December 1, 2022
Mara Leanor is the last Balti Temptress: a woman who has taken the art of pleasure to its highest form. As she returns to her home planet under the power and companionship of one of the richest men in the galaxy, Mara soon discovers that the Balti she remembers from almost two decades before is being crushed under the weight of its occupation by the Dern Empire. Her bodyguard, Calvy D'Aldiern, is not only one of the Dern but a prince of the Empire. Demoted and contracted to serve, Cal knows that Mara's life goes against everything he was raised to believe, but he will protect her if it gets him back into the Forces. As Mara spends time trying to discover her past, she is pulled into a local rebellion and an attraction to her princely bodyguard that neither want, nor want to deny. VERDICT Dare, who also writes contemporary romance as Hanna Earnest, here pens a science-fiction romance that leans heavily into its tropes and brings forth a successful story. Fans of enemies-to-lovers will be thrilled with this book.--Kristi Chadwick
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 9, 2023
Dare’s steamy but uneven debut, a sci-fi romance, follows the tumultuous bond between Mara Leanor, the last surviving Balti temptress, and her reluctant bodyguard. When Mara returns to her home planet, Balti, after years away, she finds it in the grips of the militaristic Dern empire and the lush land devastated by ongoing war. Her hatred for the Dern is strong, and it becomes even stronger when the Dern leadership assigns a Dern officer, Calvy D’Aldiern, to see to her needs during her visit home. He’s there to protect her—and also to be used for her pleasure. Cal is determined to climb the ranks. He’s efficient and does what he’s told, but protecting Mara proves a difficult task, especially when she makes a habit of visiting his bedchambers for no-strings-attached sex. In the height of raging conflict between the Dern and the Balti, Mara and Calvy’s connection grows stronger each night they spend together, calling both of their loyalties into question. Though Dare’s snappy prose keeps the pages turning, the development of the romantic relationship leaves something to be desired. Their intense physical connection is well established, but the emotional side of things goes underdeveloped. The sci-fi backdrop is similarly underexplored. Despite high stakes, this is underwhelming. Agent: Elaine Spencer, Knight Agency.