"The Last Tul'Mar Sibling Gets Her Mate"

Krysta Tul'Mar, Captain of the Arda Home Guard, has been captured by a rebel Ardani faction. Stuck under the thumb of the cruel Outlanders and their leader, Darkyn Weil, she is at the mercy of a group of people who truly believe that Armageddon is coming and that they are the only ones who can avert it. When Darkyn steps into this charged, politically dangerous situation, things explode -- for Krysta is the woman who incites within him the Ardani mating fervor, a mind-scrambling, body-burning method of recognition between true souls' mates.

Darkyn doesn't want a mate, and even the beautiful warrior woman he finds tied in his room cannot change that basic fact. But it's impossible to stop the fervor once it has awakened, and the vitally important concerns of his people soon pale in significance to finding out more about his destined mate.

As the time of conflict — and death — draws nearer, family becomes more important than ever before. Though their mating couldn't come at a worse time, Krysta and Darkyn soon find that everything may be going according to plan after all. The plan just isn't following their blueprints anymore....

For fans of the other two books in the Arda series, THE CAPTAIN'S FANCY picks up right where the previous book left off. Events are re-examined for a reader new to the series — or one who read book two so long ago that things have blurred — but it serves nicely as the story's setup and doesn't lag or feel too 'infodumpy'. The characters are well developed and very sympathetic and the plot, a building Armageddon-type story with all its emotional ups and downs, is well concocted. The sexual content is flaming hot and grabbingly emotional, though some readers may be turned off by the group (family) encounters. There is also a distinct tang of 'open-endedness' to the book, too, which is hopefully a herald of future Arda books to explore the new races, cultures and family dynamics that Ms. Windsor has set forth in this volume. This book will be most enjoyed by readers who have read the previous volumes, but even without knowing the rest of the Tul'Mar family, THE CAPTAIN'S FANCY is a rare and special treat. A wonderful read to close up the (initial?) trilogy of stories featuring Tul'Mar siblings. Definitely recommended.

Sensuality Level: This book has been rated "E-rotic" by the publisher.

Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Courtesy Sensual Romance Reviews
Posted May 26, 2004

Book 3 in the Arda series

Summary

"It's my turn," has been Krysta Tul'Mar's deep-hearted cry to find love and her soul's mate, even as she aids in the defense of her homeworld. As Captain of the Ardani Home Guard, she's always been able to take care of herself. But now, she's in serious trouble. She's been kidnapped by a fire-eyed outlaw, a man rumored to be ruthless in his rule— and his tastes. His passion and fire draw her to him, even though she knows he is her enemy.

Darkyn Weil, chief of Arda's rebellious Outlanders, knows only duty, responsibility, and destiny. He's bound to battle an ancient evil, to fight a fight likely to cost him his life. He can't fall in love, and he certainly can't mate. No woman could be asked to bear what lies ahead for him. But once he sees Krysta, once he touches her—he can't turn away from such passion.