There's no place like home... Meridien by S.H. Jucha

Hi guys and gals!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.



So, yesterday...no post.  I know, I know.  I beat myself up enough about it already but you know what, I'm through with that.  Would I love to have something up EVERY SINGLE DAY...yes, of course!  Do I more often than not?  That's an affirmative.  Will it always happen?  Nope...and I'm okay with this.  So long as I'm not reneging on a promised post date/tour/etc, every now and then a break may occur.  It's good to de-stress once in a while...even if I wasn't actually DE-stressing, but rather STRESSing...and I hope you're good with that too.  Moving on...

The post I intended to bring yesterday is ready today, not for lack of being read but a lack of time to put the words to virtual paper/space.  It's the final book that I've read (for now) in The Silver Ships series that I was reviewing last week; for a quick reminder of what we've covered so far, check out my reviews for book 1 and book 2.  Now, I know we've been talking about series here recently and while yes, this can be read as a stand alone, I highly suggest you DO NOT because so much transpires in the first two books, you're enjoyment level will be diminished more than need be....and we're all about the bookish enjoyment, are we not? ^-^  So, without further ado, allow me to introduce today's ebook of choice...

Meridien
The Silver Ships series, Book 3
by
S.H. Jucha


About the book...
The Méridiens are fleeing to their far colonies—and they have reason to run. Over the course of decades, they have lost hundreds of ships, billions of people, and seven Confederation colonies to an alien enemy: an advancing swarm of silver ships transported in the bowels of a gigantic, spherical vessel.

Alex Racine, who once enjoyed the solitary life of an explorer-tug Captain, is now an Admiral and responsible for the lives of a quarter million Librans. Further complicating his life, Alex’s Librans have made it clear they don’t want to settle on his home world. They want a new home, and he must secure them one.

The silver ships await Alex’s makeshift flotilla at Libre, the last colony they consumed. Thus far, Alex’s people have succeeded in skirmishes against the enemy’s fighters. Now, though, they’re preparing to attack the entire alien fleet and halt the devastation of the colonies.

To the surprise and chagrin of his officers and crew alike, Alex concocts a new plan, because he believes humanity faces not one but two alien species, and one may be enslaved to the other. If so, Alex believes slaves should be liberated, not obliterated.

To test Alex’s theory, his people must capture a wholly intact silver ship—a feat never before accomplished. The crew remains doubtful, but their Admiral is determined to communicate with the aliens before he’s forced to destroy them, and his wish is their command. 





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Here we are once again, but this time Captain Alex Racine is no longer Captain but ADMIRAL and the portion of his title that is shared with the word ADMIRation still falls short of the love his people, New Terran and Meridien alike, have for him.

He has proven himself to be a fair, gracious, and brave leader, even if unwilling to claim the fame and glory befitting his positions.  The gentle hand he's shown to those in need, the firm show of force displayed when necessary to protect those he holds in high esteem, and the depth to which he understands things that many have not even thought to contemplate as of yet, all go into building the legend the man is becoming...with good reason too!  He has two peoples to call his "own" at the moment and he's aiming to make it three.  How so?  Well, if you recall the silver ships of infamy were fought in the first story, and destroyed in the second, and even if it might have seemed like a resolved course of action to follow when it came to the other enemy vessels, Alex begs to differ.  It seems that between his brains (and TWO implants!) and those of the 3 SADEs he is friendly with, there has been a pattern determined that suggests those piloting the silver ships may not be the enemy after all but an unwilling participate in a bigger enemies ultimate plan to own the universe.




*DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNN*

Just what happens next is rather astounding and far be it from me to ruin the BIG SURPRISE but let's just say that in the end, moves are made in rapid succession to enable all those oppressed the chance to be FREE.  Well done Admiral...well done indeed.

Overall, a grand addition to the growing series that will leave you satisfied for the duration of this voyage but itching to find out just what's on the horizon.  The only down side of this particular story for me was the alien language of the Swei Swee.  I admit, I was overwhelmed...plays into the part of me that doesn't really get into the BIG Sci-Fi/Fantasy reads where an entire world, history, language, etc, are created and needed to understand the read...but thankfully the SADEs handle much of the decoding so I just played dumb and kept reading.  It was fascinating indeed, but I would say it's safe to presume I won't be communicating one-on-one of them anytime soon.  So, grab your space boots and strap in for take off, because this is one space adventure you won't want to miss.  Can't wait to see what's in store for the crew that's now family next come the next release.




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About author S.H. Jucha...

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, I currently reside with my wife in San Diego, California.

I've spent years overseas, earned two college degrees, held many jobs, and found a wonderful marriage partner. My writing and my marriage life started together. My first attempt at a novel, entitled "The Lure", was a crime drama centered around the surfacing of a 110-carat yellow diamond lost during the French Revolution.

In 1980, in preparation for the book, I spent two wonderful weeks researching the Brazilian people, their language, and the religious customs of Candomblé. The day I returned from Rio, I had my first date with my wife-to-be, Peggy Giels.

Over the next thirty-four years, I outlined dozens of novels, but a busy career limited my efforts to complete a single one. Now, the time has come, and I've thoroughly enjoyed planning, researching, and writing my first novel—in fact, the entire series.

I discovered the joy of reading when I was thirteen. Today, I hope I’m sharing that joy with my readers through my stories.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks to Mallory at Smith Publicity Inc for the copies for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this series, this title, the author, or those promotions on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now in tree and ebook formats, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Be sure to tune in all week as we explore the rest of this three some (my review of book one can be found here) as it draws towards what I'm hoping will be a stunning conclusion....for now (it's slated to be a FIVE book series with a possible spin off!).

Until next time...happy reading!

A New Frontier... Libre by S.H. Jucha

Hi guys and gals!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

It's that time again.  Time to take a trip across the galaxy as we dive into book two of The Silver Ships series.  What's that?  You thought I didn't like Science Fiction?  Well, it all depends on the book.  The story has to grab my attention.  The writing has to make me believe it without going so far as to need an implant myself to decode it.  So being that book one was devoured this past weekend, and book two is following suit today, I'd say this series is rating pretty HIGH on my charts...and I'm happy to report book three is NOT disappointing, but that's a review for another day.  Today's book of choice is...

Libre
Silver Ships, Book 2

by

S.H. Jucha

9780990594024

About the book...

The saga of the Rêveur continues in this second novel in The Silver Ships series. The surviving Méridiens have returned to Confederation space, aided by their recently discovered cousins, the New Terrans. They expect a celebration after their 71-year absence. Instead, they’re shocked to find the silver ships have destroyed half the Confederation.

The Méridiens are fleeing in advance of the horde of alien ships. But Alex Racine and his crew didn’t come this far to run away from humanity’s enemy. They intend to hunt the silver ships. But, to succeed, they need help.

Renée de Guirnon, the leader of the Rêveur’s Méridiens, reveals a sordid secret of Méridien society: citizens who defy their House, for any reason, are stripped of their rights, declared “Independents,” and imprisoned on the planet Libre.

But the Independents aren’t everyone’s pariahs, especially if you’re Alex Racine and you’re looking for allies against the silver ships. An entire colony of independent, free-thinking radicals offers just the sort of people Alex wants on his side, and an alliance is struck.

Soon the enemy ships will swarm off the planet Bellamonde, so the race begins for Alex and the Librans. The planet must be evacuated and the military force readied before the silver ships attack. Alex knows a battle is coming, but will they have enough time to prepare?

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At this point in the game, the characters have become our friends and family, even those we've lost along the way. I know was celebrating their successes and saddened by the losses.  Upon the arrival of the House Alexander, we find that the Independents of Libre aren't so different from New Terrans, though their one leader (Eric) really needs to be careful around airlocks, or just stop talking.  No really, STOP TALKING!  Though delivering bad news, it wasn't entirely unexpected, even if the source was.  Alex having developed some alien essence of his own, makes his introduction as Captain, Admiral, and ultimately hero (though he'd never use that term and I certainly would but to encompass him as well as his team) that much easier and we see his ideas become their ideas.  His plans, their plans.  His orders, their pleasure....though he always asks before tells.  Gotta say, this guy is probably one of my favorite characters here, and when taken with his Meridien "other half", they are a couple to aspire to.


Now the story has action aplenty, but it also has the "feels" in spades.  Some pages will spike your adrenaline as you see the silver ships take without asking, destroy with no mercy.  You can't but want to jump through the pages to join the fight as Alex and his SADE team work timeline after timeline, scenario after scenario in an effort to trim the fat and make the impossible, possible. I mean how hard can it be to save an ENTIRE planet worth of people in a meager few month or two?  Pfft!  Child's play!  Okay, I'm most certainly jesting there, but you get the picture.  Alex has grown with his team and with time, but the shy, solo captain that feels every burden as his own is still underneath it all.  It's hard to walk around with the worlds on your shoulders.  Just as the action will have you on your feet, so will the emotional passages move you to tears.  There's a particular scene with a particular person (Fiona) that I just...I just can't....I can't talk about without tearing up.  I was explaining it to another and THEY began tearing up before I even handed them the book to read what I was talking about.  It's just THAT good.  Trust me, you'll know it when you read it.







All in all, I'd say this one definitely beat the dreaded Sophomore slump.  Need a definition on that one?  No problem.  It's when the second book is never as good as the first and pretty much serves as a way to get from point A to point B, or in this case book one to book three.  No worries here, it stands on its own two feet and while it can be read as a stand alone...really, why?  Why would you want to miss out?  Recommended for Science Fiction and not-so-sci-fi fans alike.  It has a little something for everyone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About author S.H. Jucha...

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, I currently reside with my wife in San Diego, California.

I've spent years overseas, earned two college degrees, held many jobs, and found a wonderful marriage partner. My writing and my marriage life started together. My first attempt at a novel, entitled "The Lure", was a crime drama centered around the surfacing of a 110-carat yellow diamond lost during the French Revolution.

In 1980, in preparation for the book, I spent two wonderful weeks researching the Brazilian people, their language, and the religious customs of Candomblé. The day I returned from Rio, I had my first date with my wife-to-be, Peggy Giels.

Over the next thirty-four years, I outlined dozens of novels, but a busy career limited my efforts to complete a single one. Now, the time has come, and I've thoroughly enjoyed planning, researching, and writing my first novel—in fact, the entire series.

I discovered the joy of reading when I was thirteen. Today, I hope I’m sharing that joy with my readers through my stories.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks to Mallory at Smith Publicity Inc for the copies for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this series, this title, the author, or those promotions on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now in tree and ebook formats, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Be sure to tune in all week as we explore the rest of this three some (my review of book one can be found here) as it draws towards what I'm hoping will be a stunning conclusion....for now (it's slated to be a FIVE book series with a possible spin off!).

Until next time...happy reading!

A Space Opera Begins... The Silver Ships by S.H. Jucha

Hi guys and gals!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're embarking on a reading mission to the outer most parts of the known universe...and beyond.  Yes my friends, we're exploring the recesses of space, planets unknown, beings both foreign AND familiar, courtesy of a new-to-me series that I'm about to entice YOU into.  That's right.  My mission is clear...expose the wonder within so as to bring the masses to the media ready for your consumption.  I've accepted it...now will you?  Today's book of choice is...

The Silver Ships

Silver Ships, Book 1

by

S.H. Jucha

9780990594024

About the book...

An explorer-tug captain, Alex Racine spends years in space, harvesting ice asteroids for New Terran's water-hungry outposts. His existence is both routine and solitary...until his ship's computer detects a damaged alien craft drifting into system. Recognizing a once in a lifetime opportunity to make first contact, Alex pulls off a daring maneuver to latch on to the derelict.

When Alex boards the Reveur, he encounters the ship's AI. The entire craft is riddled with holes, damage that could only have come from a fight. While confronting the AI for answers, Alex is shocked to learn that eighteen survivors, trapped in stasis, are on board. Like the New Terrans, the Meridiens are human-both settlements originating from colony ships sent from a dying Earth-but oddly the Meridiens' technology is hundreds of years ahead, which makes their story all the more terrifying.

The Reveur was attacked by an unknown craft, the first of its kind ever encountered. The mysterious silver ship made no contact before firing its beam weapon, and its attack was both instant and deadly.

Intrigued by the Meridiens' story, and even more so by their leader, the exotic Renee de Guirnon, Alex decides to help them repair their ship and return home...but not without the means to protect themselves. For, he was haunted by one thought: where there was one, there might be many

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For those that are frequent readers here, you already know that space is not usually my chosen frontier.  I prefer keeping my feet on the ground and letting my imagination take the flights of fancy...but that is the beauty of having a blog like my own.  I purposely chose to NOT pigeon hole myself, that is to not stick to a particular genre.  Does it win me extra readers?  Not always...sometimes people prefer the consistency, the familiarity that comes with "knowing" what they are clicking into, but I prefer to keep you and I both on our toes.  The way I see it, you never really know where your next favorite read will come from and by allowing my site to focus on things that capture my attention no matter the genre, I'm open to experience THAT many more opportunities in the reading world...as are YOU.  So, if you stop over one day and find a Picture Book, be prepared...the next day may bring Horror, Christian Fiction, or a particularly tantalizing Memoir.  You just never know.  Anywho, back to THIS adventure...

Though I've never read the books, the story unfolded in my mind's eye similar to Alien (the movie series)...and I can't say that I was disappointed! I really loved Alex Racine, our initial pilot to Captain turned Admiral.  He was a charming abrasion to the beauty and finesse of the Meridien's. In short, he was very HUMAN, recognizable to ourselves in many ways, thus enabling the reader to have an instant connection to what will turn out to be a fascinating character.  The way his mind works, how he carries himself, the way he cares about EVERYONE involved.  For a person who chose to be in the company of one most of his life, he sure isn't lacking in social graces.  Renee didn't know what hit her when he appeared on the scene, and yet they had much to learn from each other, equally opening the other's eyes to new ways of considering things.  Speaking of which, the question of humanity in regards to Julien and the other SADEs (self aware digital entity) as well as their treatment was a big focal point.  How does one converse with a shipboard computer that is in control of so much yet seems so human?  It's a conundrum that plagues all...all except Alex that is, to which more respect is owed because of it.





Story wise, we're traversing the galaxy to investigate an anomaly and in the end trying to save a race of people that doesn't even know their own bloodline's fate.  The events that transpired putting their ship in the state it was found (think Swiss cheese but trying to sustain life still) did not occur just yesterday but many MANY years back which leads us to question...what happened to those back home?  There are several options, but many of them are less than acceptable, which only fuels the fire for them to find a way to get back home.  With the help of their New Terran champion, that just might be a possibility...though with what outcome is anyone's guess.

In the end, my first mission to New Terran and Meridien is complete with much success. I'm loving the world created as well as the cultures and technology aspects, but the connections are what really have me. It's a new world for all of them and their progress and desire to grow together is applause worthy. Definitely looking forward to more with Admiral Alex and Renee in the next installment, and here's hoping the future remains bright!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About author S.H. Jucha...

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, I currently reside with my wife in San Diego, California.

I've spent years overseas, earned two college degrees, held many jobs, and found a wonderful marriage partner. My writing and my marriage life started together. My first attempt at a novel, entitled "The Lure", was a crime drama centered around the surfacing of a 110-carat yellow diamond lost during the French Revolution.

In 1980, in preparation for the book, I spent two wonderful weeks researching the Brazilian people, their language, and the religious customs of Candomblé. The day I returned from Rio, I had my first date with my wife-to-be, Peggy Giels.

Over the next thirty-four years, I outlined dozens of novels, but a busy career limited my efforts to complete a single one. Now, the time has come, and I've thoroughly enjoyed planning, researching, and writing my first novel—in fact, the entire series.

I discovered the joy of reading when I was thirteen. Today, I hope I’m sharing that joy with my readers through my stories.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks to Mallory at Smith Publicity Inc for the copies for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this series, this title, the author, or those promotions on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now in tree and ebook formats, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Be sure to tune in all week as we explore the rest of this three some as it draws towards what I'm hoping will be a stunning conclusion....for now (it's slated to be a FIVE book series with a possible spin off!).

Until next time...happy reading!