As a final installment in a military career wrought with horrid events, Jessica Storm is sent to rescue a Braugh warrior and his men from prison. All she wants is to be safely on her home planet, to forget her “throwback” status and to live a normal existence. The warriors intimidating size and raw strength contrast with his tender nature, skillful lips and gentle touch, awakening sexual urges she thought had been stripped away years ago.
Shane Tiernan knows that the piercings that adorn Jess’s body once created pain and taught her to suppress arousal and desire. And he knows what’s needed to take her beyond the torture. But providingt a sexual release may be easier than convincing her that something stronger exists between them. All he needs to claim his angel, in every way, is her consent.
This is a sci-fi thriller paired with an interesting love story. In an interplanetary world where a consortium of planets have come together to prevent war and destruction throughout the galaxies, a Governance general has invaded the planet Blue and murdered all the baby boys. Only females are allowed to survive and then taken into custody to be “trained” as warriors. They are not allowed to feel sexual pleasure nor are they allowed to sing. The are, in a word, “throwbacks.” The original maker of this policy has died and in his place General Bragg has come to take over the control of the “throwbacks” of which there are only three left. Now the general has promised that Jessica Storm and her two warrior companions may return to their home planet in exchange for rescuing an entire contingent of Braugh soldiers, clansmen (which closely resemble Scotsmen in their brogue and ways) who are greatly feared through the galaxies for the fierce fighting and clever strategy. They are needed to rescue a Governance general that has been taken hostage.
Now Shane and his men are on Gen. Bragg’s ship and are being wined and dined. Even Jessica is “given” to Shane as a woman of comfort for the duration of his stay. But his treatment of her is so different, so caring, so gentle, so very respectful. During their days together a bond develops and he is truly smitten with her. He has found The One that the gods have designed for him. He wants her for his wife. His loving, his consistent assault on her numbed responses finally bring her to full pleasure. She agrees to be his wife.
But this is not the HEA ending. Actually about one-third of the story still remains. Jess knows Gen. Bragg hates Shane and is using him to attempt the dangerous rescue, hoping Shane will die as well as the general being held hostage. That’s not how it works out. And without giving anything away, there are “. . . miles to go before they sleep.”
This is a story that embraces pain and suffering, physical, emotional and sexual abuse and its long-term damage, betrayal and disappointment, fear of failure and the insecurity that comes from never being valued. Jess wants to be in Shane’s life forever but she knows what Gen. Bragg has made her. How can she live among good people with her dignity intact and her head held high? It is the story of the power of love to care for, nurture, and heal. And it is the story of one woman whose strength, rare beauty, and unusual gifts may indeed be curbed almost to the point of extinction, but they survive anyway. Her bond with Shane is put to the test in a number of ways and there stresses on the relationship she holds dear with her two companion throwback warriors, Zoe and Angela.
This is such a well-written short novel. There are wonderful characters but there are bad guys, too. The Braugh warriors are wonderful and Shane is a man who is a born leader but who holds his leadership as a gift given by equals. His heart never allows him to forget the true friendship that binds him to his brother-warriors. It is this ability to accept freely and unequivably that heals Jessica. Ms Lash has created a wonderful future world filled with good citizens who want the greater good and want to live in peace. Yet there are still injustices that must be addressed and inequities that perpetrate wrongs. These individuals are, after all, flawed as are we. And futuristic fiction such as this book help us understand that citizens of any world can never grow complacent about wrong-doing in any form, nor can the systematic diminishing of any people, for the purpose of controlling their gifts, be tolerated.
While I freely admit that sci-fi/futuristic fiction is not my normal choice, I actually enjoyed this story and ended up liking it a great deal. The narrative is written in such a way that the reader is kept moving through the story, can relate to the emotions and concerns of the characters, and can easily feel a part of the story. Can’t ask for much more than that. I think romance fans as well as sci-fi literature fans will like this story a lot.
I give it a rating of 4 out of 5.
You can read more from Judith at Dr. J’s Book Place.
This book is available from Ellora’s Cave. You can buy it here in e-format.
Hi Judith:
Thanks so much for taking the time to read “Taming an Angel.” It’s wonderful when someone reads what you wrote and likes it. Your comments were very kind and really made my day. Again, many thanks.
Very Best Wishes,
Kathleen Lash