Gabriel’s Ghost

Gray Fuzzy Soft Laser Pulse Rifle

Sinclair's style could be compared to what sort of novel might turn out if David Weber married Amanda Quick. Though Sinclair's writing is not nearly as erotic and Quick's. The story is written in first person. The first person character being a court marshaled starship captain imprisoned on an inhospitable planet, who happens to be a total cougar babe with hair too long to imagine, rescued by a roguish pirate who is more than he claims to be. Hair and mugs of tea are the big past time.... Everyone (guys and girls) brushes and braids each other's hair numerous times in this book. Though there's plenty of intrigue and action to keep anyone interested, the romance scenes could have been a little less "fuzzy soft fluffy pillow talk" and a little more action (Linnea, read more Amanda Quick). But this is a guy writing this. The ships and equipment could use a little more description (Linnea, read more David Weber). But then again, this is a guy reading this.

On the whole. It was an enjoyable story and I look forward to the next book in the series.

19 of 19 people found this review helpful

Solid Genre (sci fi) Romance

Genre (sci fi) romance can either go good or really, really, bad. In this case, we have a solidly written plot, surprises aplenty, a decent heroine with intelligence and logic, and a hero that doesn't have to save her all the time/has his own issues to deal with.

When I read a sci fi romance novel, I always hope the sci fi is the emphasis and has some romance thrown in. That's exactly the balance I found with Gabriel's Ghost. No sex, no alpha male, no idiotic female. Just two people thrown into bad situations who fight their way out using their own unique skills.

The pacing is excellent, with lots of action and adventure to keep you page-turning. In addition, there are several surprises thrown in there that I did not in any way foresee. I especially liked that the author caught the feeling of space and space docks - it wasn't just two people in a spaceship fighting over their attraction, as so often happens. There is a strong over-arching plot and several subplots for the protagonists to explore.

In all, one of the better reads I've had lately and I'll definitely be delving into further novels in this universe.

Of note is the narration. I wish the narrator didn't do accents - the hero's accent sounded like a New Yorker trying to channel British but getting some kind of mangled Australian. It was very off-putting.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Gabriel's Ghost

Very nice. Both books one and two were fantastic. Loved the storyline, action, was drawn right into it and couldn't stop listening. Was actually annoyed I didn't have the book so I could read faster than it was being read, but the different voices were done quite well by the reader. Loved it. Will buy the books if I ever see them in the book store, despite having it on audio. Is a story I could easily listen to again and again. Lets have it for the scifi romances (there aren't many of them).

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Harlequin Romance Novel

What disappointed you about Gabriel’s Ghost?

Storyline had promise. Author chose to write a romance novel, based almost entirely on sensuality. Plot is inane, drags. Have listened to 6 hours and thought it would be a good novel from the way it started. Now, 6 hours in, I don't know the details of why the "heroine" was imprisoned. I don't know why the "hunk" is drawn to her. The greatest thought process that I can imagine is: why is he drawn to her? One meeting in a bar years ago - it's all sensual, no depth, they're already "melded spirits", if I hear "he brushed her (lips, skin, neck) and said 'hush' ", one more time, I think I'll commit suicide.

Has Gabriel’s Ghost turned you off from other books in this genre?

I am a sci-fi, fantasy addict - have over 1600 books, read well over 3000 in my lifetime. If you mean harlequin novels, yes. sci-fi/fantasy - never.

What does Dina Pearlman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Good narration

What character would you cut from Gabriel’s Ghost?

None - just story development with "real" people - not caricatures.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Narrator trouble

Loved the book. The narrator doesn't do such a great job though. The male voices are very unconvincing and Sully's accent and intonation are grating. Still, enjoyed it.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

God-awful

I didn't realize this was a romance novel; I thought it was a scifi book. The title of the book could have been "his obsidian eyes" which was the most commonly use phrase in the whole book, and possibly the high point of the verbiage offered. At one point she wanted to rip his clothes off "with her teeth." I simply couldn't listen to the whole book. I'm glad I bought it as a "special" deal for 4.95. I guess that Audible was desperate to sell it. God-awful. I deleted it half-way through, something I never do.

4 of 7 people found this review helpful

Horrible Little Girl Voice

What would have made Gabriel’s Ghost better?

Changing Narrator. I don't know if something is wrong with recording or narrator.

If you’ve listened to books by Linnea Sinclair before, how does this one compare?

The story line is OK. Fairly enjoyable.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator went from a normal voice to a high pitched one as if she forgot what the female character sounded like. I still don't know if it was part of the recording itself or if the narrator forgot what the character was supposed to sound like. It may have been the download because I had to download several times.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Linnea Sinclair books have a good storyline but the sound recording itself was bad.

Find other Words!!

Any additional comments?

Only gave a 3 for Story because of the constant repetitions of some words. Like 'Obsidian'. I think I got the idea of Sully's eye colour after it was referred to as Obsidian for the 15th time. Pity that wasn't the last time.

Great scifi romance!

This was a fun and exciting read! I have downloaded the entire series! Searching for more by Linnea Sinclair, hope they will put her other works on audio!

Elevator music and rainbows

There is just not one thing I could pin point about this book that made me bored with it.
Story was okay, but not very descriptive. Not really fleshing out the world the story was based in. Characters had substance, but not enough to make me want to find out what happens to them next. The detail the writer gave when explaining any type of "love scene" was vague and filled with "clouds" and "rainbows". Speaking of rainbows, a third into the book and I was getting quite annoyed about the repetitive "rainbow" sayings ("sending rainbows", "my rainbow", "his rainbow"). The Narrator did a good job with differing the voices of the different characters, but her voice was so calm and soothing through the rest of it that it started to become monotone. Because the story never seemed to have any true action or drama and the lack of emotion in the narrator's voice, the book reminded me of elevator music.