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Toni Delle #1
White Fire
Everybody lies. Watch your back.
Sure, Agent Toni Delle has trust issues. Mate, her canine robot partner and Zach, her attitude-enabled shipboard Computer Intelligence Interface constantly tell her that – but as she told them, that was because of The Smuggler.
She would have refused her new mission altogether if it wasn’t for the insane amount of money... Oh, who was she kidding – danger, betrayal, secrets, lies – these were all the things she loved about her job. She just didn’t expect The Smuggler would be involved. If she’d known that she would have told her boss to jump out of an airlock, in space, without a suit.
So she takes the mission: find and stop a new weapon being manufactured and smuggled into the hands of criminal elements all over the galaxy. And hey, while she's at it, can she also find the missing weapons designer linked to these shipments?
The only problem is she has to rely on information provided by The Smuggler himself. And he may not be the only one capable of betrayal.
Sure, Agent Toni Delle has trust issues. Mate, her canine robot partner and Zach, her attitude-enabled shipboard Computer Intelligence Interface constantly tell her that – but as she told them, that was because of The Smuggler.
She would have refused her new mission altogether if it wasn’t for the insane amount of money... Oh, who was she kidding – danger, betrayal, secrets, lies – these were all the things she loved about her job. She just didn’t expect The Smuggler would be involved. If she’d known that she would have told her boss to jump out of an airlock, in space, without a suit.
So she takes the mission: find and stop a new weapon being manufactured and smuggled into the hands of criminal elements all over the galaxy. And hey, while she's at it, can she also find the missing weapons designer linked to these shipments?
The only problem is she has to rely on information provided by The Smuggler himself. And he may not be the only one capable of betrayal.
438 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2019
About the author
Laurie Bell
7 books29 followersLaurie Bell is the author of The Stones of Power series, White Fire, Boss from Hell, Blood Fever and a unique anthology The Good, the Bad and the Undecided.
She is a lover of fantasy and science fiction of all kinds and is often found in coffee shops or on trains writing madly in one of many notebooks.
Oh and she loves chocolate and coffee!
Laurie maintains an active blog of science fiction, fantasy, and flash fiction pieces. at www.solothefirst.wordpress.com
She is a lover of fantasy and science fiction of all kinds and is often found in coffee shops or on trains writing madly in one of many notebooks.
Oh and she loves chocolate and coffee!
Laurie maintains an active blog of science fiction, fantasy, and flash fiction pieces. at www.solothefirst.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 24, 2020
I approached this book with some trepidation, not being a regular reader of full-on sci-fi, but my fears were completely unfounded. Like all good sci-fi, the secret is to make character and situations that we can relate to, no matter where or when or who is involved and that is exactly what 'White Fire' does. The main character Toni has the same emotions, worries and issues that we all recognise - it just so happens she is also an intergalactic agent! She even has a robotic dog as a partner that allows for some typically human-pet dog bonding!
The book is a fast-paced adventure which takes inspiration from everything from Star Wars (smugglers, political intrigue) to Star Trek (agents of a space force trying to maintain intergalactic peace, tensions along the borders of space) and throws in a smatterings of romance and humour.
The world (or, universe) created feels very real and well thought out - I am in admiration of the imagination involved in dreaming up the different worlds and societies that are encountered.
The main plus though is the sense of great fun and adventure that runs through the book from start to finish.
An enjoyable, fast-paced, fun read that can be enjoyed by the hardcore sci-fi fan but will also appeal to those who just like a good action-adventure story.
The book is a fast-paced adventure which takes inspiration from everything from Star Wars (smugglers, political intrigue) to Star Trek (agents of a space force trying to maintain intergalactic peace, tensions along the borders of space) and throws in a smatterings of romance and humour.
The world (or, universe) created feels very real and well thought out - I am in admiration of the imagination involved in dreaming up the different worlds and societies that are encountered.
The main plus though is the sense of great fun and adventure that runs through the book from start to finish.
An enjoyable, fast-paced, fun read that can be enjoyed by the hardcore sci-fi fan but will also appeal to those who just like a good action-adventure story.
May 9, 2020
What's not to like about Special Secret Agent Toni Delle, who has see-through skin, heightened senses, courage and grit seasoned with experience; AND who has her own C-bot (Canine Robot, Mate) and a Computer Intelligence Interface (CII) named Zach, who has a knack for initiative and a sassy cuteness that's hard to resist. She's also an electronics expert who loves using and tweaking high-tech gadgets.
Agent Delle's interplanetary travels on her trusty lightship Blackflame, while she's outsmarting slick smugglers and getting into multiple hand-to-hand combats and other dangerous situations, keeps things interesting throughout, “White Fire.”
Amongst the dangerous missions, there are sexy, intelligent females and chiseled, intelligent men, all doing their things, legal and illegal. The dialogue is sharp, the descriptions vivid, and Agent Delle's running stream-of-consciousness sparkles.
I hope that “White Fire” is just the first of many books chronicling the sci-fi adventures of Agent Toni Delle.
Agent Delle's interplanetary travels on her trusty lightship Blackflame, while she's outsmarting slick smugglers and getting into multiple hand-to-hand combats and other dangerous situations, keeps things interesting throughout, “White Fire.”
Amongst the dangerous missions, there are sexy, intelligent females and chiseled, intelligent men, all doing their things, legal and illegal. The dialogue is sharp, the descriptions vivid, and Agent Delle's running stream-of-consciousness sparkles.
I hope that “White Fire” is just the first of many books chronicling the sci-fi adventures of Agent Toni Delle.
Read
January 17, 2019I enjoyed this book very much. Toni, Mate and Zach solve a intergalactic smuggling ring.
From the first few pages I was hooked. The author does create gaps in the timeline that make you wonder what you may have missed. But she brings those details back into the story line later on. I've read both of this new author's books and she is becoming a favorite of mine. Can't wait for the next adventure her characters go on! Great read for young adults, sci-fi nerds, and people that want to broaden the minds to other worlds.
From the first few pages I was hooked. The author does create gaps in the timeline that make you wonder what you may have missed. But she brings those details back into the story line later on. I've read both of this new author's books and she is becoming a favorite of mine. Can't wait for the next adventure her characters go on! Great read for young adults, sci-fi nerds, and people that want to broaden the minds to other worlds.
September 9, 2020
Danger, betrayal, secrets, lies? Absolutely! Add to this sharp scifi, a snarky ship AI and a canine robot partner for a quirky agent with see-through skin and a whole head full of hangups. Now you have a great recipe for a fun and fast-paced read. The cast is small so we get to follow them closely through the action, twists, and dangers as they race to save the galaxy. The world-building is thorough and slick, giving the cast a wonderful backdrop for the action-packed plot.
And there's enough left hanging about some key relationships that I'll be looking out for the next Toni Delle Adventure.
A great read.
And there's enough left hanging about some key relationships that I'll be looking out for the next Toni Delle Adventure.
A great read.
January 5, 2019
Wow! Great fun adventure with heaps of action. If you enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy, you will love this. Loved the world building and universe created by the author. Found it it hard to put it down. Interaction between characters was fantastic and brought the book to life for me. Check it out!
February 8, 2019
I love stories set in another world. This story doesn’t disappoint. The details of the world is exceptional, even the curses! Agent Toni Delle and her robotic dog, Mate, make a great team as they embark on a mission to stop destructive weapons from destroying their planet. The action and suspense makes this book a fast read. I love that!I highly recommend this to any sci-fi lovers!
March 27, 2019
Fast paced and action packed. I loved the strong female lead and her helpful friends. An easy and enjoyable read, even for those like me who aren’t usually into this genre.
December 10, 2018
Well, this was a little different to what I was expecting. And in a good way, I hasten to add. I am a relative newbie to the genre so some of what I read did need a couple attempts to get my head round, but on the whole, it flowed very well and left me mostly satisfied.
Agent Toni Delle, ably assisted by robot dog Mate and shipboard computer Zach, is on the trail of some smugglers. When we first meet her she has just completed one hairy mission and is about to accept her new one; to find and stop the manufacture of a new weapon and find its designer who has disappeared. As well as needing the money the mission will (probably) earn her, she lives for the excitement and thrill of the chase. Good job too as this mission will test her mettle as she flits between locations with much danger behind every corner. Teaming up with shady characters in her quest also comes with snags along the way as she endeavours to complete her mission and get her dues. And then there's Dan to contend with...
Once I got into the author's style of writing and the story started to flow better for me, I whizzed through the rest of the book. The story itself was well plotted, if at times a little disjointed, and very fast paced. I definitely had to have my wits about me with all the goings on! Toni has trust issues which, as things unfold, you do get to understand being as she isn't always the best judge of character. But she does seem to learn along the way, if a little slowly. Some of her personal observations on her own shortcomings did have me giggling along the way and also lent credence to her personality and realism. She's also quite resourceful which helped, even if it didn't always go quite according to plan, with sometimes funny and often action-packed consequences.
Mate and Zach are worthy sidekicks, both have their obvious limitations and vulnerabilities but together, the three of them work well and have a special bond. Nemesis Dan has his attraction and that in itself leaves Toni quite vulnerable but there's definitely something about him that makes their paths cross time after time and adds a bit of spice into the mix. Not that Toni really needs more excitement in her life... who'm I kidding, of course she does!
All in all, a deliciously bonkers space romp that kept my attention nicely throughout and left me hanging for more of the same. Roll on book two...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Agent Toni Delle, ably assisted by robot dog Mate and shipboard computer Zach, is on the trail of some smugglers. When we first meet her she has just completed one hairy mission and is about to accept her new one; to find and stop the manufacture of a new weapon and find its designer who has disappeared. As well as needing the money the mission will (probably) earn her, she lives for the excitement and thrill of the chase. Good job too as this mission will test her mettle as she flits between locations with much danger behind every corner. Teaming up with shady characters in her quest also comes with snags along the way as she endeavours to complete her mission and get her dues. And then there's Dan to contend with...
Once I got into the author's style of writing and the story started to flow better for me, I whizzed through the rest of the book. The story itself was well plotted, if at times a little disjointed, and very fast paced. I definitely had to have my wits about me with all the goings on! Toni has trust issues which, as things unfold, you do get to understand being as she isn't always the best judge of character. But she does seem to learn along the way, if a little slowly. Some of her personal observations on her own shortcomings did have me giggling along the way and also lent credence to her personality and realism. She's also quite resourceful which helped, even if it didn't always go quite according to plan, with sometimes funny and often action-packed consequences.
Mate and Zach are worthy sidekicks, both have their obvious limitations and vulnerabilities but together, the three of them work well and have a special bond. Nemesis Dan has his attraction and that in itself leaves Toni quite vulnerable but there's definitely something about him that makes their paths cross time after time and adds a bit of spice into the mix. Not that Toni really needs more excitement in her life... who'm I kidding, of course she does!
All in all, a deliciously bonkers space romp that kept my attention nicely throughout and left me hanging for more of the same. Roll on book two...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
February 7, 2021
Agent Toni Delle and her robotic dog, Mate, accepted a high-profile mission to find and stop a new weapon being manufactured and smuggled into the hands of criminal elements all over the galaxy, and to find the designer of these weapons. It seemed straightforward enough – after all, she really did enjoy a challenge – until she became aware she would have to deal with The Smuggler again, where she can expect only betrayal. But she had accepted the job and was committed to finishing it. Would she be successful? Or was this maybe the one she should have walked away from?
The author did a good job with the world building which always makes it easier for the reader to be there in the story and experience things firsthand. The characters were also done well, where the reader could see the strength in Toni in the way she handled the mission. The story line was strong and well-paced, with tension and suspense right where needed to keep the reader focused on the action. Grab your copy and enjoy the thrill of the hunt!
The author did a good job with the world building which always makes it easier for the reader to be there in the story and experience things firsthand. The characters were also done well, where the reader could see the strength in Toni in the way she handled the mission. The story line was strong and well-paced, with tension and suspense right where needed to keep the reader focused on the action. Grab your copy and enjoy the thrill of the hunt!
April 29, 2021
I haven't read a lot of sci-fi books and was pleasantly surprised by the world this story takes place in. Toni Delle is an agent hunting down smugglers when she gets stranded on a planet with Daniel Colten, someone she's wary of trusting until he saves her life. A chance to escape the planet comes at a cost, and the two are separated until they cross paths again and must team up to stop an assassination. There's great chemistry between Toni and Colten, and Toni's crime-fighting partner—a robot dog named Mate—is a real highlight of the book. There's plenty of action, futuristic tech, space battles, and nefarious plots to keep the story moving, as well as some interesting hanging threads to lead into the next book. This is a definite add to your TBR pile if you're a fan of sci-fi action.
October 14, 2020
A great ride through a new galaxy where your best mates can be a ship’s AI and a canine robot partner; where luck and pluckiness can get you through most of the time—but not always—and where people are ready to backstab at every turn! I loved Agent Toni Delle, her trials and tricky, twisted operations. I loved the intrigue—both personal and political—and I loved the world building. So vivid. I laughed, I cried, I cheered Toni on, and the only issue I had was the story ended too soon. What happens next? I can’t wait to find out.
February 10, 2021
Can artificial intelligence betray you, or is it simply holding true and correct to its programming?
Caught between secrets, lies, and a dangerous Smuggler, will she end up at the point of a sword held by one of her own? Someone she should be able to trust?
Space adventure and AI thriller
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Caught between secrets, lies, and a dangerous Smuggler, will she end up at the point of a sword held by one of her own? Someone she should be able to trust?
Space adventure and AI thriller
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 31, 2018
After the first few pages I was spellbound and couldn’t put it down. Characters unfolded and while there were a few it was easy to follow who they were. Loved the twists and turns.
I want that dog! Super cool!
If you like science fiction you will love this. Can’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil it for you.
Can’t wait for the next in the series.
I want that dog! Super cool!
If you like science fiction you will love this. Can’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil it for you.
Can’t wait for the next in the series.
Read
December 22, 2018I honestly can't put my finger on a good reason why but I just didn't connect with this book. It's also split into parts and when it switched to two years later I couldn't convince myself to keep going for no other reason than I just wasn't invested. DNF @35%
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews