Centauri Twilight

Centauri #2

by Cynthia Woolf

Lara Danexx suffered years of torment at the hands of the evil and twisted Ranzon Slavarien. But she escaped and raised an army of rebels to destroy him. Victory is within her grasp when an unwelcome intruder hunts her down and spins wild tales of her lost family and royal blood. This arrogant invader stirs her long dead emotions and threatens to ruin all of her plans. She can't allow herself to desire his touch, or believe his lies...too much is at stake. General Anton Coridian gave his word that he would find his beloved queen's long lost sister, Princess Jondalara. He expects a pampered princess. Instead he finds a guerilla leader with an army of loyal cut-throats and rogues at her back. Every instinct he has demands that she is his lifemate and he must steal her away to safety. But the dark determination and pain in her eyes reminds him of his own tortured past. She offers him redemption and the chance to right an unspeakable wrong. Destiny must be laughing, because now he's fallen in love with a woman who will stop at nothing to free her people...even if it means sacrificing herself. Anton is determined to join her, both in bed and in battle. Now he must convince Lara that his love can save not just her battered heart but her life. A sci-fi romance

Genres: Science Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction Romance

Nook

First published October 9, 2011

About the author

Cynthia Woolf is the USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author of eighty-five works of romance fiction. Comprising sixty-six historical western romances, ten contemporary romance novels, two contemporary romance novellas, one historical western romance novella, and six sci-fi space opera romances, which she calls westerns in space. Along with these books, she has also published twelve boxed sets of her books and two short stories.

Cynthia loves writing and reading romance. Her first western romance, Tame A Wild Heart, was inspired by the story her mother told her of meeting Cynthia's father on a ranch in Creede, Colorado. Although Tame A Wild Heart takes place in Creede, that is the only similarity between the stories. Her father was a cowboy, not a bounty hunter, and her mother was a nursemaid (called a nanny now), not the ranch owner.

Cynthia credits her wonderfully supportive husband, Jim, and her great critique partners for saving her sanity and allowing her to explore her creativity.



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TITLES AVAILABLE (English unless otherwise stated)

COLORADO BILLIONAIRES (sweet contemporary novels)
THE CEO
THE RANCHER
THE MAVERICK
THE TYCOON
THE ARTIST (coming soon)
THE QUARTERBACK (coming soon)


MONTANA BILLIONAIRES SERIES (contemporary sweet western novels)
Her Secret Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Mysterious Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Christmas Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Bachelor Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire
Her Disguised Cowboy Billionaire


CHRISTMAS AT THE MISTLETOE INN (contemporary novella)
Cooking Up Christmas


THE BRIDES OF THE KLONDIKE
The Gold Rush Bride (Available in German)
The Gold Mountain Bride


THE PRESCOTT BRIDES (Available in German)
A Bride for Ross
A Bride for Frank
A Bride for Tucker
A Bride for Clay
A Bride for Brodie



THE HEART WISH MAIL-ORDER BRIDES SERIES
Heart of Stone
Heart of Shadow


MARSHALS MAIL ORDER BRIDES
The Carson City Bride (Available in German)
The Virginia City Bride (Available in German)
The Silver City Bride
The Eureka City Bride


ANGEL CREEK CHRISTMAS BRIDES
Adele


BRIDES OF GOLDEN CITY
A Husband for Victoria
A Husband for Cordelia
A Husband for Adeline


BRIDES OF THE OREGON TRAIL (Available in German)
Hannah
Lydia
Bella
Eliza
Rebecca
Charlotte
Amanda
Emma Rose
Nora
Opal


BACHELORS & BABIES
Carter (Book 3)


BRIDES OF SEATTLE (Available in German)
Mail Order Mystery
Mail Order Mayhem
Mail Order Mix-Up
Mail Order Moonlight
Mail Order Melody


CENTRAL CITY BRIDES (Available in German)
The Dancing Bride
The Sapphire Bride
The Irish Bride
The Pretender Bride


HOMESTEAD CANYON SERIES
Thorpe’s Mail-Order Bride
Kissed by a Stranger
A Family for Christmas


HOPE’S CROSSING
The Hunter Bride
The Replacement Bride
The Stolen Bride
The Unexpected Bride


AMERICAN MAIL-ORDER BRIDES
Genevieve, Bride of Nevada


THE SURPRISE BRIDES
Gideon


THE BRIDES OF SAN FRANCISCO
Nellie (Available in German)
Annie (Available in German)
Cora (Available in German)
Sophia (Available in German)
Amelia (Available in German)
Violet


THE BRIDES OF TOMBSTONE (Available in German)
Mail Order Outlaw
Mail Order Doctor
Mail Order Baron


DESTINY IN DEADWOOD (Available in German)
Jake
Liam
Zach


MATCHMAK

Reviews

[Linda Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Months ago, General Anton Coridian was betrayed. Worse than watching his men slaughtered, he was captured and tortured. He would have died if his ex-fiancé and current sister-in-law hadn't rescued him. Now, he's off on one last mission--to find his sister-in-law's twin sister. Only after that debt is repaid will he allow the darkness eating at his soul to consume him.

Lara Danexx grew up a slave in the cruel Slavarien world. She's been degraded, raped and beaten but the worst torture was thinking her family had thrown her away. She survived by never giving in and has even managed to escape her master. The two year of freedom she's enjoyed has made her more determined to end slavery once and for all.

Anton's presence provides an opportunity to do just that, even if she has to manipulate him to do it. Anton can't believe he'd find a life mate in Lara just as he was ready to give up on everything. The two warriors were always willing to die for the cause and their enemies are willing to oblige, after a little torture. It's easy to fight when you have nothing to lose, but are they brave enough to love and risk finding something to live for?

Centauri Twilight is a great addition to the Ms. Woolf's series. The villains are sadistically evil. Lara, who's been through so much, is strong with just a hint of vulnerability that makes her a dedicated leader. Anton's a wounded warrior who recognizes his kindred spirit in Lara. Both need to defeat this enemy so they can finally be free of their past. If you're looking for the perfect underdog story, look no further than Centauri Twilight.

[Kyndra Hatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great! It was so much more rugged and meaner than the first book. The situations were darker and the villains were even nastier. I really liked all of that about this book. The author can diversify well and, I must say, I'm loving the darker side.

I felt so in touch with Anton and Lara. These characters were great. I couldn't put the book down, I was so horrified by what all they had to endure and was just as equally wishing them all the best in the universe. I had to keep reading to make sure they got all the best that they so deserved. I felt so emotionally invested in them.

The world-building feels so much broader than in the first book too. It was good there, but that coupled with all we find out about Delaz and Centauri in this book just really brought it all to life for me.

There were a couple of things that didn't seem to fit, but certainly didn't dull my enjoyment of the story. For one, I wasn't fond of the term 'mind wizards.' I can understand Delaz calling psychiatrists that, but Centauri calling them that didn't make sense to me. Why would a super advanced planet of humans refer to psychiatrists or mental health specialists as 'mind wizards?'

It also didn't make sense to me that Anton was going after Jondalara for his queen, Audra. There was a very large portion of text devoted to describing his guilt over being alive, yet he felt he owed Audra for saving his life....a life he didn't want saved. It would have made more sense if he resented her at first and only went after Lara to enact revenge on the family that hurt him. Later, when he comes to terms with his situation and can find reason to be happy to be alive again, then he can be thankful to Audra for saving him and be happy he was doing something wonderful for her. But, that at the beginning felt a little contradictory.

Again, though, these things did not dull my enjoyment of the book. It's a very good story. I just think it could be a stronger story if Audra didn't have this sort of 'unconditional love' thing from all the main characters that come in contact with her.

[Miki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book but less than the first because it's a lot darker still if you have read the first one you will want to read this book but don't start by book 2 it would be too confusing and won't reflect all the trilogy.


This second book starts exactly where the last one finishes if you forget the epilogue, when Anton wants to leave. We follow then a broken Anton who suffers from the survivor’s syndrome. He doesn’t feel right for him to be with his happy brother and he feels guilty for the death of his men, no worth living. To right the things with Audra, he wants to find her lost sister and for that he follows the new lead they got. I understand how much he must suffer but I don’t connect with Anton as much as I did with Darius. He is a patient man, yes but there is no sparks.

Lara, the lost sister has survived through a life of tortures and she is marked by that. She can’t love, can’t trust and lives for revenge. She is the total opposite of Audra, due to her life she is more a warrior than a princess. At first she even resent her sister and that’s something that bothered me even if it can be see as normal for one with her life.


So this book is a lot darker that the first one, with the current tortures and the remembrance of old ones. There are several mention of rapes and strong descriptions. The rhythm is rapid and the action is still less important that the personal introspection of the characters. It’s a good book but not for emotional one, yes there is romance, slow and tentative since both need healing but it’s there and the happy end as well but still for those under 18 or too emotional, you should be careful with this story.

[J.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Centauri Twilight follows directly after the events of Centauri Dawn. Anton is physically recovered from his life-threatening injuries and he needs to complete the mission his new sister-in-law and queen has requested of him. Once he finds her twin, Princess Jondalara, he can retire into dark solitude and regret. Slavarian took so much from him, but he still lives while so many others died. He meets with the rebels on Delaz, hoping they know where he can find the missing princess, but he finds far more than he bargained for.

Lara shed the hope that her family would come for her when she shed the rest of her name. She was sold as a slave to Zelton Slavarian when she was just a young girl and built up her defenses accordingly. It didn't matter how attractive this scarred man was, there was no way she would give him her trust. All she wants is revenge against the men who hurt her, and Anton seems to have the means to help her make this happen. In her head, she knew that men only know how to cause pain. In her heart, she hoped this man was different.

This book was much more visceral than its predecessor. The images of what was done to Lara show exactly how strong this heroine really is, because despite her past she still has hope. Lara is someone a person can really look up to, and Anton is a perfect fit for her. His scars, both physical and invisible, allow him to understand the person Lara is. The Slavarian in this book is a great villain for this tortured couple, because he is even more depraved than his brother. He is exactly the kind of person I love seeing brought to justice.

[RaeBeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very surprised with this one. I finished the first book in this series and I enjoyed it. I did notice that the end of book one didn't match up with book two. At the end of book one, its said that Audra and Darius became pregnant and over time ended up with three kids. In Centauri Twilight, the couple were pregnant with their first baby through the entire book.

While reading Centauri Twilight, I noticed several things about this book. The lack of editing makes this one a hard read. It seems it could use another run. At times in the book it's hard to follow because the point of view changes between the characters. I do believe parts of the book feel rushed. The beginning battle when Anton finds Lara was too easy. I was hoping to see some type of struggle or battle. There wasn't one. When Lara and Anton go back to Delaz City to over take the king, this too felt rushed. I think the book could have been longer if some of these details were added in, therefore making this a much more enjoyable book.

I've given Centauri Twilight ** (2 Stars). The over all plot confused me at times with the change in point of views within the same paragraph and the lack of details make it seem like the book was rushed to be written. I do have the third book but after this one, I'm not real sure if I will take the time to read it. I wasn't drawn into this one as I was with the first book within the series.

[Dolce Amore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Booked Up

To See Review at Booked Up

Centauri Twilight picks up immediately after the events of the first book. Anton has promised his sister-in-law and ex fiancée that he will find her sister and bring her back, where she belongs … to the palace, as princess of planet Centauri. Then he can retire and give himself up to his solitude and regret. So much has been taken from him and he shares a bitter history with the Slaverian family and is eager to bring them down at all costs.


Needing a reason to go on, he takes on this mission to remove him from the sight of the happy couple, away from all the memories and the guilt.

Princess Jondalara died years ago, suffering terrible torture by the ruler of the planet Delaz and Lara had been born. Her torturer was the half-brother of the man who tortured Anton. As survivors and lifemates, Anton and Lara must struggle to overcome their mental and emotional trauma while they try to free the slaves from Delaz.

Although I enjoyed reading this book more then the previous one, I didn’t succeed in feeling any connection with the characters. 4 stars

[Jesse Kimmel-Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how these books take you into the heads of the various characters that are a part of Woolf's world. Another important aspect to these books are the strong women- I'm not talking about steroid, beefed ladies- I'm talking about how they have strong personalities, they are strong individuals, and are not broken by the insane happenings that are thrown at them. Woolf makes you hate her villains too, it isn't just in the fictional world, but in real life. If I met the one from this book or the previous one, I'd be punching the guy in the face! They are just evil. Or should I say, Evil. I recommend this book and the one before it, Centuari Dawn Centauri Dawn, a sci-fi romance (Centauri Series), for anyone that loves Sci-fi, fantasy. Yes, there is a romantic element to the book, but it isn't overwhelming. I feel like this book is a little Star Wars meets Star Trek, with all of the good and none of the bad! Great job, Woolf! Keep them coming!

[SubterraneanCatalyst · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the deal: I love futuristic sci fi-ish romance stuff. I'm a total addict. But I unless this is handled a specific way I cannot stand the whole "we have both experienced torture and we'll find our way back to love and life together" kind of trope in a love story. In this case- literally torture. Just BLAH. Anyway if you don't mind that you might like this book- I just could not finish this one.