Embrace the Romance

Pets in Space Anthologies #2

by S.E. Smith, M.K. Eidem, Susan Grant

The pets are back! Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2, featuring twelve of today’s leading Science Fiction Romance authors brings you a dozen original stories written just for you! Join in the fun, from the Dragon Lords of Valdier to a trip aboard award-winning author, Veronica Scott’s Nebula Zephyr to journeying back to Luda where Grim is King, for stories that will take you out of this world! Join New York Times, USA TODAY, and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, M.K. Eidem, Susan Grant, Michelle Howard, Cara Bristol, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Laurie A. Green, Sabine Priestley, Jessica E. Subject, Carol Van Natta, and Alexis Glynn Latner as they share stories and help out Hero-Dogs.org, a charity that supports our veterans!

10% of the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.

PEARL’S DRAGON
A Novella in the Dragon Lords of Valdier Series
By S.E. Smith (New York Times/USA TODAY Bestselling Author)

Asim Kemark has lived a long, lonely life. It is only his pledge to his former king and to Mandra Reykill that keeps him, his dragon, and his symbiot from going crazy. He has given up on ever finding his true mate and devotes himself to caring for the wide assortment of creatures on Mandra and Ariel’s mountain retreat. The last thing he expects when he visits the palace is to lose control of his dragon and his symbiot when they sense their true mate. Before he knows it, he has kidnapped her!

Pearl St. Claire is enjoying a new adventure – learning to live on an alien planet. As a mature woman in her sixties, she thought she had experienced just about everything life could throw at her – only to discover she really hasn’t experienced anything yet! She is both amused and exasperated when one of the dragon-shifting aliens kidnaps her, believing she is his true mate.

Life is no longer boring or lonely as Asim courts the spirited human woman who has enchanted him, but he isn’t the only one who has noticed Pearl or the unusual animals under his care. When poachers attack, determined to steal the exotic creatures under his protection – including Pearl and a new clutch of alien eggs from Earth – he will do everything he can to protect them. Can one dragon keep the most precious creatures under his care safe, or will he lose the biggest battle of his life?

A GRIM PET
A Novella in the Tornian Series
By M.K. Eidem (USA TODAY Bestselling Author)

The Great Raptor is a fearsome and deadly creature; and while the raptor is no one’s pet, he is fiercely protective and loving of his family…

Carly and Miki have never forgotten the story that Grim told them of the Great Raptor, the symbol of their new home world Luda. Yet, it is the comparison their mother once told them of the Great Raptor to Grim that gives them the courage to help the injured bird they find in the garden.

Find out what happens when their single act of love, faith, and kindness creates far-reaching consequences that no one, including their mother and Grim, could ever have predicted.

THE PRINCE, THE PILOT, AND THE PUPPY
A Novella in The Star Series
By Susan Grant (New York Times/USA TODAY Bestselling, and RITA Award Winning Author)

Trysh joined the Space Forces with the secret hope that her absentee father might notice her accomplishments and acknowledge her. At the top of her game as a starfighter pilot, the last thing she needs is a way too charming prince to get in her way. Trysh had learned at a young age what happened when a person lost their heart to someone above their social class – it led to heartache.

Prince Rornn feels fortunate he can pursue his passion both in the air and on the ground. He decides being third in line for the throne definitely has its advantages – it allowed him to join the Space Forces as a top-gun starfighter pilot. What he doesn’t expect is to find a woman there who not only competes with him – she completes him!

Everything Rornn tries appears to push Trysh further away – that is until they rescue a tiny, starving yipwag pup on the surface of an alien world. It turns out that “Puppy” is as good at sniffing out terrorists as she is at helping her two clueless humans figure out that they need each other as much as they do her.

Can Rornn convince Trysh that he is nothing like her father and that she is just the right woman for him before the terrorists discover their furry little companion?

WIRED FOR LOVE
By Michelle Howard

Hunter Gils has put his past in the military behind him. Now his focus is on his bar and the less than savory clientele. Life is perfect – except for a gray-eyed beauty who refuses his advances.

Narelle Bindu wasn’t immune to the tall, dark stranger working at The Zone. He wanted her – and she wanted him. The only drawback was she didn’t have room in her life for a man, no...

Genres: Romance, Anthologies, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Romance, Aliens, Fantasy, Paranormal

828 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2017

About the author

S.E. Smith is an internationally acclaimed, New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling author of science fiction, romance, fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary works for adults, young adults, and children. She enjoys writing a wide variety of genres that pull her readers into worlds that take them away.

Readers can check out her website at https://sesmithfl.com and chat with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/se.smith.5

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2 is an anthology of twelve short stories by twelve amazing authors. 10% of the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence. I only read one story from this anthology, Sensate by Sabine Priestley.

I first met Marco Dar in Sabine’s Alien Attachments series. He is an Earth Protector and spends most of his time alone aboard his ship. Marco has made some adjustments to his Com unit and it has slowly evolved to having a mind of it’s own. It is Marco’s only companion most of the time. They came up with a name for it, Ru.



Ru has expressed a want to have a body, a way to experience more of life, touch, taste, sight. Is such a thing even possible? During one of Marco’s deliveries he hears a familiar voice from his past, a woman that he dated for a while and that things ended unsatisfactorily. But the woman is a genius, a successful scientist. If anyone would be able to make Ru’s dream come true, it would be her. But would she even speak to him?



Zara Mancini has no interest in seeing Marco Dar again. But after she hears what he is proposing, she can’t resist. Ru has chosen a small owl as his choice of body. As Zara and Marco spend time together, now as adults, something is different between them. They can both feel their psi trying to intertwine. As if they might be psi-mates. But Zara knows better. Marco is not a one woman man. So she has to keep her distance.

The process of integrating Ru with the owl is not an easy one nor is it a quick one. And someone else has also noticed Ru, someone dangerous.



This is a short and fun little story. Ru was adorable. Zara and Marco were cute together. If this is any indication of the other stories in this anthology, it is most definitely worth checking out. Especially due to the fact that it is for such a wonderful cause.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I read Pets in Space 1 last year and really enjoyed it, so I couldn't hit request fast enough when I saw this one pop up on Netgalley. I'll be doing short reviews for each story and give a summary of the anthology as a whole at the end.

Pearl's Dragon by SE Smith - 3 stars
This was a fun start of this anthology. Pearl's Dragon is about a grandma named pearl who finds her true mate while visiting an alien planet. I thought it was great the main characters were older in this story, Pearl is 60 if I remember correctly and her dragon shifter mate Asim is described as an older warrior.

The story is told from the present time and then there are two large flashbacks to events in the past, which take up the majority of the story. One of those is about how Asim and Pearl met and the other is about a dangerous situation they run into. There are some fun pets involved, although I wish there was a bit more description of the alien pets as I wasn't sure how to visualize those.

The romance develops a tad too quickly for my taste, but it is a short story and a true mates story, so it does make sense. I also had some trouble with the large amount of side characters and had trouble remembering who was who. At the end of the story was a list of other books in this series so I figured that those who read this series already will already know all the characters. It did made me curious about this series.

A Grim Pet by MK Eidem - 4 stars
This was a fun story. Just like the first one it was obvious this was part of a series and I had a little trouble with remembering the names of side characters and who they were and their role, but not too much. Mostly it made me curious to the backstory of everyone and I wanted to know more about these aliens. The males were a bit overprotective about their females, but it did make sense given their culture.

There are multiple aliens in this universe and the focus is on Lisa and her husband, the king. They have two daughters who befriend a raptor. The pet in this story wasn't a pet, but more an animal they sort of befriended and seemed to be important to this culture.

I liked the little touches that showed this was an alien planet with some of their customs and even some of their speech, it was easy to follow, but made it obvious they are a bit different from humans. The two little girls were adorable and I thought the plot line with the raptor was neat.

The Prince, The Pilot, and the Puppy by Susan Grant - 4 stars
This story was so good! I am totally impressed by how this author managed to write a short story where the characters felt fleshed out and managed to write their whole story without it feeling rushed. I am convinced I have to give one of this author's full length books a try soon as I really like her writing style.

This book follows two human main characters and a puppy. There is a small link with this author's story from Pets in Space 1 where the dog from that story shortly met the puppy from this one. It works great as a standalone and I was immediately invested in these characters and hoping they would get their happy ending. The puppy also plays an important role and was totally adorable. I really enjoyed this story and was sad when it ended.

I also liked the hints we get of what's going on in this universe and the aliens and I just want to know more about it. It also was neat how these both trained to be pilots and it was obvious they were close friends even though they both wanted more. It was fun to read when they finally made that step to lovers.

Wired for Love by Michelle Howard - 3 stars
This story started out great. It has a bit of a gritty feel, two alien main characters, a dog and the couple has some fun banter. For the most part I enjoyed this one, but there was a deal/ bargain they struck with each other that didn't sit well with me. I wish he had done what she asked because he wanted to and it didn't sit well with me that he would only do that if she gave him what he wanted in return. As I felt like he should've waited till she was ready. Because of that I had a hard time feeling their romance.

I did like how this seemed to be set on an alien planet and the two main characters were aliens too, which was neat. There are some things we learn about a war that took place, but the story mostly stays focused on the two main characters and Hunter's past. I also felt a bit annoyed Hunter would snap at Narelle while she didn't know what he went through or what she was asking of him. I did like Narelle's character more than Hunter, but she was the type of character that hid her vulnerabilities behind a shield of strength and I would've liked to see more behind her shield or learn about her character. I felt like there was more that could've been explored about these characters and the world, but there's no space for that in a short novel. There was a part in the last chapter that almost ruined the story for me, but the epilogue made a lot good again and it was a good ending.

Rescued by the Cyborg by Cara Bristol - 4 stars
This was one of the stories I was most curious about as I already have read a full length book by this author and her story in Pets in Space 1. I really enjoyed Rescued by the Cyborg. It's a bit dark at times, the female main character is a difficult situation before cyborg Guy saves her. It has a great story, danger and some action. I also liked how we got to know a bit about the cyborgs and how they work.

I liked how the female main character was an alien with wings, which seemed pretty neat and unique. And we get a bit of hints of their culture too. Guy was a man of duty and was afraid he wouldn't be relationship material after his fiancé left him. I liked seeing the romance between these two develop, they both seemed like great characters and I liked how we got a pretty good feel for both of them. And there's an adorable kitty too, which was a fun addition to the story. It was really well written and I am convinced I have to pick up this cyborg series soon!

Star Cruise: Songbird by Veronica Scott - 4 stars
This was another story I was really curious about in this set as I really enjoyed Veronica Scott's story in Pets in Space 1 and have read two of her full length novels by now as well. Songbird was a great read, I flew through it. It had a solid story with a bit of danger, music, two great main characters and two awesome pets.

I really liked the bond Grant had with his eagle bird, it wasn't quiet the traditional pet as he was actually a war bird and there was some interesting backstory there as well. And I am glad we got to see enough of the bird and how it played a role in the story. It was great to see Grant fall in love with singer Karissa. Both characters really came alive and I enjoyed reading about them, seeing them grow closer and learning more about them. The descriptions were very well done and I was able to visualize well how Karissa's shows looked like and the planet they visited.

There was a great twist at the end that I hadn't predicted and I was happy with how it got wrapped up. It felt like a full story and it was well written. I also appreciated the cameo appearance of one of the characters and pets from this author's story in Pets in Space 1 and how it took place aboard the same ship. I am looking forward to read more by this author.

Time Trap by Pauline Baird - 2 stars
Sadly this one didn't quite work for me. I usually avoid time travel in stories as I just don't like it. It doesn't make sense and it annoys me so much it's hard to enjoy any story that deals with it. There is little explanation about how time travel works in this story and I found myself confused a few times about small details, like who Briggs was, what he knew, what kind of work Madison did. The whole time travel part just added to my confusion.

I did like the talking parrot, he was a nice addition. And Madison gymnastic skills was an original touch, just like how Briggs liked to fix machines. But I found it hard to really get a feel for the characters or care about their romance. It also felt like this might be part of a larger series, so maybe some things are easier to understand if you're familiar with it. Sorry this is just not my kind of story sadly.

Courting Disaster: Star Dog 2 by Laurie A Green - 3 stars
I was eager to start this one as I enjoyed Star Dog 1. Too bad it's been a while since I read that one and I haven't gotten around to reading the rest of the books yet, so there were a few moment where I was a tad confused about who was who and how everything tied together. The story was still easy to follow, it's more the background and character connections I wished I had clearer in my head.

This story follows Jagger, a captain who gets a strange missions. He has a very big ego and it was nice to see his shock when he saw the ship he had to pilot. He also was still troubled by something that happened years ago and for a self proclaimed celibate monk he sure was easily distracted. Sadly I never fully warmed up to Jagger. Katsia was a nice character, although I did feel we got to know her less well than Jagger. And I also liked stardog Luna and the role she played in this story.

The story is pretty straightforward, with a small twist later on and was fun to read, but somehow the romance didn't fully work for me. And then the sex scene that took place at a bit of a weird time and place didn't really help matters either. Still a good read and it was well written. I plan to check out more books by this author.

Sensate by Sabine Priestley - 3 stars
This was an interesting story. The main plot line focused on a sentient AI that wanted a physical body and the complications that arose on the path toward that. I really liked that part of the story, but felt that at times there was a bit too much the author tried to fit in the story which made it feel a tad rushed at times.

There was a scene involving a side character that felt a bit off and rushed, although from the note at the end of the book it seems they will get their own story. I didn't feel the romance as well as it felt like it was sort of fit in between all the other things going on. I did like that these two had a history, but I wanted to see more of them re-connecting now and feel their connection. I did thought the character Ru was very well written and I was pleased how that plot line got resolved.

Gib and the Tibbar by Jessica E Subject - 3 stars
This was a nice read. I liked how both main characters were alien races, although the whole bones on the outside of their body thing weirded me out a bit and I had trouble visualizing how those aliens looked. I also felt like I missed a bit of knowledge about the world, but it seems this story is part of a series so more will probably be explained here.

The male is a defender, kind of like the military in this world it seems and they have some mental powers as well. Although I am not quite sure how that works. While the female main character works in the kitchen for the palace. I liked how different these characters were, but were able to find common ground and learn about they others life and culture. The romance developed a bit quickly, especially when she wasn't interested at all in him at first. And some parts were a tad rushed. The pet was adorable and I liked the part it played.

Pet Trade by Carol Van Natta - 4 stars
This one was really good and there were so many pets, which made me happy. And lots of unique pets too and almost every scene had pets in them. They played an important role in the story and were interwoven everywhere. I liked both of the main characters, they both had a tough life so far and are trying to find some peace and quiet on this planet. And seeing the female main character who was afraid of men slowly allow him close was great to see.

I thought both character felt realistic and I enjoyed reading about them. The romance was slow paced, which totally fit the story. There was a time skip in the middle of the story that worked well. I liked how much both characters cared about the pets. The author pulled of the short form really well and I never felt like I was missing something or things were rushed. I definitely plan to check out some of her other books.

Mascot by Alexis Glynn - 4 stars
A great ending to this anthology. Mascot featured an unique plant animal that was the mascot of a space station. I liked how this one took place on a space station, it made for a fun setting. This one was pretty plot focused, with the romance more as a side plot line, it fit the story. I did struggle a bit with the different factions and politics as we didn't get as much information about that, but even without that the plot was still easy to follow.

It was well written, with some nice twists and interesting characters. I liked the camaraderie between everyone on the space station and how they banded together. The romance was well done and I liked how it took some time to develop. There was quite a bit going on in this story, but it didn't feel rushed. A great read.

Summary of my thoughts of the anthology as a whole
Pets in Space 2 is a great anthology for those who like Science Fiction Romance. And each story features one or more pets, which is a lot of fun. I really enjoyed this anthology, I already knew some of the authors and others were new to me. It's a great way to find out which authors style works for you and which less so.

I enjoyed most of these stories and had a great time reading through this anthology. Most of the stories are set in an already existing world created by each author, so there were some moments where I felt like I missed some pieces of information. Usually this information wasn't necessary for the plot, but it still made me feel like I missed some background you would have when you already are familiar with that world. And at the same time often this made me curious to go back and read more books by those authors.

It was fun to see how many different pets this anthology had and how the different authors incorporated the pet(s) in their story. Each story has a romance as well. Some are set on alien planets, aboard space ships and even a space station. All in all I would definitely recommend this one to fans of sci-fi romance books.

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reasons I was super excited about this anthology:

Aliens - check
Cyborgs - check
ADORABLE PETS - DOUBLE CHECK

Anyone who is familiar with my reading tastes will know I have a huge soft spot for sci-fi. The cheesier the better. The more colourful the better. The more outrageous the better. Do they shower in a massive jelly cube? I hope so. Does the alien hero have blue skin? Hey we're supposed to be a colour blind society right? Although I confess I do have a soft spot for the blue aliens. I know I know, I shouldn't practise positive discrimination in that way...it's my one (of many) weaknesses.

Anyway, I am procrastinating. Pets in Space 2 is a big book of sci-fi romance novellas, with each story having a pet as a central feature. There is your traditional dog, some super dogs, a few emus and then more alien type pets. Although each pet was different what they all had in common was there adorableness - apart from the emus - and I am a sucker for a cute pet in a story. I read each novella and the rating of this anthology is more like an average rather than a reflection on any individual book. Because, like all anthologies I had books I liked and then books I quickly skimmed through and Pets in Space 2 give you a great selection of authors in the sci-fi romance genre to test out.

Here are my favourite three novellas:

A Grim Pet (Tornian series)
By M.K. Eidem

I love this series, so I am very bias, I realise it isn't for everyone and this probably isn't worth reading unless you have atleast read Grim the first book in the Tornian series. But it was cute and I enjoyed it.

Rescued by the Cyborg (Cy-Ops series)
By Cara Bristol

I liked this one so much that I have actually went out and got the first book in the Cy-Ops series to read. I read this though without having read any of the others in the series and it worked perfectly. Plus, adorable kitten!

Pet Trade (Central Galactic Concordance series)
By Carol Van Natta

This might have been my favourite in the entire anthology, I really enjoyed Van Natta's novella and I am definitely going to start reading this series.

*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Suzanne❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthologies can be really hit or miss with me, but since (a) I'm a sucker for sci-fi romance and (b) I enjoyed the first Pets in Space book quite a bit and (c) there are several authors I've committed to on a level that probably makes me sound like a stalker, I decided to dive feet first into this installment.

MAN, IT WAS GOOD. From the new-to-me authors to the old favorites, I enjoyed myself thoroughly. Cuddly, dangerous, and sometimes plant-like (or just straight up plants), these pets in space hit the spot. Since I always love getting sucked into a new world (or universe), I'm giving this one a big thumbs up.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Leo (Queen of the Rants and Spoilers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Grim Pet.
4 stars.

I still love Grim after all this time, he's still awesome and protective of his girls.
Hopefully the author continues with this series.
Still safe.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great set of books!! I was in book heaven with this one. So many of my favorite writers had short stories that took you back to some of their best series. It is always fun to get updates on fun characters!! This set was fun to read and passed the time fast. Well worth reading

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

I loved the first Pets in Space collection, as well as all the pets collected therein, so I was happy to sign up for Pets in Space 2. And I’m glad I did.

This is a collection to savor, and possibly also one to plan on reading over a long trip. This book is huge. Why? Because this is not a collection of short stories, it’s a collection of novellas. Novellas are longer, meatier and just have room for more story all the way around. So if you like SFR in general or stories where animals help the humans get their romantic act together, this one is a winner from beginning to end.

I have to confess that I haven’t read them all, yet. I want to have time to get into each story, and possibly see how many books in each author’s series I need to add to my towering TBR pile.

That being said, I really enjoyed the stories I did read. But because this is my “best beloved” genre, SFR, I have a few quibbles.

I read the first two stories, Pearl’s Dragon by SE Smith and A Grim Pet by MK Eidem straight out of the gate, before I realized I had to pace myself a bit. I liked both of them, but Pearl’s Dragon spoke to me a bit more. It was fantastic to see a “woman of a certain age” as the romantic lead. That doesn’t happen nearly often enough, even though in science fiction it is easy to posit more than enough medical advances to make it not merely plausible, but very, very possible. And it’s fun to see someone I can really identify with as the heroine!

But both of these stories are in worlds that I am not familiar with, and that are several stories into their worldbuilding. As much as I enjoyed them, I always had the feeling that there was a whole bunch that I was missing because I hadn’t read the previous stories. Which look like a treat. As soon as I get a round tuit, I’ll be back to visit these worlds again.

I went hunting for a cat story, because, cats. I love cat stories, and cat’s stories, and that’s why I have two of my own. And I loved Rescued by the Cyborg by Cara Bristol, even though I have not read the series that it comes from, either. Little Mittzi added just the right touch of comfort and whimsy to a story that definitely had its dark and gritty moments. And Mittzi even saved the day!

Then I went looking for the stories in universes that was already familiar with, and explored two of those, Veronica Scott’s Star Cruise: Songbird and Pauline Baird Jones’ Time Trap.

Time Trap was a bit shorter than the rest, and just didn’t have quite enough time to deal with what feels like some very complex worldbuilding under the surface. And that’s ironic considering that this is a time travel story. I liked Briggs and Madison, but because I didn’t have a lot of background for them I found myself short-cutting what I did have and grafting it into universes I’m more familiar with. Something kept saying Stargate to me, but I’m not sure if that mental leap was remotely correct. Still, great characters, but the worldbuilding had clearly happened elsewhere. Sir Rupert, on my third hand, was an absolute hoot. Pun completely intended.

Of the stories that I read, I think that Star Cruise: Songbird was the best of the marvelous bunch. It probably helped that I have read several books in the Star Cruise series, and was relatively familiar with the worldbuilding. This story felt the most complete, in the sense that we had a chance to really see the relationship develop from its shaky start to its life-altering conclusion. The bond between Grant and his raptor was nicely done, and Karissa’s problems, while they were difficult, showed that she was dealing with her life and just needed a bit of help – not that Grant needed to rescue her at every turn. I also loved that they found a way to be together that melded both their worlds. A great story with a well deserved and interesting HEA.

Escape Rating A-: There are mostly hits in this collection, and plenty of temptation not just to immerse yourself in this book, but to go back and do a deep dive into every one of these authors’ worlds. I loved the first book, and this is a fitting continuation. I hope that there will be a Pets in Space 3 to look forward to next year, because this collection has become an annual treat.

[Anadosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The books are amazing.When I started reading I couldn't put I'd down I read the book in one day.Keep up the book work.The books are written by a group of maifisent authors like S.E. Smith, M.K. Eidem, Susan Grant, Michelle Howard, Cara Bristol, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Laurie A. Green, Sabine Priestley, Jessica E. Subject, Carol Van Natta, and Alexis Glynn Latner.I will be definitely look for there others books to read them.Add to that pets often are great ice breaker between people. The tale continues with boy meets girl or should I say man meets women. This where the real drama begins.I received ARC from netgalley for honest review.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first Pets in Space anthology with all the creative ways animal like beings were made the heroes and side kicks in stories set in space. So many familiar and new to me authors to try. And the added benefit of supporting a great charity. Well guess what? They are at it again with all the above marvelous-ness. I'll be reading this one in bits and pieces due to the size, but I have a feeling that I'll go through it fast as the stories grab me and I will be looking around for more.

As this is a large anthology, I will do mini-reviews as I go for each story.

Pearl's Dragon by SE Smith 3.5 stars
Dragon Lords of Valdier story

My first encounter with the Dragon Lords of Valdier series. I'm pretty sure this one follows book nine as it mentions several established couples and a history of events in passing.
This was a humorous, hot, and engaging side story in the Valdier world for Pearl and Asim with a series of encounters told in flashback including their first meet. The alien animals were mischievous and fun, but played strong roles in the story.

A Grim Pet by MK Eidem 4 stars
A Tornian Story and a Kaliszian Story follow up

The story's focus is on King Grim and his new family, but characters from other Tornian books and Kaliszian books come together in this one. Little Miki finds an unusual wounded visitor in the garden while the grown-ups are trying to fix an issue that will prevent war.

I had already planned to read Eidem's books in the Tornian series, but it looks like I'll be picking them all up at some point. This was a whimsical story, but it hints at the excitement and passion from the regular series stories.


The Prince, The Pilot, and the Puppy by Susan Grant 4 Stars
A Star series story #4.5

This is the parallel story to 'Stray' from the Pets in Space antho (now released as a single 'Star Hero'). A woman feeling the rejection of her birth dad becomes a top space pilot to finally gain his approbation. Meanwhile, she is attempting to resist her fellow pilot's charm because he is a prince and way out of her class. It takes an alien puppy and a plotting terrorist group to bring things together.

Rornn, Trysh, and Puppy were a heartwarming threesome and I enjoyed this snipped story that finally showed what came of the little waif of a puppy that Bang Bang shared his food with. I have Star King and I will be finishing this series after enjoying these two novellas.

Wired for Love by Michelle Howard

From the world of the series A World Beyond, this one is a great danger-filled plot both for a pair of lovers in which the lady hides her fear of love hurting her behind a tough exterior while a former soldier scarred by his past puts it all on the line for her. A loyal, heroic war dog and a mystery bring them together.

I loved this one, but also felt it would be even better as a full-length. And, another that I definitely want to go back for more of the author's books.

Rescued by the Cyborg by Cara Bristol 4.5 stars
#5.5 Cy-Ops Cyborg Romance series

Part of a series, but easily can standalone. Loved meeting cyborg, Guy Roarke and Solia the winged and exquisite Farian in this latest adventure. Adorable Mitzi the kitten was a fantastic edition doing her part to help Guy and Solia. The rescue, the individual characters' private conflicts, and their romance was beautifully done.

Great blend of suspenseful action, slow burn passion, and sci-fi elements that make me already a huge fan of the author and the series. Can't wait for the newest release featuring one of the side characters in this story.

Star Cruise: Songbird by Jean Walker 5 stars
I was very taken with 'Stowaway' from the first Pets in Space antho and this story cemented my love for this author's writing and her SF Sectors series. There is such heart in her story even if its novella-length. I was engaged from the beginning and was riveted by the ending. The light banter that escalated to full on passion and endearing love by the end was an amazing romance.

Oh, and yes, again, the 'pets' included in this story, a warbird Eagle and a little songbird stole the show at times with their presence. The setting of the ship and the futuristic rock music world along with the overall series setting and surrounding characters just added an extra layer of deliciousness.

Definitely going back for more from this series.

Time Trap by Pauline Baird 4 stars
A Project Enterprise series novella

This seems to be a side story in the Project Enterprise series. It worked well as a standalone once I got my bearings further into the story. Briggs and Madison shared the narration and were great hero and heroine with wry humor, banter, and a strong attraction. Sir Rupert the alien parrot was a clever addition as the 'pet character. The black ops style element and excitement blended with sci-fi and time travel made this a fantastic story and left me eager to go back for the whole series.

Courting Disaster: Star Dog 2 by Laurie A Green 4.5 Stars
An Inherit the Stars universe novella

Courting Disaster is the sequel to Star Dog introduced in the first Pets in Space antho and also to the Inherit the Stars series. I read Star Dog, but feel Courting Disaster works well as a standalone, too.

I enjoyed getting a roguish flawed hero on the cusp of growing into a true hero for the right woman who helps him finally put his past to rest. The plot was action and character driven with a great tension-filled romance. I have the Inherit the Stars series and just need to get busy and read it for more fab reading.

Sensate by Sabine Priestley 4 stars
Alien Attachments series

Sensate is the story of an artificial intelligence come to life and desiring a body which in turn gives two lonely people a second chance at romance. Marco and Zara were once lovers until he walked away. Ru, his sentient com, brings him back to Zara. A deadly adventure make them both see the truth about their feelings and dreams.

I loved this story, the characters, especially Ru, and am intrigued by the great world of the Alien Attachments series. This worked well as a standalone mostly, but I confess to being confused by the 'psi' element that was introduced and played a part, but wasn't explained much. I'll have to go back and read the earlier books in the series.

Gib and the Tibbar by Jessica E Subject 3.5 Stars
A Defenders series story

This is a standalone side story set in the Defenders universe of stories. It was a sweet 'blue-collar' romance between a space soldier and a lonely, but dreaming kitchen worker who fears Gib is just one more person to take from her and leave. Gib wants to prove her wrong, but duty calls him away. A cute little tibbar pet saves the day.

This was one of those stories that was complete and brought great emotion to the story. I do wish for a few extra pages there in the end where it got a tad choppy to fit into the page count. And, another series I definitely want to pursue.

Pet Trade by Carol Van Natta 4.5 stars
#3.5 A Central Galactic Concordance series story

Axur and Bethnee's story grabbed me from the beginning. I have a soft spot for abuse survivors and with Pet Trade I ended up with a story chock full of them. With a woman with psychic gifts with animals exploited and abused, a cyborg man experimented on and exploited, and a passel of designer space animals also being exploited and all of them in hiding, I was already cheering them on to find a connection, family, and home with each other while evading those who would try to recapture them to be used again.

This story stood well alone. It gave enough hints at the broader world of the series, but lacked nothing in its own right. I loved that there are aliens, cyborg spec ops teams, psychically gifted humans and more being offered which I will definitely check out in the future.


Mascot by Alexis Glynn 4 Stars
An Aeon's Legacy series story

An auditor and a space station manager, two cultures, mistrust of each other, and a common threat from without made for an amazing adventure. This book is part of a great series world, but it stood alone quiet well. I enjoyed the author's writing for its description, character and plot development. She roused my curiosity early and kept me riveted.

I loved the way this one set up describing the fascinating setting of the mysterious and legendary nebula and the equally secretive places of the space station now on the edge of things. The political intrigue that suddenly made this backwater station important. And the engaging characters including the plantimal (plant animal) pet of the station that does its part to save them all. And, yes, we have yet another series I am compelled to start.

*********
Well, that was all of this fabulous collection. Not a dud in the group and most were clever and engaging. I enjoyed reuniting with favorite authors and discovering new ones to love. They all have a gift for fantastic sci-fi romance writing that I can heartily recommend to those who love the genre and those who want to give it a try.

My thanks to the authors for the opportunity to read their book in exchange for an honest review.

[Judy Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

SIMPLY OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! THEY'VE DONE IT AGAIN! BEST COLLECTION.....EVER!!!
Embrace the Romance: Pets In Space 2
Authors: Multiple
Designation: Collection of Standalone Novellas, No Cliffhangers, #ScienceFiction #Fantasy #Romance #Petfriendly #Anthology #Adorable
#Heartwarming #Sexy
Reading Platform: Kindle Edition
My Rating: FIVE CAPTIVATING STARS*****
WOW! I love, love, love Embrace the Romance: Pets In Space 2! In 2016, I heard whispers across Facebook reader groups about plans to release a collection of stories featuring pets. My excitement grew when I learned the collection would not only highlight animals but also include sexy aliens and dreamy romance. I became obsessed with trying to glean more details about the set. Thank heavens the rumors were true! Pets In Space was born and the first collection of captivating science fiction romance novellas was released in October 2016. And guess what? They're back!!! The set was so well received by readers that the sponsors of this remarkable anthology decided to give readers an encore this year with another collection of all-new stories from some of the most well-known names in the sci-fi romance genre today! Can you tell I'm excited? Last year's collection was absolutely fabulous, but these guys have really outdone themselves this year. I haven't been able to stop reading since this collection hit my Kindle 2 days ago! Anyone who has read my reviews in the past probably already knows how much I enjoy box sets. Well, there's one thing I love more, and that's animals but combine the two, then throw in some sexy aliens, thrilling adventure, and dreamy romance and I'm in absolute HEAVEN! And this fabulous set has it all and more! It just doesn't get any better than this, folks! Pets in Space 2 is a collection of twelve unique, original, imaginative, well crafted and beautifully written novella-length tales written by twelve of today's most well-renowned, bestselling authors in the science fiction/fantasy/paranormal genre today, and each is filled to the brim with heart-pounding danger, spine-tingling action, spellbinding adventure, hilarious hijinks, riveting drama, dreamy romance, steamy sex, handsome out-of-this-world alien heroes, smart plucky heroines and loyal, loving pets so cute, so smart and so adorable, they're sure to capture your imagination and steal your heart! These adorable pets will keep you glued to your Kindle as they demonstrate their love and loyalty to their masters. I snickered, snorted, laughed and cried but by the end, I was happy, satisfied and well entertained. Please don't ask me to pick a favorite, I simply can't. I loved them all. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity with seven of my all-time favorite authors: Susan Grant, S.E. Smith, Cara Bristol, Pauline Baird Jones, and Veronica Scott who have been on my one-click list for years, and Laurie Green and Alexis Glynn Latner who were both added to my favorites after reading their work in the collection last year. Also included are stories by five very talented new-to-me authors: Michelle Howard, Sabine Priestley Jessica E. Subject, M.K. Eidem, Carol Van Natta. After reading their contributions, I've now added them to my list of favorites as well. Holy Batman! This is not only a wonderful collection; it's also a fabulous bargain! I've paid much more than $3.99 for just one story by any of these authors. But what really sealed the deal for me was the fact that 10% of the first month's profits go to Hero-Dogs.org, one of the charities I support wholeheartedly. Their cause is one that's near and dear to my heart. For anyone unfamiliar with the Hero Dogs organization, they raise and train service dogs, then place them free of charge with US Veterans to improve their quality of life and help restore their independence. So grab a cup of tea, cuddle up with your pet, and settle in for several hours of delightful entertainment while doing your part to help a worthy cause!

Did I like this collection? No, I LOVED it! I read them all and LOVED them all! Would I recommend it? You bet and I am but only for adult readers. It does contain some steamy, dreamy sex. Hubba! Hubba! And FYI, these are not scenes, excerpts, installments or chapters. Each contribution is a completely original standalone story with NO cliffhangers and though relatively short, novella or novelette length, they pack a mighty punch! Will I read these authors again! Absolutely! Was I entertained? Completely! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read! If you can only afford to purchase one box set, BUY THIS ONE! And yes, I'm screaming it to the world! Pets In Space 2 is a mind-blowing collection of sexy, heartwarming stories and for such a wonderful cause! I'm convinced you'll love this set just as much as I did! Happy reading fellow pet lovers!

[Jannie Cv · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection featuring some of my favorite authors! A varied selection that will keep you out of trouble for many hours!

"Pearl's Dragon" - by S. E. Smith
I have long been wanting to see Pearl meet her special someone. He's here at last. I love Pearl's rules for living! Watching her put them to use...excellent!
This is such a delightful story! Pearl is one-of-a-kind. As strong as he is, Asim never minds sharing the lead. This is quite an adventure; never a dull moment!

"A Grim Pet" - by M. K. Eidem
That's definitely a Grim pet! I love the way these kidlets treat the injured bird with care and respect and their acceptance of 'differences' that lead others to be bullies. A splendid story, I'd love to see more!

"The Prince, the Pilot, and the Puppy" - by Susan Grant
This is a delightful tale of a yipwag named Puppy and how she met her very own Tall Ones, Trysh and Rornn. I love these two together! Trysh is leery of a relationship with Rornn because of her past, but the adorable, and very smart Puppy helps them find a common ground.

"Wired for Love" - by Michelle Howard
Wow. Narelle was not one to settle for less. Fortunately, with Hunter around there was no settling required. Bogan, the starving mongrel Narelle found near The Zone proved to be a powerful ally when trouble arrived. Narelle and Hunter are fantastic together! Although I was tearful in parts, I was very satisfied with the ending. Great reading!

"Rescued by the Cyborg" - by Cara Bristol
A precocious, precious pussycat helps save Solia when she's kidnapped. Again! I really enjoy the characters in this story. Guy has an adorable (and very thoughtful) niece. He is filled with self-doubts and can find so many reasons why he is not good mating material. Solia is brave, determined, and doesn't give up, even when faced with the most frightening prospects. I love watching their story progress to its happy outcome, with the help of their little furry friend.

"Star Cruise: Songbird" by Veronica Scott
This was a delightfully different treat for me. I loved meeting Grant, the retired warrior and his war bird companion, Valkyr. Who would think the beautiful and talented songstress, Karissa Dawnstar might be interested in him? Karissa’s devious manager is looking for a free ticket to Easy Street, so there are tons of shenanigans going on. An excellent story!

"Time Trap" - by Pauline Baird Jones
Time travel must be very confusing after a while. Msgt. Briggs is an interesting character who concerns himself a little too much about his age (it’s his 45th birthday). While tinkering with the present his fiends gave him, he gets a big surprise - and some extra special excitement to liven up his day! Do read, it’s quite a delightful tale!

"Courting Disaster: StarDog 2" - by Laurie A. Green
Expecting reassignment to a new top of the line ship, Jagger is placed in an untenable situation - one surely destined for failure. I admire Ketsia’s spunky attitude. She does what she must to get the job done. She’s admired Jagger from afar and now Jagger has a chance to right the mistakes he made long ago with another woman. A very exciting mission that couldn’t have been accomplished without the aid of one very smart StarDog!

"Sensate" - by Sabine Priestly
A fascinating story about a man and woman rethinking their previous relationship as they work together to help an increasingly sentient com become a living, breathing, feeling creature. Plenty of excitement as they chase a thief around the galaxy, introductions to some interesting characters, and a very happy outcome for Marco and Zara and their baby owl.

"Gib and the Tibbar" - by Jessica E. Subject
Gib is a Defender assigned to Hemera for a short time. While there he meets Vilarra and her little pet Tibbar. They each play an important part in Gib’s life. Very exciting, with a highly satisfying ending!

"Pet Trade" - by Carol Van Natta
An excellent story! Two shy people with trust issues, and a common interest in highly unusual pets. I like Bethnee and Axur. As fearful as Bethnee is around men, Axur is very careful to diminish his size to appear less imposing when he’s near her. I love the way things work out for them! The story is well conceived and the characters well defined. I really enjoyed this!

"Mascot" - by Alexis Glynn Latner
Rik Gole is sent to do an audit of Star Corner Station. What he sees does not match what he expected to find. Daya, the station manager, is likable, manages well, and helps keep morale high with all those on her station. Some greedy people attack. Little do they know what they’re getting into! A fun read and a very unusual (and helpful) pet

[Paraphrodite · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

The second Pets in Space Anthology doesn't disappoint. This installment is larger than the previous and has stories from 12 authors.

As with most anthologies, some stories are more enjoyable than others. The ones I liked best are:

Sensate by Sabine Priestley is part of the Alien Attachments series. The hero's comm unit has become sentient and has asked for a body. The heroine is the best scientist around who can do the operation. The problem: he dumped her years ago and they've been avoiding each other since. I really enjoyed this one.

Pet Trade by Carol Van Natta is part of the Central Galactic Concordance series. The military Hero, after being subjected to unwanted cybernetic changes, escaped to an isolated planet in a stolen cargo ship full of illegal designer pets. The heroine is an escapee from slavery, now working as a vet with her own exotic menagerie. I liked how the hero was so careful with the heroine who had been brutalized whilst in captivity.

Mascot by Alexis Glynn Latner is part of the Aeon's Legacy series. This story has the most unusual pet, it's a plant/animal mix who likes goldfish and is the mascot of the Space Station.

Star Cruise: Songbird by Veronica Scott is part of Sectors series. This is like the sci-fi version of the Love Boat. The story in the last anthology we had the cargo master falling in love, this time it's one of the security guards - ex-Special Forces and his war bird. I think I'm going to enjoy reading more romances on this sci-fi Love Boat named Nebula Zephyr.

The other stories include:

Pearl's Dragon by S E Smith. I liked that the heroine is a matured 60-y-o grandmother, but I thought the way the story was written as a retelling by her dragon mate to a couple of idiotic twin dragons quite unnecessary. This is a part of the Dragon Lords of Valdier series.

A Grim Pet by M K Eidem is part of the Tornians series. It's a cute story where a couple of kids helped an injured raptor - considered some sort of a King in their legendary tales. There's a lot of secondary characters that probably would make more sense if I'd read the series.

The Prince, the Pilot and the Puppy (aka Star Puppy) by Susan Grant is loosely linked to the novella Stray in the first anthology. It's another stray puppy that's been adopted by a couple of fighter pilots, part of the Star series.

Wired for Love by Michelle Howard has the heroine agreeing to a one-night stand with an ex-military bar owner if he'd help a stray mongrel dog she found in an alley. The most memorable thing for me is that the heroine is green :O

Rescued by the Cyborg by Cara Bristol is part of the Cy-Ops series. The fairy-like heroine is the last survivor of a group of beings kidnapped by pirates and then sold to some nasty aliens to be killed/eaten. She's rescued by a Cyborg with a kitten.

Time Trap by Pauline Baird Jones is part of the Project Enterprise series. This one was a bit hard to get into and probably would be better for readers who are familiar with the series.

Courting Disaster: StarDog 2 by Laurie A Green is linked to StarDog from the previous anthology and part of the Inherited Stars series. It's the puppy that's now all grown up. Again, would have been nice to be more familiar with the series.

Gib and the Tibbar by Jessica E Subject is part of the Galactic Defenders series. I thought the heroine's turnaround a bit too unbelievable. Probably my least favourite of all the stories.

[Kanyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful collection of sci-fi romance stories! I’m such a sucker for romance books and science fiction is one of my favorite genres, so to have a whole collection of some pretty unique stories is a score. All of these stories include animals - pets, which is just adorable! I quite enjoyed a few of these stories and found some new authors, which is always pleasant! I would classify these stories as novellas for their length. (The stories included in this anthology are listed at the end of the review)

My review is only for one particular story. Pet Trade is a story set in the Central Galactic Concordance series by Carol Van Natta. I really enjoyed this story and loved how two lonely and scarred people came together and bonded over their love of pets. Not only are the characters broken physically and emotionally, but so are the pets and you can see they are given so much love.

An injured veterinarian and an escaped elite cyborg Jumper meet on a frontier planet. Axur escaped from an unauthorized research project and unbeknownst to him his ship is full of illegal and genetically alter pets that are not well off. When he crash lands he builds a home for him and his pets to stay hidden from those who wish to harm him. When a few of his pets need medical attention he meets Bethnee who has many problems of her own. Over time the two bond and when mercenaries show up to claim their lost property, they fight to save each other, their pets and their new home.

I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All my opinions and thoughts are in no way influence by this.

Final Rating: 5 Stars



-The stories included in the anthology are as follows-

Pearl’s Dragon (Dragon Lords of Valdier Story) by S.E. Smith
A Grim Pet by M.K. Eidem
The Prince, the Pilot, and the Puppy (“Star Puppy” a novella in the Star Series) by Susan Grant
Wired for Love by Michelle Howard
Rescued by the Cyborg (A Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance) by Cara Bristol
Star Cruise: Songbird by Veronica Scott
Time Trap (A Project Enterprise Story) by Pauline Baird Jones
Courting Disaster: StarDog 2 by Laurie A. Green
Sensate (A Novella in the Alien Attachments Series) by Sabine Priestley
Gib and the Tibbar (A Galactic Defenders Story) by Jessica E. Subject
Pet Trade (A Central Galactic Concordance Novella) by Carol Van Natta
Mascot (A Novella in the Aeon’s Legacy Series) by Alexis Glynn Latner

[Barbara Elsborg · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great premise - pets in space! Who doesn't love animals - particularly rather unusual ones. I enjoyed volume one and for the most part enjoyed this one too. I did have a little issue with my lack of knowledge of some of the worlds I was pulled into. I felt I'd have probably enjoyed the stories more if I'd read previous works by those authors. Sometimes it's fun just to have a story that begins and ends without needing to know anymore than we're told. But I do understand that these worlds are not easily drawn and I know most fans like to dive straight into more by their favorite authors. There are a few of mine in this volume!
My favourite story was Courting Disaster - Stardog 2 by Laurie Green. Stardog was so cute! I want one. I really like Laurie Green's writing style. So smooth and easy to read. Even in a short novella she managed to make her characters come to life. I am in awe of the scifi detail she manages to draw. Add in a decent plot and the story was perfect.
I also liked The Prince, the Pilot and the Puppy by Susan Grant. Another writer with an easy, readable style and that's an achievement in sci fi stories that by their nature need to be sprinkled with some 'alien' features.
Overall, this was a fun read. Plenty of stories to enable a reader to try out new authors and another trip into worlds readers might already know.

[Caitlyn Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pets In Space 2 is a box set of stories from best-selling authors. Science fiction romances with the little added twist of pets being involved, there is a ton of variety in the bunch. None of the first three stories particularly grabbed my attention, but then the set picked up with three great ones in a row. There's bound to be something in here to please everybody, from a rock star's reluctant bodyguard and his telepathically bonded eagle to an Earth kitten's fortuitously implanted microchip being the tool used to rescue her companion from murderous terrorists.

Released on October 10th, 10% of the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence. Please consider making a purchase to support this worthy cause.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.

[E.J. Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Family and friends come first. Be loyal, be true and love them like there is no tomorrow."
That's a line out of S.E. Smith's contribution to this wonderful anthology and it sums up what the anthology is about for me. It's about love and loyalty, between animal and human, between humans, between humans and aliens. It's all love. There are some rough, sad moments here, too, but the overarching feel of this anthology is very positive, which I personally need in these days of unexplicable, incomprehensivle mayhem.
There are twelve charming, very full length (you will not feel shortchanged by the length of these "short" stories), fully-realised stories here. They all figure animals in some way, perfect for the pet-lover. You do not need to have read other works in these authors' worlds to understand these stories - they stand on their own.
I hope everyone enjoys them as much as I have!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Britt Chaotic Creatives · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me some hot aliens. Sci-fi romance is one of my absolute favorites. So, when I found out that this anthology was not only sci-fi romance, but sci-fi romance and it had adorable pets I was super excited. Then it got even better! Some of the absolute BEST authors of sci-fi romance are featured here! Along with short stories from characters I know and love, I found new to me authors to check out for my sexy alien reads! All in all, Embrace The Romance: Pets in Space 2 is a total win!

From old favorites like M.K. Eidem, where I got to revisit the characters from one my my absolute favorite books, to authors I read for the very first time there wasn't a moment of boredom while reading all of these stories!

[Debrac2014 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pets in Space is a collection of short stories that involve pets in their story line! I especially enjoyed S.E. Smith's Pearl's Dragon, Star Puppy by Susan Grant, Mascot by Alexis Glynn Latner and Pet Trade by Carol Van Natta! Good reading!

[Ann Keeran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining anthology of terrific books from top notch authors. Animals and romance steal the spotlight. My favorite is Pet Trade, starring some very unusual pets who show two damaged humans how to love. Lots of great stories that will help wounded vets when you buy the book.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole set is full of sweet stories and for a great cause. My favorite story was by Cara Bristol, “Rescued by the Cyborg.” It had my favorite characters in it. A Faria, a cyborg and a kitten. The Faria are aliens with wings, shimming skin and tactile hair. Add in gorgeous Cyborgs enhanced by technology and a kitten. Whew you have got a fabulous story. It is a fantastically written story of romance.

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pets! In space!! What's not to love? Pretty much hard to resist this series (unless you're an unfeeling pet-hating ghoul, in which case, please ignore this review and move along ...)

I've only tried two of the stories so far. The first was “Pet Trade”, a stand-alone novella in Carol Van Natta's Central Galactic Concordance series - as I love that series so just knew (correctly) that this had to be good. I mean, c'mon, an injured veterinarian heroine and a studly alpha male escapee former elite cyborg soldier? Woof. Add in the cargo of unusual genetically modified "designer pets" said cyborg crash landed with, and the need to join forces to save their town and the said pets from ruthless mercenaries. The result was a wonderful novel which by itself justifies getting the collection.

The second was The Prince, the Pilot and the Puppy. No way could I resist one with that name (and I’ve really liked other books by Susan Grant so this one was a safe bet anyway). As the name implies this is a romance with a prince (Rornn, third in line to the throne) who falls for a fellow Space Forces pilot (Trysh). She of course thinks her social status is too below his for anything to work out. He’s got to convince her otherwise - and a starving puppy they find (Awwwww) is the key that unlocks their romance. Pure yumminess and just as well written - and plan out fun - as anticipated.

Now I can't wait to read the others.

[MGab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has stories from several authors I enjoy reading.The introduction of various kind of pets was sometimes moving, sometimes funny.
l only review the one from Carol Van Natta.
Pet trade: I definitively like broken heros and the pets were has broken as humans. I love the Concordance serie and this novella is a good introduction if you haven't already read it.
Arc copy received

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Prince, the Pilot, and the Puppy by Susan Grant: This is the story of a starving runt yipwag ("Puppy") and the friends ("Tall Ones"), Charming and Firefly, who adopted her. It's a sweet romance with starfighter pilot action. You will love it!
I was given an advanced copy of this book for my honest review

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embrace the Romance is a large volume made up of 12 original stories and 826 pages. 826 pages! Personally, the idea of 826 pages of SciFi Romance with pets makes me giddy. What’s not to love? After hours of enjoyment, I can firmly say it was time well spent!

I am not going to review all the stories in Embrace the Romance, but I will highlight a few….

First, I will mention Pet Trade, by Carol Van Natta. Pet Trade takes place in the Central Galactic Concordance universe. There is no need to have read any of her books in the series to appreciate this little gem.

Ms. Van Natta has a knack for writing down-to-earth characters that don’t even live on Earth. Bethnee Bakonin’s past experience in the shady pet trade business has left her damaged, both mentally and physically, but on frontier planet Del ‘Arche, she has found a home and a life as a veterinarian. Axur Tragon crash landed on Del’ Arche, only to discover his cargo included a stash of designer pets. He needs help taking care of those pets and that is how Bethnee and Axur meet. It is a tenuous meeting, but the animals, which they both love, making the meeting the start of a budding relationship.

What follows is a story of two people helping each other heal from a past that has betrayed them. The abundance of charming animals in the story is delightful and their loyalty to Bethnee and Axur will become an important part of the story when the bad guys show up. Pet Trade is one of the few in this collection that reads like a novel to me, as opposed to a novella or short story. Complex characters and a rich plot make Pet Trade a story to really get involved in.

The next story I want to bring to your attention is Time Trap by Pauline Baird Jones. Once again, Ms. Jones tackles time travel with her usual quirky humor. This time, she uses a manhole cover to effect the time travel. It’ll make you think twice about stepping on one of those when you walk down the street.

The animal in this story doesn’t seem so much a pet. Sir Rupert is a parrot. A very smart parrot. He talks. Yes, I know parrots talk, but Rupert has actual conversations. Rupert is more of a co-worker to Madison, who is trying to ferret out a mole working against the Rebellion. (See how I snuck in another animal or two there.) Escaping the traitor’s trap sends her right into the arms of Sergeant Briggs (via the manhole cover). Briggs is a well-liked character from a previous Project Enterprise novel, so I was very happy to see him get his own story. The interaction between Madison, Briggs and Sir Rupert is entertaining to read and they really do make a great team. Of all the stories in Embrace the Romance, Time Trap was the most fun!

By the way, Sir Rupert is only one of several amazing birds in this collection. Birds are cool!

I have time to mention one more story. Meet Luna. Made up of a mixture of dog, cat, mongoose and weasel genes, Luna the stardog is the pet heroine of Courting Disaster by Laurie A. Green. Are you a cat person or a dog person? I love both, so I think Luna may be the perfect pet.

Courting Disaster takes place in the Inherit the Stars universe. Since I loved that book, I was very happy to get another story. In this one, the Ithians are back. They were the bad guys in Inherit the Stars, but as you know, whenever a major military or political revolution takes place, there will be pockets of malcontents leftover. This is a great tie-in to the previous story.

But you want to know about the hero and heroine don’t you? Captain Navene Jagger, successful, about to get the appointment of a lifetime, is sorely disappointment when he gets assigned to a wreck of a cargo ship. His mission is to escort Ketsia and her companion through the Bradley Rift, a rogue-infested area of space.

To begin with, there is a major lack of understanding about the past that Jagger and Ketsia must work through. That will take some time – as it should. There are some major complications to overcome, such as Jagger’s ego and the Ithians. I had to chuckle just a little at the excuse to get Jagger and Ketsia naked before they were ready to, you know, get naked. But it served it’s purpose. 🙂 Overall, the romance moves at good pace, taking up a good portion of the story before love is declared.

Luna is as much a heroine as the humans in this story. Not only does she like to sit on your lap, cuddle and just be a pet, she is very smart and will do her best to make sure Jagger and Ketsia have their happy ending.

Embrace the Romance isn’t just a fantastic collection of stories. It also has a greater purpose. Hero-Dogs.org will receive 10% of the profits of the first month’s sales. Really, I don’t think there is a better reason to spend money – getting a book you enjoy and helping a really good cause.

The styles of the authors of Embrace the Romance are as varied as their pets are unique. You may not love every story in the collection, but Embrace the Romance has something for everyone that claims to be an animal lover and a SciFi Romance lover. The variety is, perhaps, the best part of this collection. You can remain planetbound, visit a space station or take an interstellar flight. The pets range from purely speculative creations to pets that resemble earth animals. And if you imagine your favorite type of heroine or hero, Embrace the Romance will have the story for you. Embrace the Romance is 826 pages of pure fun!

I received an advance copy of Embrace the Romance so that I could bring you this honest review.

[Wende · Rating 5 out of 5]

PEARL’S DRAGON
Asim is a elderly Dragon who has lived for such long time and has never met his true mate. He is helping take care of all the animal and he meets Pearl (the most outspoken character ever!) He kidnaps her. (I think she enjoyed it) I loved this story as I have loved Pearl. I am so happy she got her happy ending. 💕💕 It was not smooth sailing but it was a bumpy ride that I enjoyed. 5 stars!

A GRIM PET
Another wonderful book. I have be debating on if I should read the next book in this series as I can not stand Ull. Now because of little Miki I want to. I wish there was more books after Ull story. Miki and Carly save bird (maybe a bit more than an everyday old bird) I loved this story! One question: what is up with Miki? 5 stars

THE PRINCE, THE PILOT, AND THE PUPPY
Trysh is scared and she has daddy issues. (Understatement maybe?) Not to sure about this story. I loved puppy. He was such a lovely character even if he is a dog (more than). Rornn is a strong personality and I adored him. My one niggle was Trysh. I liked her but she added to much angst. The ending between parent and child was sweet and tearful for me. I am a sucker for that.
Overall good story 4 stars

WIRED FOR LOVE
Not sure about this book. The writing was good but the hero (?) Just did not click for me. Hunter was unlikable and so it was hard to connect with this one. I loved Narelle was wonderful. I loved her. I wish the book was longer. I think if I had been able to get to know more about Hunter and why he was the way he was I would have enjoyed this one more. Alas it is a short story so there just was no way. I hope the author expands this book and flesh it out more. +3 stars

RESCUED BY THE CYBORG
I need to see Solia. She as to be beautiful with her wings. I adored this story. I was surprised by how much. I never read anything from this author. Guy was lacking self confidence and no wonder and he need swift kick in the butt. Solie did that. She was wonderful! 5 stars

STAR CRUISE: SONGBIRD
Well written but need more. I wish it had a few 100 more pages. This had way to much angst. I mean the angst had angst. Karissa's character was well thought out but I am not fond of characters in the entertainment field. I loved how everything worked out. It was a big angst filled and to the end. 3 stars

TIME TRAP
Oh baby!! I loved this one. I am a sucker for time travel books and this one was so great. Madison was wonderful and so strong. She went through hell to get her happy ending. Briggs was perfect for her. I was rooting for them the whole story. It ended and I needed more! 💕💕 Boris (I know it is bad to hear his voice like Boris and Natasha Russian voice 😂😂) was over the top and needed killing!
Wonderful 5 stars

COURTING DISASTER: STARDOG 2
Having read nothing by this author before so I was not well versed in this series I was loss. Not saying this book was bad just that I had a hard time getting into it. It was very good and I think I will check the author out. I did like the twist and turns just wish I understood all of the background of everything. 3 stars but if you are a fan of the series I am sure it would be 5 stars.

SENSATE
Not to sure about this one. Not much romance but they know each other from the past. AI named Ru wanted to be real and have a body. (This reminded me a bit like Pinocchio) so he becomes a pet. A was way lost and am not sure I liked Marco. This story seemed unfinished and just was not sure about it at the end. 3 stars

GIB AND THE TIBBAR
Gib was a soldier sent to a far flung planet. He thinks it is the worse thing ever. 😂😂 He meets Vilarra a kitten helper. I loved this book but let me tell you they both sound ugly! I love how they were able to realize they were important. Vilarra most of all was such a good character and loved how everything worked out for her. 4 stars

PET TRADE
Did someone say pets? This story had them in spades!!! I loved each and everyone of these pets💕💕 Bethnee was a wounded in her soul and the pets helped heal her. She had to learn to trust Axur. If she didn't they and pets might not make it. I loved this book as it was a bit over the top and I ended up wanting to read more in this world. The author built and interesting one to be sure. I am going to read more by starting with book 1. So 4 stars

MASCOT
It was an okay story just not my favorite one. It was a bit hard to get into as I didn't understand much that was going on. Daya and Rik were and okay couple but not much steam. The battle seem over and done quick. It was okay
3 stars

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy anthologies for the wide variety of storytelling contained within the pages. There’s always at least one story for readers to rave about along with some that don’t quite achieve that level of greatness, but are satisfying nonetheless. This collection is no different as it offers numerous novellas set amidst established series with vividly depicted world-building and action-packed scenes. The romance may be light in these novellas but the HEAs are no less satisfying because of it. What endeared this collection to me was the cleverly crafted inclusion of various pets into the narratives that was seamless and provided a unique perspective to the characters.

This anthology started out with Pearl’s Dragon by S.E. Smith and had me applauding its more seasoned heroine and hero who had both given up on love. Pearl was feisty and had no trouble speaking her mind in her verbal tug of war with Asim. The world-building was heavy in this story and left me a bit lost and frustrated but still drawn to the characters. A Grim Pet by M.K. Eidem was equally detailed in its world-building with lots of characters that made it hard to keep track of, but the connection between the little girls and the raptor charmed me. While these two stories were my least favorite, mostly because of my lack of familiarity with the series they spawned from, there were two others that were my clear favorites. As a fan of Susan Grant I was immediately drawn to The Prince, The Pilot, and the Puppy which built upon her previous contribution to the first Pets in Space collection and was a delightful read. From its sweet scenes told from the puppy’s perspective to the compelling romance of opposites attracting it kept me turning the pages with a smile on my face. Trysh is a top pilot but has been bruised by love in the past, first by an absentee father and then by a man of a higher social class. It’s left her leery of the attentions of Prince Rornn who does all he can to make her fall for him. As third in line to the throne Rornn’s able to live life as he wants. Women have always fallen at his feet in relationships that meant nothing, but with Trysh he’s finally found someone worth fighting for. As the two of them awkwardly work their way towards HEA, with the help of their animal friend, it becomes a suspenseful journey that kept me on the edge of my seat. Cara Bristol’s Cy-Ops Sci-Fi series expands its universe with the inclusion of Rescued by the Cyborg. This is a gritty and action-packed tale that had me fully invested from the moment it started as I was immediately drawn to Guy and his past heartache that has him doubtful of finding his own HEA again. The moment he finds Solia he’s only concerned with getting her to safety and helping her to heal which gives readers a glimpse into both of their cultures. These glimpses made for a more fully fleshed-out tale and an immensely satisfying addition to her series. Add in Mittzi the kitten and this was clearly my favorite novella in the anthology.

On a whole there’s a lot to like in this collection. While I was drawn to some stories more than others there wasn’t one single story that I regret reading. Fans of sci-fi will get a lot of bang for their buck with these twelve stories that gave me hours of enjoyment. I especially like that a percentage of sales goes towards Hero-Dogs.org that provides veterans with service dogs free of charge. It’s a worthy cause, a well-written collection of stories that will give readers hours of enjoyment, and is an anthology you’ll want to add to your bookshelf immediately!

[Jewlsbookblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun anthology! I discovered a couple of new authors/series and need to brush up on some others to see what’s been happening. A few didn’t work out for me, but I plan to go back and and try again later.

Pearl’s Dragon-S. E. Smith

I haven’t read many books in this particular series, but had no trouble following along. This story focused on an older couple with Pearl in her sixties and Asim much older. They basically run a rescue farm for alien, and the occasional human animals that come with their own set of issues and mischief. This novella with filled with humor, sexy moments, and touch of danger.

A Grim Pet-M. K. Eidem

I’m not as familiar with this series and figured I was missing out on some of the backstory with Grim and his alliances. The main storyline with the pet Raptor and the girls was easy to follow. My one hiccup-Miki talking rather maturely for her age (she’s three and sounded much older). Other than that, the story flowed smoothly and was quit entertaining! I’m curious to know what’s up with Warrior Ull and his bad attitude Miki picked up on.

The Puppy, The Pilot, and The Prince -Susan Grant

I enjoyed this story, especially Puppy’s POV! Trysh and Rornn can send a big thanks to Puppy for their relationship status change.The scrapper managed to not only get the two together when stubbornness prevailed, but also became a hero herself! Cute read!

Wired For Love-Michelle Howard

Oh, I loved this one! Scarred hero with nifty abilities, feisty, green heroine, a really cool genetically altered war dog, add a villain and some hints of secret ops... I hope this is part of a series or will be stretched into a longer story because I’d love to see more of Hunter, Narelle, and Bogan!

Rescued by the Cyborg-Cara Bristol

I wasn’t totally sold on the romance, but I did enjoy the sweet friendship that developed between Guy and Solia. However, Mittzi the kitten was the showstopper with her stocking feet and playful personality.

Star Cruise: Songbird-Veronica Scott

A sci-fi version of a bodyguard falling for the rock-n-roll singer he is hired to protect, this was a surprising story. I wasn’t expecting the depth to Grant and Karissa relationship helped along by Grant’s pet eagle, Valkyr.

Pet Trade-Carol Van Natta

Axur and Bethnee has the coolest menagerie of animals! The chimera was nifty and the wolf pretty cool, but the foo dog was my favorite. Now, Axur and Bethnee both had issues to overcome. What I liked was how they were able to know one another gradually while helping each other and building a level of trust that morphed into something special and sweet.

[Laura Furuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2
By: S.E. Smith (Author), M.K. Eidem (Author), Susan Grant (Author), Michelle Howard (Author), Cara Bristol (Author), Veronica Scott (Author), Pauline Baird Jones (Author), Laurie A. Green (Author), Sabine Priestley (Author), Jessica E. Subject (Author)
5 out of 5 stars

The anthology Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2 is a wonderful group of stories that I loved reading. These are science fiction stories that include plenty of romance. The romance is hot enough to light up the night sky. These stories also include another aspect and that is a pet or creature. They become part of the story and some of them have special abilities. I have always loved it when authors add in animals/creatures/pets to their stories. It is one of the main reasons that I chose to read this book. They stole my heart. One reason that I enjoy anthologies is that I get to read stories by many different authors with many different writing styles. All the authors in this set are new to me and I found myself loving each and every story. They know how to create tales that drew me in and I always found myself wanting to read more. “Just a couple more chapters” I would say and then I would find myself reading far into the night. I just had to know how they end. These stories will take you to new worlds, have you traveling through space, and falling in love with the main characters. The main characters are sometimes rekindling a romance and other times falling for each other after they first meet. I loved reading how they interact and banter back and forth with each other. I hoped that each and every couple would find their happy ending. Some of the stories also have action and danger which had me on the edge of my seat. Lovers of science fiction and romance will love reading this book.

[Caralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embrace the Romance Pets in Space 2 by various authors

5 Stars!!!!!

I found this anthology so good that I just could not put it down and once one book ended I couldnt wait to start
the next. Each story is worthy of 4-5 stars on their own. This is a very well put together combination of out of this
world stories full of romance and dont forget the pets.

My very favorite story was Pearl's Drago: Dragon Lords of Valdier Story by S.E. Smith. I just love anthing to do with
dragons and these hot warriors certainly fit the bill. This stellar story is about how Asim a dragon warrior in his
later life finds his one true mate,Pearl, after many years of thinking he would never find her. It is filled with
two stories during the span of thier relationship to teach a pair of twin dragons how to court thier own true mate.
The story is a great representation of the fact that there is always someone for everyone and its never too late.


Moving on in this anthology I have many favorites as they are all good but I also liked A Grim pet. Set on an alien
Warrior planet. Where Carly and Miki help nurse a Raptor and in the end one receives a very special gift. Intwined in
the story as well as the two little girls are their Mother and Manno. There is a good plot and storyline and the
little bit of drama from the kidnap of women from Earth and those responsible that they wish to stop. In the mix is
also the story of how the girls take care of the Raptor and it in turn protects them and their friend. I just couldnt
wait to see what would happen next and lost myself in the story.

This anthology is a great read and I enjoyed every story. Words just dont seem enough to put down about how much
each story drew me in and was able to take hold and keep me glued to the pages.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Embrace the Romance is the second book in the Pets in Space Series. This fantastic book is an anthology of twelve fascinating romantic science fiction stories. Each author and story brings something different to the collection, but each one compliments the others, having the same theme of romance, space and ‘pets’. All the stories are individual, with their own unique take on the theme, all creating their own identity, mood and tone.
The book pulled me in at the beginning as I read about a well-seasoned warrior finding his true mate, and all the unusual, mischievous and lovable alien animals that were a big part of that first story. I was surprised to find that each story after, was just as intriguing and enjoyable. There were so many varied ‘pets’ in this anthology- I am in awe of the authors talents and the way they brought their stories to life. All the ‘worlds’, stories, characters, scenarios and creatures were totally believable. As each story progressed, I was drawn even further into the book. Needless to say, I didn’t accomplish much for a whole day as I read long into the night, enthralled by all the stories.
A lot of these authors are new to me and I found that quite a few of these stories are part of a series- standalones that have intrigued and captivated me, and so my TBR list will be growing considerably as I add all books from these amazing authors to it.
If you enjoy really well written romantic science fiction, with wonderful worlds and entertaining characters- then this is definitely the book for you!

Thank you to all the contributing authors!