Torn from modern day Earth and stranded on the far side of the Galaxy, Sandrea Fairbairn must use every particle of courage she possesses to adjust to her new life and live for tomorrow.

Eugen Mhartak, a general in the Tri-Race Alliance Army, refuses to bow to the merciless Bluthen. Haunted by the loss of far too many innocent lives he has vowed to drive the ruthless invaders from Alliance space.

The strength and valor of Eugen Mhartak attracts Sandrea as no man ever has, but she struggles to read the enigmatic general’s heart. Determined to help him triumph over the Bluthen she uncovers a diabolical plot against the Alliance.

Drawn by the courage and exotic beauty of Sandrea, Mhartak battles to overcome the barriers of cross-cultural differences that separate them and claim her ardent interest. He must conquer his deepest fears to be the man she needs. When his principles are betrayed by his own government and he is faced with the impossible prospect of taking Sandrea’s life in order to save his home planet, Mhartak desperately searches for a way to keep safe both his world and the magnificent woman who has stolen his heart

Review

Hmmm. I liked this book better while I was reading it then when I finished. 

It was hard going the first chapters because the heroine's brain has been messed with and she is recovering from massive trauma. 

The characters are compelling as is the basic plot line. I love reptile aliens so that helps. 

However, so much is dangling in the writing and makes little sense and then there is the uneeded angst and the creepy fact that the heroine's and author's names are too close. Eww. Fan fiction about yourself? No. 

To give you all the things that don't make sense would be spoiling things such as they are.

However, why the hell is the heroine so amazing? What was her job back in home? 

Also, the use of some Aussie words was very hard to figured out from context. 

And I can keep complaining because there was something I liked about the book--the hero when he was actually communicating, the friendships the heroine created, her bravery-- so all the flaws are that much more annoying. 

Dishonourable.
Unwanted.
Outsider.

Such are the slurs cast upon Rykkon, however undeserved. As the only village healer, his people cannot cast him out entirely, but there is little comfort in such a life when he has long known that no mate from his clan would willingly join with him. It is a lonely fate, but one Rykkon has learned to accept. That is, until one tense exchange between his people and the humans brings him an offer he simply cannot ignore.

The humans are not their slaves. Nor their property. Nor of any great concern. But neither are they free. It is by the provisions of the Arterians they scrape out a sorry existence in the Wastes, and by their goodwill alone that they continue to survive. Scavenging for hasart beetles under the two suns is the only life the desperate colonists have known since their ancestors first landed on the desolate planet. It was all they knew. It was all they hoped for.

Until one day, a young female dares to ask for more.

---

“Wait.”
The entire group stilled, staring at him as he continued to regard the female.
She glanced up sharply, her brow furrowed and her gaze cautious. As right it should be.
“I will take you for a mate.”

Review

This is a lovely slow paced, character driven science fiction romance.

The hero is a healer and an outcast. He is beta to his bones and exactly what the heroine needs to trust and heal. Hard choices are carefully explored making the internal conflicts engaging.

The heroine is resilient, practical, and brave. They are both a product of how they have been treated and the romance is sweet and real.

The hero keeps secrets a bit too long but that is my only complaint.

Good world building and they save each other in so many ways.