Book Spotlight ~ Conversion by Maria Hammarblad ~ Space Opera ~ @mariahammarblad

Run for your life, or submit to the Conversion!

Conversion
Maria Hammarblad

Genre: Space Opera

Publisher: Sadowski Media

Date of Publication: June 16, 2014

ISBN: 1500214736

ASIN: B00L1YQUSA

Number of pages: 100

Word Count: 19226

Cover Artist: Juan Villar Padron

Book Description:

Rhodesia runs through the forest, hunted by creatures wearing the faces of people she loves. They plead to her to wait in the voices of her family, and the sound sends chills down her back. What is worse? Succumbing, and becoming a mindless drone with the others, or perishing in the forest, alone?

Roy Planter is a man with a mission, and he has no intention of staying on a plague-ridden planet where more humans turn into mindless drones every day. Being stuck in a city, grouped with a sword-wielding stick insect of a man and a busty blonde with a too vivid sense of humor are only temporary setbacks. He's leaving, first chance he gets. At least that's what he thinks until Rhodesia arrives. Caring for someone will not make his life easier, but can he really leave her behind?

Purchase Link:

Amazon

Read an Excerpt:

How could such a small building have so many stairs?

A soft shuffling noise caught Rhodesia’s attention. It was too stealthy to be anyone she knew.

Had the Nats made it in here? They could have been waiting.

Alone and unarmed. Great.

She jogged down the corridor as quietly as she could. Maybe they wouldn’t see her if she got around the corner.

Planter stepped out of the shadows, surprising her. She almost yelped and gave them away.

He slammed an arm around her waist and pulled her into a small closet. She had to press herself against him to fit in the nook, but at the moment physical closeness came second to brewing panic.

Were they close?

How would it feel to be assimilated?

Would anything of her own self remain?

Her imagination painted out a process of melting, her mind losing cohesion, memories and identity vanishing, and becoming a part of a new whole; the whole of the machine.

“Shh.”

He pulled her closer, clearly trying to get her attention, and she realized she was breathing with noisy puffs of air. Planter hushed her again and she buried her face against his chest to quiet her panting.

He might not like having her close, but he’d just have to live with it.

About the Author:

Maria Hammarblad is a Swedish author and bass player whose fascination with books started early. Before she could read or write, she made her mother staple papers together to resemble books. She drew suns in them and claimed they were "The Sun Book." They were all about the sun. The four-year old also claimed her existence on Earth was a mistake, the result of a horrible mix-up, and that her real family would come to bring her home to her own planet at any time. This didn't happen, but her fascination with books and other worlds stayed with her.

Besides novels, she also writes award-winning screenplays, enjoys photography, and works with animal rescue organizations.

Website: http://www.hammarblad.com

Blog: http://www.scifiromance.info

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

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mariahammarblad

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4114780.Maria_Hammarblad

Book Spotlight ~ Operation Earth by Maria Hammarblad ~ Space Opera Romance @mariahammarblad

Operation Earth
Maria Hammarblad

Genre: Space Opera Romance

Publisher: Sadowski Media

Date of Publication: August 30, 2018

Originally published by Desert Breeze August 2013

ISBN: 1722281871

ASIN: B07GZ1ZHH7

Number of pages: 192

Word Count: 49282

Cover Artist: Patty Jansen

Tagline: They’re here. Are you ready?

About the Book:

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. Within days alien soldiers line the streets, and life will never be the same. In the midst of chaos, Rachael Hill 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 planet 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.

Amazon

Read an Excerpt:

The neighbor’s house mocked her. Were they still watching her, or had they given up? Had they noticed Peter was no longer around, and if so, what did they make of it?

Rachael probably kept her eyes as much on them as they did on her, and in less dire circumstances the situation would have been comical.

Bonbon wanted to go outside, and she followed the cat into bright morning sunshine.

It’s a fine day. I wish I had coffee. This would be a good day for having morning coffee on the porch.

She glanced over toward Melissa’s house. They had a window open. Interesting. Before she knew what she was doing, she pulled her hairclip off and tossed it into their yard.

“Oops, I must have dropped it there that one day I went over to see them. I’d better go get it.”

Setting foot on the other side of the hedge seemed dangerous, but she had Peter’s gun tucked in a pocket, and the hairclip glittered in the grass, close to the open window.

How did she become so bold?

Walk casually. How the hell does one walk casually? Do I whistle? No, make as little sound as possible...

She strolled, doing her best to look normal. Just an ordinary woman going over to pick up something ordinary she dropped on an ordinary day.

Seconds later, she crouched under the window. At first, she couldn’t hear anything, then Melissa’s voice drifted out.

“I don’t think this is a good idea.”                

“Of course it is. We need to show them what we’re made of.”

That was clearly Ryan. She didn’t know his voice all that well, but the feisty attitude gave him away.

A third voice followed. It must be Martin of the tobacco-stained teeth and bad breath.

“It doesn’t matter what you think, Hon. The missile is ready and will be launched.”

Missile? What the hell are these people up to? Do they know I’m out here? Did they leave the window open to see if I’d overhear and tattle, or do they feel safe now when Peter isn’t around?

Either way, overthinking wouldn’t do her any good. She strained her ears and heard Melissa speak again.

“I didn’t think missiles could go into space.”

“It’s complicated. I’m worried about the guidance system, we’ve scraped together bits and pieces, but nothing is as good as it should be,” Martin answered.

Another long silence followed, and Rachael dried her palms on her clothes, immediately scolding herself for doing so. Her mom would have had a field day with that behavior. Maybe they were coming out, and she should hurry to leave.

“You know, the guy next door, he doesn’t seem so bad.”

Something heavy fell to the floor and Rachael imagined Ryan’s chair toppling over. His voice was anything but patient.

“Don’t be such a goose. Rachael’s just as bad as them and should burn with them. If she chooses to stand with them, she will. With any luck, that guy is on the ship when we bomb it and we can talk her back to the right side. If not, well, we’ll just have to kill him anyway, won’t we?”

About the Author:

Maria Hammarblad is an author and bass player whose fascination with books started early. Before she could read or write, she made her mother staple papers together to resemble books. She drew suns in them and claimed they were "The Sun Book." They were all about the sun.

The four-year-old also claimed her existence on Earth was a mistake, the result of a horrible mix-up, and that her real family would come to bring her home to her own planet at any time. This didn't happen, but her fascination with books and other worlds stayed with her. 

Besides novels, she also writes award-winning screenplays, enjoys photography, and works with animal rescue organizations.

Website: http://www.hammarblad.com

Blog: http://www.scifiromance.info

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

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mariahammarblad

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

Book Spotlight ~ Flashback by Maria Hammarblad ~ Romance/Military ~ @mariahammarblad

Flashback
Maria Hammarblad

Genre: Romance/Military

Publisher: Sadowski Media

Date of Publication: August 1, 2018

Originally Published by Desert Breeze Publishing June 21, 2013

ISBN: 1723130176

ASIN: B07FXZMSWN

Number of pages: 155

Word Count: 47656

Cover Artist: Juan Villar Padron

Tagline: The thing about fighting evil? It keeps coming back.

About the Book:

As the sole survivor of a Taliban POW camp, Steve Petersen is damaged goods. He is convinced that he left his sanity within the horror-filled walls that held him captive for the better part of a year. His mind is trapped in moments of graphic, soul-crushing flashbacks, and his only solace is the momentary reprieve he gains from alcohol and drugs.

When he mysteriously wakes in a bright and cheery bedroom that belongs to a woman he barely remembers meeting, he knows he should leave. He should save the widow Anna from his own special brand of crazy. Leaving is not as easy as one would think, and he finds himself drawn into a world of real life problems such as folding laundry, and what to make for dinner.

This new way of life eases his need for drowning his pain in substances and offers moments of quiet healing – until Anna disappears. To save her, Steve must face the demons that have tortured him for so long and return to the place where it all began. Afghanistan.

Amazon

Read an Excerpt:

Life outside could sure be exhausting. Anna went into the kitchen, and Steve rested his head back and closed his eyes. Listening to her hum a song, just a little out of tune as she loaded the coffee maker soothed his nerves.

A hard rattling sound made him open his eyes again.

Gunshots, and they were close.

Anna still sang, and she would be an easy target.

He ran through the apartment, making sure to stay away from the windows. Peeking around the corner, his beautiful fiancée was oblivious to the danger.

Women.

How did they survive?

He sprung out from his hiding place behind the wall, shoved her down on the floor, and threw himself over her. After all she did for him, protecting her with his own body was the least he could do.

Anna wheezed, clearly trying to draw a breath.

“Sssh, they’re coming.”

She lay on her back, and the question in her eyes was clear. Have you lost your mind? Of course he had, a long time ago. She should know.

When she opened her mouth, he covered it with his hand, so she couldn’t draw attention to them.

“Don’t you hear them? The shots?”

She shook her head and closed her fingers around his wrist, attempting to pull his hand away.

“I think we’re safe, but be very quiet.”

About the Author:

Maria Hammarblad is an author and bass player whose fascination with books started early. Before she could read or write, she made her mother staple papers together to resemble books. She drew suns in them and claimed they were "The Sun Book." They were all about the sun.

The four-year-old also claimed her existence on Earth was a mistake, the result of a horrible mix-up, and that her real family would come to bring her home to her own planet at any time. This didn't happen, but her fascination with books and other worlds stayed with her.

Besides novels, she also writes award-winning screenplays, enjoys photography, and works with animal rescue organizations.

Website: http://www.hammarblad.com

Blog: http://www.scifiromance.info

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

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mariahammarblad

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