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Snatched by bounty hunters. Captured by aliens. Guarded by a warrior with a dangerous secret.
It wasn’t bad enough that scientist Max Dryden was taken as a bounty by an all-female space bounty hunter crew. Nope, that was only the beginning. When the bounty hunters were marooned on a sand planet, she was captured by aliens and taken to their city. Now she’s got a personal bodyguard and captor watching her every move.
One problem. He’s not one of the aliens who took her. He’s one of the sand barbarians sent by the bounty hunter women to break her out and bring her back. Since she’s determined to find a way off the planet and out of captivity, he’s a very big and very hot distraction she doesn’t need.
His mission was to infiltrate the Crestek city, find the human female, and bring her back to his Dothvek village and the other women. Well, he found her all right. Now he’s serving as her personal guard, locked inside the luxurious suite in the enemy city, and trying to ignore the fact that the human scientist he was sent to rescue is a beautiful, intriguing female. Can he get them both out without being discovered? Or losing his heart?
This standalone action-romance novel features a feisty, all-female bounty hunter crew; gorgeous, sand planet barbarian warriors; action-packed battles; and steamy scenes in an exotic alien city.
If you like hot alien warriors, strong women, and steamy romance with a happily ever after, you’ll love CAPTIVE, the second book in Tana Stone’s sci-fi romance Barbarians of the Sand Planet series.
It wasn’t bad enough that scientist Max Dryden was taken as a bounty by an all-female space bounty hunter crew. Nope, that was only the beginning. When the bounty hunters were marooned on a sand planet, she was captured by aliens and taken to their city. Now she’s got a personal bodyguard and captor watching her every move.
One problem. He’s not one of the aliens who took her. He’s one of the sand barbarians sent by the bounty hunter women to break her out and bring her back. Since she’s determined to find a way off the planet and out of captivity, he’s a very big and very hot distraction she doesn’t need.
His mission was to infiltrate the Crestek city, find the human female, and bring her back to his Dothvek village and the other women. Well, he found her all right. Now he’s serving as her personal guard, locked inside the luxurious suite in the enemy city, and trying to ignore the fact that the human scientist he was sent to rescue is a beautiful, intriguing female. Can he get them both out without being discovered? Or losing his heart?
This standalone action-romance novel features a feisty, all-female bounty hunter crew; gorgeous, sand planet barbarian warriors; action-packed battles; and steamy scenes in an exotic alien city.
If you like hot alien warriors, strong women, and steamy romance with a happily ever after, you’ll love CAPTIVE, the second book in Tana Stone’s sci-fi romance Barbarians of the Sand Planet series.
210 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2020
858 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
About the author
Tana Stone
108 books832 followersI love sexy aliens and independent heroines. I grew up on Star Trek: Next Generation and Star Wars (and I adore them equally). My favorite superhero is Thor (with Aquaman a close second because, well, Jason Momoa), my favorite dessert is key lime pie (okay, fine, all pie), and I still lament the loss of Firefly.
I live in North Carolina in the US and have one husband, two teenagers, and two neurotic cats. I sometimes wish I could teleport to a holographic space station like the one in my tribute brides series (or maybe vacation at the oasis with the sand planet barbarians). :-) When I'm not writing, I love to paddleboard, dive, travel, and read obsessively!
Want to hang out with me in my private Facebook group? Join on all the fun at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tanas...
I live in North Carolina in the US and have one husband, two teenagers, and two neurotic cats. I sometimes wish I could teleport to a holographic space station like the one in my tribute brides series (or maybe vacation at the oasis with the sand planet barbarians). :-) When I'm not writing, I love to paddleboard, dive, travel, and read obsessively!
Want to hang out with me in my private Facebook group? Join on all the fun at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tanas...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
May 1, 2022
Fierce women on a sand planet!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Romance: 💛🖤💜💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 🫣🤭🫠😮🥰
The heroine: Max - a scientist on the verge of a huge discovery that will give unlimited energy to the entire galaxy when someone puts a bounty on her. She is taken by an all female bounty hunter, who later hide her among them when a rival bounty hunter boards the ship looking for her. She and the female bounty hunters are then stranded on the sand planet and she ends up getting taken by the Cresteks who want to keep her so she can mate one of their upper class.
The Hero: Kush - He is one of the Dothvek warriors and the best tracker. They live at an oasis like old time dessert sheiks on Earth. They all have the ability to feel them emotions of each other and the women. Kush’s best friend K’alvek had already taken the female captain of the bounty ship as a mate.
The Story: When Max gets taken behind the gates of the Crestek city, he slips on a Crestek cloak that he stole off one he killed, then slips behind the gates along with her to protect her and help her escape. The chancellor of the Crestek’s is not a great guy and wants a mate for his son T’Kar to continue their ruling lineage.
I was pleasantly surprised by the narration in this series. It is my favorite type, dual points of view with a male and a female narrator where both the male and the female narrator do their own parts within each chapter no matter whose POV that chapter is in. Sierra Grace and Tristan Josiah do the narration and do a great job. They each are able to do few different voices and accents so it is easy to tell when different people are talking.
The story was good, though I am not sure how I feel about so many of these alien romance books having the women end up on a planet of barbarians. I think I need to read some more where the women from earth end up with a mate that is from a planet which is way more advanced and has all kinds of cool things. Though for the alien barbarian/stranded woman genre, this series has a pretty good back story and some fierce women.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Romance: 💛🖤💜💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 🫣🤭🫠😮🥰
The heroine: Max - a scientist on the verge of a huge discovery that will give unlimited energy to the entire galaxy when someone puts a bounty on her. She is taken by an all female bounty hunter, who later hide her among them when a rival bounty hunter boards the ship looking for her. She and the female bounty hunters are then stranded on the sand planet and she ends up getting taken by the Cresteks who want to keep her so she can mate one of their upper class.
The Hero: Kush - He is one of the Dothvek warriors and the best tracker. They live at an oasis like old time dessert sheiks on Earth. They all have the ability to feel them emotions of each other and the women. Kush’s best friend K’alvek had already taken the female captain of the bounty ship as a mate.
The Story: When Max gets taken behind the gates of the Crestek city, he slips on a Crestek cloak that he stole off one he killed, then slips behind the gates along with her to protect her and help her escape. The chancellor of the Crestek’s is not a great guy and wants a mate for his son T’Kar to continue their ruling lineage.
I was pleasantly surprised by the narration in this series. It is my favorite type, dual points of view with a male and a female narrator where both the male and the female narrator do their own parts within each chapter no matter whose POV that chapter is in. Sierra Grace and Tristan Josiah do the narration and do a great job. They each are able to do few different voices and accents so it is easy to tell when different people are talking.
The story was good, though I am not sure how I feel about so many of these alien romance books having the women end up on a planet of barbarians. I think I need to read some more where the women from earth end up with a mate that is from a planet which is way more advanced and has all kinds of cool things. Though for the alien barbarian/stranded woman genre, this series has a pretty good back story and some fierce women.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
March 20, 2021
I'm really enjoying this series. This past year I've been reading alien romance because the dark and kinky stuff hasn't been sitting right with me. I think having Covid rewired my brain. The aliens are sexy. There is more plot than gratuitous sex. It's total escapism. I read this as part of a box set of books #1 - #3.
February 25, 2020
There🌍 for the Duration⏳
Book 2. ADULT Alpha Alien 👽Romance💕 and Desert🌵 Planet🌍Adventure.
The women bounty hunters and their bounty, Max💃💋 the scientist, are stranded on the backwater desert🌵 planet🌍 forever, because the Cresteks👺🔪, one of the two warring peoples on the planet🌍, destroyed💥their ship.
The Dothvek🐺🍆⛲🔪 barbarian warriors are the protectors and rescuers of the human women. Danica💃💋, the ship captain, is already mated to K'alvek🐺🍆⛲🔪, one of the tall, golden, tattooed and ripped💪 warriors.
Dothvek tracker, Kush🐺🍆⛲🔪, has disguised himself as a Crestek👺, with a hooded cloak and followed Max💃💋 and her Crestek captors into the walled Crestek city🏰. How will he rescue her and then escape the walls and take her back to the oasis 🌴 where the Dothvek live ?
ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
I also got this ebook with KU.
This second ADULT sci-fi romance💕 chronicles the continuing saga of the bounty Hunter women💃 and the continued fighting between the native Crestek👺 and the Dothvek🐺 peoples. Can be read as a standalone in my opinion.
Book 2. ADULT Alpha Alien 👽Romance💕 and Desert🌵 Planet🌍Adventure.
The women bounty hunters and their bounty, Max💃💋 the scientist, are stranded on the backwater desert🌵 planet🌍 forever, because the Cresteks👺🔪, one of the two warring peoples on the planet🌍, destroyed💥their ship.
The Dothvek🐺🍆⛲🔪 barbarian warriors are the protectors and rescuers of the human women. Danica💃💋, the ship captain, is already mated to K'alvek🐺🍆⛲🔪, one of the tall, golden, tattooed and ripped💪 warriors.
Dothvek tracker, Kush🐺🍆⛲🔪, has disguised himself as a Crestek👺, with a hooded cloak and followed Max💃💋 and her Crestek captors into the walled Crestek city🏰. How will he rescue her and then escape the walls and take her back to the oasis 🌴 where the Dothvek live ?
ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
I also got this ebook with KU.
This second ADULT sci-fi romance💕 chronicles the continuing saga of the bounty Hunter women💃 and the continued fighting between the native Crestek👺 and the Dothvek🐺 peoples. Can be read as a standalone in my opinion.
March 21, 2020
This at least had more story to it though still a lot of thinking about sex when the world is falling apart....”oh, I’m about to die but gee whiz can he...”. Sigh.
August 30, 2021
"Can we just put the brakes on all this mate stuff? I feel like I've traveled back in time instead of to another planet."
This series consistently keeps hitting the right notes to me with a good blend of plot development, world-building, character intrigue, and a not-too-smutty amount of smut that Ice Planet Barbarians tried to deliver but instead slipped more into the realm of fluff, smut, and babies. Not to say that isn't fun because I absolutely LOVE that RB universe . . . but I like this one a little more because it feels more developed and well-built.
This series consistently keeps hitting the right notes to me with a good blend of plot development, world-building, character intrigue, and a not-too-smutty amount of smut that Ice Planet Barbarians tried to deliver but instead slipped more into the realm of fluff, smut, and babies. Not to say that isn't fun because I absolutely LOVE that RB universe . . . but I like this one a little more because it feels more developed and well-built.
February 29, 2020
3.5 Stars
July 20, 2020
Love this series and the way it is written - Do NOT read if you haven’t read previous stories
Interesting concept for a PNR series. MUST BE READ IN ORDER, so if you have not read the first one, BOUNTY, then please stop now to avoid potential spoilers.
Each story is written as a complete story as to how that particular couple finds their way to each other, then the next story picks up were the one before stops, with an overall arc that follows throughout the series. I hope that makes sense ... 😃
Background:
This story follows Dr. Maxine “Max” Dryden, the bounty from the first story and Kush, a Dothvek warrior. She is a scientist that was getting close to providing the galaxy with a cheap and readily available energy source. Someone placed a large bounty on her head and the all female crew found and captured her before Mourad, another bounty hunter that likes to stalk other bounty hunters and steal their bounties, boarded their ship. Thanks to some fast work by Danica, the captain, Max was disguised as a member of the crew. Mourad decided to get rid of his competition for a while and crash landed their ship on a barbarian planet named Zandureen.
Kush is K’alvek’s cousin (book 1), with whom he was raised as a brother after his parents died. Kush leads two others to catch up with the Cresteks who had taken Max, as females were rare for both groups since the Cresteks had released a virus that killed most of them during their experiments to improve their species. The Cresteks and Dothveks were originally the same tribe, but a millennium ago, the Cresteks decided to split and live within a city versus the desert. Since then they have lost their ability to withstand the sun and to communicate empathically.
Now Max was being forced toward the city and they needed to catch up with them before nightfall and the gates were closed. They manage to do so and engage in a fight to free her. Max freezes during the squirmish and is grabbed by another and dragged through. Another warrior in a cloak grabs her arm and she is forced to march through the city. At this point she is exhausted and the guard is having to help her. She is led into a windowless room at the top of the building. The guard is told to stay with her. They keep calling him an agasi, which he doesn’t seem to like.
As soon as the door closes, he rips the cloak off, picks her up and places her on the bed ... seems he is not an agasi, which are male guards that are castrated and used to guard females. He is working with the female bounty hunters, which feel like her crew as well. Now what?
Can she and Kush escape the Crestek city? Will Mourad figure out Dr. Max Dryden is not a male and return for her? What about the pull she feels towards Kush, since she has research to get back to at some point?
I am going to stop here so I don’t accidentally provide any spoilers.
Interesting concept for a PNR series. MUST BE READ IN ORDER, so if you have not read the first one, BOUNTY, then please stop now to avoid potential spoilers.
Each story is written as a complete story as to how that particular couple finds their way to each other, then the next story picks up were the one before stops, with an overall arc that follows throughout the series. I hope that makes sense ... 😃
Background:
This story follows Dr. Maxine “Max” Dryden, the bounty from the first story and Kush, a Dothvek warrior. She is a scientist that was getting close to providing the galaxy with a cheap and readily available energy source. Someone placed a large bounty on her head and the all female crew found and captured her before Mourad, another bounty hunter that likes to stalk other bounty hunters and steal their bounties, boarded their ship. Thanks to some fast work by Danica, the captain, Max was disguised as a member of the crew. Mourad decided to get rid of his competition for a while and crash landed their ship on a barbarian planet named Zandureen.
Kush is K’alvek’s cousin (book 1), with whom he was raised as a brother after his parents died. Kush leads two others to catch up with the Cresteks who had taken Max, as females were rare for both groups since the Cresteks had released a virus that killed most of them during their experiments to improve their species. The Cresteks and Dothveks were originally the same tribe, but a millennium ago, the Cresteks decided to split and live within a city versus the desert. Since then they have lost their ability to withstand the sun and to communicate empathically.
Now Max was being forced toward the city and they needed to catch up with them before nightfall and the gates were closed. They manage to do so and engage in a fight to free her. Max freezes during the squirmish and is grabbed by another and dragged through. Another warrior in a cloak grabs her arm and she is forced to march through the city. At this point she is exhausted and the guard is having to help her. She is led into a windowless room at the top of the building. The guard is told to stay with her. They keep calling him an agasi, which he doesn’t seem to like.
As soon as the door closes, he rips the cloak off, picks her up and places her on the bed ... seems he is not an agasi, which are male guards that are castrated and used to guard females. He is working with the female bounty hunters, which feel like her crew as well. Now what?
Can she and Kush escape the Crestek city? Will Mourad figure out Dr. Max Dryden is not a male and return for her? What about the pull she feels towards Kush, since she has research to get back to at some point?
I am going to stop here so I don’t accidentally provide any spoilers.
September 1, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! Loved both the MCs and the overarching plot is moving along.
February 22, 2020
Max is a scientist who has a price on her head because she is almost at the point of discovering a new source of energy to use as a cleaner and cheaper energy for the entire galaxy. Someone wanted to stop her. She was captured by an all female bounty hunter crew, who then befriended her and then their ship was attacked and they crash landed on a desert planet.
Kush is a Dothvek who was the best tracker in his clan and his job was to track Max and bring her back to their oasis to be with her crew. But she was taken by the Cresteks who are the sworn enemy of the Dothveks. They left the deserts to live in a city of stone. With the shortage of females on their planet, Max is sure to become the mate or concubine of one or many of the Cresteks. He must save her.
Kush managed to track down Max and managed to be with her when she was taken into the walled city. Max and Kush fought their desires they felt for each other, Kush only because he didn’t want to force himself on to Max. We read of their battle against these desires and their acceptance of their fate and they finally mate and form their mind bond.
Another bounty hunter arrives and their fight begins. You don’t want to miss reading this awesome story of love and adventure. They have their happily ever after but the story is not over, two of the crew still need to be rescued. All I say is bring on the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kush is a Dothvek who was the best tracker in his clan and his job was to track Max and bring her back to their oasis to be with her crew. But she was taken by the Cresteks who are the sworn enemy of the Dothveks. They left the deserts to live in a city of stone. With the shortage of females on their planet, Max is sure to become the mate or concubine of one or many of the Cresteks. He must save her.
Kush managed to track down Max and managed to be with her when she was taken into the walled city. Max and Kush fought their desires they felt for each other, Kush only because he didn’t want to force himself on to Max. We read of their battle against these desires and their acceptance of their fate and they finally mate and form their mind bond.
Another bounty hunter arrives and their fight begins. You don’t want to miss reading this awesome story of love and adventure. They have their happily ever after but the story is not over, two of the crew still need to be rescued. All I say is bring on the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 26, 2020
Such a fantastic story. So much adventure, action, fighting, sun and sand. Max is a scientist that a crew of women bounty hunters captured. They end up crash landing on a sand dune planet and before they can fix the ship another bounty hunter blew it up. There are two tribes on this planet. The Cresteks and the Dothvek. The Cresteks kidnap Max and take her to their city. Women are a commodity that all the aliens want. Kush stays with Max when she is pulled into the city. Now they both have to get out. Love the characters. They have so much to learn about each other. I also loved the bounty crew who have now adopted Max into their group. Fast paced story. Some steam between Kush and Max. Great story. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 23, 2020
I can't express enough how much I LOVE this author and her stories!!! They are AWESOME!!! Did I mention I Love these stories? The characters and story line were well developed and word usage was amazing! I felt like I was a part of the story watching the characters grow and the story unfold.I Love these women bounty hunters and Dr. Max Dryden. The story is full of action, drama, suspense, adventure, Hot Alpha Alien and romance. I Loved Kush and Max, their story was amazing. This is a must read book that I highly recommend and I can't wait to read more!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 26, 2020
Another exciting book. This time it’s Kush and Max who are featured. Max is ‘rescued’ by the Crestek, and is escorted to their city, however, all is not as it seems, for one thing her bodyguard just happens to be Kush disguised as a Crestek. The Crestek Chancellor has an ulterior motive for wanting to introduce her to his son which is revealed as the story progresses, whilst all this is going on Dani, her mate and a few other Dothveks are on their trail. A further twist is the appearance of Mourad and his motley crew! An entertaining and fast moving moving story which l enjoyed.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 27, 2020
This story is kind of a continuation from book 1 of the scientist Max Dryden who was taken as a bounty in book 1 now she has been taken by the aliens to their city now she has an alien warrior who has been sent to break her out he is her bodyguard. Kush has to get them both out of the city they are helped by the resistance and they escape only for Max to be taken again by Mourad who is to collect the bounty on her head, poor Max can’t catch a break. Fantastic story I’m looking forward to the next book in this series and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.
May 13, 2020
Who should she trust?
When Max was taken into the Crestek city, Kush followed. He was dressed as one of them and no one noticed. They even set him as her guard.
Kush discovers that she could possibly be his mind mate but she wants nothing to do that. She has been alone most of her life and wants to keep it that way.
They discover there is a small resistance in the city that wants to return to the way the Dothveks live.
Mourad and his crew makes an appearance in this book too. They want to retrieve Max and get the bounty.
When Max was taken into the Crestek city, Kush followed. He was dressed as one of them and no one noticed. They even set him as her guard.
Kush discovers that she could possibly be his mind mate but she wants nothing to do that. She has been alone most of her life and wants to keep it that way.
They discover there is a small resistance in the city that wants to return to the way the Dothveks live.
Mourad and his crew makes an appearance in this book too. They want to retrieve Max and get the bounty.
March 21, 2020
Loved the book it was great, the story was well written and the characters are interesting. Once I started I could not put the book down from start to finish you just could not get enough with twists and turns hot and steamy like a rollercoaster ride of emotions that makes you want more.
Thank you for allowing me to review your book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thank you for allowing me to review your book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 7, 2020
Love this Barabarian
Kush...Kush...Kush!! He’s my favorite so far in this series; he and Max! The story just had this flow to it and it was perfect. I love the set for for the main storyline going on and how the other bounty hunters all get their own way of shining through! Totally love the comradery amongst the girls and how they claim Max as their own...I can’t wait for what’s next!!
Kush...Kush...Kush!! He’s my favorite so far in this series; he and Max! The story just had this flow to it and it was perfect. I love the set for for the main storyline going on and how the other bounty hunters all get their own way of shining through! Totally love the comradery amongst the girls and how they claim Max as their own...I can’t wait for what’s next!!
February 22, 2020
This story is one of those WOW factor stories. The storyline is great, the characters are fantastic and overall it is just fabulous!!! Clearly it deserves the fantastic five stars and just to inform everyone I cannot wait for the next story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 25, 2020
Another amazing adventure on the sand planet and it was quite interesting how Max and Kush manage to survive and, in the process, fell in love under the Cresteks domain, the enemies of the Dothveks.
Finished this in one sitting and couldnt wait for Tori and Vrex story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Finished this in one sitting and couldnt wait for Tori and Vrex story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 25, 2020
Max and Kush have a grand adventure inside the walls of the city of their enemies and end up meeting some who are forming a resistance to how they have been taught and are trying to return to their proper roots. this story is filled with adventure, action, fighting and plenty of steam.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 26, 2020
The second book in the Barbarians of the Sand Planet series a well written story that kept me turning pages. This is scientist Max Dryden and Dothvek Kush's story, I know when this series is finished I will be reading it again. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 3, 2020
Very well written book, with great characters!
Poor Max she just kept landing in disaster after disaster. It took a sand barbarian to save her from everything......
That ending....
I can not wait for the next book in the series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Poor Max she just kept landing in disaster after disaster. It took a sand barbarian to save her from everything......
That ending....
I can not wait for the next book in the series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 17, 2020
Story line is great and I loved the characters. I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it! Unexpected twists and turns had me reading this book in one sitting. Great storyline and character development made this book a hot and enjoyable read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 5, 2020
Great storyline
I love the female bounty hunters and the diversity of the species of their crew. The storyline is great due to not having the redundancy that so many authors use in their following stories just to fill the books. So far these stories are in testing , romantic , comical with out being boring. Love them.
I love the female bounty hunters and the diversity of the species of their crew. The storyline is great due to not having the redundancy that so many authors use in their following stories just to fill the books. So far these stories are in testing , romantic , comical with out being boring. Love them.
February 25, 2020
What a sizzling book. Action and adventure throughout. The characters were great and fun to read and 5e storyline was superb.
September 14, 2021
Started this one off wrong.
Opening lines are different from the previous book close, especially considering the story just stopped, unfinished.
Then the lead M turns telepathic in contrast to the stated empathic abilities of his race. Which is again confirmed in second chapter, by the previous M lead.
The F lead has had 2 TSTL moments, and 1 selfish high- maintenance moments, and several, ‘my genitals rule my brain’ moments (despite supposedly being a genius), all in chapter 1.
Oh, and we have a sex-slave-harem, with gauzy drapes, round bed, indoor pond (on a desert planet), and fruit plater with ‘bottled drinks’.
Is it just me?
All other reviews rave? Admittedly only for 1 paragraph, and then followed by, was a free copy..
I think 2 or 3 didn’t end that way, but were just as short and un-iformative.
Maybe I really am being unfair and it gets better?
How many male fantasies can one female author live up to so quickly and embarrassingly?
All hail the Nobel Savage, despite that the only way for them to enjoy their bounty of freshly introduced females, is through the females advanced technology (details, details..)
So, though we are supposedly in sci-fi future, time froze somewhere between the end of 20thC, & beginning of 21stC, with no change in the perception or treatment of women.
We have the annoying high-maintenance female, who gets pissed the guy risking his life to save the stranger, doesn’t have a fool-proof, get me out NOW plan (how rude).
We have the TSTL female who insists on joining in, despite having no skill set to offer, other than being a liability who can’t move as fast, quietly, or without 3 times the resources and help.
We have the arrogant fighter female who has to argue everything, slowing things down, because, hey, not your planet, people, enemies, shite! Not your anything you knowfuck about! While she can kill when her back is protected, on her own, get real? Enemy is 2 & 1/2 times your size, strength, resources. A true warrior, soldier, would pay attention, learn, use available resources, shut the fuck up, and at least gather info from locals… but no, she’s a feisty, fighting, stereotype. She even has long glossy curls flowing down her back. Floating free and wild as she fights! Never caught by the enemy, in her mouth, across her eyes, or blinding and tangling herself!
Oh wait, her black curly hair, darker skin, curvy body, feisty personality, it’s all alien, not Latino.
Since this is supposed to be for women, gotta wonder at all the stereotyped male sex fantasies..
Seriously, we have bread, fruit, wine, large amounts of water in the city … and yet, no fruit trees, no fields, no vineyards, no other water source other than an oasis pond mentioned.
It’s magic, no wait, this is sci-fi, it’s science, no wait, their barbarians … so WTF?
Where does it all come from?
Right, we’re celebrating the Nobel Savage, but where do the high tech women fit in?
Just cruise around on alien camels after piloting, captaining, or repairing a space ship?
Be happy hunting and gathering, living in a tent in a desert? Who does the washing (minus washing machine)?
There is so much about this that annoys the crap out of me, and yet I will read the next.
Helps I already paid for it.
Opening lines are different from the previous book close, especially considering the story just stopped, unfinished.
Then the lead M turns telepathic in contrast to the stated empathic abilities of his race. Which is again confirmed in second chapter, by the previous M lead.
The F lead has had 2 TSTL moments, and 1 selfish high- maintenance moments, and several, ‘my genitals rule my brain’ moments (despite supposedly being a genius), all in chapter 1.
Oh, and we have a sex-slave-harem, with gauzy drapes, round bed, indoor pond (on a desert planet), and fruit plater with ‘bottled drinks’.
Is it just me?
All other reviews rave? Admittedly only for 1 paragraph, and then followed by, was a free copy..
I think 2 or 3 didn’t end that way, but were just as short and un-iformative.
Maybe I really am being unfair and it gets better?
How many male fantasies can one female author live up to so quickly and embarrassingly?
All hail the Nobel Savage, despite that the only way for them to enjoy their bounty of freshly introduced females, is through the females advanced technology (details, details..)
So, though we are supposedly in sci-fi future, time froze somewhere between the end of 20thC, & beginning of 21stC, with no change in the perception or treatment of women.
We have the annoying high-maintenance female, who gets pissed the guy risking his life to save the stranger, doesn’t have a fool-proof, get me out NOW plan (how rude).
We have the TSTL female who insists on joining in, despite having no skill set to offer, other than being a liability who can’t move as fast, quietly, or without 3 times the resources and help.
We have the arrogant fighter female who has to argue everything, slowing things down, because, hey, not your planet, people, enemies, shite! Not your anything you knowfuck about! While she can kill when her back is protected, on her own, get real? Enemy is 2 & 1/2 times your size, strength, resources. A true warrior, soldier, would pay attention, learn, use available resources, shut the fuck up, and at least gather info from locals… but no, she’s a feisty, fighting, stereotype. She even has long glossy curls flowing down her back. Floating free and wild as she fights! Never caught by the enemy, in her mouth, across her eyes, or blinding and tangling herself!
Oh wait, her black curly hair, darker skin, curvy body, feisty personality, it’s all alien, not Latino.
Since this is supposed to be for women, gotta wonder at all the stereotyped male sex fantasies..
Seriously, we have bread, fruit, wine, large amounts of water in the city … and yet, no fruit trees, no fields, no vineyards, no other water source other than an oasis pond mentioned.
It’s magic, no wait, this is sci-fi, it’s science, no wait, their barbarians … so WTF?
Where does it all come from?
Right, we’re celebrating the Nobel Savage, but where do the high tech women fit in?
Just cruise around on alien camels after piloting, captaining, or repairing a space ship?
Be happy hunting and gathering, living in a tent in a desert? Who does the washing (minus washing machine)?
There is so much about this that annoys the crap out of me, and yet I will read the next.
Helps I already paid for it.
April 18, 2024
Oops, my bad. I was thinking of Rescue, book #8.5 in the series. This is what happens when I read books out of order. The captured female here is Max, the doctor, and in 8.5 it's Tegan, a midwife, and her warrior named Zaander and his pal Rixx whose name I confused with Kush in this book (the only commonality being each name has four letters) (Man, what a long-winded excuse for a brain fart)
Kush disguises himself as a Crestek so he can accompany Max into the city after she’s been captured. The chancellor wants her to mate with his son to insure the family legacy. The son, named T’Kar, is not interested in Max nor does he want to be chancellor. Max is eventually introduced to other potential suitors, much to Kush’s dismay. A weather system called the blood rain makes an appearance and the residents flee to shelter. Kush and Max take this opportunity to flee and engage in a bit of hanky panky. They are later tracked down by T’Kar who turns out to be a member of the resistance and helps them escape. All does not go as planned and the chancellor and his minions ambush them outside the city walls where the bounty hunter babes and Dothveks had been waiting.
Holly volunteers to take Max’s place as a tribute. As if things had not gone south enough, Mourad’s ship shows up as he has discovered that Max is a female and that her reward can still be collected.
Battles ensue and Max is recaptured by Mourad’s men after the Dothvek’s succumb to their injuries.
The bounty hunter babes manage to pull the wool over Mourad’s eyes and he leaves the sand planet in defeat. Tori sneaks onto his ship before it departs accompanied by an uninvited Dothvek warrior.
February 25, 2020
I absolutely enjoyed reading this outstanding Sci-fi alien romance & the continuation from the first book “Bounty” into this book “Captive” is smooth & flawless. Each book can be read as a standalone but I would recommend the series. There are good scene descriptions & world building. The well-paced plot is interesting & is filled with suspenseful situations. The characters are unique individuals with well-developed personalities & portray realistic emotional feelings & reactions according to the unexpected situations they find themselves in & continue to develop throughout the story-line.
There is: a young female scientist (Maxine aka Max Dryden) is have the worst time of her life by first being taken as a bounty by female bounty hunter (Danica) & her crew then they are all forcibly marooned on a sandy planet (Zandureen) by a rival bounty hunter (Maurad) now Max has been taken captive by Chertek aliens & her every move is being watched by a undercover sand barbarian (Kush), various kind of alien barbarians, a conniving Chertek chancellor, his son (T’Kar), humans, action, adventure, twists & turns, drama, intrigue, suspense, deceit, devious plans, protectiveness, danger, threats, surprises, ultimatums, compromises, enemies, attacks, violence, conflict, determination, contentment, some steamy scenes & a interesting epilogue that is paving the way for the next book in the series.
There is: a young female scientist (Maxine aka Max Dryden) is have the worst time of her life by first being taken as a bounty by female bounty hunter (Danica) & her crew then they are all forcibly marooned on a sandy planet (Zandureen) by a rival bounty hunter (Maurad) now Max has been taken captive by Chertek aliens & her every move is being watched by a undercover sand barbarian (Kush), various kind of alien barbarians, a conniving Chertek chancellor, his son (T’Kar), humans, action, adventure, twists & turns, drama, intrigue, suspense, deceit, devious plans, protectiveness, danger, threats, surprises, ultimatums, compromises, enemies, attacks, violence, conflict, determination, contentment, some steamy scenes & a interesting epilogue that is paving the way for the next book in the series.
October 2, 2020
I read the first book, which I didn't dislike, but also didn't really like. There were some things that made my book a candidate for my Shit List. BUT... the first book was interesting enough to make me want to read the second book.
I liked the emotional connection between Max and Kush much more than the one between Danica and Khal Drogo (K'alvek). The author spent more time exploring the connection between the two and I liked that. I have to say, I only skipped two or three chapters, which is a big deal for me. I tend to skip A LOT!
The book is very well thought out. I like how she spent time on world-building and highlighting the most important differences between the two clans.
But on a serious note... If I can't wrap my hand around a guy's shaft because he's too big (or the tips of my fingers don't meet), he and I will remain friends. I don't want to be walking funny the next day. Sex should be fun. These women are braver than I am.
There was a point in the book where I wanted to slap the women. It was when they were outside the gates of the Crestek city and the oh-so fierce women didn't want to let the men have all the fun. I like bold women, but I hate stupid bold women.
I liked this book better than the first one. Would recommend it to people who like action-packed romance & huge aliens with ginormous cocks a human cannot wrap her hand around. Oh, did I mention their cocks have ridges? The author likes to use this word, LOL.
I liked the emotional connection between Max and Kush much more than the one between Danica and Khal Drogo (K'alvek). The author spent more time exploring the connection between the two and I liked that. I have to say, I only skipped two or three chapters, which is a big deal for me. I tend to skip A LOT!
The book is very well thought out. I like how she spent time on world-building and highlighting the most important differences between the two clans.
But on a serious note... If I can't wrap my hand around a guy's shaft because he's too big (or the tips of my fingers don't meet), he and I will remain friends. I don't want to be walking funny the next day. Sex should be fun. These women are braver than I am.
There was a point in the book where I wanted to slap the women. It was when they were outside the gates of the Crestek city and the oh-so fierce women didn't want to let the men have all the fun. I like bold women, but I hate stupid bold women.
I liked this book better than the first one. Would recommend it to people who like action-packed romance & huge aliens with ginormous cocks a human cannot wrap her hand around. Oh, did I mention their cocks have ridges? The author likes to use this word, LOL.
March 23, 2021
I enjoyed being back in this sand plant world. I read this one right after finishing Bounty. I think I enjoyed this one just a little bit more because it seems like it was a continuation of the first book even though it focused on different characters.
Kush & Max were fun to read about, but like the first novel it wasn’t overly exciting. I read it pretty fast and enjoyed the story. Maybe it’s the instant-love thing but I feel like in these stories there’s no real relationship development; although there was a slight attempt at it in this book with more of Max’s reluctance.
I think what keeps drawing me in is the outside story from the romance. Will the crew and new found tribe defeat Mourad? Will they befriend the Crestek people again or battle them? What else is on this planet? Will all the crew find mates? Will they return to space and bring their mates with them?
While the romances are enjoyable they’re not really strong for me. This is definitely more of a - “let’s escape into a fun, entertaining read for a couple of hours” & not a “let’s have this book devour my soul” type of story. But that’s totally okay. I read, I enjoyed, I didn’t waste my time & I want to read more. So I call that a win even if these stories aren’t blowing me away and the characters/romance feel slightly lacking. I’m now invested in this crew & this sci-fi world & will definitely be reading Tori’s story next!
Kush & Max were fun to read about, but like the first novel it wasn’t overly exciting. I read it pretty fast and enjoyed the story. Maybe it’s the instant-love thing but I feel like in these stories there’s no real relationship development; although there was a slight attempt at it in this book with more of Max’s reluctance.
I think what keeps drawing me in is the outside story from the romance. Will the crew and new found tribe defeat Mourad? Will they befriend the Crestek people again or battle them? What else is on this planet? Will all the crew find mates? Will they return to space and bring their mates with them?
While the romances are enjoyable they’re not really strong for me. This is definitely more of a - “let’s escape into a fun, entertaining read for a couple of hours” & not a “let’s have this book devour my soul” type of story. But that’s totally okay. I read, I enjoyed, I didn’t waste my time & I want to read more. So I call that a win even if these stories aren’t blowing me away and the characters/romance feel slightly lacking. I’m now invested in this crew & this sci-fi world & will definitely be reading Tori’s story next!
June 30, 2023
Steamy and suspenseful
I loved Kush and Max’s alien-human romance with a side of kidnapping. I have a soft spot for the people who are a bit uncomfortable in their skin because they don’t feel like they fit in, like Max. So I love when they get swoon worthy HEAs. Max is a human scientist that started off as a captive bounty on a ship with all female bounty hunters. Their ship was forced to crash on a primitive planet that has not had a lot of interaction with other species. After crashing she was kidnapped by one of the native species, the Cresteks. Kush, a native of the sand planet is a Dothvek and am empath. Due to their empathic ability, they can have mind mates. Kush was tasked with saving Max from the Cresteks. When they both Max and Kush end up of trapped in the Crestek City, their attraction heat up along with the danger. The story includes all the goodness that you’d expect from this genre - sweet moments, steamy scenes, fighting, dangerous situations, alien physiology and cultures, bad guys, loyal friends, tragic back stories, fated mates, coincidences, plot twists, and laughs. I am excited to keep reading this series especially since this one ended on a bit of a cliffhanger for two of the female bounty hunters.
I loved Kush and Max’s alien-human romance with a side of kidnapping. I have a soft spot for the people who are a bit uncomfortable in their skin because they don’t feel like they fit in, like Max. So I love when they get swoon worthy HEAs. Max is a human scientist that started off as a captive bounty on a ship with all female bounty hunters. Their ship was forced to crash on a primitive planet that has not had a lot of interaction with other species. After crashing she was kidnapped by one of the native species, the Cresteks. Kush, a native of the sand planet is a Dothvek and am empath. Due to their empathic ability, they can have mind mates. Kush was tasked with saving Max from the Cresteks. When they both Max and Kush end up of trapped in the Crestek City, their attraction heat up along with the danger. The story includes all the goodness that you’d expect from this genre - sweet moments, steamy scenes, fighting, dangerous situations, alien physiology and cultures, bad guys, loyal friends, tragic back stories, fated mates, coincidences, plot twists, and laughs. I am excited to keep reading this series especially since this one ended on a bit of a cliffhanger for two of the female bounty hunters.
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