Taking Command

Taking Command by Jennifer Leeland
Command series, Book 1

Liquid Silver Books, 2008

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Through all those years of watching Star Trek: the Next Generation, you know you were thinking it. You wondered if they ever used the holodeck for sexy time. Admit it. There no shame. We were all there with you. After all, Riker always had that shifty gleam in his eye that made you sure he was a closet perv. And that little, bearded smile of his -- very suspect.

And that brings me to Taking Command, from Jennifer Leeland's Command series. (I mean the sexy holodeck escapades, not Riker's pervy beard.) Taking Command is a futuristic story set on a spaceship, off on a colonizing mission. Prolonged time in space is rough on the psyche, so the passengers and crew typically blow off steam with visits to the virtually fantasy room. Daniella Pierce seizes the opportunity to indulge in some fantasies she's never been able to explore with the men in her life. She has no reason to think that the sexy man from her reality is real, much less the captain of the ship.

Captain Jake Tarune has some ghosts in his past, and the ship's VFR is the perfect way to exchange tension for pleasure. But when he realizes the lover responding so perfectly to his fantasies is not a hologram but rather a flesh and blood woman, he's consumed with a new kind of frustration. He's determined to find his fantasy lover, even if she doesn't want to be found. 

But things aren't as easy as that. While Jake and Dani come to terms with their attraction, other problems hit the deck. Someone on board doesn't want the ship's crew to complete its mission. It will be up to Jake to uncover the traitor in their midst -- no matter who it might be.

So, as you may have guessed, this isn't paranormal romance. More like sci-fi romance. And purists might say it's romantica rather than "proper" romance. But whatever. Moving on...

This book isn't shy; it dives right into the action, and I do mean the good stuff. There's a significant BDSM flavor here, which the title suggests. I wouldn't say it's crucial to the plot, but it does provide the foundation for the relationship between Dani and Jake, so if that's not your thing then stay clear.

Still with me? Good. But let's talk technicalities (sorry if you were hoping to talk bondage -- maybe next time). The pace of the book did feel a little rushed, but it hit a certain stride about a quarter of the way through and progressed more naturally from there. Jake and Dani have an intense interaction, which sort of grounded the story with more substance. Then things really picked up as the plot expanded beyond their relationship, and Jake proved to be not just a bad boy but also a badass.

I can't say that I ever connected to Dani. She never really took life of her own; rather, she seemed like the vehicle for developing other characters. Following her narrative brought her us into contact with side characters like Paul, Sashina, and Troy. And, of course, Jake. So while I did enjoy this book, I wonder if I would enjoy other books from this series more. But then, I imagine that kind of curiosity is good news for the author.

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This booked was received courtesy of NetGalley and Liquid Silver Books.

Perfect Mate

Perfect Mate by Mina Carter

"Monsters do exist...and they're the good guys."

Samhain Publishing (2012)

What you'll find: werewolves, vampires, and zombies. Practically the holy trinity of paranormal romance these days, but one must admit it's a potent combination when crafted by the hands of a skilled writer.

Mina Carter, for instance, is a shining star that helps guide paranormal beings out of the treacherous void of melodrama, poet shirts, and misplaced sparkles. She brings things firmly into the here and now with this book about military experiments gone wrong, wisecracking werewolves toting assault weaponry, and tough-chick heroines that like to do a bit of asskicking of their own, thank you very much.

Perfect Mate is the first book of Carter's "Mate" series and introduces a world where the US military has secretely been experimenting on soldiers in order to create elite fighters that can take a lickin' while ripping your head off with a smile. In short, the government is creating a covert force of werewolves, vampires, and—you guessed it—zombies.

One such experiment is Captain Jack Harper, a superior fighter and alpha of his lycanthropic squad. Jack has gone out of his way to make him and his men seem like obedient, mindless soldiers--all the while planning their escape.

Lillian Rosewood strives to be a competent hospital manager, but truthfully she feels like something is missing from her life. She longs for adventure and excitement—not  expecting to actually find it when Jack Harper's fatally wounded body comes through her door. Suddenly she must come to terms with supernatural beings, military assassins, and an inexplicable attraction to a perfect stranger that may actually be her perfect mate.

This is a wonderful addition to the scores of werewolf romances out in the world. From cover to cover, it's a non-stop joy ride of vivid imagery and tangible action. Rarely have I read a book where the character's personalities so easily crawled out of the pages and it my mind. Perfect Mate is remarkable in that aspect, and it made all the difference in my reading experience.

What's particularly refreshing about this book is the break it provides from the softer side of paranormal romance. Sometimes, you really want a little edge with your fangs and claws—and  not just the quasi-BDSM bedroom games that pop up in most paranormal romances today. I mean, blood and guts and bullets flying. And for that, there's nothing like a pack of military elite soldiers who just also happen to be angry werewolves. Throw in a cool-as-bloody-ice vampire assassin and some fresh-from-the-lab zombies, and you've got yourself a party.

Perfect Mate is a vividly engaging story that won't disappoint. It's sexy as hell, incredibly well-written, hilariously funny at times... and it has an exceptionally hot guy on the cover. Needless to say, I loved it. You better believe I'll be racing to get my hands on the next book, Blood Mate, which is currently a work-in-progress.

You can read other reviews at: The Romanceaholic / Long and Short Reviews / Not Now... Mommy's Reading

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