Must-read romances: 'Loop,' 'Eternal,' 'Prince of Faith'

Loop by Karen Akins

What it's about (courtesy of St. Martin's Griffin):

At a school where Quantum Paradox 101 is a required course and history field trips are literal, sixteen year-old time traveler Bree Bennis excels…at screwing up.

After Bree botches a solo midterm to the 21st century by accidentally taking a boy hostage (a teensy snafu), she stands to lose her scholarship. But when Bree sneaks back to talk the kid into keeping his yap shut, she doesn't go back far enough. The boy, Finn, now three years older and hot as a solar flare, is convinced he's in love with Bree, or rather, a future version of her that doesn't think he's a complete pain in the arse. To make matters worse, she inadvertently transports him back to the 23rd century with her.

Once home, Bree discovers that a recent rash of accidents at her school are anything but accidental. Someone is attacking time travelers. As Bree and her temporal tagalong uncover seemingly unconnected clues—a broken bracelet, a missing data file, the art heist of the millennium—that lead to the person responsible, she alone has the knowledge to piece the puzzle together. Knowledge only one other person has. Her future self.

But when those closest to her become the next victims, Bree realizes the attacker is willing to do anything to stop her. In the past, present, or future.

Why you should read it: This one took me by surprise because it was the gorgeous cover that made me want to read it (shallow, I know), but it turned out to be much more than skin (cover) deep. This was convoluted and crazy. I loved Bree as a time traveler and didn't trust the microchips that supposedly kept the travelers sane and safe from the buzzing. The detailing and whole thought of time traveling was well done, and I liked how twisted it became — having future Bree and present Bree was cool. The secondary characters were also well done, but I wanted more of them. I found myself wanting to know more of the tension between the techs and the travelers. I also wanted to know what ended up happening to the others who used the disrupter and other illegal tech. All in all, it was a breeze to read, it was fast paced, made me laugh and I want more! I've already put Twist (book two) on my to-read shelf.

What Karen Akins has to say …

If you could "accidentally" snatch someone from time, who would it be?

Karen: Hmmm ... I'd say Benedict Cumberbatch, but I'm pretty sure that would just be kidnapping and/or stalking, since he's still alive.

I'd go back and bring either Jane Austen or one of the Bronte sisters back with me. They all died tragically young, and I'm sure each of those women had so many words still stuck in her, waiting to get out. I'd want to show them the enduring impact their stories have had on readers for generations. I'd also probably be tempted to send them back with a few handfuls of penicillin and a vaccine or two.

What's one of your humorous "accidents"?

Karen: Let me preface this by saying that Martha Stewart, I am not.

One Thanksgiving, we had a bunch of friends over, and I was in charge of cooking the turkey. My thinking: How hard can it be to cook a turkey? I bought a big pan, plopped the turkey in (I actually did ask my mom for advice, and she suggested an oven bag, which I used), and presto! A few hours later, there was a gorgeous roasted turkey on our counter.

Only, it looked a little ... off.

But no one said anything. One of our friends picked up the carving knife and started into it. After a few minutes, he pulled me aside and said, "Umm, how big did you say this turkey was?" Me: "Twenty pounds." Him: "Oh, OK. I'm just not, umm, getting much meat off it."

Crapcakes. Had I bought a bum turkey somehow?

Five minutes later, there was a tiny plate of meat, and he was done.

That was when another friend said, "Why is the turkey upside down?"

Yep. Who has two thumbs and can't tell the top of a turkey from the bottom? But it was still freaking delicious! (And in my defense, I've since learned that some people intentionally cook their turkeys upside-down because it makes them extra moist. So there, Martha Stewart!)

What are you working on right now?

Karen: I actually *just* (as in, I haven't even opened the file yet) received my copy edits for Twist (Loop's sequel). It's coming out March 31. After I finish with that, I will take a short brain vacation to recover from writing time travel. Then I'm going to dive into a shiny new idea that popped into my head ...

Epic one-liner from Loop?

Karen: This is one of my faves:

I already knew Future Bree was up to her belly button in this mayhem. But for the first time, I wasn't furious at her, wasn't angry at all.

I was proud.

Eternal by C.C. Hunter

What it's about (courtesy of St. Marin's Griffin):

All her life, Della's secret powers have made her feel separated from her human family. Now, she's where she belongs, at Shadow Falls. With the help of her best friends Kylie and Miranda, she'll try to prove herself in the paranormal world as an investigator—all the while trying to figure out her own heart. Should she chose Chase, a powerful vampire with whom she shares a special bond? Or Steve, the hot shapeshifter whose kisses make her weak in the knees? When a person with dark connection to her past shows up, it'll help her decide which guy to choose–and make her question everything she knows about herself.

Why you should read it: You have to read Reborn first, at least to really see what Della has fully gone through. If you have time, I also think reading the whole Shadow Falls series (this is an off-shoot series) would really enrich the world Della is living in. She has become someone stronger, someone who is able to hug, to share and to open up. Della is also faster and tougher and finally doing what we knew she was capable of. Chase fans will love this book. He's got a big role to play and Della is working with him. I was a Chase fan, but the author over-used their bond and I understood why Della resented it. We also get to see a lot more of Della's family, which is interesting, and the ghost (the case they're working on) will lead Della deeper into her family's past and secrets. All in all, except for the cliffhanger (ahh!), it's a great installment. I actually liked it better than the first.

What C.C. Hunter has to say …

Any supernatural/ghostly things you wish Della would investigate for you?

C.C.: Great question. And darn if you haven't made me see another connection with my own life to the one I'm writing for Della. It's not so much ghostly, or even supernatural, but real life. And it kind of mimics what Della is going through now. You see, I have a half-brother I've never met. I would love to meet him, but we have so little information on him that it's impossible. So I'd give her that case to solve. I have a feeling she could find him.

What supernatural would you like to be?

C.C.: On my blog I have a questionnaire that will tell you what supernatural you might be depending on your personality. I'd fall more into the Fae category. But … which one would I like to be? I want to fly. So I might want to be part Fae and part vampire.

What are you working on right now?

C.C.: Right now, I'm working on a novella. This one is about Miranda. I'm having so much fun, getting inside this witch's head.

Epic one-liner from Eternal?

C.C.: "Never turn your back on a challenge."

Prince of Faith by Belinda McBride

What it's about (courtesy of Loose Id):

Held captive in a whorehouse, Markus Dayspring wakes every morning with a thirst for revenge, and collapses every night with a prayer for strength. He lives on in spite of deadly addictions and a crippling, shameful secret. When he's rescued by a man from his past, his reawakened love threatens to crush his damaged soul.

Caius also has a secret, one that could ultimately kill him. But his vow to rescue Markus is stronger than guilt, fear and even his loyalty to King Helios. Too many have died because of Caius and rescuing the missing prince might allow him to sleep without nightmares.

Old habits are hard to break and new pain threatens their growing love. Yet one gleaming ray of hope continues to guide them to safety, even in the face of an unexpected violation of trust. With the stakes growing higher by the hour, Markus and Caius must learn to have faith before they can heal and face the future together.

Why you should read it: I loved the first two books in this series. Belinda is a fantastic fantasy writer who puts her characters through hell and back for them to finally find happiness. This installment is centered on Markus. I hated him at first, when I believed he was a traitor, but now he could be innocent … Griffin sent Caius to where Helios believed Markus was sent, but Caius has secrets of his own. I love Markus because he's broken. He's addicted to drugs, he was used, he was shamed and yet he still had Faith and was determined to survive. What I love about this book is that it's unpredictable. I didn't know what the characters would choose to say or do — it was so refreshing. I highly recommend for those who want their heroes to suffer, to be laid bare and finally to be saved.

What Belinda McBride has to say …

If any "tech" could exist, which tech would you like it to be?

Belinda: I'd love to see some form of instantaneous transportation ... I'd love to be able to beam myself all over the world. I love to travel but hate the time it takes!

What do you love best about sci-fi?

Belinda: I love that there are no limits to the reality that the author can create. Its fun to sit down to talk sci-fi with other authors; the stories and ideas range from the dramatic and relevant to outlandish and wild.

What are you currently working on now?

Belinda: I'm working on Destiny, which is a Truckee Wolves/Doms of Dark Haven cross-over, featuring everyone's favorite naked receptionist ... Destiny! It's a paranormal shifter story with a healthy dose of BDSM.

Epic one-liner from Prince of Faith?

Belinda: Caius had danced with guilt for so long he'd forgotten he had no partner in the dance.

Jessie Potts, also known as Book Taster, adores books in all forms. She also does reviews for RT Book Reviews magazine and works in the submissions department at Dreamspinner Press. You can follow her on Twitter (@BookTaster).