Embrace the Passion

Pets in Space Anthologies #3

by S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake

Pets in Space is back! Join us as we unveil eleven original, never-before-published action-filled romances that will heat your blood and warm your heart! New York Times, USA Today and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch combine their love for Science Fiction Romance and pets to bring readers sexy, action-packed romances while helping our favorite charity. Proud supporters of HeroDogs.org, Pets in Space authors have donated over 4,400 in the past two years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 today!

HEART OF THE CAT
Sarafin Warriors Series
By S.E. Smith
Can love bridge the gap between a wounded alien warrior and the reclusive human woman who holds the future of his species inside her?

DESERT HUNTER
Galactic Gladiators Series
By Anna Hackett
Among the desert sands of an alien world, a man with secrets to hide finds himself face to face with the one woman who can bring him to his knees.

QUASHI
Mandrake Company Series
By Ruby Lionsdrake
Alien fur balls, a handsome doctor, and a little white lie create havoc for a young woman who only wanted a job.


STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER
The Sectors SF Romance Series
By Veronica Scott
A long-lost princess and her three-eyed cat seek refuge on the Nebula Zephyr only to catch the attention of an inquisitive Security Officer.

OPERATION ARK
Project Enterprise Series
By Pauline Baird Jones
A not quite routine mission to return rescued prisoners to their home worlds turns deadly for unlikely allies, a USMC Sergeant and a raised-by-robots pirate. Is the Sergeant’s unusual pet the wild card that will save or doom them?

CATS OF WAR
A Central Galactic Concordance Novella
by Carol Van Natta
A disgraced military Sub-Captain, a repair technician with secrets, and two special cats must save the day when trouble erupts at an important factory.

HUNTER OF THE TIDE
The Kraken #3
By Tiffany Roberts
Nearly broke by betrayal, a human discovers solace—and a chance for love—among the creatures he once hunted, but he must overcome prejudice and inhibition to claim the female he desires.

STARWAY
By Alexis Glynn Latner
A lonely interstellar pilot and a passenger’s mistreated consort find each other in an interstellar hotel that offers everything to satisfy its guests’ desires—even desires they didn’t know they had.

THE BAJO CATS OF ANTEROS XII
By E D Walker
Two ex-lovers, stranded in space, have to save a pair of kittens with hazardous powers before the local drug cartel catches up to them.

SHADOW OF THE PAST
By JC Hay
On a world of perpetual night, an aging ranger and a widowed veterinarian need to put aside their past to protect a pack of wolves... and their future.

AFTER THE FALL
By Kyndra Hatch
The Invaders took everything worth living for. Could an Invader show him how to live again?

Genres: Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Anthologies, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Aliens, Paranormal

1142 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 9, 2018

About the author

S.E. Smith is an internationally acclaimed, New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling author of science fiction, romance, fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary works for adults, young adults, and children. She enjoys writing a wide variety of genres that pull her readers into worlds that take them away.

Readers can check out her website at https://sesmithfl.com and chat with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/se.smith.5

Reviews

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!!

rating only for:

HUNTER OF THE TIDE
The Kraken #3
By Tiffany Roberts

[Marta Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love an anthology and I admit I’ve not seen too many around that feature sci fi stories so this book definitely appeals to me. I’ve only had the chance to read one of these stories as I type so my review is for Desert Hunter by Anna Hackett
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this authors series centred around Gladiators on an alien planet and in this story we meet up again with two characters who had a peripheral role in a previous book . Mersi and Bren are part of a caravan that escorts travellers through the deserts of Carthago . Mersi escaped from a barbaric Warlord ten years ago and as time has passed her attraction to Bren has only grown stronger. Bren is a man apart, taciturn at best and yet clearly with a good heart and yet no matter how much chemistry lies between him and Mersi, Bren is determined to keep her at arms length denying any pull towards her. Now this is a story that somehow has to include a pet and the author throws into this mix a filthy, oddball that may or may not be the most dangerous critter ever to roll out of the sand dunes ! Fear not though because Mersi is smitten with the mutt and then she discovers a note that sends her and Bren on a dangerous mission and you just know it’s time to face a few home truths !
Ok this was shorter than I normally like but the author incorporated all the elements that I want in a romance set on an alien world. Big, butch hero tick. Strong, resilient heroine tick. Add in an exciting adventure with elements I hadn’t seen coming and I’m truly delighted. There’s humour, there’s emotion and I’m very surprised just how much I really liked this story. Plus as it’s part of the Gladiator world there’s even a cameo but obviously my lips are sealed. If the other stories in this anthology are as spectacular as this then this book is definitely a winner.
This voluntary take is of an advance copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Judy Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

THEY'VE DONE IT AGAIN & I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER! BEST ANTHOLOGY OF THE YEAR!!!
Embrace the Passion: Pets In Space 3
Authors: Multiple
Designation: Collection of Standalone Novellas, No Cliffhangers, #ScienceFiction #Fantasy #Romance #Petfriendly #Anthology #Adorable #Heartwarming #Sexy
Reading Platform: Kindle Edition
My Rating: FIVE CAPTIVATING STARS*****
WOW - AGAIN! I love, love, love Embrace the Passion: Pets In Space 3! In 2016, I heard whispers across Facebook reader groups about plans to release a collection of stories featuring pets. My excitement grew when I learned the collection would not only highlight animals but also include sexy aliens and dreamy romance. I became obsessed with trying to glean more details about the set. Thank heavens the rumors were true! Pets In Space was born and the first collection of captivating science fiction romance novellas was released in October 2016. And guess what? They did it again in 2017 and they're back for 2018!!! The set was so well received by readers that the sponsors of this remarkable anthology decided to give readers an encore for 2018 with another collection of all-new stories from some of the most well-known names in the sci-fi romance genre today! Can you tell I'm excited? The collections from the previous two years were absolutely fabulous, but these guys have really outdone themselves this year with eleven brand new, never before published stories from several of my all-time favorite sci-fi authors and have even added a few new ones. I haven't been able to stop reading since this collection hit my Kindle Monday night! Anyone who has read my reviews in the past probably already knows how much I enjoy box sets. Well, there's one thing I love more, and that's animals but combine the two, then throw in some sexy aliens, thrilling adventure, and dreamy romance, and I'm in absolute HEAVEN! And this fabulous set has it all and more! It just doesn't get any better than this, folks! Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 is a collection of eleven unique, original, imaginative, well crafted and beautifully written standalone novella-length tales written by eleven of today's most well-renowned, bestselling authors in the science fiction/fantasy/paranormal genre today, and each is filled to the brim with heart-pounding danger, spine-tingling action, spellbinding adventure, hilarious hijinks, riveting drama, dreamy romance, steamy sex, handsome out-of-this-world alien heroes, smart plucky heroines and loyal, loving pets so cute, so smart and so adorable, they're sure to capture your imagination and steal your heart! These adorable pets will keep you glued to your Kindle as they demonstrate their love and loyalty to their masters. I snickered, snorted, laughed and cried but by the end, I was happy, satisfied and well entertained. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity with five of my all-time favorite authors: S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Pauline Baird Jones, and Veronica Scott who have been on my one-click list for years. These women are recognized by millions of fans as the High Priestesses of the science fiction romance genre and known the world over. Also included are Alexis Glynn Latner and Carol Van Natta who were both added to my favorites list after reading their contributions in the collection last year and then, last but not least, four talented new-to-me authors: E.D. Walker, Tiffany Roberts, Kyndra Hatch, and J.C. Hay. Please don't ask me to pick a favorite; I simply can't. I loved them all, but Heart of the Cat (Sarafin Warriors Series) by S.E. Smith, Desert Hunter (Galactic Gladiators Series) by Anna Hackett, and Quashi (Mandrake Company Series) by Ruby Lionsdrake hold a very special place in my heart since all three are based in worlds/series I collect and follow. Holy Batman! I can't even begin to express how much I look forward to the release of this anthology every year. This is not only a wonderful collection but also a fabulous bargain! I've paid much more than $4.99 for just one story by any one of these authors. But what really sealed the deal for me was the fact that a portion of the profits goes to Hero-Dogs.org, one of the charities I support wholeheartedly. Their cause is one that's near and dear to my heart. For anyone unfamiliar with the Hero Dogs organization, they raise and train service dogs, then place them free of charge with US Veterans to improve their quality of life and help restore their independence. So grab a cup of tea, cuddle up with your pet, and settle in for several hours of delightful entertainment while doing your part to help a worthy cause!

Did I like this collection? No, I LOVED it! I read them all and LOVED them all! Would I recommend it? You bet and I am but only for adult readers. It does contain some steamy, dreamy sex. Hubba! Hubba! And FYI, these are not scenes, excerpts, installments or chapters. Each contribution is a completely original standalone story with NO cliffhangers and though relatively short, novella or novelette length, they pack a mighty punch! Will I read these authors again! Absolutely! Was I entertained? Completely! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read! If you can only afford to purchase one box set, BUY THIS ONE! And yes, I'm screaming it to the world! Embrace the Passion: Pets In Space 3 is a mind-blowing collection of sexy, heartwarming stories and for such a wonderful cause! I'm convinced you'll love this set just as much as I did! Happy reading fellow pet lovers!

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought a copy of this one as soon as it released. I haven't read many stories yet, but I was lucky to receive an advance copy of one of the stories in this set, which I already read. My review will be updated when I read more stories.

Cats of War by Carol Van Natta - 4 stars
I discovered Carol Van Natta in last year's Pets in Space 2 and since then I have read most of her books and she has become one of my favorite authors. So I was excited to see what her story for Pets in Space 3 would be. Cats of War features a female and male that both have some mental scars and secrets that meet each other on a processing plant in the middle of a swamp planet. While this was a short read I liked being able to get to know both characters a bit and I liked seeing them connect and overcome the obstacles in their way. I liked those little moments when they decided to trust the other and share something about themselves. There is a nice romance and I liked the epilogue. While I wouldn't minded reading more about these two as I really liked this story, I think the pacing of this story was well done and it felt complete and not rushed.

Then there are the two cats who were awesome. I liked how the cats got tied to the main characters in a way that made sense and it was fun to read about their antics and how they helped the characters and how in turn the characters helped the cats find a home too. The cats are totally awesome, with telepathic abilities, wings and camouflage skin.

This story works great as a standalone, but for fans of the series there's a small reference to Ayorinn's prophecy which is an important part of the main storyline. And I understood the world and minder abilities better because I am already familiar with the series. I liked how these two have some interesting minder abilities, while they don't have strong minder powers, they do turn to be very helpful in the situations they find themselves in. All in all I really enjoyed this story and was a bit sad when it ended as I wanted to read more about these characters.

Mystery Dancer by Veronica Scott - 3 stars
I've read a few of Veronica Scotts books so far, as well as her previous Pets in Space stories, so I was curious about this one. I am happy it took place about the Zephyr cruise ship again as it's fun to see some familiar characters form previous book and it's just such a fun setting for a story.

I liked Tassia and her part of the story story and how she landed the job here. Her cat spirit like creature was also interesting, but while he had an important role, I would've liked to see more of him. I felt that we didn't get to know Liam as well and he stayed a bit flat because of that and I didn't get as immersed in the romance as I had hoped. The romance developed a bit quickly, but there were some great scenes. It was clear how much Liam cared about Tassia. On Tassia's side I would've liked to see a bit more of her conflict and feelings.

It was great how this story got resolved as for a while I wasn't sure how it would end, it was a nice twist and it felt very realistic and made sense for the characters.

Shadow of the Past by JV Hay - 4 stars
After reading Inouye and Grenville by this author I dived into his Pets In Space Story. Shadow of the Past is a great read. I liked following the perspective of the commander known as the ghost who has lost his wolf and finds happiness again. Both main character have lost a lot and I felt so bad for them, but it's great to see them find a second chance at happiness.

It was great to read about the umbra wolf farm as the wolves are such a big part of this series and here we get a glimpse of how they're breed. I just don't understand why the farm wasn't protected better as that didn't make much sense to me. The wolf pup JJ was adorable and I liked the scenes with him in it.

The romance follows a pretty typical build-up and while I wouldn't have minded a bit more getting to know each other and not the expected drama at the end, it was obvious these character cared about each other and I really liked the ending.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Operation Ark is part of the Pets in Space 3 anthology and I was so excited to read it. I’ve been reading the Project Enterprise series for quite a while and I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into another exciting adventure.



Sgt. Caro along with her fellow Marines is tasked with returning freed prisoners to their home planets. Among them are species most of us Earthlings would recognize (turtles, eagles, etc.), only these are space animals and their worlds are a mystery. Caro is tasked with not only returning these creatures back home but to explore their unknown worlds.



Kraye is part of Caro’s team assisting wherever he can. He’s drawn to Caro but doesn’t know the first thing about interacting, not to mention flirting, with her. He’s human but was raised by robots. Emotions are something alien to him yet his pets (Bull and Rocky) are only too willing to help. Kraye needs to figure it out and fast because an old enemy, a shocking surprise and a traitor among them makes for one dangerous mission. Can he navigate his way through falling in love and once he shares his feelings, will Caro return his affections or has he mucked everything up?



Operation Ark (such a cute title) is an action-packed space adventure with TNG references peppered throughout. The Caro/Kraye budding relationship is so much more than passion and sex. Kraye reminds me of Data seeking to be more human. Falling in love while space traveling is never easy and there’s plenty of obstacles for them to overcome, the greatest being creepy giant space spiders. EWW!



What I loved most, though, is their mission to return home the freed prisoners. Each one has their own planet and Pauline B. Jones brings each species and their world to life. Descriptive narration so clear, my imagination went wild.



If you’re looking for a space adventure with a little romance thrown in, pick this up today! The whole anthology is fantastic. Highly recommend!



My Rating: 5 stars



Reviewed by: Mrs. N



This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/si...

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars for Desert Hunter by Anna Hackett.
5 Stars for Heart of the Cat by S.E. Smith
Will update.

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.82 stars) My overall rating is based on the average of the following stories ratings.

This is probably one of my highest rated anthologies and one of my favorites. This was just a great conglomeration of stories that just checked all the boxes of what I love about scifi romance. Overall a great anthology for a great cause and I totally will be recommending this to others.

Heart of the Cat by S.E. Smith: 4/5
Finally, we get more of the Sarafin. I really liked this story. I loved how she continues to tie Earth and her various worlds together. I am excited to read the next one.

Desert Hunter by Anna Hackett: 5/5
I am so glad we got another glimpse of the gladiator universe. I miss this series. Mersi and Bren's story was a nice expansion on the desert caravan life. I really liked the "dog" too. He was a interesting alien pet and really full of surprises.

Quashi by Ruby Lionsdrake: 5/5
I want a quashi. They sound like adorable, soft little fluffs with antenna that would make a awesome pet. I really liked this story. The romance was slow building but was perfect for this geeky couple. I am really interested in reading the other books of this series.

Star Cruise: Mystery Dancer by Veronica Scott: 4/5
I like the romance between these two. Even though she was on the run she still gave love a chance and trusted him to help her.

Operation Ark by Pauline Baird Jones: 3/5
I was a little confused on the overall world for this one but I really liked the slow building romance between City and Kraye.

Cats of War by Carol Van Natta: 4/5
I want a cat with bat wings that can camouflage, and talk to me.

Hunter of the Tide by Tiffany Roberts: 4/5
I'm glad we finally got Randall and Rhea's story. The Kracken are so facinating and I love the world I really hope there are more books in this series.

Starway by Alexis Glynn Latner: 3/5
An interesting story but I feel like there wasn't enough to really understand the overall dynamics of what was going on in this world.

The Bajo Cats of Anteros XII by E.D. Walker: 3/5
Second chance at love. Colorful kitties with drug pheromones. A interesting story. I would read more from this world.

Shadow of the Past by J.C. Hay: 3/6
A sweet story with interesting wolves.

After the Fall by Kyndra Hatch: 4/5
I loved this. I really want to know more about the Korthan race and really hope she writes more in this world.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful group of sci-fi romance authors came together to compile yet another Pets in Space anthology for a good cause. The variety of sci-fi settings and situations, writing styles, and opportunities to encounter favorite as well as new to me authors and series provides the biggest pull to grab these up.

The anthology showcases wonderful novellas that are many times from existing series, but most can work as standalones. I am not reading this lug of a book straight through, but will read a bit at a time. I'll put up a few thoughts on each entry as I go.

Heart of the Cat by SE Smith
#3 Sarafin Warriors

At the beginning there is the cast of characters listing what race, what ties politically or by relationship and family. It was very helpful.

Walkyr a Sarafin prince of an alien big cat shifting race, is sent by the goddess to earth to find the Heart of the Cat and encounters their people's lost princess, Trescina. Only, a traitor group, The Enlightenment, has entered the chase for the Heart, too. Trescina was a baby when her mother came to earth and knew nothing about her heritage and doesn't realize she's not human so Walkyr has his work cut out for him in convincing her.

The beginning had an intro to what led up to the current, desperate situation. It was complicated and a little choppy as it leaped through a few disjointed opening scenes, but later, makes sense to have it as is ties to the contemporary circumstances for the Sarafin and situation for Trescina on earth. I would definitely read more from this and the other related Valdier and Curazon Warrior series now that I've read one Valdier Dragon and one Sarafin cat story and liked them.

Desert Hunter by Anna Hackett
#11.6 Galactic Gladiators

A desert caravan in a world with a fierce desert culture is the setting for this star-crossed pair. Mersi and Bren already love each other, but Bren has a big, dark secret that won't allow him to accept Mersi's love or believe she would want him if she found out his secret. But, with the help of a mysterious dog found in the desert and the hunt for the small child who sent the dog for help, Mersi and Bren battle desert pirates and more side by side and in the process learn whether Mersi's love is strong enough when Bren's secret is revealed.

From what I could gather, this is a side story in the author's Gladiator world of stories. Galen and his human and another gladiator appear in the story on a separate mission to find human's trafficked as slaves on this alien world. I enjoyed the tough action scenes and the desert culture described. It was a spicy hot in the sexy scenes. I think I'll be hunting up this Gladiator series....

Quashi by Ruby Lionsdrake
#6.5 Mandrake Company

Chanda wheedles her way into a job for business guru, Ankari, and it so happens to be aboard a merc ship owned by Captain Viktor Mandrake and full of his men. Chanda's assistant job becomes a quashi wrangler when the alien rabbit like animals get put aboard the ship by mistake. It's not long before one gets loose behind the panels in engineering and she's helping the handsome ship's doctor and combat medic Kor hunt down a rogue quashi before it chews through something vital.
Chandra is a game designer and a geek so she is startled to discover the big former combat medic is into games and seems to be into her.

This was a lighthearted side story on the sweeter side in the Mandrake Company series. And, we have another series I need to check out so I can get the stories of the other people populating the cast of characters around Chanda and Kor.


Mystery Dancer by Veronica Scott
#13 The Sectors SF

Giving a sci-fi spin to the story of the Princess Anastasia and death of the Romanovs in a government takeover, this latest The Sectors Star Cruise story was exciting as Tassa, the young princess in disguise gets a job as a chorus dancer aboard the cruise ship. Liam, former special forces, is now a security officer aboard the ship and he is taken with the mysterious Tassa from the beginning when he suspects she is the jewel thief fugitive being hunted. He wrestles with what is the right path and a curious phantom cat helps show him the way.

I keep saying that I need to read more from this series as I love the three stories I've already read. I love the author's writing style and way to write a SFR-Suspense.

Operation Ark by Pauline Baird Jones
#7.5 Project Enterprise

Part of an ongoing series that mashes sci-fi, time travel, and even steampunk, Project Ark is a continuation on events that took place in an earlier installment of the series. I had no trouble following what was going on or getting up to speed with the characters, but it definitely felt like I'd jumped in mid-stream.

US Marine pilot, Cara City, thought she was volunteering for an easy mission to take several aliens back to their homeworlds after they were rescued from captivity. Along with her is a unit of Marines, human first contact people hoping to make friends with each alien race encountered along the route, and her motley command team that consist of her ship's AI, Rita, a sentient robot, Bull, a human raised by robots, Kraye, and a caticorn beast who was one of the rescuees and took a shine to City. Not long into the mission, it's obvious that someone talked and now her ship or one of her interesting passengers or all the above is the target.

I enjoyed the aliens and their worlds, but I confess that I got more vested when things got rolling with the action conflict and the slow-burn romance between Cara and Kraye. Things were left in a good stopping off place for the series and I would definitely like to encounter the members of the crew again in future books.

Cats of War by Carol Van Natta
#4.5 Central Galactic Concordance

This was my most anticipated story in the anthology and it did not disappoint. I am in love with the series, the author's style and elaborate futuristic space world, and the intrigue she loads in to surround a slow-burn sweet romance.

Cats of War is part of an ongoing series of standalone stories. It will feel connected to a series and there will be a bit a catch-up time needed to understand the worldbuilding structure of military-style government and the psychic talents fitting in.

It's a whole new setting in a low-max prison for people who got into trouble financially to the government for various reasons and must work off their debt. The hero runs the military section of the facility and the heroine is one of the indenturees (debtors). They both have secrets and troubles of people after them, but they pull together for a common cause when two war cats end up in danger and need a rescue.

I'm eager for the next installment in the series.

Hunter of the Tide by Tiffany Roberts
#3 The Kraken

This series was one that I always meant to try after seeing Suzanne @ Under the Covers Books rave reviews. I'm so glad to have gotten this chance and really enjoyed it. Who woulda thunk! Half cephalod-half human race Krakens and their alien sea world and culture become known to the few humans they allow in on their secrets.

It was obvious that there was quite a bit of worldbuilding and storyline that came before this one and that Randall and Rhea had a history with each other and the rest of the Kraken. However, this was written so that a newbie like me could get up to speed and appreciate this story of a female Kraken who knows exactly who she wants even if it means trying to learn more about the human male who confuses her and about the male human who has never been enough and now feels that he must prove himself and take things slowly with the wonderful female who sees past their differences. With the help of Rhea's daughter and a cute sea lizard pet, along with their other human and Kraken friends, they find a way to be together in spite of the angry and dangerous opposition who don't want Krakens to be with humans.

I am definitely going back for Macy and Aimee's stories and the first encounters with the races and can't wait to see what comes next.

Starway by Alexis Glynn Latner

I've read other novellas that are standalone, but are set in the world the author's Aeon's Legacy series. I'm not entirely sure, but I think that's the case here with Starway.

So, Starway, was an engaging story of a commercial starliner pilot who has a layover in the Wendonian's Starway. She's lonely and taking stock of her life as she reaches mid-life after focusing entirely on her career and denying herself a relationship or anything else. Then she spots one of her frequent passengers, Danyel, who is a handsome man that is the travel agent officially and unofficially the consort of a wealthy woman. Nikka likes Danyel, but wishes he'd show some initiative.

Danyel gets that chance when Nikka gets into danger when her pilot expertise is wanted by terrorist and anti-terrorist groups. Like Nikka, Danyel is at a crossroads in life when he realizes that he's given a woman his heart and life who does not return that love and loyalty- in fact, she'd rather he weaken his health and take a chance on destroying his mind to continue keeping him as a pretty boy. This is a wake up call and he can't help but compare Nikka's version of aging with grace and respecting him as a person. Danyel burns his bridges and leaps to the rescue. With the help of a Wendonian Spy and his clever dog, Star, Danyel goes after Nikka.

This was exciting in parts, but also a good blend of character development, too. The futuristic far-distant sci-fi setting was well done. I really need to get on the stick and read the Aeon's Legacy books.

The Bajo Cats of Anteros XII by E D Walker

This is a standalone second chance for a ship pilot and an alien cat rescuer.

Xandros gets the contact from a colony world sheriff's department that they confiscated two Bajo cats from drug traders. He knows he has to get there quick because the cats secret pheromones and poisons in their fur and bite that can put people into a drug induced stupor or worse. His only call for transport must be to the person who has no desire to see him again.

Aliette loved Xandros, but he loved his rescues more. But, she can't let her hurt get in the way of helping get the two Bajos kittens rounded up to protect the people on Anteros. It's tough to see Xandros and the old feelings are still there. He looks at her in a way that says he might still have feelings too. But, they have a delicate rescue operation and the potential danger from any drug runners who catch wind of the cats.

This is a second chance for two people parted when it seemed that their priorities were pulling them in two different directions, but never stopped loving each other. Miscommunication side-lined them and now they get the chance to finally talk about what really happened.
Romances where the conflict is because people don't bother to talk through issues before one or both take off aren't generally my thing, but I can see how the circumstances affected this. It had just the right amount of drama, a new understanding, and some excitement. And, cute kittens!

Out of the Shadows by JC Hay
#1.5 Tri-Systems Rangers series

A side story in the Tri-Systems Rangers series set on the secret ranch where the ranger's wolf compatibles are bred, but a dangerous space gang shows up to steal the wolves an an old ranger arrives to hold them off until a team of rangers can get there.

Nafisi has been left alone on the dark moon alone on the ranch with just the wolves. She's bitter toward the rangers because she blames them for her man not having access to the medical help so he wouldn't have died, but she loves the wolves. Now, one of the hated rangers is there protecting the wolves- of course, she thinks, that her life is secondary.

Okay, so here's the thing... I like the writing and the worldbuilding that was evident and I was eager for a middle-aged romance pair. The hero's situation and the action plot were great. What I didn't like was Nafisi, the heroine. Big mouthed and bitter, blaming others for personal choices (no one forced her and her partner to take the position on the wolf ranch), but then her pulls a stubborn-stupid and charges into danger when he advised stealth. But wait, she blames him after she's shot and he has to get her out of danger again. Rafe adores her and her attitude and takes all she unleashes against him. I just... no.

The heroine didn't do it for me, but I am a hundred percent going back for more in the series because Space Rangers and companion wolves do.

After the Fall by Kendra Hatch

A standalone enemies to lovers story when a human surveyor looking for viable worlds crash lands on an ice planet and encounters one of the monster Korahs. Only, from the moment that he and his companion Mogna pets save her, she realizes that she might not have been given the full truth.
A'rik hates humans after they destroyed his world and attempted to wipe out the Mogma and now he's taking care of one and trying hard to ignore what she may mean to him.

This was one of those stories that is more than it appears in ways and yet exactly what it appears. They hate each other until they get to know each other. Meanwhile, the two psychic Mogmas help both of them work through this while surviving on a harsh planet. I loved learning A'rik's secret The focus was on survival and getting past their issues, but I thought it was a fun romance element. I definitely want more of this.


What a fabulous collection! You can't do better if you're a sci-fi romance fan than grabbing up the Pets In Space Collections or other books/series by these authors.

[Sherill · Rating 5 out of 5]

ADVENTURE-DANGER & FIERY PASSIONATE ROMANCE

DESERT HUNTER by Anna Hackett - takes you on a journey into the alien desert of Carthago; a desert that holds secrets and evil too. This short story has all to keep a reader intrigued; gripping suspense, action, humor, bone-chilling danger, life threatening incidents, surprising incidents, emotional moments, fiery passionate romance and a happily ever after worth waiting for.

Merci and Bren have known each other for years; saving her as a teenager from a black-hearted warlord. Now she finds herself wanting him but he avoids her advances due to a secret he holds close to his heart. A matted up canine sends Merci and Bren on a mission into unforeseen danger in the sandy desert.

FASCINATING sci-fi well-written story with powerful engaging characters. Mersi and Bren are fabulous together both forces and devoted to each other. Fiend the canine will surprise you; loved him too. Finding this story to be quite entertaining; {of my own volition without any stipulations, I reviewed an advanced copy.} Without hesitations, I recommend this read.

[Eva Millien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cats of War is one of the many exciting stories in the new Pets in Space Anthology series and it is a delightful and thrilling read with strong, convincing characters that easily draw into their story and ensure that readers want to know more. The romance is clean and sweet as these two characters are not really in a position to start a romance but that doesn’t stop the attraction from setting sparks flying in every direction add in the vulnerabilities and emotional turmoil that stems from their pasts and their passion stays simmering through the story which keeps readers in quite a bit of suspense throughout. The story is short but is flows smoothly with a fast pace and small incidents leads to quite a bit of trouble adding danger and excitement to the story while two winged battle cats add charm to the story as they save day. I enjoyed this delightful from beginning to end and I appreciated the way that the author gave the story such a satisfying conclusion. I am certainly looking forward to reading the other stories in this anthology and of course more in the CGC series.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series and have to mention the stories I have read. All are from some of my favorite authors and feature worlds they have created.
First: DESERT HUNTER
Galactic Gladiators Series
By Anna Hackett
Instead of characters from Earth this story is about two of the planets natives. Great to see and learn more about the people who live there.
Second: QUASHI
Mandrake Company Series
By Ruby Lionsdrake
It was fun to be back on the pink shuttle and see characters who I have not seen in some time. I loved the interesting character and why she really came to work.
Third: 
STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER
The Sectors SF Romance Series
By Veronica Scott
Even though I have loved them all I think this is my favorite so far. It was fun to be back on the ship and to see it through other eyes. The solution to the main character's problem was very smoothly done.
CATS OF WAR
A Central Galactic Concordance Novella
by Carol Van Natta
Again one of my favorite series. Loved the cats and how they interact with the characters.

[Paraphrodite · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Another above average anthology with some outstanding short stories, particularly from Anna Hackett and Veronica Scott. I did find the stories based on series I'm already familiar with easier to get into than others. But now I want to check out some of these other series as well!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Embrace the Passion is the third book in the Pets in Space Series. This fantastic book is an anthology of eleven enthralling romantic science fiction stories. Eleven talented authors each weave their own story, but all having the same theme of romance and sci-fi. All the stories are individual, with their own unique take on the theme, all creating their own identity, mood and tone.
The stories and authors are:

- Heart of the Cat By: S.E Smith
- Desert Hunter By: Anna Hackett
- Quashi By: Ruby Lionsdrake
- Star Cruise By: Veronica Scott
- Operation Ark By: Pauline Baird Jones
- Cats of War By: Carol Van Natta
- Hunter of the Tide By: Tiffany Roberts
- Stairway By: Alexis Glynn Latner
- The Cats of Bajo Anteros XII By: E.D Walker
- Out of the Shadows By: J.C Hay
- After the Fall By: Kyndra Hatch

The book pulled me in right from the beginning and kept me entertained and turning the pages to discover what new world, situation, couple, or interesting ‘pet’ I would discover next. There were so many varied ‘pets’ in this anthology- I am in awe of the authors talents and the way they brought their stories to life. All the ‘worlds’, stories, characters, scenarios and creatures were totally realistic and believable, as each author brought their ‘world’/story to life. As each story progressed, I was drawn even further into the book and it was quite easy to lose myself in the book for a while, in a good way. I love that this anthology supports HeroDogs.org- who help place specially trained dogs with veterans. So, by purchasing this anthology not only are you getting a fantastic read, but also supporting a very worthy charity in the process!
Some of these authors I am familiar with, and have contributed to previous instalments, but a lot of these authors were new to me which is always exciting to find new works/writers to add to my author list and TBR.
If you enjoy really well written romantic science fiction, with wonderful worlds and entertaining characters- then this is definitely the book for you!

Thank you to all the contributing authors!

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories written by some great authors that have some romance and are guaranteed to pull at your heart strings. Some of the authors are new to me and others are some of my favorite. Each of them have their own writing style but what they have in common is science fiction, pets and hot steamy romance. My favorite characters are the cats, they are so sassy and lovable. I highly recommend reading this book, I know you will find a favorite like I did.

[Lynn]

TERRIBLE cover. I would never have purchased this based on the cover but an author I read had a story in this. It's very hit or miss. Some of these were good and some were not for me. Unfortunately, since I read it in between books over a fair amount of time I can't remember the ones I enjoyed.

It's an anthology of sci-fi/fantasy short stories with varying amounts of romance. Some were squeaky clean and/or limited romance but some had more steam. Some were really hard to understand as they were obviously part of a series and didn't work as stand alones. Others were parts of series but worked on their own. Some were stand alones. I can't even rate this anthology as they were so varied.

[Mel Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Desert Hunter - Anna Hackett is a Master Word Weaver. This story has me hanging on to the very end. It was so good! How fitting that Fiend, Bren and Saskia are all the same. I can't wait to see more on them in later stories.

Hunter of the Tide - I've been waiting on Rhea, Randall and Melaina's story for quite some time now. I have loved the youngling since meeting her in the first book and it was nice seeing Rhea's soft side. Ikaros is just adorable.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science fiction romance

This was another great anthology of science fiction romance made better with pets. I enjoyed this collection of stories as much as the previous two Pets in Space anthologies. It was made more special by Anna Hackett!

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with other "EMBRACE THE PASSION: PETS IN SPACE" volumes, VOLUME THREE has 11 stories about (obviously) pets in space.

This particular edition introduced me to all new authors.

Some of the stories are short stories that show a snippet of a story while other stories are full bodied and multi layered. What I've liked about all of these anthologies is that it's easy to pick up and put down while doing other things in life.

Each story is unique and could stand on its own merit. I will be looking for more stories by these talented authors.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since the beginning, when Pets in Space 1 was introduced to the Scifi Romance world, I have been very enthusiastic about these collections. The combinatin of scifi and romance was already a favorite thing for me, but when you add in an endearing pet….don’t expect me to say ‘no’ to these great anthologies.

There are so many remarkable stories in this 3rd collection. Everyone who reads it will pick out their favorites, and so have I.

Two of my favorite series are represented. Pauline Baird Jones’ Project Enterprise and Carol Van Natta’s Central Galactic Concordance. In an anthology with these two great authors and their familiar series, it is easy to pick my favorites.

In Jones’ Operation Ark USMC Sergeant Carolina City (Caro) is charged with repatriating a shipload of sentient beings that all bear some resemblance to animals an Earthling might be familiar with: turtles, eagles, pandas, etc. Along for the ride is Kraye, a human that was pretty much raised by robots.

So the human that was raised by robots has a hard time understanding other humans, especially a certain Sgt. City, his feelings toward her and her unspoken communication toward him. Luckily, he has Bull (robot) and Rocky (squirrel) (yes – moose and squirrel – Pauline did that!). Bull and Rocky try to coach Kraye, which leads to a few smirks, but ultimately, he is going to have to figure things out for himself.

Caro, the human that was raised by humans also has a hard time understanding Kraye. He may look like a human, but he has robot-like reactions and doesn’t pick up on any of her non-verbal communication. Bluntness may be required.

But before they can figure each other out, all sorts of adventure will keep them busy. Someone has betrayed the mission and the effort to take all their passengers to their home planets is anything but a ride around the park. Action-filled with spooky giant spiders, Operation Ark has humans, robots and other assorted sentient beings that are in for danger, tricky maneuvers, heroic actions, Greek alphabet code names and maybe, just maybe, a kiss or two. Pauline Baird Jones again succeeds in making me laugh out loud at her quirky humor, race through her action scenes and cheer when the spider gets it! Project Enterprise fans, buy Pets in Space just for this story!

Cats of War by Carol Van Natta takes place in the galaxy of telepaths, telekinetics and patterners where not having those skills seems to be a major handicap, but having them puts one on the CPS radar. In this story, we have two people who have avoided the CPS trap, but find that sometimes, using your talent for good is worth taking the risk.

Our hero, Kedron, is a quiet nerd who is not sure if he should open up to the lovely techie. He is pretty sure he should not, but that doesn’t keep him from saving up a weeks work of technical issues that will require her attention. Ferra is the heroine who is dodging a past by doing time – voluntarily – as an indentured worker. Kedron is definitely out her her league.

Their mutual attraction goes unnoticed, mostly, until circumstances force them to spend more time together. Whether it is fixing technical problems with dubious causes, saving animals or fending off the gangster indenturees, Kedron and Ferra make a good team. I think you could say they have chemistry.

Wait – I havn’t mentioned the pets yet. Flying cats. How cool is that. Plus they can communicate telepathically. How really cool is that! The cats are some of the animals that needed rescuing and they quickly worm their way into the hearts of Ferra and Kedron.

Cats of War is a sweet addition to the Central Galactic Concordance series, so if you are a fan, you should absolutely check it out.

This year’s edition of Pets in Space includes several newcomers to the collection – Tiffany Roberts, E D Walker, JC Hay, Kyndra Hatch, Ruby Lionsdrake. Of note – JC Hay and Kyndra Hatch were among my favorites. Both told tales that included creatures in the canine family. Also, both stories included secluded settings. The takeaway – you are never lonely if your dog is beside you.

After the Fall by Kyndra Hatch tells a tale of the post-war interaction of between a male of Korth and a human female. In the war, they would have been enemies, but the war has been over for 10 years. A’rck has marooned himself, H’tch and K’mi on an unpeopled planet to forget what happened when invaders irrevocably changed his way of life in a senseless act. Lyra is an ‘invader’, or human, that has been sent to survey worlds for colonization and she just happens to find A’rck’s planet. This is going to be a battle. But K’mi, the young mohga has taken an immediate liking to the human and it appears, has bonded with her. That should be impossible. Mohgas bond only with Korthans. Between K’mi and her sire H’tch, the effort to bring the two enemies together becomes a plan. Large bear-like creatures and potential colonists add danger and conflict and the opportunity for A’rck and Lyra to grow close.

JC Hay’s Out of the Shadows feature umbra wolves being raised by Nafisi. Eventually the wolves will bond with Rangers and work side be side with them. Rafe is a retire ranger whose wolf died. He is sent to Nafisi’s ranch to assess the possibility that a criminal ring may have discovered it’s whereabouts and plans an assault on the ranch to steel the wolves. Nafisi and Rafe are both middle aged folks that are set in their ways and not open to other people’s interference. You see where this is going don’t you. Oh, there is a cute wolf pup, the runt of the litter, that takes a liking to Rafe. I don’t think Rafe is going to be able to chase the bad guys away and then just leave the ranch. Do you?

Have I given you enough to figure out if you would like to read Pets in Space 3? I hope so. Scifi, romance, pets and, oh by the way, a portion of the proceeds go to a great charity, Hero-Dogs.org. There are over 1,100 pages in this book, so I think it is fair to say you will be entertained for many hours!

I was given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Julie Jefferies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic collection of Pet stories

This is a great collection of animals and their trust in the humans they encounter, and the bonds they form with them. A great read. Below is a list of each story and a quick review of each. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Pets in Space 3
S.E. Smith Anna Hackett Ruby Lionsdrake Veronica Scott Pauline Baird Jones Carol Van Natta Tiffany Roberts Alexis Glynn Latner E. D. Walker JC Hays Kyndra Hatch

HEART OF THE CAT
Sarafin Warriors Series
By S.E. Smith
Unfortunately I haven’t read the first two books in this series, but that will be changing very soon. I loved the characters, their relationships with each other, and I especially loved Trescina and her love of her Siberian tigers. I can’t wait to read what happens in the future as well, I’m sure there are some people that will definitely make a reappearance in future stories, and I can’t wait to hear what happens to them as well.

Desert Hunter
Galactic Gladiators Novella
By Anna Hackett
If you’re a fan of the Galactic Gladiators series you will love this great story. Catching up with a couple of my favourite smaller characters from the Galactic Gladiators series. We finally find out the reason that Bren has pushed Mersi away for so long, and get to see that true love can conquer all, especially when that love is an animal for his master.

QUASHI
Mandrake Company Series
By Ruby Lionsdrake
I loved the awkwardness between the geeky game designer and her growing fondness for the celibate Monk that is the ships doctor. It was a sweet and cute story, and Roberta is a smart little quashi, with an addiction for apples

STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER
The Sectors SF Romance Series
By Veronica Scott
The first chapter is intense, we see that after witnessing the death of her long time companion, Tassia is fleeing for her life, auditioning for a dance crew to escape those hunting her. Liam is one of the security team for the ship Tassia is auditioning to perform on, he is drawn t her from the start, but he knows there s new to her than meets the eye, he knows her documents are forged, that she’s Hong something, and potentially bringing trouble with her onto the ship, but something about her calls to him.


OPERATION ARK
Project Enterprise Series
By Pauline Baird Jones
This was probably the hardest to read without having read the previous stories, there was a lot missing, but it was still a great story and you catch up as you read along. I loved the unlikely bonds they had built, and loved the ending


CATS OF WAR
A Central Galactic Concordance Novella
by Carol Van Natta
I absolutely loved this story, I didn’t understand the title until at least half way through the story, but it’s perfect. I loved the characters, Barray & Kedron, they both had insecurities so even though they were both drawn to each other, neither would make the move. I loved the ending, it was perfect


HUNTER OF THE TIDE
The Kraken #3
By Tiffany Roberts
I do wish I’d read the first 2 books in this series, but you don’t really need to, Tiffany backfills the story enough so you know what’s happened, but I like the full picture. I loved Randall, his passion to want to prove himself as the hunter and provider for the woman he loves, Rhea, it was just beautiful. I also loved the way he cared for Ikaros, and the bond it created.

STARWAY
By Alexis Glynn Latner
This a really short story, it’s a little fast in some points and if you’re not focusing you may find you might need to re read a couple of lines, but a great story

THE BAJO CATS OF ANTEROS XII
By E D Walker
Another great quick read, good story about making sure you get your facts right, and not pushing boundaries you know will break.


SHADOW OF THE PAST
By JC Hay
I enjoyed how JC wrote this story about loss, and the pain of dealing with the loss and the bigger pain of trying to move forward. So well written.
Both Nafisi and Rafe have lost their connections in the world, Nafisi her husband, and Rafe his bonded dog. They both have been struggling to just move through the world. Nafisi running the dog breeding programme that sends the dogs to the rangers for them to bond with, so when a threat comes in that pirates intend to steal the dogs, Rafe sends himself down to check that the threat is real and also that the dogs are safe. When Nafisi and Rafe meet, there is an instant attraction that neither wish to admit, and due to that will lead them both into heartbreak again if they don’t do something about it.


AFTER THE FALL
By Kyndra Hatch

This is just a beautiful story about truly learning who someone is and not judging them based on what you’ve been taught. A’ryk and Lyra’s story is just beautiful, the connections built throughout this story are just amazing, their animal bonds are just gorgeous.

[Caralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embrace the Passion (Pets in Space 3) by Various Authors
5 Stars!!!!!

I ask you what more could one ask for but cute pets and space? This is the third collective and I
have to say I wasn't disappointed. I like how a collective of authors can all bring such life
to space and add a touch or romance with the pets as an added bonus.

This collection is very vast and I really enjoyed them all but my absolute favorite was The Bajo Cats
of AnterosXII by E.D. Walker. I am a crazy cat lady at heart and the whole story was quite interesting
to me. I like how the author had the alien cats have a defense mechanism that when young they cant
control. I like how Zandro and Aliette work things out and how there is just enough drama in this
short story to really get the reader engrossed in it and not able to put the book down till then end.
The author has a real interesting take on how different pets in space can be and also tackles real
life issues with the conservation efforts of Zandro. I really would like to read more from this author
in future.

I have a close second to my favorite and that is Quashi: (A Mandrake Company Story) by Ruby
Lionsdrake. This story reminded me so much of the Star Trek episode The Trouble with Tribbles.
I like how the author's unique writing style brings this different creature to life.

The whole sort of chemistry between Chanda and Kor is quite refreshing. This short story has a lot
of drama that works around the blossoming romance of the two. The mystery that evolves during the
story helps to bring them together and also helps Chanda really achieve her original purpose. This
author does a great job in such a short expanse and grips the reader from page one. I would like to
read more from his author in the future.

I finally have one more favorite and that is Starway by Alexis Glynn Latner. This was full of adventure
this one. I have to admit that I was quite impressed the amount the author was able to get in such a short
story. I really do like these anthologies of short stories as they highlight such talent.

I really found myself routing for Nikka through this book but I have to admit at first I didn't expect
her and Danyel to end up. I find that the author has a very refreshing writing style that grabs you
and brings you into the book and gets straight to the point. There was quite a bit of drama that
played out in this short story and I look forward to reading more from this author.

When I read an anthology I am always drawn to at least one story. The rest are the added bonus and I find
that this collection is full of the stories that I like to read and I know I will find myself reading
this collection over and over.

[Jannie Cv · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have each of the Pets in Space anthologies and have enjoyed them immensely! They’re packed with delightful stories and often with authors new to me. I’ve made some great discoveries this way!

Heart of the Cat - S.E. Smith
I love “Heart of the Cat!”
I’m so happy to be back with Sarafin warriors! On Earth, on a mission to save the ‘Heart of the Cat,’ Walkyr encounters Trescina and her tiger companions. They each are hiding an important aspect of themselves; both have enemies after them. What an adventure this turns out to be! The backstory of the situation is fascinating, including stories of Trescina’s youth on Earth. I’m looking forward to seeing more of these Sarafins soon (I hope)!

Desert Hunter - Anna Hackett
An excellent short story!
Mersi found safety with Corsair and Bren in Corsair’s desert caravan. I love this short story! It portrays what a strong young woman Mersi has become. She never backs down when someone needs rescue, nor does she let Bren’s secrets drive her away. This is a thrilling story with a very unusual pet that plays an important role in getting Bren and Mersi together.

Quashi - Ruby Lionsdrake
What fun reading!
Chandra is an enterprising young woman seeking a mentor. Yes, her methods are - mmm- sneaky. She soon proves her worth, though, as critical systems are damaged. Kor, the ship’s doctor proves to be an able (and desirable) sidekick. Through the story, I enjoyed the author’s unrepentant sense of humor! Great reading, and a really fun pet!

Hunter of the Tide - Tiffany Roberts
Living among the Kraken, Randall is having to challenge his beliefs. Nothing is so clear cut anymore. He can no longer see them as beasts of prey to be hunted. This is a fascinating story of love between a human male and a female from a unique hybrid sea-dwelling culture. His very protective pet, a prixxar, is an early warning system when danger is near. It’s not exactly my idea of cuddly, but still very adorable!

After the Fall - Kyndra Hatch
A thrilling story!
I love the Mohgas; they are sentient, intelligent partners to the people with whom they’re bonded. The characters of A’ryk and Lyra are well developed, and I enjoy learning some of the background that made them as they are today. And the excitement when others arrive - splendid action!

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heart of the Cat, S.E. Smith - 3/5, good bones to the story, but SO MUCH backstory that I needed to really understand what was happening.

Desert Hunter, Anna Hackett - 4/5, a nice entry in the Galactic Gladiators series. My main quip is that I wish it was longer!

Quashi, Ruby Lionsdrake - 5/5, maybe my favorite? Nice to revisit that world, and the dorky hot doctor was a great hero.

Star Cruise: Mystery Dancer, Jean D Walker - 3/5, felt like a regular contemporary plot with some sci-fi details shoehorned in. Entertaining enough, but not terribly memorable.

Operation Ark, Pauline Baird Jones - 2/5, another one with a very confusing plot, as it seemed to be a immediate sequel to something I haven't read, and the references to previous actions weren't well-explained.

Cats of War, Carol Van Natta - 4/5, ok, my other favorite in the anthology. I liked the careful handling of the balance of power between the hero and heroine, and will look for more by this author.

Hunter of the Tide, Tiffany Freund and Robert Freund Jr. - 2/5, I am not into tentacles.

Starway, Alexis Glynn Latner - 3/5, interesting to see a male in the position of consort.

The Bajo Cats of Anteros XII, Elizabeth Walker - 4/5, my third favorite of the mix. A nice second-chance romance, and the kittens sounded adorable.

Shadow of the Past, JC Hay - 3/5, a solid story, good explanation without worldbuilding taking up the whole novella, and it was nice to have some older protagonists included. Will be looking for more in this series.

After the Fall, Kyndra Hatch - 3/5, was a little confused when the story starts from the "pets" POV, but it turned out to be a solid entry in the anthology.

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

My global rate is five stars as it is for a charity case.

My review is to begin with HEART OF THE CAT by S.E. Smith as it is for this author (and Anna Hackett) I purchased this book.
I do adored the craziness of the previous two installments in the Sarafin Warriors series.
This novella is more on the cute side than the silly one. Prince Walkyr is the third son, third in the line after Vox and Viper. Like his siblings, he will do anything to protect his people even follow traitors to a strange and rustic world.
Trescina is a long lost princess, totally unawares of who and what she is, except she is different, very different from the usual Earth inhabitants.
Their encounter and relationship were sweet, two worlds which collide with two persons not so different.
In all it was a lovely story but to me it lacked the depth and silliness of Vox and Viper’s stories, probably about the short time they get to know another as a major part of the story was set to narrate and sum up past events.
It will give it a 4 stars rate.
I do prefer S.E. Smith work in novel’s length.

DESERT HUNTER by Anna Hackett, I’m a avid reader of The Galactic Gladiators series, I have already meet Bren and Mersi in Corsair and Neve’s story.
This cute novella explains their cat and mouse game.
It is a very sweet story of two people who have known for years but are afraid to deceive another.
I love how the author brings tenderness to actions packed stories, and this short one is no exception.
A sweet addition to this awesome series.

[E.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embrace the Passion (Pets In Space Anthologies #3) by various Authors had the same uniqueness, fun/danger and otherworldly characters as the last installment.

I always love a good anthology, and I've been waiting for this one. As I read the last one, and loved every bit of it. The only thing with anthologies is that there are so many authors and stories, it's hard to writing a review as a whole. So I'm not going to break down every stories, cause we would be here forever. But I will tell of the one I loved the most, and that was actually the first story. HEART OF THE CAT (Sarafin Warriors Series) By S.E. Smith.

The opening to this story was gripping from the first words. It was heart pounding and it instantly puts you on edge. It started like a prolog, before jumping to the "present". The fast pace stayed the same and we are greeted with new characters that I soon came quiet attached to. The love story is sweet, the writing was solid and compelling, and my only complaint is that it was too short. It was a fantastic opener for this wicket collection. The other stories that follow are just as, or more entertaining and engaging. I haven't managed to get through them all yet, but this anthology is well worth your time and energy.

I love the worlds that these authors have created, and even though they are all different, I felt like they were somehow all connected in that vase thing called space.

This book gets my super high recommendation and my stamp of approval

Happy Reading.

-E.A. Walsh

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Embrace The Passion is the third Pets in Space book. It is an anthology of science fiction romances, all featuring animals of some description, sold in support of an animal charity. There are 11 stories, each by a different author, and the stories are all very different and enjoyable.
The first story I read was Quashi. I was drawn to it as the cute fluffy aliens sounded a bit like tribbles. It turns out they aren’t exactly tribbles, but are similarly cute and disastrous! I liked the main character, Chanda, who is quite funny and relatable as she struggles to make the best out of a situation where she is hopelessly out of her depth!
Operation Ark is another great one, particularly if you’re after an array of different space animals! The animals do all seem to resemble Earth animals – they’re mostly introduced as “like x only bigger/a different colour”. But they have a lot of character and it’s an entertaining story! Like Quashi, there’s a mysterious creature no one knows much about that is developed over the course of the story.
I liked the space port setting in Starway and the way that Star, the sniffer dog, is introduced to the story. With lots of space politics and covert operations, it’s a gripping story with complex characters!
The stories are varied, but have in common exciting extra-terrestrial settings, animals with strong and loveable personalities and three-dimensional protagonists. For me, this is a overall a four star book. I’d recommend it to sci-fi fans who love animals and want to try out lots of different authors!

[Michelle Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embrace the Passion was a great 5 star read and #3 in the Pets in Space Anthologies.
This was a fun read that had so many great stories in it. We get a mixture of action, adventure,suspense, LOL moments and so much more. This also gave me an opportunity to read some new authors and genres that I don’t normally read.

Heart of the cat, Sarafin Warriors Series by S.E. Smith
Desert Hunter,Galactic Gladiators Series by Anna Hackett
Quashi, Mandrake Company Series by Ruby Lionsdrake
Star Cruise:Mystery Dancer, The Sectors SF Romance Series by Veronica Scott
Operation Ark, Project Enterprise Series by Pauline Baird Jones
Cats of War,A Central Galactic Concordance Novella by Carol Van Natta
Hunter of the Tide, The Kraken #3 by Tiffany Roberts
Starway, Alexis Glynn Latner
The Bajo Cats of Anteros XII, By E D Walker
Shadow of the Past, JC Hay
After the Fall, Kyndra Hatch

Reading about all these different worlds was so fun. There are so many great characters and worlds to get to know. All of these authors do a great job of pulling you right in with their writing. You can read a quick story here and there or sit and read it all right away. I can’t wait to read more from them. And another thing that really tugs at my heartstrings about this anthology is that the authors support and donate to Hero-Dogs.org. Coming from a family of veterans I can relate to how important this program really is. If your looking to find something new and exciting, I highly suggest that you 1-click and get started today on this great pet lovers read.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 2 Anthology is a wonderful collection of eleven shorts from eleven different authors. They have come together to bring you hours of entertainment and passion centered around what better than? Pets! This is all done for such a great cause too, HeroDog.org. These authors help raise money to place specially trained dogs with veteran’s who need them! What could be better than that? You get some fantastic reading material, and you are supporting your troops!

Most of these authors were new to me so another bonus for me was that I got to get to know some new authors to stalk, or follow, in the future. So if you like to read romance, sci-fi, or anything about those creatures that don’t talk back, this is the anthology for you! The following authors and their featured title are listed below. Thanks for everyone’s contribution and fantastic read!

~Heart of the Cat By: S.E Smith

~ Desert Hunter By: Anna Hackett

~ Quashi By: Ruby Lionsdrake

~Star Cruise By: Veronica Scott

~Operation Ark By: Pauline Baird Jones

~ Cats of War By: Carol Van Natta

~Hunter of the Tide By: Tiffany Roberts

~ Stairway By: Alexis Glynn Latner

~ The Cats of Bajo Anteros XII By: E.D Walker

~ Out of the Shadows By: J.C Hay

~After the Fall By: Kyndra Hatch

[BrownSugar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed these anthologies. This is the first I’ve read as a dog owner and now it’s so much better. What if I could speak telepathically with my girl?!

I didn’t read them all. Reviews for the stories read:

HEART OF THE CAT
Sarafin Warriors Series
By S.E. Smith
I enjoyed the Grim series and had not read this series. I’m glad I found it. Shifters are my jam. It was a really interesting storyline and made me eat the rest of the series to read.

DESERT HUNTER
Galactic Gladiators Series
By Anna Hackett
I’ve never read Anna Hackett before but I really enjoyed this story. The way all their lives end up intertwined was so satisfying.

STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER
The Sectors SF Romance Series
By Veronica Scott
Such an interesting story! I especially loved the mischievous cat deity.


THE BAJO CATS OF ANTEROS XII
By E D Walker
I enjoyed the idea of cat rescue in space although second chance romance is not my thing.

SHADOW OF THE PAST
By JC Hay
This story was awesome. Middle age romance is my jam! Maybe because I’m there in life now but I like how they can find love and still have sexy times despite everything that has happened.

AFTER THE FALL
By Kyndra Hatch
Cyborgs! Need I saw more? Great story with awesome animals.

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review is for:

DESERT HUNTER (Galactic Gladiators Series) By Anna Hackett

We've met Bren and Mersi before. They are the sergeants at arms for Corsair. There has long been a story simmering between these two. Who knew it would take a matted, dirty, walking carpet of a space-mutt to bring them together?

Mersi has been with Corsair on the desert caravan since he and Bren rescued her when she was no more than a teenager. She escaped being the slave of a warlord and found a true family. But her feelings towards Bren have grown and she wants him to stop seeing her as the girl he saved and more the women he wants. She wants what Corsair and Neve have.

Bren is hiding a BIG secret though, one he thinks will change everyone's perception of him, especially Mersi. He just has to hold out against his feelings for her. But when they go into the desert in search of a young child in trouble, all their secrets are going to come out into the open!

OMG I did not see that woolly, heart breaking mutt coming! He should be illegal he is so fugly! But he is not all that he appears and along with Bren, they are going to tip Mersi's world sideways!