The book starts out pretty well.  I think it could have started out better.  It seemed to almost portray the overtaking of earth through the eyes of someone in shock.  No real fear, panic or driving to action.  The main character is very level headed, which has its good points and bad points.

I like how she sees the resistance “fighters.”  She sees them probably how I see AA members.  People coming together at a low point in their lives, clawing and struggling to come back, but needing a higher power, someone outside themselves to succeed.  Problem is, the resistance fighters don’t have any outside help.  And I love how she’s more afraid of her neighbors than the invaders.  Smart girl.  People strike out blindly in fear, and sometimes innocents get hurt in the crossfire.

I love Rachael’s little illicit thoughts about Peter.  Makes me laugh.  Actually, her thoughts in general are just precious.  Probably some of the best parts of the story.

I like how the invaders assume a successful hacker blocking their transmissions must be a woman.  I do find it strange that the invaders seem to have a fondness for cats… just cats.  No dogs or other pets.  Cats can be the most temperamental, the hardest to win over.

Oh, Peter is both devious and sneaky, but in a good way that makes me want to cheer him on!

I find the invading society both intriguing and logical.  It’s clear the author thought it out well.  I mean, some of their technology is beyond weird, but I could totally see how a society would develop the way theirs did.

The novel skillfully weaves romantic elements with tension, action, and suspense.  At times, I was anxious right along with the characters, rabidly turning pages to learn their fates.

Seven billion people on Earth go about their daily lives, and no one is prepared when a global EMP slows the world to a crawl. With all our technology incapacitated, everything changes. Within days alien soldiers line the streets, and life will never be the same. Rachael struggles to adapt to the new order, doing her best to keep herself and her cat alive.

On a ship far above the planet surface, Peter just got his new Earth name, and can’t even remember his identity from the last world he visited. It’s another day on the job, one more world on a never-ending list. That is, until Rachael bumps into him, dropping exotic objects all around his feet. His culture taught him females should be obeyed and protected, but he never had an urge to leave himself at a woman’s mercy until now.

Rachael’s neighbor Ryan hounds her to join a brewing resistance movement and make a stand against the newcomers. She still befriends Peter, enthralled by his enigmatic personality and hypnotic golden eyes. Would falling in love with an alien be treason against humanity? When the rebellion gains momentum and open conflict with the newcomers is a fact, Rachael’s personal insurrection might be her doom, or bring salvation to us all.

About the Author

Born in Sweden in the early 1970’s, Maria showed a large interest for books at an early age. Even before she was able to read or write, she made her mom staple papers together into booklets she filled with drawings of suns and planets. She proudly declared them, “The Sun Book.” They were all about the sun. She also claimed, to her mother’s horror, that her being on Earth was a big mistake and that her alien family would come and bring her home at any moment. This never happened, but both the interest in space and the passion for bookmaking stayed with her.

As an adult Maria’s creativity got an outlet through playing bass in a number of rock bands, and through writing technical manuals and making web pages for various companies and organizations. She did write drafts for a few novels, but the storytelling muse was mostly satisfied through role playing online on Myspace. It was here, while writing stories together with people from around the globe, she stumbled onto Mike. They started talking out of character, and she moved over to Florida to him late 2008. Today the two are married and live in the Tampa Bay area with three rescue dogs.

Besides writing and playing bass, Maria enjoys driving off-road, archery, and Tameshigiri.

 

Upcoming releases

Borealis XII, to be released by Desert Breeze Publishing November 2013

 

Fun Facts

Favorite color:                        Blue

Favorite food:                        Chicken with cashew nuts

Doesn’t eat:                        Mammals

Favorite TV Show:            Star Trek TNG and Leverage

Favorite animal:            Border Collie

Quotes:                        “Full Speed Ahead” and “Caffeine is good for you”

 

Find Maria on the web

Website:                        http://www.hammarblad.com

Facebook:                     https://www.facebook.com/mariahammarblad

Blog:                              http://www.scifiromance.info

Twitter:                        @mariahammarblad

Goodreads:                  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4114780.Maria_Hammarblad

Publisher’s website:  http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com