Linnea is a master of World Building. Many Romance readers are afraid of Science Fiction because they fear technology. Let me allay you fears. Her techno-babble is so expert and natural that you won’t even be aware of it. It’s rather like your cell phone or TV remote. Go with the flow, and enjoy.

Happy Writing,

Frances
Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future

Things have been busy around my house. Spring has been springing...off and on...since the first of January. Daffodils, hyacinths and forsythia are blooming, and the weeds are sprouting. One day it’s in the 70s and another it’s in the 20s. One thing that you can count on in the Deep South is that the weather will be totally unpredictable three out of the four seasons. Summer is guaranteed hot, but we’re not there yet, thank goodness. We have four more months of off and on good weather. *G*


Most of my time, recently, has been spent working on THE HUSBAND, my work in progress, and reading and writing a review of Linnea Sinclair’s HOPE’S FOLLY, which will be released Tuesday. Wow is it good! That review will be up as quickly as possible. It all hasn’t left me much time for blogging. I want to alert you to a few items which you might find of interest.


KimberAn, of The Star Captain’s Daughter, has posted her Young Adult Science Fiction Romance novel, THE STAR CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER is on line to be read or downloaded for free. This is a book of her heart and an engaging coming of age story. Growing up is so hard to do. Check out the opening chapter at Tia Nevitt’s Fantasy Debut.

Jess, of Jess Granger’s Butterfly Blog, is continuing to post her outrageous, interactive ETHEL THE SPACE PIRATE. Due to other writing obligations, she will only be posting new episodes every other week. You never know what is going to be happening to Ethel, because Jess lets her readers vote on possible future courses of action. It is out of the frying pan into the fire in each episode and always a hoot. Go back and read all the episodes from the beginning. It’s worth it to come away with a grin on your face. While you are at it, don’t forget to vote on the peril into which Ethel will be thrown in the coming episode. It’s your choice. Kudos for a gutsy writer for tackling so many possible scenarios!


For sheer fun, and hang on to your seat laughter, drop in at
Heather's A HREF="http://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/">The Galaxy Express</a>:
Cosmic Idol: The Star Wars Edition
Cosmic Idol II: The Wrath of the Star Trek Edition
Cosmic Idol III: The Final Conflict

I dare you to keep a straight face on any of these. :-)

Happy Reading,
Frances
Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future

According to The Encyclopaedia Britannica: “Today is Valentine's Day, the feast day of St. Valentine, a priest and physician who was martyred about AD 270 in Rome, and the tradition of exchanging greetings of love on Valentine's Day is based on the legend that Valentine had signed a letter to his jailer's daughter, with whom he had fallen in love, “from your Valentine.””

We can't know for sure if Valentine actually sent that love letter, or even who he really was, because there were a number of early Christian martyrs who were linked with the name Valentine. Regardless, we know these were people of selfless, giving love, who never hurt anyone.

According to Wikipedia: "Many of the current legends that characterise Saint Valentine were invented in the fourteenth century in England, notably by Geoffrey Chaucer and his circle, when the feast day of February 14 first became associated with romantic love."

We have come to accept that hearts, roses and chocolates are absolute necessities to this holiday. We can probably think the Victorians for the first two, if not the Romans. We can assuredly thank Christopher Columbus and the American Indians for the third. However, none of those superficialities are truly important. What we need to keep in mind is the person who offers their love. Never miss any opportunity to show as well as to tell those who are precious to you how much you love them. That particular opportunity will never come again. Of course, a little chocolate never hurt either. :-)

Celebrate love all the year,

Frances
Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future

Writers get their inspiration from many sources. One of my favorite is observing animals. On my Blogspot Frances Writes I have just posted my observations on Titus, the Mountain Gorilla King, as shown on the PBS television show NATURE.
Happy Writing
Frances Drake

Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future
http://frances-writes.blogspot.com/

I have been seriously AWOL. Sorry about that. I have been under the weather since the day after Christmas. I did manage to get several posts up on my Blogspot Frances Writes with the help of the Supreme Poodle Pasha Zackery. I hope that you’ll drop by and read them, just for a grin. Please keep me in your prayers. I hope that I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel... and that it is open country, not an oncoming train. :-)

Best Wishes and Happy Writing,

Frances Drake

Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future
http://frances-writes.blogspot.com/

Merry Christmas. I hope that it's wonderful for you.

A friend sent me the following URL, and I thought that you cat lovers would could identify with it:

Printer Kitty

I suppose that you know how fascinated I am by Astronomy. Well, several weeks ago, I decided to do a post on my blog about Christmas Astronomy. I dug into my researching of the Bethlehem Star, and thought that I would pull my hair out before I finished. Some websites were virulently anti-Christian (What is their problem?). Some websites were pie-in-the-sky believe anything that I shovel at you (I don't think so!). And very few had anything traceable to primary sources (ARGHHHH!). I wasn't trying to do a religion post- only tracing and reporting verifiable astronomy facts. If any of you have similar interests, I hope that you will enjoy the results of my research.

Again, blessings of the Season, :-)

Frances Drake

Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future
Frances Writes

If you’re a reviewer of Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Science Fiction Romance, and looking for a way to let readers know about your reviews, this is for you.

Grasping for the Wind’s John Ottinger is updating his blogroll of fantasy and science fiction book reviewers and needs our help. If you would like your site to be included, go to Frances Writes: Book Reviewers Link-up Meme and copy the post and list, and post it on your website, adding yourself to the list, preferably in alphabetical order. John will then track the links across the web from back links, and can add each new blog to his roll as it pops up.

We need your Reviews,

Frances
Frances Writes

I have learned to do so much with so little that I am now able to do everything with nothing!

In my The Pleiades Have RisenPost, I said that in my very next astronomy post I would tell you how Big Daddy Atlas protected the virtue of his precious, baby girls, the Pleiades, from the (presumably unwanted) attentions of Orion, the hunter. I simply had forgotten about the conjunction of Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon. I hope that you enjoyed that show.

Come for a visit at Frances Writes: How Big Daddy Atlas Protected His Baby Girls.

Happy Viewing,

Frances Drake

Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future
Frances Writes

This is the season of giving around the world. Many of us have our budgets severely restricted and are not able to do as much as we would like. Therefore, I am just asking you to take a few seconds of your time to go to Frances Writes, and simply click on the buttons of your choice under my GOOD CAUSES in the sidebar. These clicks are absolutely free to you, and 100% of the sponsor donations go to the charities of your choice. Why not click on them each day? It's only a minute to help those who can't help themselves.

May your holidays be blessed,

Frances
Frances Writes

We have a major cool Astronomy event coming on Dec. 1, that everybody can observe over the next few days. Venus, Jupiter and the Moon are going to have a conjunction, or close encounter (from our Point of View). Check out the details at
Frances Writes: Astronomy Alert! Ménage á trois

Frances Drake
Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future
Frances Writes

I hope that you will all have a very Happy Thanksgiving. In keeping with the feasting aspect of this holiday, I thought that I would pass on a family recipe for making cornbread and cornbread dressing. You can find it at Frances Writes: Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy eating,

Frances Drake
Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future
Frances Writes

Astronomy is one of my passions, and there is nothing that I like better than taking friends along for the ride. I have posted about the Pleiades at Frances Writes: The Pleiades Have Risen. Come for a visit.

Happy Viewing

Frances Drake
Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future
Frances Writes

Hello Everyone!

This is to let you know that I have posted on my blog, Frances Writes, the second part of my review of CORDELIA’S HONOR, BARRAYAR, by Lois McMaster Bujold. This book was the 1992 HUGO Award winner. If you’re looking for a book that reflects the best of both Science Fiction and Romance, you will not be disappointed in choosing CORDELIA’S HONOR, a true classic.

You can find all of my reviews at Reviews.

Happy Reading,

Frances Drake

Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future
Frances Writes

Hi!

For those of you who like Science Fiction Romance, I'm dropping in to let you know that I have posted a review of CORDELIA'S HONOR, Part I, SHARDS OF HONOR by Lois McMaster Bujold on my Blogspot home, also called Frances Writes
.

Come for a visit. You're always welcome,

Frances
Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future
http://ping.fm/NZQ6P