The flood of new science fiction romance novels being released continues, luckily for those of us who love to curl up with a good book in that subgenre! I should note that I include books in this column about new releases that sound interesting or intriguing to me, but some of them are still on my To Be Read list. If I have read a book, I’ll share my opinion when I mention it here. So be sure to read the reviews and the samples and decide for yourself before you buy from your favorite ebook seller.
Cyborg romances are a sizzling hot category and Cara Bristol writes some of the best. She just released Claimed by the Cyborg, which I read in one sitting and enjoyed – I thought I could see all the plot twists and turns coming a lightyear away but noooo, she totally surprised me with a few.
Here’s the plot: Marchand “March” Fellows assumed he had all the time in the galaxy to pursue a relationship with Jules, an alien exchange student from Xenia, until she vanished without a trace. After years of searching, he finds his lost love on the eve of her arranged marriage.
The daughter of the Xenian emperor, Julietta never meant to fall in love with a Terran man while visiting Earth. Leaving to fulfill her responsibilities on her home planet opened up a hole in her heart that could never be filled. When March, now a cyborg, unexpectedly shows up just before she is to be bonded, she struggles to find the courage to turn him away a second time and follow through with her duty. Before she can act, the lovers are thrust into a political conspiracy that threatens the Xenian empire and their lives.
Continuing on with the cybernetic upgrades kinda hero, J. C. Hay released Mumbai Manhunt, Corporate Services Book 2. The blurb gave me some “Johnny Mnemonic” feels (the movie with Keanu Reeves anyway) although I must note I have yet to read the book.
The story: They made him a destroyer
Thirteen years ago, Palash Joshi indentured himself to Corporate Services in exchange for the cybernetic upgrades that made him stronger and faster; giving him a better life in exchange for allowing them to whittle away his humanity one horrible act at a time. Now though, his time as one of their operators is almost at an end. Freedom is in reach, and his only remaining job is to revisit the only woman who had touched his heart and destroy her life’s work.
She needed a protector
Netta Schulmann knew her corporate masters would send someone to punish her eventually – she had stalled too long in developing their perfect weapon, and the company that had been her refuge couldn’t risk their investment much longer. She didn’t expect them to send the same man who had shown her solace and protection when she’d been on the run, the one person she had trusted implicitly.
Neither of them expected Corporate Services to send an assassin, to make sure they were both out of the way.
Forced into flight, Netta and Joshi find that three years apart has only heightened their passion for each other, but with time running out, they will need more than passion to survive. They’ll need trust. But even that has limits, and as secrets from each of their pasts comes to light, not even love may be enough to save them.
Something sounding more offbeat is Microbiota and the Masses, by S. B. Divya (and wow, do I love this cover!): Moena lives in a world of her own making, sealed off from the deadly pathogens of Bangalore in her own personal biome. But when she meets Rahul, a beautiful man working to clean up his city, her need for him draws her into danger. She will risk her health and her work to satisfy her lust for Rahul, and may find love along the way.
Veronica Roth, author of the Divergent series, offers her new book, Carve the Mark, first in a new series for her. The story: On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not—their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world?
Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power—something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.
Akos is from the peace-loving nation of Thuvhe, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Though protected by his unusual currentgift, once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive—no matter what the cost. When Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world, the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive—or to destroy one another.
Author Tracey Cooper-Posey is one of my favorites and I have enjoyed her Endurance series, so the release of Book 4, Quiver and Crave, is exciting.
The blurb for this latest in the series: Quiver Sheenan is the most talented topman the Endurance has ever seen. Despite her incredible abilities in zero gravity, she’d rather have a career in the sciences than play for the Dreamhawks while Kallon Crave is their captain.
And lest you think the tried and true romance tropes of billionaires and secret babies don’t fly in outer space, consider Grace Goodwin’s Her Mate’s Secret Baby (Interstellar Brides Book 9): Natalie Montgomery wants a new life. While she may be rich, her life is empty. Her parents were never around, too rich and important to be bothered with a child. And when they present her with a emotionless fiancé, she’s done. As a volunteer for the Interstellar Bride Program, she is thrilled to arrive on the hot, desert planet of Trion, and in the arms of a seductive warrior who makes her body burn.
Roark of Trion is not eager for a mate. Danger and the constant threat of war dog his steps. But one look at his new bride, and his mind is changed. Natalie is everything he ever wanted in a woman…so soft, so passionate, so submissive to his every need. An attack on their outpost leaves Roark fighting for his life. For her protection, Natalie is transported back to Earth. Roark thinks she’s dead. But she’s very much alive and so is his newborn son. Natalie’s anger and regret grows with each passing day her mate does not keep his promise to come for her. By the time he discovers his mistake, it may be too late to win back her heart.
And last but not least, another Space Age Fairy Tale, Cinderstellar, from J. M. Page: Stella wants nothing more than to be a pilot like her mother, who died on a mission years ago. However, she doesn’t want to be like the arrogant “Aces” at Starforge Academy, especially that show-off Dax.
But the Aces aren’t her biggest problem. Her father — the Commandant of Starforge Academy — and stepmother won’t even let her enroll. Stella has to sneak into the flight simulators late at night, when no one’s around, to get close to her dream.
Reluctant royalty…
Dax is like the prince of Starforge — not only the best pilot at the Academy, but the son of a famous general. No one knows his secret: Dax hates his superstar status, and he doesn’t want to go fight on the front lines when he graduates. The pressure to follow in his father’s footsteps has taken all the joy out of flying.
When he discovers that someone at the school is beating all his scores on the simulators — and then hiding the evidence — he’s determined to find out who it is. Though he’s unable to discover his mysterious competitor’s identity, he learns enough to suspect that she just might be the girl of his dreams.
Soaring ambitions…
Stella learns that the Academy is holding a school-wide exhibition of flying talent, with the winner allowed to fast-track their pilot’s license. She has to find a way to enter, and show her father what she’s capable of. But that will mean outing herself to the school — and the ever-more-intriguing Dax. Will her stepmother ruin everything, or can Stella and Dax finally meet outside the simulators… and achieve their heart’s desires?
As always, feel free to share some of your new favorites with us this week!
