Encode

Terran Times Tales #23

by Viola Grace

Honey Barrow serves the Alliance as an Encoded Courier, putting biologicals into her own body to keep them viable during transport. This job has kept her flying for years, but that is about to come to a screeching halt when she accepts an assignment to transport the semen of an Alpha multi-shifter to the High Prefect of Shoshan. Honey has to prepare for her job by intaking a series of hormones, throwing her into a simulated heat, a heat strong enough to gain the attention of the Alpha she needs to gain the co-operation from. Raddik pursues her with single minded intensity, guaranteeing her return to him via devious methodologies with no twinges of conscience. When her life hangs in the balance, a ripple of events takes her life and her job beyond her control and leaves her at the mercy of the Alpha.

Genres: Science Fiction, Romance, Shapeshifters, Erotica, Aliens, Supernatural, Science Fiction Romance

51 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2010

Reviews

[Paraphrodite · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

What a weird place to keep a "package"!

[Miku · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of the story was just disturbing for me. I decided to read this because I was cuious about her being an Encoded Courier, putting biologicals into her own body. After reading the first chapter I was disturbed of the idea that it may be like that since I thought that putting biological into her body meant her stomach. I find that the hero was very cunning even as I read the later part. It would had been great if we were be able to read the hero's POV. Still, it was still enjoyable to read.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a bit more than most Viola Grace books. I regard VG books as literary popcorn--one is never enough. I buy them in groups and consume them as fast as I buy them. They are short, easy reads. Many are not terribly memorable, though.

This one stands out. The heroine and the hero meet while she's on the job as a courier. They make a bet on the outcome of a game they play (something like handball, I suppose). She loses. Her forfeit is stated in what might be euphemistic terms. They have sex and spend the night together, whereupon she believes all is said and done. He disagrees because he's holding her to the letter of the agreement. So at some future time, he expects payment.

She gets injured and because she's pregnant--oops!--she falls into his care and is more or less given to him by the Imperium. (Thanks! Amy.) Meanwhile, he continues to insist that she has never fulfilled the letter of their bet, and it is evident he never will accept it paid.

He's a piece of work.

Funny.

[Carolyn F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story. 86 pages.

Not a Kindle edition, just a regular PDF. Another shifter story with a Terran female. Since I've read them back-to-back, the medical emergency seemed a little reminiscent of the last book. Good though. ***1/2 stars.