Romance Book Review: Olivia Starke's Project Terminal: Legacy

Author: Olivia Starke 

Series Connection: Project Terminal

ISBN: 9781937325770 

Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

Publisher: Beachwalk Press

Purchase Links: AMAZON Beachwalk Press NOOK 

All Laura wanted to do was finish closing her small town restaurant and go home to her comfy bed, but fate had other plans. While throwing away the restaurant garbage in the back alley a creature attacks her. Okay not a creature, but a zombie. And now she's been kidnaps by a handsome man who tells her this incredible story about how she's going to die in twelve hour and then turn into a zombie. 

Damian has seen it before. A human gets bit by a zombie and they turn into the walking dead, set out to kill whoever they can get their hands on. And it is all the fault of a government agency after creating a supersolider. Damian's job is to kill all the zombies before the world finds out, but he can't just kill the beautiful Laura. He doesn't know why, but she's a fighter and he can't kill that spirit. Not until he absolutely has too. 

But that moment never comes. Laura doesn't die. Something about her keeps her alive and Damian can't let her turn into a human test tube, so he takes her on the run and hopes he can keep her safe from his bosses. 

Lots of action and strong willed heroine and ruggedly sexy hero and heroine make up this well written sci-fi romance. This is just the first in a new series that is starting off really well. Should be interesting to check out future books to come. 

Description: 

Zombies and super soldiers? Laura is the one hope for a world gone Hollywood crazy.

In only a matter of hours Laura Swift has been bitten by a zombie, rescued by Mr. Tall, Dark, and Foreboding, and thrown into a world gone Hollywood crazy. She has no choice but to follow Damian into his underworld of manipulated viruses and genetically altered super soldiers. Even as her life hangs in the balance, she can't deny the attraction she feels for the incredibly sexy and thoroughly imposing Infantryman.

Damian Gonsalves believes he has a cure for the virus changing innocent people into bloodthirsty undead. Within Laura is the key to stopping the horrific plague. All he has to do is keep her alive and safe, and stay one step ahead of those pursuing them. Her stubbornness frustrates him to no end, while her body drives him to distraction.

When they discover the secret behind Project Terminal, will they survive long enough to help stop the unleashed horror? Or will they just be two more victims of a virus threatening all of humanity?

Content Warning: graphic sex, strong language, and violence

Romance Book Review: Jayne Castle's The Lost Night

Five Heart Review

Author: Jayne Castle

Series Connection: A Rainshadow Novel

ISBN: 978-0515152845

Genre: Sci-Fi/ Romance

Publisher: Jove

Purchase Link

In her first of the Rainshadow Novel series, Jayne Castle brings her audience back to Harmony and continues her story after Canyons of Night. Changes in weather patterns to the island brings Harry Sebastian, a Foundation security expert and member of the family that owns the Preserve, to investigate. 

There are some strange happenings on the Rainshadow and one of the top suspects on the list is Rachel, a woman was lost in the Preserve for a night and then found her way out all on her own. Not many people would not get lost inside the Preserve much less find their way out without help. However Rachel can't remember anything that happened during her night in the Preserve. 

Rachel knows she's a suspect in the happenings on the island as far as Harry is concerned, but she can't help her attraction to Harry. She understands the importance of what's happening on Rainshadow but she can't think of anyone on the island that would be part of problems. Now she has to try to remember that lost night, work to stay alive when someone out there might be trying to kill her and Harry, as well as work to find out what is going on in the island. 

The Lost Night opens a series that investigates what is causing the problems on the island and the search of the three mysterious crystals that were brought from earth when the settlers came to Harmony. 

I love Jayne Castles world building skills. There is just enough of earth to make Harmony recognizable, but enough different to make it seem new age or a future earth.

Description:

Even the mysterious world of Harmony has people who don’t quite fit in. They’re drawn to places like Rainshadow Island, a beautiful sanctuary where anyone can feel safe—and where secrets are closely guarded... 

Schooled in an exotic form of martial arts, and with the ability to detect the auras of dangerous psychic criminals, Rachel Bonner and her dust bunny companion have found peace and quiet on Rainshadow Island, operating a bookstore and café.

But her tranquil new life is thrown into chaos when Harry Sebastian, the descendant of a notorious pirate, arrives to investigate strange developments in the privately owned woods known as the Preserve.

Immediately drawn to the amber-eyed woman, Harry must tread carefully. While Rachel’s special talents can help him track down dangerous rogues who have violated the Preserve, they can also sense the heart of darkness within him. But desire can weaken the strongest of defenses—and leave even the strongest man wanting more…

Romance Book Review: C.L. Scholey’s Enslaved

Author: C.L. Scholey
ISBN: N/A
Genre: Sci-fi Romance/ Menage
Publisher: Whispers Publishing

Purchase this book here

Minuets' life is just about as bad as it can get. In fact, so far she thinks her lot in life couldn't be any worse. That is until she walks through the forest around home one day and finds a injured man and then  gets shot herself. She wakes up in a strange place and things appear to go from bad to worse, when she is mistaken for someone else. 

Chason and Rance need to get Chason's spy wife back to save face with his people, when they storm a pirate vessel and grab the woman, they have no idea she is a woman from Earth. Why would they when she looks and talks just like Chason's betraying wife. But as facts start to unfold, maybe the stories she's telling aren't so far fetched after all. 

Interplanetary travel, sexy alphas, a pack mentality and a 48 year-old woman who has just been given a body to die for make up this sexy sci-fi. 

Description:

Being in the wrong place at the wrong time seemed to be an occupation of Minuets. Crippled in a car accident at nineteen, walking in on her husband and his lover at thirty. Coming across a bank robbery at forty and just recently losing her job at forty-eight because her boss was having a bad day.

Minuet thought it couldn't possibly get any worse. She was mistaken. Who would have thought finding a gorgeous hunk of a man on the forest floor in need of her aid would be a bad thing?

Holding the man's head in her lap and promising to find him aid Minuet finds herself looking down the business end of a futuristic weapon. Before she can explain she means the man no harm she is shot and killed by his comrade.

When Minuet opens her eyes she finds herself on a strange ship in a strange body married to a strange man. Her 'husband' Chason hates her, his best friend Rance is in love with her and the only way she can prove she is not a Zain spy out to enslave the planet Zanuth with her dancing is to be at the right place at the right time.

Romance Book Review: Claiming Earth

Author: Loribelle Hunt
Series Connection: Delroi Connection
ISBN: 978-1-59578-712-5
Genre: Sci-Fi/ Erotic Romance
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

[Excerpt]

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Book 4 of the Delroi Connection features Janice Hawkins, a earthling telepath who holds the Tel Group responsible for the murder of her parents years before. The group killed her parents because they wouldn't let Janice become part of their secret organization as a child. Moving the story from where Loribelle Hunt left off in the previous book, Stolen Earth, Janice is on the planet Delroi working to get information the Tel Group is interested in. She doesn't want to work for them any more, but they have made it more then clear if she doesn't she will lose the only family she has left.

Now there is another complication in Janice's life. Falkor, second in command of his clan on Delroi has told her she is his mate. Janice is attracted to Falkor and wouldn't mind a night with him, but she can't afford to become his mate. That would mean certain death for him and other of her friends. After a visit of the infamous "Shadow" another earthling telepath that works for Tel Group, her best bet is to head home finish up her assignment and get back to trying to find a way to get back to her plan to bring down Tel Group once and for all.

Of course Falkor isn't willing to let her go that easily.

I haven't read any of the previous books to this series, but it didn't take much to become updated on the story. Not badly written and the characters were interesting. There were several very vivid sex scenes throughout the book, which included a few good telepathic action scenes as well.


Description:
Janice Hawkins is on a mission, and it doesn’t include getting wrapped up—or naked—with Delroi warrior Falkor Trace. No matter how appealing and sexy he is.

She’s determined to infiltrate the shadowy Tel Group homebased on Earth. The secretive organization of telepaths trained her, used her for dishonorable means, and may have been behind the death of her parents. When word reaches her the organization is once again recruiting minors, she knows the time has come to act. She may not be left standing at the end, but she’s taking them with her.

Falkor is intrigued by Janice—enough to follow her to Earth—but when he begins digging, he discovers she is a mix of lies and secrets. Unraveling them exposes a woman of courage and honor. A woman who has always walked alone. She may not be willing to admit she needs help, but he’s not about to leave her to such a dangerous undertaking on her own. But to emerge victorious, they must learn to trust each other--and time is running out.

Romance Book Review: Captured

Author: Julia Rachel Barrett
ISBN: 1-60601-722-5
Genre: Erotic Romance/Contemporary/ Science Fiction
Published By: Siren-Bookstrand, Inc.

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Mari wakes to find herself kidnapped and locked in a cage. That alone would be bad enough, but she comes to find that she has not been kidnapped by humans but by aliens that come to steal women from Earth to bring back to be sold at a meat market. For some reason instead of being kept asleep during her travel, Mari stays awake and works to try to gain the aliens' sympathy.

Ekkart has been harvesting Earth women for 20 years, but he has never taken the time to get to know his prey. He has no idea that humans are capable of feelings and when he realizes this he becomes confused and doesn't understand all of the things his elders has taught him of Earthlings.

This love story is a great read for Valentine's weekend. The love story that forms between Mari and Ekkart is one of acceptance and love that builds over time.

Description:
Mari never expects to find herself in a cage in a cargo hold on a spaceship. She quickly learns from her captors she's headed to the meat market. When they try to return her to hypersleep, she resists. After allowing her to stay awake, Mari realizes her survival depends on connecting with the male in charge, Ekkatt. She must make him see her as a sentient being or she will end up as dinner.

Ekkatt has never spoken to any human. They are valued for one thing, the money they bring at auction. The Attun race are vegetarians, but other species prize human flesh and bring in good money. Then the female with red hair speaks to him and forces him to admit she has a name. Mari throws Ekkatt's entire life into question, the biggest question...can he watch her sold to the highest bidder? l

Romance Book Review: Werewolf on Somana Two

Author: Brenda Steele
ISBN: 978-1-935348-92-4
Genre: Erotic Romance/ Werewolf/ Sci-Fi
Publisher: Amira Press

[Excerpt]

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I think writing a book that takes place on a different planet must be a lot of fun. The author can go totally wild with their imagination and create a whole knew world with any kind of strange goings on that they want. On that new world having people change into werewolves wouldn't be all that strange, because hey, this isn't Earth, the slate is clean.

That is what Brenda Steel does in her new book Werewolf on Somana Two. Alpha werewolf Gabriel comes to Sonmana Two, okay from Earth, to find his brother. Since there is always a full moon or two on Sonmana Two he knows that his brother is going to go a little crazy if he stays too long. Lucky for Gabriel as an alpha he can control himself a bit more, but just barely.

In looking for his brother he finds Kelly, the woman his brother was sent to find. Kelly is a witch with special powers that she isn't suppose to use on the planet. She does so in secret and helps those who need medical attention that they don't want the planet's government to know about. While Gabriel is a lone wolf and always has been, he can't help but be attracted to Kelly. Is it the planets moons affecting him or can Kelly be his mystical mate?

I liked the storyline and the descriptions of the Sonmana Two. I'm hoping that Brenda will do more with the story, but I couldn't tell if she was going to on her website. She has definitely paved the way for a second or more story.

Description:
Kelly runs a quaint herbal-magic shop on Somana Two, a space station on the moon. She casts spells to keep herself under the radar of the agents who create more restrictive laws every day, and enjoys just serving her customers. But then her ordered existence is turned upside down when a strange man binds her magic and has her arrested, and then a wolf slaughters all the agents before he turns his dark eyes on her. Kelly runs from one werewolf who wants to kill her into the arms of another who wants her in his bed. The beast inside Gabriel won’t take no for an answer, and from his first touch on her heated skin, Kelly wouldn’t dream of turning him down. The question is, will Kelly lose her magic, lose her life, or lose her heart?

Romance Book Review: Obsidian Prey

Author: Jayne Castle
Series Connection: Harmony Book 6

ISBN-13: 978-0515146899
Genre: Sci-Fi

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The sixth book in her Harmony series Jayne once again brings readers back to the planet of Harmony. In this story readers meet Lyra, who has her heart broken by Cruz three months before. Now Cruz returns to enlist her help and to win her back.

Cruz knows that he made a mistake letting Lyra go three months ago. He had hoped that after she got over his little lie and stealing her amber mine that she would understand that he did it for her own good and would take him back. When she doesn't respond the way he wants, he can't understand because he knows they are meant to be together.

Lyra is attracted to Cruz but she isn't sure she can trust him, and why should she when he doesn't even say he's sorry for what he did to her three months ago. The only reason why he came back to her now was because he needed her help in releasing some men trapped in the mine.

This is a fairly decent book, but not one of my favorites. The hero is right in character with most of Jayne's other heros. He believes his way is the right way and can't figure out why Lyra just doesn't get it. Lyra is also very much like Jayne's heroines, offering her own shot at being stubborn about what she believes, but of course she's fallen for Cruz so what can she do?

Fan's of Jayne's will enjoy this story and those who have never read her before will get a good taste of her style.

Description:
Two hundred years after the closing of the energy Curtain that allowed interplanetary travel—cutting off all contact to Earth—the planet Harmony is thriving. Thanks to an abundant supply of amber, which powers not only electrical machines for everyday use but also psychic abilities in the colonists, Harmony has created a stable, progressive community. But when that stability is threatened, resolving an ancient family feud and a fresh lover's quarrel might be the planet's only hope.

Three months ago, Lyra Dore suffered a heartbreak and a hostile takeover—both at the hands of the same man. A descendant of her ancestors' fierce rival. Cruz Sweetwater charmed his way into Lyra's heart and gained access to her pet project, an amethyst ruin. Then he took over the project and took off. When Cruz walks back into her life and requests a private meeting, Lyra convinces herself he's there to crawl and beg forgiveness. Wrong again—he just needs her help. With the project he stole from her.

Five innocent men are trapped inside a chamber in the amethyst ruin, and Lyra is the only one who can reopen the door. Reluctantly she agrees to help. Then Cruz wants her to apply her talents to the rest of the ruin—because no one else can work it. Lyra and Cruz are both harboring psychic secrets. Unknown—and dangerous—powers pulse within the amethyst ruin, and the closer Lyra gets to them, the more at risk she becomes. And now she must decide whether to trust her guts or her heart...

Romance Byte: Beyond The Rain

Author: Jess Granger
ISBN: 978-0425229262
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Release Date: Aug. 4, 2009

Description:
In a universe torn apart by civil war, a warrior and a slave must fight for their freedom, for their lives, and for a love that may destroy them both…

After five years behind enemy lines, Captain Cyani is ready to retire to her homeworld of Azra as one of the Elite — the celibate warrior sisterhood that rules the planet. But first she must complete one final mission to rescue her fellow Union soldiers. The last thing she expects to find is a prisoner, chained and beaten — but radiating feral power and an unbroken spirit…

Soren is a Byralen, an enigmatic people who possess a unique hormone that they use to bond with their mates — and that is sold as a sexual narcotic in the shadow trade. For years, he has endured torture at the hands of his captors as they leeched his very essence. The last thing he expects is to be freed from slavery by a beautiful warrior woman with radiant blue eyes.

Driven by her rigid sense of honor, Cyani frees Soren even though her life hinges upon the success of her mission. But after so many years in bondage, his hormones are so unbalanced that he will die if he does not bond with a woman. Can the lovely but distant warrior be the woman he needs to survive, or will the forbidden bond destroy them?

About the author from her Website:
I grew up in a small town in the middle of the San Joaquin Valley in California. As a kid, I spent most of my time reading, swimming, fostering my obsession with horses, and annoying my two brothers. I loved to write, though I’m pretty sure the only “book” I wrote as a child had something to do with a princess hiding behind a tapestry so she could sneak out of her castle because her brother was being mean and she wanted an adventure. I don’t think I ever finished that one, which is a shame.

My imaginative childhood grew into a thirst for knowledge and adventure that I’ve kept to this day. I love to travel and try new things. I worked as a balloon artist in restaurants, rehabilitated injured hawks and owls as a volunteer at a raptor management center, traveled all over the country during my trumpet playing days with the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh, managed to wander to Europe to explore Germany, France, and Spain, and finally settled down with my wonderful husband to raise a couple of kids, a couple of cats and one fantastic All-American mutt.

Now my hobbies include making beer, birdwatching, and trying to tame my massive butterfly garden. I hope to bring you stories of love and adventure that entertain you as much as they have captivated me.

Romance Book Review: Davin's Quest

Author: Bianca D'Arc
Series Connection: Resonance Mates
ISBN: 1-60504-011-8
Genre: Sci-Fi

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Bianca D'Arc continues with her Resonance Mates series bringing the readers forward 16 years. The O'Hara's daughter, Callie, is now full grown and she meets one of the Alvian aliens, Davin. Davin isn't like the other aliens who have taken over the planet Earth. He feels emotions that the other aliens do not and because of his differences he lives his life in danger from his own kind. Although he is basically an outcast, he is in a very high ranking position. Leaving his work base he travels to where the few humans still live in hopes of finding his true mate or risk going mad.

When he finds Callie, his Resonance Mate, she is too young for him, but just being able to communicate with her until she gets older is all he needs to keep his mind sane. Years go by and finally he has his chance to be with the mate he has fallen in love with.

In the mean time, human, Rick St. John, has been hiding out in the mountains with his father until the aliens come and hold him captive. He is sent to be experimented on with the rest of the humans that are captured. While being held in the underground prisons, he becomes a leader working for better treatment for the humans being held by the aliens.

When Rick meets Callie and Davin, Davin realizes that Rick is also Callie's Resonance mate. Can the three of them come to terms with what this means and at the same time stay one step ahead of the enemies who want to kill Davin?

This is a wonderfully originally written science fiction novel. I love Bianca's imagination and where it takes her in this love story. While this book has several well crafted erotic scenes, they're almost seem secondary to the story at large about the new world that is being created in the story. It is a good read with detailed characters and crafty story line.

Description:
Which man will Callie choose, the alien or the warrior? Or can she have both?

For each Alvian, there is one perfect match—a Resonance Mate whose soul blends in perfect harmony. Unlike the rest of his race, Davin has emotions and suffers for it. Without a mate, he is doomed to go mad. Searching for answers and understanding, he seeks out Callie O’Hara, a human woman with strong empathic gifts. Could this fragile human be his Resonance Mate?

Rick St. John is a tough-as-nails survivor of the Alvian occupation of Earth. He doesn’t believe in much, but when he sees Callie for the first time, he starts to believe in love at first sight.

The Governing Council is gunning for Davin, the upstart who dares to defy them. And they’ll kill anyone who gets in their way. Davin and Rick must come to terms with their feelings for Callie in order to keep her safe, while she has to find a way to save them both... with her love.