Flight into Fantasy

This is not a review post, but I thought maybe making a regular feature of random noodlings about what I’m reading as I’m inspired to do so would be fun. Especially because that way my initial thoughts can be compared to the final review.

I started Hope’s Folly by Linnea Sinclair, which, incidentally, released yesterday, and I’m loving it so far. Yes, I know I said the other day that the author’s voice wasn’t one I liked. But I’m allowed to be a flake, and this time, Ms. Sinclair is close to acquiring a new convert. I knew she could write a book I’d love. I just had to find it.

The Dock Five series, of which this is the third volume, is romantic space opera, and is much beloved by a lot of romance readers whose opinions I respect. Ms. Sinclair provides a lot of political intrigue as well as compelling romance. The first two books in the series were written in first person POV narrated by the heroine, a former fleet captain who finds her life intersecting quite often with a rogue of a space mercinary. (Mmm, space mercinaries.) The first two books were fun reads, with my major complaint being that I felt the hero was way more compelling than the heroine, which disappointed me because long-time readers know how much I loves me my strong female characters and kick-ass heroines in particular.

I’m not even a quarter of the way through Hope’s Folly, and I’m finding that my issues with the first two books aren’t present at all. The hero and heroine seem to be very complimentary. I knew I was going to love this chick when we are introduced to her as she’s leaving some guy’s bed. Usually it’s the hero in that situation, so the role reversal was wonderful. And she’s so *competent*, yet with a certain vulnerability that makes me want to give her a hug and take her out for ice cream.

The hero’s not bad, either. I like bad-boy alpha men as much as the next girl, but the honorable Boy Scout types have always appealed to me just that little bit more. Plus, I like that we actually see him being a leader, and he definitely seems like the kind of person who would be a good military leader.

I’m not entirely ready to become a fangirl of this particular author yet, but if the three quarters of the book I still have to read are as good as what’s kept me up way too late tonight, I may have to rethink that assessment.

Incidentally, you can read my TGTBTU reviews of the first books in this series here: Gabriel’s Ghost and Shades of Dark.