Book picks similar to
Making History by Bruce Polkinghorne


science-fiction
fantasy
mystery
intense-relationships

Carson Mach: The Complete Series


A.C. Hadfield - 2021
    1000+ pages of explosive, military space opera action, filled with characters that leap off the page. Carson Mach, a former war hero turned freelancer, is seeking to revive his fortunes. Heeding a call from a friend in the Commonwealth government, he's tasked with a series of missions that few would ever agree to, much less with eagerness. But Carson Mach is a special kind of risk-taker and is known for cleaning up the quadrant's dregs in his unique, chaotic way. With few resources and overwhelming odds, Mach must reunite some of his old buddies: tech specialists, military veterans, assassins, and puzzling AIs, and form them into an elite fighting force. If he fails, the threats to the Commonwealth may spell the end for millions of lives. This is his last chance. Should he fail, he'll either be dead or back in the gutter with no more favors to call in and few friends ready to lend a hand. From hunting down mythical ships and recovering powerful artifacts to preventing the Commonwealth's center of power from falling to the enemy, Carson Mach and his ragtag crew of the starship Intrepid must do the extraordinary if they're to succeed. That's if they don't tear each other apart first. Experience this complete Military Space Opera series from Amazon Bestseller A.C. Hadfield. It's perfect for fans of Jamie McFarlane, JN Chaney and Jay Allan. This boxset contains three full-length novels: Book 1: The Atlantis Ship Book 2: The Lost Voyager Book 3: The Terminal War

Descendant


Ky Tyrand - 2016
    Imagine if you had the ability to change your appearance at will. To alter the color of your hair, eyes, lips, and nails; maybe even your skin? Perhaps give yourself a tan, freckles, or a tattoo. And then swap it again, all in the blink of an eye.What if you could change your clothes to anything you wanted – that dress you saw in the window; those boots you just couldn’t afford – all with a simple thought?Suppose your senses were perfect. Better than perfect. You could see and hear and smell more acutely than you ever thought possible. On occasion, you could even glimpse into the future.You were stronger. Healthier.You were a Princess. An heir to a Kingdom in a beautiful land.What if the most powerful warriors in the land wanted you dead, and would stop at nothing to kill you?In Princess of the Gods: Descendant, a peaceful Kingdom is turned upside down when a teenage Princess discovers her true lineage: She comes from an ancient bloodline that traces straight back to the Old Gods.But this makes her a threat to the New Gods.After an attack on her home destroys the world she knows, every moment of her life becomes a fight for survival.Armed with a pair of energy weapons powerful enough to cut into solid stone – and the ability to change her clothing and appearance with a simple thought – the girl fights back, knowing that it's the only way she’ll ever be able to save her Kingdom.But will her energy blades and superhuman powers be enough to save her from the forces that want her dead?

A Haven in Ash


Robert J. Crane - 2017
    A horde of beasts known only as the scourge has ravaged the land, leaving only the village of Terreas to survive. Hemmed in on all sides by the scourge, the denizens of Terreas eke out a lonely existence, trying to survive in a land that is all but dead. Jasen Rabinn is a teenage boy trapped in Terreas but with a mind rooted outside the boundaries of his village. He longs for adventure, and when the mysterious Baraghosa – a sorcerer of a sort not native to Luukessia – comes to Terreas, a chain of events is set in motion that will carry Jasen beyond his simple town. To adventure. To danger. To his destiny.

The Last Valkyrie


Dietmar Arthur Wehr - 2016
    The last of her kind, she finds a new purpose in protecting the remaining few thousand humans from the hostile alien races called The Compact. As humanity teeters on the edge of extinction, one human male helps her to realize her destiny. She takes on a new role as the last of the mythical Valkyries who have been given the power to decide who lives and who dies. She will need all that power and her Warrior Code discipline when an old threat from the past re-emerges, a threat that this time, she must face alone. Excerpt: A double ping brought his attention back to the display. The Compact fleet had just crossed the outer boundary of the sphere. He watched as the side bar data showed her four turrets’ status which shifted from ‘Tracking’ to ‘locked on’. He shifted his gaze back to the yellow dots just in time to see them flash brightly for half a second before becoming very faint dots that were now falling behind the rest of the still advancing fleet. “Targets hit and disabled,” said Val Ky Ree. Before Ronson could say anything, she continued. “Val Ky Ree to Compact Fleet. I have disabled the three Trior ships that are carrying torsion beam weapons. If you board those ships and examine their cargo compartments, you’ll see what’s left of those weapons. I could have destroyed those ships completely, and I can destroy all of your remaining ships just as easily, but I would prefer not to do that. You are being used by the Trior for their own ends. Now that you have seen my power, you are advised to take advantage of my patience and immediately decelerate to zero velocity. If you do not do so, I will take whatever measures are necessary to defend the humans. If all humans are killed, either now or in the future, the race that is responsible for their elimination will face the same fate. This I swear as an Aesir Warrior!” Ronson held his breath as he watched the velocity data of the Compact fleet. It wasn’t slowing down. Another translated text message scrolled across the display. [The decision to destroy all humans was made by the leaders of our races. Your Aesir are gone! By what authority do you interfere in our quest for justice!”] When Val Ky Ree replied, the volume was deafening. “I AM THE LAST OF THE VALKYRIES! THE GODS GAVE US THE POWER TO DECIDE WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES! YOU HAVE DETERMINED YOUR OWN FATE. IN ORDER FOR MY HUMANS TO LIVE, YOU MUST DIE.” Keywords: Space Opera, military science fiction, space fleet, galactic empire, war

My Body Fell Off!


B.J. Rowley - 2000
    A recent transplant from California to Utah, Bart is just beginning to enjoy the excitement of high school, driving, and dating, when his whole world is turned upside down by the bizarre events transpiring around him. And suddenly, his unusual ability is the only thing standing between life and death for himself and his new-found friends. Now ...imagine trying to explain to ANYBODY about your rare skills and abilities without them thinking you're as crazy as a three-dollar bill and throwing you in the loony-bin for life. My Body Fell Off! delivers a fast-paced, heart-pounding adventure that will leave you gasping at every turn. An adventure that, once begun, will be impossible to put aside until its final, dramatic conclusion.

Navigating the Stars


Maria V. Snyder - 2018
    And Lyra Daniels' parents are the archaeological Experts (yes with a capital E) on the Warriors and have dragged her to the various planets to study them despite the time dilation causing havoc with her social life. When one of the many Warrior planets goes silent, and looters attack her research base, Lyra becomes involved in discovering why the Warriors were placed on these planets. And, more importantly, by who.

Headspace


J.D. Edwin - 2021
    A deadly challenge. The fate of the world is on Astra’s shoulders.Twenty-five-year-old Astra Ching has never sought the spotlight. So when a mysterious black orb appears with a challenge for Earth and selects her to compete in its strange—and very public—game, she’s not pleased to find herself a sudden superstar.The rules are bewildering, and there are no second chances for losers. Yet while Astra fights to stay alive and save the world from imminent destruction, the people of Earth are more interested in tabloids and gossip, like whether or not she’s engaging in a scandalous love affair with a fellow contestant . . . or the mysterious alien known only as Eleven.In her struggle to survive, Astra forms tentative alliances with a handful of trustworthy friends. But as the global gossip seeps into the game and contestants are eliminated with each round, Astra’s celebrity threatens to become infamy and the line between friend and foe blurs.Will she emerge from the arena a hero, or just another headline?

Absolute


P.S. Power - 2016
    Nothing else will do.After the death of his father at the hands of a corrupt government, Ben Epson knows that there is nothing he can do to extract revenge. Not as an ordinary person.So he throws everything he has in with a group of very special rebels, who are more than they seem. From them he will gain the powers, and skills, that he needs to change the world for the better. At the very least, to hurt the ones that stole his life away from him.Or die trying. Possibly both.Because, in the end, that's all he has left.Revenge.Some things make you stronger... Because there is no other choice.

Frank Kurns Boxed Set: Tales Of The Unknown World Books 1-4


Natalie Grey - 2019
    While I fully intend to end up in a dive, I think there is only one way to get rid of the pent up aggression I’m feeling.”“Well, considering how you're decked out,” Eric said, “I think you believe we need to work out our aggression?"“What I’m thinking,” John said, “Is that the best way to get rid of aggression is to mess up some people who desperately need to be messed up. So, I’ve had Frank help me locate a few places that need help. Now, we might not make it to all of them, but by the end of the night we will have done some major good, and I’ll start feeling a little Karmic balance restored. If you guys aren’t full up, well, we will just have to schedule it again.” Bellatrix A young woman, a bad boyfriend, a small black female german shepherd puppy.One of these has got to go...The story of Yelena, her relationship with Bellatrix and how they met the Bethany Anne while the two were trying to save her brother from a Wechselbalg.And beer...Let's not forget the beer.For fans of The Kurtherian Gambit series and world. This is set between books 13 and 14 in The Kurtherian Gambit and explains how Ashur's mate Bellatrix comes to be in the group.And why Bellatrix knows how to properly respond to terrorists in outer space. (For those who LOVED that scene!) Challenges Tabitha has one night to challenge her past, and her belief in herself. Normally, a person would fail. However, Tabitha has an ace in the hole. A female vampire with hundreds of years of life and wisdom and she is willing to protect Tabitha and tell her the truth. Whether Tabitha wants it, or not.And whether the Vampire wants to hurt others is not in question. It is what her Queen would expect. And Gabrielle will make it happen, like it or not. "We kind of thought you have covered that with shoes…"Bethany Anne has a challenge for her team, it’s just they don’t know what it is, exactly.At first, the thought of a seedvault doesn't excite the team much. But the Queen has demanded a less stressful, more enjoyable opportunity to accomplish a needed goal for her people. Then, they add inefficiency into the project on purpose.

War World: Falkenberg's Regiment


John F. Carr - 2018
    Falkenberg was created by Jerry E. Pournelle and made his first appearance in “Peace With Honor” in Analog Science Fiction and Fact in 1972. That and other Falkenberg stories appeared in his fix-up novel, The Mercenary. Colonel Falkenberg and his 42nd Marine Regiment served as the last line of defense of the CoDominium and its many colonial words. This book continues the Falkenberg story, detailing his adventures and those of the 42nd CoDominium Marines on Haven (War World) and on Churchill, as Falkenberg and Admiral Lermontov struggle to keep the CoDominium from fracturing. On Haven the Colonel finds himself set between the Mahdi and his fanatical forces, on one hand, and Dover Minerals and the Bronson family, on the other hand. While on Churchill, Falkenberg is called upon to rectify the problems caused by the CoDominium Bureau of Relocations wholesale dumping of antagonistic populations on the hardscrabble world of Churchill, previously settled by British subjects in favor of the monarchy. Nor, does it help when the Brotherhood, a conspiracy of colonial CD military officers, gets involved providing weapons and money to the rebels.

Argonauts: Books 1 - 3


Isaac Hooke - 2018
    Over a thousand pages of heart-pounding sci-fi action. One great price. With over a hundred thousand books sold and borrowed, the Argonauts series has been one of the best-selling sagas published on Amazon over the past year. For fans of military science fiction and space opera alike, this bundle contains the first three novels: Bug Hunt, You Are Prey, and Alien Empress. In this compelling set, Rade Galaal and his elite team of mercenaries enter the fray to deal with an alien infestation, infiltrate a stone-age civilization, and defend an extraterrestrial homeworld. Download this unique bundle today, because there's never been a better time to hunt some bugs.

Ice


Kevin Tinto - 2015
    While twisting through one of the narrow underground passageways, Leah’s flashlight illuminates the remains of a violent massacre. Ancient human remains—all slaughtered in a long-ago massacre—cover the cavern floor, along with a number of brilliantly colored, granite crystals. The rare crystals are native to only one place on earth: a frozen mountain range in central Antarctica. Could Native Americans have traveled to the frozen continent of Antarctica 800 years prior to the first known human exploration? If so how? And why? There’s only one person who can get Leah to those mountains in Antarctica: her estranged husband and climbing guide Jack Hobson. At their destination they make a stunning discovery that will change history and science forever. But Leah’s team is far from the only interested party. As her secret makes its way to the highest levels of government, a race to seize the Russian-claimed Antarctic territory brings the world to the brink of nuclear conflict.

The Super Olympian: Bloodhound (Shapechanger Tales)


Laer Carroll - 2012
    And she has strange powers. What can feed her challenge-addiction now? Fighting crime? There is plenty of it.

Conflict


Walt Socha - 2016
    His confusion is intensified when he realizes that the girl, Alta, has crossed over from another time and place. And the only way to reunite her with her family is to cross back with her. Accompanied by a few friends, Joe crosses into Alta's world only to find her home destroyed by a savage war chief. Then the gate closes behind them. Stranded in the Eleventh Century, on the present day Susquehanna River, Joe and his band fight to create a safe home for the refugee they've gathered. And to prepare for future European contact.

The Secret of the Sands Trilogy


Rai Aren - 2015
    DESTINY. REVELATIONS.DISCOVERY. WAR. REDEMPTION.From the Great Sphinx to Petra to the Great Pyramid, journey on this epic archaeology adventure, weaving between the past and the present, to uncover hidden ancient secrets and fascinating mysteries about a long lost civilization…Secret of the SandsFor 12,000 years a dark and deadly secret has been hidden deep below the Great Sphinx. In present day Egypt, two archaeologists discover mysterious artifacts belonging to an unknown civilization. A frightening and awe-inspiring story unravels as the archaeologists race against time to decipher the dangerous knowledge they hold…Destiny of the SandsSome secrets cannot remain hidden…and some cannot be forgiven…The Great Sphinx of Giza has guarded a secret, both dangerous and incredible, for 12,000 years. Now deadly enemies emerge, and those involved must face startling truths and deep sorrow, in the fight against the forces of tyranny...Revelation of the SandsA stunning revelation of secrets and destiny that will change everything…Complete the epic journey begun in Secret of the Sands...The mystery deepens. The danger is ever-present. Incredible discoveries await.The Great Sphinx is not the only ancient wonder that has incredible secrets hidden deep within it. But uncovering these secrets will have life-changing consequences. There will be no turning back. It will take a great deal of courage and the testing of faith, on multiple fronts, to face them...The final chapter in this archaeology adventure trilogy now unfolds. The characters you’ve come to know are suddenly thrust down a new, completely different, and even more personal path, to a point of no return. Their journey is about take another perilous turn with mysterious and surprising outcomes that will alter the course of their lives forever.Journey through some of the most magnificent ancient places on earth as you join this final adventure in the Secret of the Sands trilogy…