An intergalactic cold war-and some heated passion- from an inventive new voice in futuristic romance.
After a stint in an alien p... read full description
After a stint in an alien p... read full description
reviews
Nov 07, 2010
Katie(babs)
rated it: 
I’m very picky when it comes to the Sci-Fi romance books. I really don’t read all that many of them, with the exception of some authors, such as Linnea Sinclair, Ann Aguirre and recently Gini Koch. But now another Sci-Fi debut author has risen, and one that I recommend to any Sci-Fi Romance fan. Her name is Marcella Burnard, and her Enemy Within was a rip-roaring fabulous read for me.
Alexandra “Ari” Idylle is a former space captain who was a prisoner for three months at the hands of a More...
Alexandra “Ari” Idylle is a former space captain who was a prisoner for three months at the hands of a More...
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Jul 31, 2011
new_user
rated it:
Enemy Within actually has substance, says NU with surprise. LOL. An insta-bond between leads Ari Rose and Cullin Seaghdh, complete with Romancelandia inner dialogue -"Can this be? I've never felt this way before!"- and a cliché kidnapping premise caused me grave doubts, but Enemy Within shocked the pants off me when it sprouted a plot. Yes, a plot, ladies and gentleman. With real live action scenes and everything. Stuff combusts, explodes, shoots and blows up. Awesome.
Whil More...
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Jul 02, 2011
3.5 stars.
I deeply enjoyed this space opera novel with a romance novel tucked into it. The world building, characterization, and slight politicking all came together like a good space opera. And goodness knows I adore space opera.
The romance was a little harder to work in at first. The start of it felt a little bit clunky and could have been skipped altogether. (e.g., hero and heroine have bonding moment over her PTSD and he comforts her through it; this could've worked b More...
I deeply enjoyed this space opera novel with a romance novel tucked into it. The world building, characterization, and slight politicking all came together like a good space opera. And goodness knows I adore space opera.
The romance was a little harder to work in at first. The start of it felt a little bit clunky and could have been skipped altogether. (e.g., hero and heroine have bonding moment over her PTSD and he comforts her through it; this could've worked b More...
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Nov 29, 2011
Michelle
rated it: 
Ari was captured and tortured by enemy forces for three months. She is unexpectedly released, but after months spent recovering she is stripped of her command and sent on a scientific mission with her father. No one trusts her any longer, afraid she was only released to spy upon her own people. Then her father’s ship is hijacked by what appears to be a band of pirates. Ari quickly learns that the pirate leader, Cullin is more than just a pirate. She is irritated by his arrogance and yet att
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Apr 25, 2011
Ddsun
rated it: 
This is a first-rate SF-romance, which I highly recommend to readers of SF, Futuristic Fantasy and Romance.
Ari (Captain Alexandra Rose), was an upcoming starship captain when she was captured by the Chekydran, a non-humanoid race at war with her people. After months of interrogation, she's unexpectedly released, but finds that her homecoming is not the welcome she imagined. Stripped of her command, Ari is relegated to scientific missions with her father. Her own people don't trust h More...
Ari (Captain Alexandra Rose), was an upcoming starship captain when she was captured by the Chekydran, a non-humanoid race at war with her people. After months of interrogation, she's unexpectedly released, but finds that her homecoming is not the welcome she imagined. Stripped of her command, Ari is relegated to scientific missions with her father. Her own people don't trust h More...
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Apr 19, 2011
Tina
rated it:
The cover is the first thing that drew me to the book. (Yes, I fully admit I'm a sucker for an awesome cover) and when I found out it was SciFi I knew I was hooked. So much so that I read it in a day, even with my busy schedule, sacrificing sleep to complete the story.
The story appeals to the scifi geek in me with enough otherworldly descriptions and races and the romance reader with just enough connection between the heroine and hero to satisfy. Though the story is more of a journey More...
The story appeals to the scifi geek in me with enough otherworldly descriptions and races and the romance reader with just enough connection between the heroine and hero to satisfy. Though the story is more of a journey More...
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Feb 15, 2011
Sandy
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Nov 28, 2010
Nicole
rated it:
I plunked down the money for this novel based solely on the bit I was able to read on my Kindle sample. I knew it was something worth buying when I found myself scouring the local bookstores for a hard copy for a few weeks until I hit pay dirt at my local Borders.
Burnard has created a world that is not unique in the sci-fi genre; her characters are ones we've seen before, the plot different enough to be eye-catching when browsing back covers, but overall, nothing too new. So why di More...
Burnard has created a world that is not unique in the sci-fi genre; her characters are ones we've seen before, the plot different enough to be eye-catching when browsing back covers, but overall, nothing too new. So why di More...
Oct 30, 2010
Bookaholics
rated it:
Enemy Within by Marcella Burnard
Paranormal Romance –Nov. 2nd, 2010
4 stars
I was excited to get my hand on Enemy Within because I am a big futuristic fan. And this story both exceeded my expectations and left me with mixed feelings. If you love science fiction this book will largely thrill you. But if you are a big romance fan this story may be a bit too involved especially if you like lighter romances.
In Enemy Within, the strong yet emotionally fragile heroi More...
Paranormal Romance –Nov. 2nd, 2010
4 stars
I was excited to get my hand on Enemy Within because I am a big futuristic fan. And this story both exceeded my expectations and left me with mixed feelings. If you love science fiction this book will largely thrill you. But if you are a big romance fan this story may be a bit too involved especially if you like lighter romances.
In Enemy Within, the strong yet emotionally fragile heroi More...
Jan 12, 2011
Michelle
rated it: 
Enemy Within is the first book in the Enemy series by Marcella Burnard and a Berkley Sensation Futuristic Romance.
Book Blurb:
A Starship Captain clinging to her shattered past; a Pirate with an Empire to protect and a threat beyond the scope of the imagination.
After a stint in an alien prison followed by a torpedoed military career, Captain Alexandria Rose - better known as Ari - has to wonder why she even bothered to survive. Stripped of her command and banis More...
Book Blurb:
A Starship Captain clinging to her shattered past; a Pirate with an Empire to protect and a threat beyond the scope of the imagination.
After a stint in an alien prison followed by a torpedoed military career, Captain Alexandria Rose - better known as Ari - has to wonder why she even bothered to survive. Stripped of her command and banis More...
Jul 10, 2011
Sandra
rated it:
4.5 stars After the first few pages it took me to get my bearing on what the hell was going on, I knew I liked this book, and I have no idea when it happened but at some point that like turned into love. The characters are multi-dimensional and Burnard created a complex world with a lot of politics flying back and forth but managed to keep everything pretty clear. I often get annoyed with heroines who hem and haw about the hero's motives, thinking he's only tricking her when he's obviously fa
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Nov 10, 2010
Faye
rated it:
I picked up this book with both hope and trepidation. This book is not my normal forte. It's a sci-fi romance. I like science fiction quite a bit but romance? Not so much. So why bother? I bothered because the author is a friend of mine. A good friend, and I know exactly what she went through in getting this, her first novel, into print. What would I say to her if I didn't like it?
That said, it is a HUGE relief to be able to honestly say that I did like the book quite a bit. More...
That said, it is a HUGE relief to be able to honestly say that I did like the book quite a bit. More...
Oct 19, 2011
Leslie
rated it:
Enemy Within is a well-crafted futuristic romance and I found myself not able to put it down.
Ari is an ex-Armada Captain working on her PhD with her father's science expedition. She is also still recovering after being abducted and tortured for three months by an enemy. After a routine scout for samples, she comes back to her ship to find that it has been taken by unknown mercenaries. She makes a bargain, wins the lives of herself and her father's crew and pilots the ship off world More...
Ari is an ex-Armada Captain working on her PhD with her father's science expedition. She is also still recovering after being abducted and tortured for three months by an enemy. After a routine scout for samples, she comes back to her ship to find that it has been taken by unknown mercenaries. She makes a bargain, wins the lives of herself and her father's crew and pilots the ship off world More...
Feb 08, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
3 1/2 stars.
I think this would be a solid 4 stars for me if there had been a little more world building. I was never 100% on all of the details on the different "states" (for lack of a better word). There was the TFC, the Chekydran, and the Claugh; but I was never sure of the status of who they all were to each other. None of them were at war with each other (I think), but they were not allies, and often referred to each other as enemies. Maybe I missed something along the w More...
I think this would be a solid 4 stars for me if there had been a little more world building. I was never 100% on all of the details on the different "states" (for lack of a better word). There was the TFC, the Chekydran, and the Claugh; but I was never sure of the status of who they all were to each other. None of them were at war with each other (I think), but they were not allies, and often referred to each other as enemies. Maybe I missed something along the w More...
Apr 16, 2011
M Rae
rated it:
Read this book! Buy this book! I recently got Enemy Within from the library and I have to say that I LOVED this book. The only question was whether I would buy the physical book or the kindle edition! (I decided on kindle) Ari and her friends pulled me in immediately and kept me hooked over the 2 days it took me to read this one. The characters are involving and have interesting and varied backgounds. I was sad to see it end as I was wanting more, more, more! This is the best SciFi I have read i
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Mar 08, 2011
Victoria
rated it:
3.5 stars.
I deeply enjoyed this space opera novel with a romance novel tucked into it. The world building, characterization, and slight politicking all came together like a good space opera. And goodness knows I adore space opera.
The romance was a little difficult at first. The start of it might have worked better without overtly trying to sell it. (e.g., Do we really need the "he's so sexy" moment while the hero and heroine are bonding moment over her PTSD and he c More...
I deeply enjoyed this space opera novel with a romance novel tucked into it. The world building, characterization, and slight politicking all came together like a good space opera. And goodness knows I adore space opera.
The romance was a little difficult at first. The start of it might have worked better without overtly trying to sell it. (e.g., Do we really need the "he's so sexy" moment while the hero and heroine are bonding moment over her PTSD and he c More...
May 05, 2011
Roxanne
rated it:
Since goodreads doesn't have half star ratings I've had to round my rating up to 4 instead of being a 3.5 I wanted to give it.
This book was good, I adored the characters. The author manages to create interesting and heartfelt people who seem real. My heart ached for Ari throughout the whole book. She managed to survive three months of mental and physical torture from her enemies and now they want her back. Cullin Seaghdh is sent to retrieve for some unknown reason. But when he meets h More...
This book was good, I adored the characters. The author manages to create interesting and heartfelt people who seem real. My heart ached for Ari throughout the whole book. She managed to survive three months of mental and physical torture from her enemies and now they want her back. Cullin Seaghdh is sent to retrieve for some unknown reason. But when he meets h More...
Dec 14, 2010
Desert
rated it:
I tore through this book. The plot is fast moving and intense enough that I REALLY wanted to finish it. Plenty happening, no slow parts -- I was definitely entertained throughout.
So why only 3 stars?
The romance storyline irked me. And I'm a romance reader. I really wanted to like it, and there were bits that I enjoyed, like the shared fencing hobby. But I just don't find a page one instant attraction when the hero is acting like a d-bag to be believable. I liked the hero a lo More...
So why only 3 stars?
The romance storyline irked me. And I'm a romance reader. I really wanted to like it, and there were bits that I enjoyed, like the shared fencing hobby. But I just don't find a page one instant attraction when the hero is acting like a d-bag to be believable. I liked the hero a lo More...
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Nov 19, 2011
Karin
rated it:
I was excited to read this as it was a new author. She is an 'online friend' of mine, so I wanted to see if she had any writing chops. YES! I am not really a SciFi fan so much, nor am I a Romance novel fan, so I was a bit wary of it to begin with. However, her characters were very well defined and most interesting; and the story was awesome! I truly wanted more when it ended. The only negative for me - and this is ONLY because I am not so hot on SciFi - is trying to remember names and plac
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Nov 29, 2010
Tracy
rated it:
3.5 stars
Review originally featured at Fiction Vixen Book Reviews.
For Alexandria Rose Idylle (“Ari”) being a leader and a well-trained soldier was her calling. Her role as Captain of an elite spaceship gave her purpose and praise, which she lacked growing up. While on a mission, Ari is kidnapped and detained by the evil and heartless Chekydran aliens. She is subjected to three months of torture, starvation and degradation which, by all accounts, she should not have sur More...
Review originally featured at Fiction Vixen Book Reviews.
For Alexandria Rose Idylle (“Ari”) being a leader and a well-trained soldier was her calling. Her role as Captain of an elite spaceship gave her purpose and praise, which she lacked growing up. While on a mission, Ari is kidnapped and detained by the evil and heartless Chekydran aliens. She is subjected to three months of torture, starvation and degradation which, by all accounts, she should not have sur More...
Oct 29, 2010
Donna
rated it:
My rating: 4.5 stars
Wow! This book was a very interesting read, full of action and emotional exploration within the heroine's past and torturous experiences. It was also very different from my usual reading choices. I've read maybe a handful of futuristic sci-fi novels but this one really pulled me in, especially the double innuendo bantering between Ari and Cullin. Those two just clicked for me right from the moment they came into contact with each other in the story.
Al More...
Wow! This book was a very interesting read, full of action and emotional exploration within the heroine's past and torturous experiences. It was also very different from my usual reading choices. I've read maybe a handful of futuristic sci-fi novels but this one really pulled me in, especially the double innuendo bantering between Ari and Cullin. Those two just clicked for me right from the moment they came into contact with each other in the story.
Al More...
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Sep 07, 2011
mlady_rebecca
rated it:
I'd say 3 1/2 stars, but rounding up in this case.
The story started a bit slow, and a bit romance heavy, for my tastes. The early mutual attraction and flirting seemed awkward. Not only are the hero and heroine initially "enemies", they've only known each other for mere moments before we're seeing sparks.
I prefer the slow build. Although, I should mention that attraction and a couple of kisses aside, everything else did build slowly. No sex in the first few cha More...
The story started a bit slow, and a bit romance heavy, for my tastes. The early mutual attraction and flirting seemed awkward. Not only are the hero and heroine initially "enemies", they've only known each other for mere moments before we're seeing sparks.
I prefer the slow build. Although, I should mention that attraction and a couple of kisses aside, everything else did build slowly. No sex in the first few cha More...
Feb 07, 2012
Kimberly
rated it:
It took a lot of effort to want to continue this book at first. I found it a little TOO overwhelming to start with - events happening too fast, a lot of new information constantly being given about the characters before you had time to process what you've just learned - but I'm glad I stuck with it.
By the halfway mark I was positively looking forward to my reading time at the end of the work day.
A great read, after all! I'm looking forward to the next book, though I'd r More...
By the halfway mark I was positively looking forward to my reading time at the end of the work day.
A great read, after all! I'm looking forward to the next book, though I'd r More...
Sep 19, 2010
Angela
rated it:
3.5 stars, actually. I think this book will be more popular with the dedicated sci-fi romance reader than with the casual reader. The story opening is a bit hard to follow, and I liked the heroine's emotional journey better than I actually liked their romance. I actually felt a little awkward about their romance, for some reason. I think because there was such a dichotomy between what the hero is supposed to be like and how he acts with her. Almost too much of a dichotomy, so I felt uncomfortabl
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Jul 08, 2011
Danica
rated it:
Great read! Marcella created an undeniably complex world filled with characters that make you want to learn more about them. The tension between Ari and Cullin is sharp and filled with sexual attraction. Ari is one of the toughest heroines it's been my pleasure to read (yay, Marcella!) and she stayed that way right through the end.
My emotions were in an uproar throughout the entire book and when the dark moment came...man, I thought I'd been stabbed. If you're looking for a great fut More...
My emotions were in an uproar throughout the entire book and when the dark moment came...man, I thought I'd been stabbed. If you're looking for a great fut More...
Nov 01, 2011
Claire
rated it:
Originally posted at http://clairesbookcorner.blogspot.com/20...
If you know me at Goodreads or you have read any of my reviews before you will know that I am not one for lots of romance in a book. Well this book had the typical romantic story of kidnapped girl falling for her kidnapper, not something that really floats my boat but I have to say I really enjoyed it to the point where I couldn’t put it down. I must be getting mushy in my old age or I've spent too much time reading dar More...
If you know me at Goodreads or you have read any of my reviews before you will know that I am not one for lots of romance in a book. Well this book had the typical romantic story of kidnapped girl falling for her kidnapper, not something that really floats my boat but I have to say I really enjoyed it to the point where I couldn’t put it down. I must be getting mushy in my old age or I've spent too much time reading dar More...
Jul 14, 2011
A.R.
rated it:
Overall I was very happy with this book. I had to really put effort into suspending belief in Cullin's "voice powers" and probably would've like more explaination (or any really) how this magical power worked. After I managed to get over that bit, the story moved along well.
Ari and Cullin had a great romantic chemistry. I loved the internal conflict Ari faces with her past as a military prisoner. I thought it was quirky the way Cullin had a secret crush on her...definitely More...
Ari and Cullin had a great romantic chemistry. I loved the internal conflict Ari faces with her past as a military prisoner. I thought it was quirky the way Cullin had a secret crush on her...definitely More...
Jul 23, 2011
Jan
rated it:
It started off slow and stinted, but this book grew on me like crazy. And looking back I think the distant, cold and confusing start might have been on purpose to showcase Ari's state of mind.
Ari has been just released after being a prisoner of bug-like non-humanoid aliens for 3 months. She endured torture of various kinds, but when she's finally free the home and life she fought to stay alive for are taken from her anyway by her superiors. Since the Chekydrans are quite good at (re) More...
Ari has been just released after being a prisoner of bug-like non-humanoid aliens for 3 months. She endured torture of various kinds, but when she's finally free the home and life she fought to stay alive for are taken from her anyway by her superiors. Since the Chekydrans are quite good at (re) More...
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Jan 15, 2011
Sans
rated it:
*sigh* I spent a good amount of time this morning working on a coherent review of this book. And lost it when I tried to post after failing to notice the wifi failed. ~_~ I'm not going to spend another half hour trying to recreate it.
I liked this book but didn't love it. It was a compelling story, I read it one sitting and I'm glad I read it, but it didn't wow me. I liked the main characters, Ari and Cullin, but I didn't love them. I liked their romance but didn't love it and wasn't More...
I liked this book but didn't love it. It was a compelling story, I read it one sitting and I'm glad I read it, but it didn't wow me. I liked the main characters, Ari and Cullin, but I didn't love them. I liked their romance but didn't love it and wasn't More...
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Jul 24, 2011
Rachelle
rated it:
A romantic science fiction novel about surviving torture, finding reasons to live, responsibility, trust, family, and inner strength. It is a dark, danger-filled, emotional roller coaster, a blend of aliens, science, secret identities, and telepathy reminiscent of Linnea Sinclair's "Gabriel's Ghost" and "Games of Command." There is strong character development and strong secondary characters.
