Something About Harry by Nicki Bennett & Ariel Tachna

Title: Something About Harry

Series: Hot Cargo 03

Author: Nicki Bennett & Ariel Tachna

Genre: Science Fiction

Length: Novella (82pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 26, 2011)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3 1/2 Hearts

Blurb: A Hot Cargo Story

Desperate for an edge in the war against the Gavenelians that will keep the Confederation from losing as many ships to the sadistic aliens as they destroy, Sasha Dmitrov contacts the space pirate he knows only as Harry, hoping the mysterious engineer will be able to pull off one more miracle. Having been warned of Harry’s disdain for the Confederation, Sasha is prepared for Harry to tell him to jump out an airlock without a space suit. The last thing he expects is an invitation to Nicodemus Vector, Harry’s shielded planetoid. What Sasha discovers is an Andromedite empath who sees far too deeply into his soul.

As they race against time for a breakthrough that will tip the scales in their favor, Sasha finds himself more and more attracted to the reclusive mercenary. But duty calls, and Sasha has a war to win before he can even think about returning to Harry’s side—assuming that either of them will risk opening himself to the other’s empathic touch.

Read about Peter and Blaise in Hot Cargo and about Ryan and Juo in Healing in His Wings.

ISBN-13: 978-1-61581-781-8

Product Link: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: Sasha has Bliase get in contact with Harry, a reclusive creature highly intelligent, to get a leg up on the war. What he discovers upon meeting the man is an intriguing and highly attractive being. The two hit it off and create astounding chemistry together.

I have to say all in all I was disappointed with this series. If you’re looking for hot sex and romance this is the series for you. If you’re looking for a combo of romance, suspense and action this series was lacking in the action and suspense. There was a serious lack of details in each book. It seemed as though those were glanced over in favor of the physical and romance aspects of the book.

O.k. read for me.

Hot cargo by Nicki Bennett & Ariel Tachna

Title: Hot Cargo

Series: Hot Cargo 02

Author: Nicki Bennett & Ariel Tachna

Genre: BDSM, Science Fiction

Length: Novel (294pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (February 2, 2009)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts

Blurb: Captured and accused of piracy, privateer Blaise Risner, captain of the Golden Stallion, finds himself in a clinch – literally – with Confederation Admiral Peter Keller, who promises to see justice done by way of hard labor. But when the chemistry between them rivals the heat of the twin Talixin suns, the dominant admiral decides he wants to handle the rehabilitation of the provocative pirate himself. After their first close encounter, Blaise figures that serving Keller in such a personal capacity won’t be such a terrible sentence.

Keller dispenses his own forms of painful justice and sensual discipline, which usually involve a not-so-resistant Blaise on his knees bound and determined to give as good as he gets. The privateer can’t deny that suffering the handsome admiral’s punishments makes him burn like the fires of the Horsehead Nebula. Serving in the roles of prisoner and captor defines their ‘relationship’, but no power can stop a shooting star … the star of startling passion that flares every time they touch.

Just when Blaise thinks he can navigate the treacherous asteroid field of emotion to find common ground with Keller, an interstellar war tears them apart. Through it all, Blaise’s desire for his captor stands as tall and strong as the monoliths of Maraven, and he’ll go to the very edge of the galaxy and back if that’s what it takes to crack the ice around the admiral’s heart.

ISBN-13: 978-1-93519-250-3

Product Link: Dreamspinn Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: Peter uses his position to use Blaise as he see’s fit which did not sit well with me. Blaise is accused of piracy. Seeing no way out of it he makes a deal with Peter to serve out punishment as he see’s fit.

Peter seemed a bit too aggressive to me. I did not really care for his attitude toward Blaise then all of a sudden he changes his tune.

This story fell flat for me. I wanted to like it but could not due to Peter as I did not care for him as a character at all.

O.k. read.

Healing In His Wings by Nicki Bennett & Ariel Tachna (2nd edition)

Title: Healing In His Wings (2nd edition)

Series: Hot Cargo 01

Author: Nicki Bennett & Ariel Tachna

Genre: Science Fiction

Length: Novella (123pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (April 28, 2010)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3 1/2 Hearts

Blurb: A Hot Cargo Story

When the Starfire is struck by a mysterious and deadly plague, the captain and crew have no choice but to throw themselves on the mercy of the healers of a nearby, uncharted planet. First Officer Ryan Nelson accompanies the sickest patients to the planet’s surface, where he is put under the supervision of Juo-ta-ri, an apprentice to one of the healers who is helping the crew. The two have barely begun to explore the chemistry between them when Ryan’s body betrays him and he falls ill as well. Now it’s a race against time to see if Juo can bring the fever down before Ryan’s hallucinations kill him.

First Edition published in the Dreamspinner Press anthology Size Matters.

ISBN-13: 978-1-61581-408-4

Product Link: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: The ship Ryan is on is struck by a deadly plague. They contact an unknown planet and ask for help. The angel beings on the planet agree to help and collect the sick to care for. Juo is a healer and takes Ryan in when he comes along with the sick. The two grow closer together but Ryan comes down with the plague.

While I liked the overall story I was honestly expecting more explanations about the disease and where it comes from plus the actual treatment of the crew but the story focused on Juo and Ryan. It felt more like a regular contemporary story to me.

It was an o.k. read.