"Three sizzling otherworldly tales"

The Quest 1: Hunter's Passion by Marilyn Lee

Jemi Hunter's world was shattered by the death of her husband Cody five years ago. Before he died, he promised to find a way to return to her. Jemi has finally started picking up the pieces of her life when the letters start arriving and the dreams begin. She can't see her lover in the dreams, but knows that it isn't Cody. Or is it?

Jemi follows the directions in the last letter from Cody and finds herself in a strange world with a sentient panther-like creature. Somehow, Cody shares this body with its original owner, Hunter. Jemi is now sharing the body of Lady Liege Jeroni Teyer of Volter. It is forbidden for her to mate with a Tern Terrian Carnivore, but the mating urge is almost overwhelming. Why is Jemi finding herself more attracted to Hunter than Cody?

Interspecies sex and multiple sex partners are prevalent in this short story. If these things offend you, you may want to skip this story and go on to the other stories. I found Jemi having sex with a large cat to be somewhat disconcerting, but maybe that's just me. If you're a fan of cat-like alien species, you may find this right up your alley.

Reviewer's note: This novella was originally published in the now out-of-print anthology, FOREVER, from Ellora's Cave.

Sensuality: Rated NC-17 by the publisher. Explicit sex, interspecies sex, multiple partners; sexually explicit scenes: 14.

Galaxy Rogues 1: Return from Exile by Mary Winter

Yelexian Major Rinathallindera "Rina" Corvalano prevents an assassination attempt on the Yelexian emperor by the heir to the throne. Unfortunately, she violated the law by striking the heir. After a hastily assembled meeting of the High Council, Rina is permanently exiled from Yelexia, sparing her from a possible death sentence. Rina is heartbroken when her lover, Lieutenant Captain Terrastan "Ter" Ilykianoiselle, chooses his career over her.

Three and a half years later, Rina is a successful captain of a cargo transport. She's as happy as she can be under the circumstances. She just wishes that she could banish the memories of Ter that still haunt her. And then she sees him in a bar. Is she imagining things? Or has he sought her out for unknown reasons?

Ter has been sent by the Yelexian government to bring Rina back to Yelexia. He doesn't know what they intend to do to her, but he knows that his life has been meaningless since her exile. Can he prove to Rina how much he still desires her? And that his career means nothing without her by his side?

Ter and Rina rekindle the sparks between them easily. What will happen when they reach Yelexia? Will Ter betray Rina again? Or will he risk everything for the woman he loves? Can Rina watch Ter sabotage his career for a life with her?

Sensuality: Rated NC-17 by the publisher. Explicit sex, bondage; sexually explicit scenes: 7.

The Offering by Christine Warren

Major Eve Cartwright of the Protectorate Security Force is facing disciplinary action. Ever since she crossed paths with General Mokollik six months ago, she's been given jobs that are far beneath her normal duties. She's spent five years as an undercover officer but now she's a glorified gofer. When General Mokollik asks the court to delay punishment to use her in a special mission, Eve knows that she's not going to like the assignment. And then she finds out she's to pose as a sex slave.

Eve is transformed into an Ankharan nitara. She will be given to a suspected rebel, Michael Taggert. Eve is supposed to get evidence against Taggert to help convict him of treason. Eve questions the reasons for sending her after Taggert. Is the Protectorate not all that it's cracked up to be? Does General Mokollik have secret plans that run counter to the best interests of the Protectorate?

A fiercely independent woman, Eve finds it difficult to become the total submissive that the nitara role demands. But Eve is surprisingly aroused by the idea of being submissive to Taggert. Will she be able to pull off the deception? What will happen when her role is exposed? Or does Eve have a plan for Michael Taggert?

Sensuality: Rated NC-17 by the publisher. Explicit sex, light bondage, spanking; sexually explicit scenes: 5.

I think that fans of futuristic romances will find the latter two stories to be highly enjoyable. Both Ms. Winter and Ms. Warren have written stories of strong military woman with a soft spot for a special man. I'm not sure how to classify the first story (fantasy, maybe?), but Ms. Lee's fans will gobble up this first tale in her Quest series.

Reviewed by Denise Powers
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted July 13, 2003

Summary

Marilyn Lee, The Quest 1: Hunter's Passion

Publisher's Note: this is a reissue of Ms. Lee's story formerly published by Ellora's Cave

I miss you. I'm working on a way for us to be together again. Get ready...
Those were the words in the last letter Jemi Hunter received from her husband Cody-five years after his death. His last living words to her were that he would find a way for them to be together. Now, on Valentine's Day night, she is waiting in a dilapidated shack in the middle of nowhere, questioning her sanity...
Genre: Futuristic. Rating: NC17.

Mary Winter, Galaxy Rogues 1: Return from Exile

Being exiled from her beloved planet was hard enough for Major Rina Corvalano. Leaving the man she loved, Lieutenant Terrastan Ilykianoiselle, broke her heart in two. Death would have been more merciful. A chance meeting with Ter in a bar seemed like a fluke, until he shows up at her ship the next morning with a dire warning: return to Yelexia with him and face the High Council, or die. Rina can no more refuse the order than she can Ter's body...
Genre: Futuristic; Rated: NC17

Christine Warren, The Offering

Eve Cartwright has landed herself in a bit of a bind. After making an enemy of her superior officer and half the Protectorate government, she discovers her latest undercover mission involves digging up the dirt on suspected smuggler and rebel leader, Michael Taggart. And she has to do it while posing as his sex slave. Now Eve is left wondering if it will be tougher to find the evidence of Taggart's crimes, or to find the strength not to submit completely to his erotic domination...
Genre: Futuristic; light bondage. Rated: NC17.

Sexual Content: NC-17. Genre: futuristic.