Parallel Seduction

Midnight Warriors #3

by Deidre Knight

Warrior Jake Tierny travels back in time to stop a traitor in his beloved king's camp. But when a twist of fate proves the mission unnecessary, Jake is trapped in a time not his own, with friends who cannot learn his true identity. Scott Dillon may be the king's trusted lieutenant, but he is also a man at war with himself, a human hybrid who refuses to succumb to the Antousian nature he abhors-and that Jake Tierny embodies. FBI linguist Hope Harper refuses to let near-blindness keep her from joining the Refarians in their war to defend mankind. Her attraction to both Scott and Jake forces all three to question the core of their beliefs.And as their enemies surround them, Hope knows she must choose one man for all time.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romance, Paranormal, Time Travel, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Romance

332 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Deidre Knight is a literary agent, mom, wife, novelist and southern woman, and proud to answer to all of these titles. Before she founded The Knight Agency in 1996, Deidre worked behind the camera in movies and television. During the thirteen years since she launched her literary agency, she has grown The Knight Agency to national prominence, shepherding authors on to every major bestseller list. With agency sales of more than 1,000 titles to major publishers, a large percentage of which are in the categories of romance and women’s fiction, Deidre has established a reputation for discovering vivid and unique storytellers and is considered an industry expert on the hot trend of paranormal fiction. Writing in that genre, she creates fresh characters and strong, emotional storylines. As an author Deidre has been described not only as “outstanding” and “emotionally evocative,” but also as having “tremendous verve and a great knack for character and smart scenes.” Deidre’s innovative novels have been nominated for a plethora of accolades including the PEARL, the PRISM, the NOR, the JABIC and the STRCA.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

4* for the first half of the book, 2* for the second half. I'll lead off by saying I usually love the way Deidre Knight writes. Her first two Midnight Warriors books have been some of my favorite sci-fi romance, rating close to Linnea Sinclair's works. Butterfly Tattoo, a contemporary book of Ms. Knight's, is one of the most powerful and beautifully written books I've come across in the past few years. That said, I am left wondering who actually wrote the last half of this book, Parallel Seduction. The overall premise is good, and Ms. Knight weaves a complex and interesting story throughout the book. (Her complex, multi-tiered plots are one of her strong points). Her characterizations, however, were sorely lacking in this novel. Hope was 2-dimensional, sounding more like the image of what a budding adolescent writer may think a feisty heroine should be. Hope recited stupid lines and stuck her stubborn little chin up a few too many times to be tolerated. In one scene she actually tells the "bad guy" (yes, they are actually called the "bad guys" in the book) that she's never let anything intimidate her all her life, not her diabetes, her short stature, yada, yada. Shes at the mercy of a madman, but we're suppose to be impressed with her impassioned speech? Are we really suppose to think she's not intimidated? The scene gets more melodrama as we are told Scott has never loved her more than at this moment. Hmmm. Hope's lines, and actions, never seemed to quite fit throughout the book.

Then there is the big "bad guy," Veckus. He's cardboard and feels like the product of an amateur writer. The dialog and scenes in the warehouse are poorly done. Finally, the explanations for both the virus that infected the Antousains and the reasons for Scott's attraction to human women were weak and unsatisfying.

I did enjoy getting to see Jared and Kelsey again, and even the relatively brief look at Thea and Marco. And, since I previously enjoyed all the books I'd read by Deidre Knight, I will consider the weak spots in this one an aberration, and will definitely pick up the next in the series, Parallel Desire.

Last note: These books aren't going to make sense if they aren't read in order.

[Yz the Whyz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot believe how much I enjoy reading this series. Since I rarely read sci-fi romance, I was slightly unsure whether I would like these books when I picked the first two books in the library. However, when I settled down and started reading, I was hooked. The writing was beautiful, the characters highly sympathetic, and the plot is extremely complex but woven so expertly, it keeps me hanging and guessing.

Parallel Seduction is the third book in the series, and it’s the story of FBI linguist Hope Harper and the Refarian’s second in command Lt. Scott Dillon, characters that were introduced in the previous books. As a side note, to really get the full experience of the storyline, I would recommend to read the series in order.

Now we have Hope in the Refarian’s camp, plagued with haunting dreams of the gorgeous alien Scott Dillon and a future as his pregnant wife, while he recuperates from his injuries in the previous battle mentioned in the second book. Enter Jake Tierney, a mysterious time traveler with his own agenda and an inexplicable attraction towards Hope. Hope, turned between these two men, must allow her heart to choose while fighting her impending blindness, her weakening health and a kidnapping from their alien enemies.

Once again, Deidre Knight’s weave a story that leaves me enthralled, as I try to second-guess what would happen. She brings back other characters, most especially Jared and Kelsey, with their own challenges, and leaves me with an ending that satisfies, but at the same time, makes me crave for the next book just to see what happens next.

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

ไม่รู้ว่าใครรู้สึกเหมือนแม็กซ์ไหมว่า เล่มสามจะเป็นเล่มที่สนุกที่สุดเสมอ (อย่างเรื่อง Dance with the devil ของชุดดาร์คฮันเตอร์ Lover Awakened ของเจอาร์ วาร์ด หรือ In Darkness Reborn ของชุดแพลาดิน) เล่มนี้ก็เหมือนกัน

แม็กซ์ไม่ชอบเรื่องแนวรักสามเศร้า และเล่มนี้ก็เป็นรักสามเศร้าที่บีบหัวใจมากที่สุดเรื่องนึง แม็กซ์คิดว่าตัวเองเชียร์สก๊อต ดิลล่อนแล้วนะ แต่เมื่อรู้ว่าแท้จริงแล้วเจคคือใคร ก็อดร้องไห้ให้เขาไม่ได้

ในอนาคตอีกมิติการเวลานึง (ตอนนี้อนาคตและปัจจุบันแยกกันขาดแล้ว เพราะการมาของมาร์โคในเล่มแรก ทำให้อนาคตเปลี่ยน แต่อนาคตที่มาร์โคจากมาก็ยังคงอยู่ ไม่ได้ถูกซ้อนทับไปโดยอนาคตที่เกิดขึ้นใหม่ แต่กลายเป็นภพคู่ขนานมากกว่า) เจค เทียนีย์ชาวแอนทรูเชี่ยนผู้จงรักภักดีต่อจาเร็ต เดินทางข้ามเวลามาเพื่อหยุดยั้งมาร์โคจากการก่อความเสียหายที่มากกว่าเดิม

เจคเป็นผู้ชายที่สูญสิ้นทุกอย่าง เขามาเพื่อตอบแทนกษัตริย์ที่เขารักยิ่งกว่าชีวิต แต่การมาของเขากลับไม่ใช่สิ่งจำเป็นเลย เพราะเหตุการณ์ที่เกิดขึ้นในสองเล่มแรกบ่งบอกอย่างชัดเจนแล้วว่า ประวัติศาสตร์ไม่เหมือนเดิม โลกมนุษย์ไม่ได้ถูกทำลายโดยขีปนาวุธ เธียและมาร์โคไม่ได้ทรยศราฟาเลี่ยน

แต่ไม่มีใครรู้ถึงเจตนาของเจคแน่ชัด โดยเฉพาะเมื่อเขาหนีไปพร้อมกับโฮป ฮาร์เปอร์ เอฟบีไอสาวที่เข้ามาพัวพันกับราฟาเลี่ยน (ในเล่มสอง)

สก๊อต ดิลล่อนเป็นแม่ทัพใหญ่แห่งราฟาเลี่ยน แม้ว่าเขาจะเป็นชาวแอนทรูเชี่ยน เขาคิดเสมอว่าตัวเองมาจากชนเผ่าที่ชั่วร้าย และไม่ยอมรับธรรมชาติของตัวเอง สก็อตเป็นตัวละครที่น่าสนใจที่สุดในชุด ผู้ชายที่หล่อขนาดหยุดลมหายใจคุณได้ แต่ไม่รู้ตัวว่าเป็นที่สนใจของบรรดาผู้หญิง

คนอ่านไม่ต้องสงสัย หรือกังวลว่าสุดท้ายแล้วโฮปจะเลือกใคร เพราะในสายตา (ที่มองไม่ค่อยชัด) ของเธอ มีแค่สก๊อตเท่านั้น แต่เพราะในความฝันสก็อตบอกเธอให้ติดตามเจคไป เพราะเขาจะมีส่วนสำคัญอย่างยิ่งต่อชีวิตเธอ ทำให้เธอเลือกที่จะหนีไปกับเขา โดยมีสก๊อตและกองทัพแอนทรูเชี่ยน ที่รับรู้ว่ามีการข้ามเวลาเกิดขึ้น ออกตามล่า

แม็กซ์ชอบสก๊อตค่ะ เป็นตัวละครที่จะอยู่ในความทรงจำ เขามีความขัดแย้งในตัวเอง และมีพัฒนาการมากที่สุดในชุด เขาต้องต่อสู้กับตัวเอง การยอมรับตัวตนของตัวเอง และความรักที่เขามีให้โฮป

งานนี้ น้ำตาร่วงไปหลายหยดค่ะ

เตือนนิดเดียวว่า ถ้าไม่อยากสปอยล์เล่มนี้ ขอร้องว่าอย่าพล็อตเล่มสี่เด็ดขาด เพราะเป็นการสปอยล์ไม่พอ จะทำให้งงชีวิตไปอีกรอบด้วย

คะแนนที่ 83

[Laurie Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I really love how the author has presented going back in time, and the memories created from the rift. Hope and Scott, have memories of their different future, and now we are truly realizing that the future is not yet written. How Marco's decision has altered the present and what it will mean for the future.

[Paranormal Romance · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, my brain must be horribly faulty because I put this book on the to read again pile thinking I enjoyed it enough to warrant a second go around but boy was I wrong. The heroine, a near blind girl with diabetes is taken to the alien compound after she saved the hero's life. The hero- a man whore for blond human woman- becomes immediately enraptured with her and-in fact- she's the only thing keeping him going after his legs are damaged in the previous book and he feels invalid. Together they've begun to shared intimate dreams of pregnancy and sex and love. These are visions for an alternate dimension but also visions of the future to come. It makes things easy for them to know what happiness awaits them so they fall very quickly into lovey dovey relationship mode. But when a strange-a man the hero considers an enemy breaks into the compound, the heroine feels just as connected to him as she does to her hero. And when he comes to take her with him she agrees to go as in one of her dreams the hero tells her to trust the man-so she does. Turns out he's actually the hero from the future where the heroine has died before giving birth to their child and in his pain and rage murdered the murderer and took his body. He's come back to try to change fate and find a way for the heroine to live but inadvertently attracted the attention of the enemy who kidnapped the present time hero and heroine...Wow. This book was so damn muddled with everything jam packed into 320 pages but at the same time it felt like absolutely nothing important happened at all. Regardless of the fact that the other man is the hero in a different body, I do not enjoy love triangle stories. Especially not when from page 50 or so onward the heroine is separated from the present time hero and spends the next majority of the chapters with the future hero-but not knowing he's the future hero. It made my head spin. For a brief moment at the beginning I actually enjoyed with book. I liked the idea of this hardened soldier-depressed from his injuries-finding love with the vulnerable blind woman who saved him. And the 'flashback' or visions where she's pregnant and he's kissing her belly were heartwarming and super sweet. And then it took a sharp turn into crazy land and I was lost in the chaos. What the hell happened??? Like I said I much have been on drugs or coming down from a high of some sort when I first read this book to have the memory of it begins halfway decent. My one brain was lying to me!

[Katie(babs) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deidre Knight's third book in this series about aliens trying to save Earth is a rollercoaster road of constant action. Where as the last two had more romance and passionate love scenes, "Parallel Seduction" is more of an ongoing puzzle of questions between the two characters of Hope and Scott and if they have a future or not.

Scott, the second in command top the alien King Jared from the first two books is highlighted here. He has fallen in love with human FBI linguist Hope who from diabetes is going blind. (She was introduced in Parallel Heat)

They both dream of a future between them that has not yet happened.(This is where the whole parallel thing comes into play) An important character yet again comes from the future and into the past to save the people of Earth, the rebel aliens and most importantly Scott and Hope. This person Jakob, has a major secret to tell by coming into the past. He is connected to Scott and Hope in a way that will change all three of them, including their unborn child.

This back and forth of the "what if/parallel" future may confuse some readers but also leaves an open ended plot device to carry on the series.

Fans of Jared and Kelsey from the first book will be overjoyed for they have alot of pages dedicated to them and including their own concern about having a child and ruling their people successfully.
Hope is one heroine who is strong and even though has a disability doesn't let that stand in her way. This includes her feelings for Scott, a being that is unlike anything she has ever known.

Any sci-fi fan who loves action along with a nice romance will enjoy this book and look forward to the ungoing series that the author has in store for the Antousians and their human counterparts.

[Cherry Mischievous · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book 3 of the Parallel series by D. Knight

The first two books were very good. And that was why I picked this one up. But.... There are too many paradoxes that some of the story lines contradict each other. And I'm the kind of reader who likes the story to make sense. Then again there are readers out there who does not mind that very much as long as the story-telling quality is good. Which it is, well, for the last one-quarter of the book anyway. For the first three quarters of the book took me about two months to read. I literally have to force myself to finish reading the book just because I do not like "not finish reading a book". But it was hard going. The thing that saves this book from being a total no-reader is the author's story-telling quality. D.K. can spin a tale even with a very badly plotted paradoxes as this book is. And that is a real talent.

My review online: http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2009...

[Mollie *scoutrmom* · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a stand-alone, one needs to have read the earlier stories in order to get the best understanding of the world-building. It is assumed we already are familiar with the secondary characters and the setting.

The good news is that good wins out over evil (I won't spoil anything by saying how). The bad news is that our characters have to go through some fairly nasty stuff before that occurs. This is no book for the squeamish.

The relationship between Scott and Jake, both in love with the heroine, makes some interesting reading. The main characters are well drawn and likable.

Aside from the love story, this is a fairly good shoot-em-up western kind of book. The humans and the friendly aliens and their interactions make for a good subplot.

I will read more of this series.

[Stacie]

This is the third book in the series. It is about a warrior from an alien species that travels back in time to stop a traitor to his people. But a twist in fate proves the mission unnecessary and he is trapped in an era not his own. He meets his wife from the past that was killed in the future. He has to race against time and enemies to try and change that future.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is # 3 I think in a series.It was the 1st book I ever read by this author.I feel it was a good erotic romance. You have to love those aliens! The storyline was interesting from the very beginning. It was a fast read. I can't wait to get my hands on the 1st book in this series.


If you would like to read this book please check out booksfreeswap.com.This book is ready for swap!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Dillon and Hope Harper have been together in the 'other time.' Will they be together in this time or will the presence of the mysterious 'Jake' sideline them?

This is my favorite story so far in this amazing series that just keeps getting better.

[☔️ Stormy Day Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in this series. Deidre Knight is fast topping my favorites list. This story is very confusing and complicated but by the end all I can say is wow. Don't worry there's lots of Jared and Kelsey in this book too.

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! You won´t want to stop reading.

[Arianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome series..