Tuesday, January 31, 2017

5th Annual SFR Galaxy Awards: Round Two by Jo Jones



Best Realistic Ending
The Cold Between by Elizabeth Bonesteel


In most science fiction romance novels you expect the two lovers to end up together. Sometimes that is a realism that just does not fit. Bonesteel lets the flow of the story control the outcome between Treiko and Elena.
Most Promising New Author
The Dark of Light (Shield of the Starhawke #1) by Audrey Sharpe

The Dark of Light is a very well written space opera that does not have an out and out romance. Sharpe gives us subtle clues but makes us guess about the relationship between three of the characters. The next book in the series is due out in 2017. Only downside to having a very well written first book – high expectations for book two.

Best Misleading Title
Warrior Wench 
(The AsarlaĆ­ Wars #1) by Marie Andreas


I picked this one up thinking that the warrior wench would be the main female character. Well, turns out I was partially right. The Warrior Wench is the name of a ship and the ship does play a central role in the story – just not the role I expected.

Best Slow Burn Romance
Star Cruise: Outbreak by Veronica Scott


Emily Shane and Jake Dilon are attracted but work together before acting on that attraction. It adds spice to the story line while keeping a very realistic feel to the plot.

Best Love Story With a Twist
Shades of Treason by Sandy Williams


Is she or is she not guilty and if not why is she not talking? How do you defend someone who will not defend herself and how can you have a romance between two people when one cannot talk about what really happened? That makes for a love story with a twist.

5th Annual SFR Galaxy Awards: Round One by Riley Moreland



Best Zombie Book for People Who Don't Read Zombie Books
Nobody's Hero (The Burned Lands #1) by Bec McMaster


Okay, it's not really a zombie book but there are zombies in it. 

This post-apocalyptic tale of humans, wargs and zombies is such a great story that even someone who does not read zombie books (me) can really get into it. I even shy away from post-apocalyptic stories, but this is one well-imagined story. I sympathized with the heroine, Riley and cheered for the not quite human hero Luc as they fought their way through the wasteland and monsters. Bec McMaster is an awesome storyteller.

This book also gets special recognition for the heroine's most engaging character name.

Best New Series
The Rule of Luck (Felicia Sevigny #1) by Catherine Cerveny


The best thing about The Rule of Luck is Alexei. You can call him the hero, the Russian, a business tycoon or maybe even top ranking family member of an organized, er, crime family. Is he a good guy?  Is he a bad guy?  I don't really know. He has many aspects, and I feel there is much more to him that was not laid out in the first book of this new series.

Also, there is that luck thing. Word is, that it is in the genes. Very interesting.....

Another cool thing about this series:  Book 2, The Chaos of Luck, just came out. 

Best Anthology
Pets in Space by Cara Bristol, Susan Grant, Laurie A. Green, Pauline Baird Jones, Lea Kirk, Alexis Glynn Latner, Carysa Locke, Veronica Scott, and S.E. Smith


Pets in Space would also qualify as the most highly anticipated book for me. From the moment I heard about it, I knew I would love it. Every story in the collection is a good one. Why? Well, scifi romance. Duh!

But really, the fact that every story also had a pet - cat, dog, robot, dragon, or otherworldly creature - is the true appeal to me and likely to anyone who is an animal lover. If you have had one or more of these special creatures in your life, Pets in Space will appeal to you. There may have been a pet-centric passage or two that caused my vision to blur. 

Early proceeds from the sale of this book supported the charity Hero-Dogs.org, which provides service animals to veterans. Just another reason to put this book in the 'remarkable' category.

This Series Just Keeps Getting Better Award
Fools Rush In (Interstellar Rescue Series #3) by Donna S. Frelick


Aliens are abducting people of earth for slave labor. But luckily there are people who are working to save them. Rayna and Sam are great characters that showed up in the first two books of the series. Book three takes a step back and tells the story that brought them together.  

There is something about this couple. They are two very different people, but they make a connection. And let me just say that connection is hot!  Rayna and Sam also get my vote for best SFR couple!

Best Series Finale
Prodigal (Maelstrom #3) by Jody Wallace


Whew! That is the feeling I got when I finished reading Prodigal. Maelstrom is a great series and each book has a unique flavor to it. But the finale - well, think human that sometimes has super-powers (ala Marvel/DC) and takes on the biggest baddest monster out there to

            a) prove he is not a wimp,
            b) impress the girl,
            c) get the big bad out of the way so he can go to dinner or
            d) save the world.

I decided to make this multiple choice to avoid spoilers. Multiple answers may be correct.

Welcome to the 5th Annual SFR Galaxy Awards!




Thanks for joining our fifth year celebration of the standout books in science fiction romance!

The SFR Galaxy Awards event is all about having fun with the genre and giving you an opportunity to discover a variety of stories. Today, we’ll be awarding the 2016 SFR books that made a lasting impression on the
judges. Each award description has a personalized, sometimes quirky touch and reveals intriguing information about the stories.

For more information about how the SFR Galaxy Awards evolved, click here.

The most excellent banner for the Awards' 5th anniversary was created by the talented and generous Danielle Fine.

Beginning today at 10 a.m. EST, a batch of awards will go live every hour for a total of six posts, so stay tuned!