"three love stories braided into romance-heavy science fiction"
Leah Barrentin is a Forestal, a well-trained soldier who
follows the dictate of the leaders of the United Sentients
on missions that have her traveling throughout the
universe. She is sent to the planet Aransis, where
technology and conflict threaten to rip the world apart.
With her is Sekrys'dalar, a fellow Forester and, for the
duration of the mission, her partner. Aransis is home to both Garth Treece and Brean Mitchell,
men whose strange powers have brought them to the attention
of Ian van der Jhome, the man who leads the United
Sentients. They meet the Forestals by coincidence, and find
themselves baffled by the mystery of trained women
warriors. They set out to learn about the women, never
expecting to find themselves fascinated by the Forestal's
unworldly talents and knowledge. Leah and Sekrys'dalar are equally stricken by the men. The
mission is their priority, but the men they encounter on
the primitive (to them) planet are what capture their
attention -- and their hearts. CHERISHED INVADER is a romance-heavy futuristic novel with
a lot of emphasis on the science fiction content. It
features no less than three love stories braided into the
story, two of which are major plot elements. The
characterization is smart, and the world-building is very
well done. At points Leah and Sekrys'dalar reminded this
reviewer of the kick-ass female stars of Charlie's Angels,
though on a different planet and with telepathy. The
romance itself was believably built and very natural,
though there wasn't much focus on any one relationship
because so much was going on with all the characters. The
story didn't suffer for its sprawl, however, as Ms. Gail
expertly controls all the different characters that
populate the novel, making them all sympathetic and
interesting. CHERISHED INVADER was, overall, a compelling
and very intricate story. It even leaves enough threads
hanging loose near the end to believe that there are
sequels to the story -- or so this reviewer hopes! Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Posted May 21, 2003
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted November 19, 2006
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She is an elite agent for an interplanetary trading conglomerate. Part of a dwindling corp of beings possessing invaluable psychic abilities. They live in isolation, shuttled from one star system to the next in order the safeguard the interests of the organization. She has never known any other way of life. Until now... He is one of his planet's toughest soldiers. Preternaturally suspicious, possessed of his own powerful and unique talents, he has inadvertently witnessed something not meant to see. Now, in the midst of world class combat, a new quest has begun. A battle of trust and love with far-reaching consequences greater than either of them can imagine.
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