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Settler's Mine #1
The Rivals
Orion and Balt, rival bounty hunters, unexpectedly meet up on Settler's Mine to bring in a woman, Layla, whose retrieval will set up the finder for life. It's a race to see who will find her first.
Layla, who's not what she appears, is hiding in plain sight, but it takes a while for them to recognize her. When they do, they are stunned to find their heartstones glowing, marking them all as mates. All three of them.
Now Orion and Balt must learn to work together if there is any hope of saving Layla from both a rich, ruthless man and their government. They must also learn to accept each other as the threesome they were always meant to be.
Welcome to Settler's Mine, where rivals become mates...
Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Male/male sexual practices, m/m/f menage.
276 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2007
4 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
Mechele Armstrong
40 books53 followersGrowing up, I had a vivid imagination with lots of imaginary playmates and stuffed animals to keep me company. I even had crayon box adventures where the colors had a kingdom and tales to tell. And who says pink is a girl color? In my world, he was a prince.
From the time I could form my letters, this translated into fanciful writings from poems on eye shadow (I was six) to a story about an Island world I created with animals and people. Writing was something I always did.
But it never clicked. I drifted in and out of genres, mystery, animal stories, thrillers, toying with it, playing at it. I would finish some projects and store them away. It never occurred to me that this pastime could be my life's passion if I let it. Until my world collided with rediscovery.
As a teenager, I devoured books, especially romances but drifted out of the genre as an adult. On a weekend trip to the beach, I read four romance novels. I had a flash of inspiration. I could write these! Romance was where my heart lay. Within six weeks I had written my first romance novel.
I went back and revamped a thriller that I had written a few years before, making it a romance. And I became serious about my craft, trying to soak in all I could about writing. I began to write on a roleplay loop and the practice has been invaluable. I've cut my teeth there and learned what works in writing and what doesn't. And I've finally accepted who I am. A storyteller at heart, be it tales told to my children, an erotic piece about lovers or about a vampire looking for love.
So come with me and take a journey where, just like in my crayon box, things aren't always what they seem.
From the time I could form my letters, this translated into fanciful writings from poems on eye shadow (I was six) to a story about an Island world I created with animals and people. Writing was something I always did.
But it never clicked. I drifted in and out of genres, mystery, animal stories, thrillers, toying with it, playing at it. I would finish some projects and store them away. It never occurred to me that this pastime could be my life's passion if I let it. Until my world collided with rediscovery.
As a teenager, I devoured books, especially romances but drifted out of the genre as an adult. On a weekend trip to the beach, I read four romance novels. I had a flash of inspiration. I could write these! Romance was where my heart lay. Within six weeks I had written my first romance novel.
I went back and revamped a thriller that I had written a few years before, making it a romance. And I became serious about my craft, trying to soak in all I could about writing. I began to write on a roleplay loop and the practice has been invaluable. I've cut my teeth there and learned what works in writing and what doesn't. And I've finally accepted who I am. A storyteller at heart, be it tales told to my children, an erotic piece about lovers or about a vampire looking for love.
So come with me and take a journey where, just like in my crayon box, things aren't always what they seem.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 26, 2009
A rocking futuristic, science fiction erotic adventure with sizzling sex and enough action, suspense, and emotional pull to please any reader. "The Rivals" is the first book of Mechele Armstrong's 'Settler's Mine' series. Although this first book is the only one currently in print, there are three others available in e-book format. WARNING: This book contains scenes of light bondage and oral, anal, and vaginal sex with M/M, M/F, and M/F/M partner/s. If this offends you, don't read it.
Layla is on the run. After being trained from childhood as a Federation assassin, their last act was to implant an Armageddon chip in her brain then free her after a mix-up. But it won't be long before Federation soldiers are after her and if that's not bad enough, a megalomaniac sadistic torturer also knows what she carries in her head. Both want her--but plan to kill her to remove the chip. She's hiding out in (hopefully) the last place they would expect, disguised as a barmaid on Settler's Mine--where species the universe over come to search for the heartstone that will identify their mate.
Orion and Balt are two bounty hunters that have both been given the assignment to bring Layla in. They are also bitter rivals and neither is pleased to see the other on Settler's Mine. When both are attracted to the beautiful barmaid, it's just another thing to fight over...until they discover she's THEIR mate.
A very intense and very suspenseful tale by Mechele Armstrong. This is true erotica where the sexual interactions are an integral part of the story. The tension between the characters is exacerbated by the preexisting rivalry of the males and the dire circumstances facing the female. Armstrong does a great job weaving her world building into the story without leaving the reader waiting for more action. The pace is taut and rolls forward from the first chapter to the last. The characters grow and suffer and the choices they make impact the tenor of their relationships. A nicely done erotic story that I'm glad I didn't miss.
Layla is on the run. After being trained from childhood as a Federation assassin, their last act was to implant an Armageddon chip in her brain then free her after a mix-up. But it won't be long before Federation soldiers are after her and if that's not bad enough, a megalomaniac sadistic torturer also knows what she carries in her head. Both want her--but plan to kill her to remove the chip. She's hiding out in (hopefully) the last place they would expect, disguised as a barmaid on Settler's Mine--where species the universe over come to search for the heartstone that will identify their mate.
Orion and Balt are two bounty hunters that have both been given the assignment to bring Layla in. They are also bitter rivals and neither is pleased to see the other on Settler's Mine. When both are attracted to the beautiful barmaid, it's just another thing to fight over...until they discover she's THEIR mate.
A very intense and very suspenseful tale by Mechele Armstrong. This is true erotica where the sexual interactions are an integral part of the story. The tension between the characters is exacerbated by the preexisting rivalry of the males and the dire circumstances facing the female. Armstrong does a great job weaving her world building into the story without leaving the reader waiting for more action. The pace is taut and rolls forward from the first chapter to the last. The characters grow and suffer and the choices they make impact the tenor of their relationships. A nicely done erotic story that I'm glad I didn't miss.
May 18, 2019
3.5 Stars
A lot of fun, even if some of Layla's characterization was inconsistent. The sex was hot and was fairly even-handed with the couplings (actually, there was probably more intimacy between the guys detailed on page)...without arbitrary rules of who can be with whom, when or for how long, doing what. (I kinda hate that; they're not just a triad, they're 3 sets of couples, who need time together as pairs as much if not more than they do as this triangle.)
Also, I keep fixating on the whole "find your heartstone" thing. I mean, what if you pick the wrong planet/asteroid/etc. to dig? What if you dig up someone else's - where do those "spares" go? (I mean, technically you could charge an enormous fee to let someone sift through the extras.) What if you break the stone trying to dig it up? (If you've ever been a rockhound, this will be a familiar lament!) How is this endeavor funded? (The story mentioned how people would rather dig than work, and how it was the main focus of wherever they went to dig; what if they chose a spot without a job? How would they support themselves?) So, yeah, I kept getting hung up on the details every time the stone and mining was mentioned because it seemed like there would be a new facet added to the whole mythology. *sigh* My brain, peeps. It's always doing that...
Anywho, I'm not sure what the other pairings/couplings are for this series, but I might check out more.
A lot of fun, even if some of Layla's characterization was inconsistent. The sex was hot and was fairly even-handed with the couplings (actually, there was probably more intimacy between the guys detailed on page)...without arbitrary rules of who can be with whom, when or for how long, doing what. (I kinda hate that; they're not just a triad, they're 3 sets of couples, who need time together as pairs as much if not more than they do as this triangle.)
Also, I keep fixating on the whole "find your heartstone" thing. I mean, what if you pick the wrong planet/asteroid/etc. to dig? What if you dig up someone else's - where do those "spares" go? (I mean, technically you could charge an enormous fee to let someone sift through the extras.) What if you break the stone trying to dig it up? (If you've ever been a rockhound, this will be a familiar lament!) How is this endeavor funded? (The story mentioned how people would rather dig than work, and how it was the main focus of wherever they went to dig; what if they chose a spot without a job? How would they support themselves?) So, yeah, I kept getting hung up on the details every time the stone and mining was mentioned because it seemed like there would be a new facet added to the whole mythology. *sigh* My brain, peeps. It's always doing that...
Anywho, I'm not sure what the other pairings/couplings are for this series, but I might check out more.
January 12, 2021
Boring! Very little character background on the heroine, none on the 2 Hero’s. The sex scenes wordy, Sahara desert dry, snooze fest! Overall disappointing.
May 3, 2024
Still one of my favroite series and this time I got to read it as a physical book instead of an ebook. And the story is just as captivating now as it was when I first read the series.
December 14, 2012
This was not a horrible book but it had several contradictions to the character storylines and plot issues. For example the Layla character is suspposed to be this great infiltration super spy yet she makes rookie mistakes that cause 2 untrained bounty hunters to find her. Also, when they are trying to escape, I kept wondering why Orion didn't keep flying until he lead Merc away and then jetison the tracking device in outerspace before being caught. They they would have all been safe. Instead he kept the tracking device and was captured. Their love triangle is also a little corny at parts. Since the series covers different couples, I'll try the second book in the series and see if it has less plot issues.
January 9, 2016
Yep, this was a dnf for me! Believe it or not, it was the lacklustre sex that did it for me. Too much of it!!!! I also honestly couldn't care less for any of the characters, none if them had an actual presence in the book... if you know what I mean. The guys had literally no background story at all, like they had just fallen out of the sky several days before the start of the book... The heroine's background story consisted of vague stories that were really just that, stories. I wasn't convinced she'd actually lived through those experiences.
April 2, 2016
I'm a big fan of banter and light teasing so this book was a good one for me. I enjoyed the characters and that silly premise that got the story moving was fun. Overall I thought the guys were better characters than the girl and the back story could have been more consistent but overall a enjoyable read.
February 22, 2013
Super sexy menage tale!! Loved all the hot and steamy scenes. Well written story with lots of heart.
A really interesting world is created and I am loving this sci-fi erotica! Can't wait for more!
Great engaging characters! Oh, Lord the steamy was hot and heavy!! And oh so delicious!
A really interesting world is created and I am loving this sci-fi erotica! Can't wait for more!
Great engaging characters! Oh, Lord the steamy was hot and heavy!! And oh so delicious!
January 20, 2015
The Rivals by Mechele Armstrong
Just an okay read for me. I found the writing choppy and a bit disjointed and repetitious. While I enjoy a good sci-fi story and M/M/F is my fav in erotica, even that couldn’t overcome the bouncing from scene to scene for me.
Just an okay read for me. I found the writing choppy and a bit disjointed and repetitious. While I enjoy a good sci-fi story and M/M/F is my fav in erotica, even that couldn’t overcome the bouncing from scene to scene for me.
October 13, 2009
I wasn't a huge fan of the big plot device, in which you go to a mine and find a heartstone, and it tells you who your true love is. But the rest of the tale was good!
July 26, 2010
An OK erotic read :)
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May 11, 2010Orion Balt & Layla
October 2, 2011
The writing seemed a little stilted to me, however overall arc of the story, the sexy love story and the worldbuilding was interesting enough to hold my attention.
September 13, 2012
Decent read. Loved the characters, good story/plot. Solid 3.5 stars. The smut was well written. Just wanted more of it!
August 2, 2012
dnf/meh
October 6, 2012
This was good. Liked the fact of the whole enemy's attraction and that they had to work together.
December 8, 2013
An original idea of how to find your soulmate(s) but could have been more developped and les centered in sex, no matter how hot :)
January 21, 2015
This book was fair. I found most of the writing to be childish and annoying. All in all...meh.
January 29, 2015
This was just O.K for me.
August 18, 2015
Thought I'd try this author, but the book was not really my style. I don't mind a menage romance, but I don't like romance between the same sex. Really liked to Sci-Fi.
November 8, 2009
This story was ok. I feel it could have been better. Definitely not a keeper.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews