Too similar to the previous stories but still quite enjoyable.
3.5 stars

Far less typos than in the first book. :)

Although this is book two in the series, it takes place before Grim and tells us how Wray, who is the emperor, found his Empress and fell in love.
The beginning was dragging and a bit unbelievable. What was the chance of them crashing near a cave with both hot and cold water and surviving more than a week with only a few energy bars. Really? 
It also wasn't believable how quickly Kim got over being raped for two weeks. Yes, she had her reason to trust Wray but it was still far-fetched. 
The story told more about Tornian empire, the Goddess and the curse and all this information was really interesting. I liked how Kim found herself, got more independent, but she also annoyed me because of what she thought about her sister's fate and how she constantly stressed how much she wanted to be a better person. Wray wasn't as fascinating as a main character but I liked him. I even understood his reasons for lying at the beginning of the story.

This book needs serious editing, but the storyline and characters were really good.

About the plot:
500 years ago Tornian emperor did something so awful their Goddess cursed the whole race. As a result less and less females were born. At first it was celebrated because Tornians were warriors, but then they realized something needed to be done to prevent extinction. 
So, nowadays females are protected at all cost. There are Joining Ceremonies where females can choose the warrior they want to join with. There's no love or affection, just things male has to give, so that his bloodline could continue. After the birth warrior gets the child and the female can leave to choose another male, who has enough wealth to give her things she desires.
Things change when a compatible race has been found and twelve unprotected females are taken. Yes, you guessed correctly. The women are snatched from Earth.
Lisa is a widow with two small children, who is taken while visiting her husband's grave. When she wakes in a spaceship and the other women find out that the aliens separated mother from her children Tornians have a mutiny in their hands. But then a scarred warrior Grim, who is actually a king and emperor's brother, offers to retrieve Lisa's children if the woman is ready to join with him. Lisa is not stupid. She knows these bastards will never release her, so, she accepts Grim's offer, when the warrior promises that he will be the only male she has to join with. 
But there are several problems - because of his scars no female sees Grim fit and worthy to join with. Tornian females think that because Grim got scarred in a battle, he is not capable of protecting them. Therefore, Grim taking Lisa and her children is against the law and brings a heap of problems in its wake. And of course, Lisa's children are daughters. Something Grim discover not until he goes with Lisa to get the children. Now Grim has three females in his care and there a quite a lot of males in Tornian, who see it as a big mistake.

My thoughts:
The story was fast-paced, exciting, and even though there were some obvious turns in a plot, it never got boring. It had a fairytale or historical romance kind of feel - living in castles, training in fields. But the story was also about the empire - its history, technology, and achievements. The more I think about it, I guess, I would say it was steampunk in space? I also wouldn't categorize it as an erotic romance. Sure, there was sex in the story, but it was never as explicit as in other alien romances I've read. It's definitely an adult romance but not an erotic romance. 

I liked how bright Lisa was. She had a lot of spunk. Her daughters were just charming. It was so much fun to read what these three brought to Grim's life. At times his confusion was hilarious, but always sweet. Lisa and Grim had quite a lot of misunderstandings but the author never let them drag. These main characters actually communicated and solved their problems. 
All the secondary characters had their own voices and I hope some of them are going to get their own stories. The villains had quite a decent plan and action scenes were great.
I really want to give it 5 stars, because the story actually deserves it, but I can't because of the countless typos. The editing was non-existent.

King Grim Vasteri is the strongest and most feared warrior in the Tornian Empire. He is the King of Luda, blood brother to the Emperor and his line will die with him. He will have no offspring for no female would join with him for once he was scarred he was considered 'unfit'. The Tornian Empire has been dying ever since the great infection caused the birth of females to become a rarity. Since then they have been searching the known universes for compatible females. The Emperor's discovery of a compatible female on a slave ship changed that. He'd ordered Grim to find his Empress' home world so more 'unprotected' females could be obtained, knowing Grim would never be allowed to Join with one.

Lisa Miller is a widowed mother of two little girls, Carly and Miki. Her husband died just a year ago, after a long battle with cancer and she misses him immensely. Friends want her to start dating again but in her heart, she knows there isn't a man on the planet she could love like her Mark. Who could love their girls like their own. Therefore, she'll stay alone.
When Lisa is discovered 'unprotected' at her husband's grave, she wakes on an alien ship heading for an alien world. Refusing to accept this she confronts the large males, demanding she be returned to her children. Seeing his chance to have a female, Grim agrees to accept and protect her offspring, if she agrees to Join with him and only him. Realizing this is the only way she can retrieve her children Lisa agrees and the Tornian Empire changes forever.

As the Squad Leader of the Elite Warriors, Nikhil Kozar was the largest warrior in the Kaliszian Empire. When a shuttle crashes on one of their planets the search and rescue mission turns into something much more complicated.

Mackenzie 'Mac' Wharton had agreed to guide a group that had wanted an adventure on her mountain. They got more than they bargained for when they were all abducted by a group of aliens called the Ganglians. Badly beaten and barely alive Mac finds herself in the arms of the largest male she’s ever seen. She should fear him, should be fighting to get away from him, but there was something about the massive male that called to her.

A traitor threatens the Empire... Someone wants Nikhil dead.... The Zaludians want Mackenzie back... And then there was the secret she's keeping.... Would it be the one thing that finally brought down the Kaliszian Empire? Or would it be the first step in its rebirth?

Review

Yum. Yum. Alien Romance Candy. Clearly, I am on bender. 

I like this spin off series. The hero is sweet and the heroine is resourceful. The culture clashes are a bit overwrought but it is fun way to spend an afternoon.

Can't wait for the next one.