Hunted (Frost Station Alpha #1) by Ruby Lionsdrake

Because you think she's pretty and like the way she shot you.

Available at Amazon.com

Hunted
Ruby Lionsdrake
Frost Station Alpha, part one
Kindle Edition, 78 pages
Published August 7th 2015
ASIN B013M3LJ42

Lieutenant Tamryn Pavlenko wants to make a name for herself in the GalCon Fleet, so naturally she requests an assignment on the infamous Frost Station Alpha, where pirate attacks are a way of life. The remote research outpost holds secrets that many are willing to kill for, and Tamryn is prepared to protect it from brigands, mobsters, and mercenaries—or whatever the galaxy throws at her.

The brochure, however, failed to mention the genetically engineered super humans who were supposed to have all been killed in a war that ended more than a century ago. It seems they’re not only alive, but they want the station. Oh, and one of them decides he wants Tamryn too.

This powerful warrior might be sexy and intriguing, but he was bred to kill, and she can’t let herself forget that he’s the enemy.

*Frost Station Alpha is a science fiction romance published in six parts.

What an action-packed, amazing start from this six part book from Lionsdrake! I knew she was great from the Mandrake Company, but it's nice to find that this author has many a good story to tell.

After one hundred-fifty years in stasis, Makkon emerges from his cryonic slumber with clear orders: Take over a specific military base controlled by the very government that created and destroyed his people, or die trying. With a small hunting team, he manages a rather successful, guns blazing attack with numerous dead bodies lying about only to be led on a wild chase through the tubes and tunnels of the station on the heels of the communications tech, Tamryn. She's intelligent, brazen, and smells so good that Makkon can't help but fall off his game and by the end of the hunt, Makk takes not one, but two wounds, from the defiant female. His brothers are in awe of her spunk. Well, except for Rebek and Makk's co-commander, Brax. They just want her dead.

I liked Makkon. Even better, I loved his men.

5 out of 5 stars.

Pirates of the Dark Nebula (Hearts in Orbit # 2)

She loves me.

Available at Amazon.com

Pirates of the Dark Nebula
S.C. Mitchell
Hearts in Orbit, book two
ebook, 228 pages
Published July 1st 2015 by Soul Mate Publishing
Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited

It can’t fall into the wrong hands.

Luna Callista holds the key to a galaxy-changing new technology. Captured by a ruthless band of deep-space pirates, she’s rescued by a man filled with dark secrets of his own. Who is Rik Mazar?

Galactic protector or rogue pirate?

After three years undercover among the Brotherhood of the Dark Nebula, Rik Mazar isn’t sure what side of the law he’s walking. In a world of murder and betrayal, his life goes on the line every day. But, protecting Luna Callista means putting his heart in as much danger as his hide.
A rusting service droid, a Ferang fortuneteller, and a ship full of back-water refugees are their only allies, as two hearts go into orbit to save a galaxy in peril.

HEARTS IN ORBIT: VOLUME 2 – PIRATES OF THE DARK NEBULA is a science fiction romance set in the far-flung space-traveling future, continuing the series’ course across a galaxy filled with love and adventure.

Another awesome read in the Hearts in Orbit series. Are we awaiting a third?

Luna Callista is just one of the two brilliant minds whom have successfully discovered the means to constructing an asteroid avoidance system, and unfortunately has landed herself in the sights of pirates looking to steal the technology. But with a token of good luck, the ship that looks to take her captive has within its crew an undercover marshal named Rik Mazer. And it's Rick's quick thinking that manages to get Luna to safety amidst the danger of her ship being boarded. Stroke of genius there.

: SPOILERS :

Under the guise of being Rik's new girlfriend, Lard, Luna makes it safely to Rik's home and manages a single night before her cover is blown by her droid, Harvey. With a newly bestowed right to captain the ship, Rik pulls together a crew of refugees with various skills--the most remarkable being a thirteen year old boy that quickly becomes a successful gunner with nothing more than gaming experience--and high tails it with Luna in tow.

From there, it's all about staying one hyper jump away from their pursuers until the chase inevitably ends up in the uncharted Andromeda galaxy. ...In a battle against an evolved insecticide race to top off the ridiculousness of it all.

In comparison to the first book, I felt The Blarmling Dilemma had more going on. Looking back, it doesn't seem like that much happened in this book, except for a lot of back and forth. Not that that in any way took away from the budding romance between the two mature protagonists. I just love the logical mindset and sophistication of Mitchell's characters, and experiencing the same conversation from both points of view is always an extra special bonus for me. Especially for Rik.

Although, between the two of them, I do prefer Rigel.

4 out of 5 stars.


Previously in the series:

Karac (Kaldar Warriors #1)

"Oh I haven’t even begun to manhandle you."

Available at Amazon.com

Karac
Tracy J. Yelden
Kaldar Warriors, book one
ebook, Kindle Edition, 264 pages
Published October 30th 2014
Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited

One phone call was all it took to turn Ashley’s world upside down. Aliens from outer space? Check. Government deal to mandate women sign up for alien courtship? Check. A woman willing to allow someone else to dictate her life? No way in hell. Screw the government. Screw the aliens. She makes her own decisions on how her future plays out.

One small, obscure planet in the farthest reaches of the universe. How Karac and his fellow warriors stumbled across it, he’ll never know. But thank the gods they did. The planet was teeming with possible truemates. One mate for each warrior - a lifelong commitment of respect, loyalty, and protection. What more could a female ask for? Too bad his mate doesn’t see it that way.

Two different cultures, two different worlds. Will they come to understand each other, let alone make a lifelong bond? Trouble brews back on Karac’s home planet and Karac needs Ashley to see things his way, quickly. With time running out, Ashley will have to make a decision that could change the fate of the universe, forever.

Great reviews (and a premise built on a foundation similar to the much adored Brides of the Kindred series by Evangeline Anderson) led me to snatch up this Kindle Library book the moment I found it. Once in, I wasn't sure how far I would make it. Told, at first, from Ashley's point of view, her personality had a clashing affect on my own. However, soon enough she won me over and once she and Karac actually met (at about twenty percent in), I was officially hooked. Let me tell you, this chick has balls.

This first installment of the Kaldar Warriors opens up the day the Kaldarhns announce to the governments of Earth that they are willing to trade knowledge and technology for the opportunity to seek for their Truemates among the unmarried women of Earth. Contracts are drawn up and released to the public. The women, between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five, have thirty days to register, providing a photo and blood sample. What happens after those thirty days is anyone's guess at that point.

From there, it's a rally for Ashley's family as they all come together to figure out how to protect the youngest, and only unmarried, member of the family. The final decision: Ashley has to disappear for the next seventeen years.

She has a mildly successful run, at first. But with only fifteen percent of the eligible population actually registering, the terms of the contract are unfulfilled, allowing the Kaldahrns to seek out their mates in phase two: public data searches, including Red Cross donor files. While 'love at first sight' may be an Earth myth, it's the very heart of the Kaldahrn mating ritual. When Karac first sees Ashley's photo, he's drawn to her. The first time their eyes meet, he knows she's his.

Something you should know about this book--something I didn't know because, as I said, I snatched it up quick as a bullet--is that there is no smut. The romance is beautiful, and that alone makes up for it. It's just... for a virgin who hasn't ever even kissed a guy, the girl deserved some hot smut. Just sayin'.

Now, if we can just locate the rock that this author is hiding under, I have a couple questions: 1) Where is book two? Is there a book two? Is it Darrok's story? Can it please be Darrok's story? I need some geek on geek action!

4 out of 5 stars.

Find the answers to my questions here.

The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld #3)

I have a feeling I will always come for you.

Available at Amazon.com

The Darkest Pleasure
Gena Showalter
Lords of the Underworld, book three
ebook, 308 pages
Published July 1st 2008 by Harlequin Books
ISBN 9781426818806


Reyes is a man possessed. Bound by the demon of pain, he is forbidden to know pleasure. Yet he craves a mortal woman, Danika Ford, more than breath and will do anything to claim her--even defy the gods.

Danika is on the run. For months she's eluded the Lords of the Underworld, immortal warriors who won't rest until she and her family have been destroyed. But her dreams are haunted by Reyes, the warrior whose searing touch she can't forget. Yet a future together could mean death to all they both hold dear.

For a reader who just looooooves a tortured hero, it doesn't get much better than Reyes, a warrior possessed by the demon of Pain.

Reyes and Danika first became acquainted when the gods called upon Aeron to take the lives of four human females: A grandmother, her daughter, and her daughter's daughters. Danika was the youngest of the two daughters. The Lords captured the woman and held them hostage for their own safety. Of course, that little piece of information was neither shared or explained to the woman and, once freed, they ran and hid. From the lords, and each other. Reyes found a connection to Danika from the beginning. He wanted her, needed her, but was forced to turn away lest his demon's needs taint her and the sickness of the pleasure found in pain corrupt her.

Despite getting no pleasure from the act, Reyes challenges her to a kiss when she refuses to attack him. Hoping it would be different with Dani, disappointment rises when the gentle but passionate touch of her leaves him flaccid. When she punches him thereafter, the strike instantly arousing him, Reyes is forced to confess his secret shame. And when she asks if he wants her to hurt him, he refuses that as well. For the before-mentioned reasons. The entire scene was one of the hottest first kiss moments I've read in quite a while. Having your heart go from pounding to breaking in the span of seconds is quite the ordeal.

Finally, in this book, the reason for Danika and her family's death sentence comes to light as Danika confesses, much to her own doubts, that she can see into heaven and, very likely, hell. She is the Eye.

It was the ending that soured this one and dropped it from a perfect five stars. Spoiler alert: If all it took to save Danika from Cronus was her pulling Reyes into heaven, then that's something that should have happened the moment she was torn from his arms. Absolutely nothing changed in those five days they were apart that made her any more capable of doing so then than in the beginning. Sorry, I don't buy into it being any more than word filler.

4 out of 5 stars.

Lords of the Underworld still to come...
4: Sabin & Gwen (immortal)
5: Aeron & Olivia (angel turned demon)
6: Gideon & Scarlet (demon possessed immortal)
7: Amun & Haidee (demon assassin)
8: Strider & Kaia (harpy)
9: Paris & Sienna (possessed by Wrath)
10: Kane & Josephina (half-Fae)
11: Torin & Keeley (the Red Queen)
12: Cameo & ?

Previously in this series: