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Cat Star Chronicles #4
Outcast
Sold into slavery when his planet was destroyed, Lynx was enslaved in a harem. He is a favorite due to his feline gene, which gives him remarkable sexual powers, but after ten years, Lynx is exhausted.
Thrown out without a penny, Lynx is bitter and anti-female. He emigrates to a new planet but can only find a job with a female rancher.
Bonnie's boyfriend has left with all their money and she needs help with the ranch. Lynx is cynical, but honest, and though he has made it clear that he wants no part of a romantic relationship, Bonnie can't resist him. She finds out about his impotence and becomes determined not to let such a beautiful and sensual young man go to waste...
Thrown out without a penny, Lynx is bitter and anti-female. He emigrates to a new planet but can only find a job with a female rancher.
Bonnie's boyfriend has left with all their money and she needs help with the ranch. Lynx is cynical, but honest, and though he has made it clear that he wants no part of a romantic relationship, Bonnie can't resist him. She finds out about his impotence and becomes determined not to let such a beautiful and sensual young man go to waste...
387 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2009
About the author
Cheryl Brooks
46 books431 followersCheryl Brooks is a former critical care nurse turned romance writer. Her Cat Star Chronicles series includes Slave, Warrior, Rogue, Outcast, Fugitive, Hero, Virgin, Stud, Wildcat, and Rebel. Her Cowboy Heaven series includes the Cowboy Delight novella and the Cowboy Heaven novel. Her self-published works include Sex Love and a Purple Bikini, Midnight in Reno, and the Unlikely Lovers series, which includes Unbridled, Uninhibited, Undeniable, and Unrivaled. As a member of the Sextet, she has also published several erotic novellas with Siren/Bookstrand. She is a member of RWA and IRWA and lives with her husband, two sons, two horses, four cats, and one dog in rural Indiana. You can visit her online at https://www.cherylbrooksonline.com/ or email her at cheryl.brooks52@yahoo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
August 28, 2010
I think this is my favorite book in this series. Lynx is just so damaged by his past. He starts out so wary of everything Bonnie does for him. I just want to cry and give him cookies and hugs (which is apparently my standard operating procedure for damaged heroes) and tell him that everything will be okay. Shh, shh. Everything will be fine, kitty. Everything will be fine.
By and large, Lynx is the draw in this book. I liked that even though he was angry and withdrawn, he did his best to help Bonnie out. He didn't want her anywhere near him, but he never gave less than 100% to her farm. When Bonnie's baby is born, he not only delivers the little dumpling but he helps care for her and takes on the role of a father figure. His absolute adoration of this little baby was so sweet and huggable.
It was fun seeing the characters from previous books pop in. Jack is just as weirdly abrasive as always (I still like her, she can just get a little fixated on things), the couples do the things that couples do (which involves a lot of baby making), the sex is creative (backwards sexing!), and the bad guys continue to get what's coming to them. Fun stuff!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
By and large, Lynx is the draw in this book. I liked that even though he was angry and withdrawn, he did his best to help Bonnie out. He didn't want her anywhere near him, but he never gave less than 100% to her farm. When Bonnie's baby is born, he not only delivers the little dumpling but he helps care for her and takes on the role of a father figure. His absolute adoration of this little baby was so sweet and huggable.
It was fun seeing the characters from previous books pop in. Jack is just as weirdly abrasive as always (I still like her, she can just get a little fixated on things), the couples do the things that couples do (which involves a lot of baby making), the sex is creative (backwards sexing!), and the bad guys continue to get what's coming to them. Fun stuff!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
February 11, 2012
reread 6/2015
The Cat Star Chronicles are pretty OTT sci-fi erotic romances, mostly kind of rompy and light, and filled with TONS, albeit repetitive, of sex.
This book, however, actually has a better story than the others (to me). It's a bit more relationship focused than 'erotic sex' focused.
Lynx is, by far, my favorite hero of the books I've read in this series.
The Cat Star Chronicles are pretty OTT sci-fi erotic romances, mostly kind of rompy and light, and filled with TONS, albeit repetitive, of sex.
This book, however, actually has a better story than the others (to me). It's a bit more relationship focused than 'erotic sex' focused.
Lynx is, by far, my favorite hero of the books I've read in this series.
June 14, 2009
I'm really enjoying Cheryl Brooks' futuristic series about a group of amazing men with incredible sexual powers/abilities. Grabbed your interest? Well, these men are the last of a race that whose home planet was wiped out. This group was captured and secretly sold into slavery. So far there has been three other books, each the tale of one of the survivors. The series rides the erotica line for me as the sex is graphic, plentiful, and a genuine part of the storyline. Not to mention it just makes me hot!!
Lynx was one of the youngest when he was captured and sold as a slave to a harem of women. Of course, with his amazing 'talents' it didn't take long for him to become a favorite in the harem. A young man's dream right? But for 10 years? It didn't take even that long for his dream to become a nightmare. When his 'talents' quit working...he was quickly sold again--this time to a more ethical planet where he could work to gain his freedom. But he's still a child in many ways, and soon he ends up on yet another planet where he must find work or be deported. If only the only job available wasn't working for a Woman! He hates women!!
Bonnie hates men. They've done nothing but lead her on and let her down. Now she's pregnant and trying to work her farm alone. She realizes she must have a farm hand and gets Lynx. His anti-social behavior and dislike of her become a challenge. But the more she learns about his past, the more she understands his feelings. How can he EVER care for yet another woman who needs him?
I think this is probably the 'deepest' book in regard to exploring feelings and psyche. Lynx is damaged; in his heart, his body, and his soul. His retreats are his defense against feeling and Brooks did a Class A job in portraying this. Bonnie is a strong character who just wants help; not to be taken care of...just help. But the more they learn about each other, the more each begins to understand just how different they are from their preconceived notions. Very touching.
Did I mention these books are also way hot? Don't read them without a glass of cool water and a fan handy. Cheryl Brooks 'Cat Star Chronicles' will provide a thrill and a fun read at the same time. "Outcast" was perfect for a hot summer afternoon.
Lynx was one of the youngest when he was captured and sold as a slave to a harem of women. Of course, with his amazing 'talents' it didn't take long for him to become a favorite in the harem. A young man's dream right? But for 10 years? It didn't take even that long for his dream to become a nightmare. When his 'talents' quit working...he was quickly sold again--this time to a more ethical planet where he could work to gain his freedom. But he's still a child in many ways, and soon he ends up on yet another planet where he must find work or be deported. If only the only job available wasn't working for a Woman! He hates women!!
Bonnie hates men. They've done nothing but lead her on and let her down. Now she's pregnant and trying to work her farm alone. She realizes she must have a farm hand and gets Lynx. His anti-social behavior and dislike of her become a challenge. But the more she learns about his past, the more she understands his feelings. How can he EVER care for yet another woman who needs him?
I think this is probably the 'deepest' book in regard to exploring feelings and psyche. Lynx is damaged; in his heart, his body, and his soul. His retreats are his defense against feeling and Brooks did a Class A job in portraying this. Bonnie is a strong character who just wants help; not to be taken care of...just help. But the more they learn about each other, the more each begins to understand just how different they are from their preconceived notions. Very touching.
Did I mention these books are also way hot? Don't read them without a glass of cool water and a fan handy. Cheryl Brooks 'Cat Star Chronicles' will provide a thrill and a fun read at the same time. "Outcast" was perfect for a hot summer afternoon.
August 2, 2009
Until I stumbled upon 'The Cat Star Chronicles' series by author Cheryl Brooks I had thought that futuristic romance novels were not for me. Her book "Slave" completely changed my mind and I've been smitten with this series ever since. I have just finished "Outcast" the fourth book in this futuristic romance series.
Back Blurb: "Sold into slavery when his planet was destroyed, Lynx was enslaved in a harem. He is a favorite due to his feline gene, which gives him remarkable sexual powers, but after ten years, Lynx is exhausted.
Thrown out without a penny, Lynx is bitter and anti-female. He emigrates to a new planet but can only find a job with a female rancher.
Bonnie's boyfriend has left with all their money and she needs help with the ranch. Lynx is cynical, but honest, and though he has made it clear that he wants no part of a romantic relationship, Bonnie can't resist him. She finds out about his impotence and becomes determined not to let such a beautiful and sensual young man go to waste..."
The fourth book in the series is "Outcast" and this one differs from the first three in two major ways (for me). First, this is the first book in the series told in third person - which I am used to in romance but not used to from author Cheryl Brooks. Secondly, this book did not have the humour the other books in the series had. This book was more serious in that it dealt with an adult man who'd been used and abused for sex for a decade then cast aside as if he was worthless.
The hero is "Lynx" and he's scarred so badly that he's become impotent and can't stand to even be around women. When he was just a teen, his planet was destroyed and he was captured and made a slave to other slaves. Women slaves that is. Because he is a Zetithian, his kind is well known for the sexual endowments - like an amazing penis that can ooze a fluid to entice women and give them orgasm just from the taste of him. For that reason Lynx was made a sex slave in a harem of fifty women who used him to exhaustion and near starved him. He was a thing to be used, not a being with feelings. When Lynx began slipping into a exhausted depression after years of hurt and abuse he could no longer sexually perform so he was sold. Lucky for Lynx he was sold to a man who let him work off his debt and earn his freedom in time.
He soon ends up on Terra Minor, a planet every much like earth. He lands a job with Bonnie, though he doesn't want it. On Terra Minor you either work or you are deported, so Lynx takes the job working on Bonnie's farm, but he's not happy about it as he hates all females by this point. Bonnie can't figure Lynx out, he's clearly hostile to her no matter how nice she is. But she's got work that needs doing and Lynx is a good worker, if a bit strange. Bonnie has a farm to run and she's pregnant. Her slimy boyfriend Sylor up and left her alone on the farm, pregnant and with no money - because he stole all their saved up cash and her ring.
The hero and heroine in "Outcast" both have issues to overcome that are unlike the other three books in the series and I would highly recommend reading the other three books before this one because all the characters from the previous books are in this one and it will make much more sense if you know their stories. This book was darker and like I said didn't have the laugh out loud humor of the first three because the issues were more serious and compelling. Lynx is seriously wounded mentally and it takes a LOT from the heroine to break through all that pain and show Lynx that he is worthy of love. They have huge hurdles to overcome - just him eating in the same room with her is painful for him and then when he picks up her scent (he is a Zetitian and they are catlike with very keen senses) as she beings to want and lust for him while he still can't perform as a man - its heartbreaking to see him struggle with so much pain. He is the most tortured hero of the entire series and that is the focus of the entire book. While in the other books, the heroes and heroines had their issues, there was usually another huge plot factor that pushed things along. In this book the focus in Lynx and his issues while smaller subplots surrounded him.
The sex. The sex was emotional and more touching than in the other books because at first Lynx still can't get an erection, but that doesn't stop Bonnie from making love to him and showing him they can be together as a couple even if he can't make love to her in the fullest sense of the act. I really loved this intimacy between them - besides it was hot (lol), it was really touching and sweet. I was happily surprised by all these scenes and almost got teary for Lynx!
I liked Lynx (who couldn't like Lynx? he pulls at your heart) and I liked Bonnie and I always love the worlds that Cheryl Brooks creates. Her Cat Star Chronicle series is like combining steamy romance with Star Trek - it works!
Back Blurb: "Sold into slavery when his planet was destroyed, Lynx was enslaved in a harem. He is a favorite due to his feline gene, which gives him remarkable sexual powers, but after ten years, Lynx is exhausted.
Thrown out without a penny, Lynx is bitter and anti-female. He emigrates to a new planet but can only find a job with a female rancher.
Bonnie's boyfriend has left with all their money and she needs help with the ranch. Lynx is cynical, but honest, and though he has made it clear that he wants no part of a romantic relationship, Bonnie can't resist him. She finds out about his impotence and becomes determined not to let such a beautiful and sensual young man go to waste..."
The fourth book in the series is "Outcast" and this one differs from the first three in two major ways (for me). First, this is the first book in the series told in third person - which I am used to in romance but not used to from author Cheryl Brooks. Secondly, this book did not have the humour the other books in the series had. This book was more serious in that it dealt with an adult man who'd been used and abused for sex for a decade then cast aside as if he was worthless.
The hero is "Lynx" and he's scarred so badly that he's become impotent and can't stand to even be around women. When he was just a teen, his planet was destroyed and he was captured and made a slave to other slaves. Women slaves that is. Because he is a Zetithian, his kind is well known for the sexual endowments - like an amazing penis that can ooze a fluid to entice women and give them orgasm just from the taste of him. For that reason Lynx was made a sex slave in a harem of fifty women who used him to exhaustion and near starved him. He was a thing to be used, not a being with feelings. When Lynx began slipping into a exhausted depression after years of hurt and abuse he could no longer sexually perform so he was sold. Lucky for Lynx he was sold to a man who let him work off his debt and earn his freedom in time.
He soon ends up on Terra Minor, a planet every much like earth. He lands a job with Bonnie, though he doesn't want it. On Terra Minor you either work or you are deported, so Lynx takes the job working on Bonnie's farm, but he's not happy about it as he hates all females by this point. Bonnie can't figure Lynx out, he's clearly hostile to her no matter how nice she is. But she's got work that needs doing and Lynx is a good worker, if a bit strange. Bonnie has a farm to run and she's pregnant. Her slimy boyfriend Sylor up and left her alone on the farm, pregnant and with no money - because he stole all their saved up cash and her ring.
The hero and heroine in "Outcast" both have issues to overcome that are unlike the other three books in the series and I would highly recommend reading the other three books before this one because all the characters from the previous books are in this one and it will make much more sense if you know their stories. This book was darker and like I said didn't have the laugh out loud humor of the first three because the issues were more serious and compelling. Lynx is seriously wounded mentally and it takes a LOT from the heroine to break through all that pain and show Lynx that he is worthy of love. They have huge hurdles to overcome - just him eating in the same room with her is painful for him and then when he picks up her scent (he is a Zetitian and they are catlike with very keen senses) as she beings to want and lust for him while he still can't perform as a man - its heartbreaking to see him struggle with so much pain. He is the most tortured hero of the entire series and that is the focus of the entire book. While in the other books, the heroes and heroines had their issues, there was usually another huge plot factor that pushed things along. In this book the focus in Lynx and his issues while smaller subplots surrounded him.
The sex. The sex was emotional and more touching than in the other books because at first Lynx still can't get an erection, but that doesn't stop Bonnie from making love to him and showing him they can be together as a couple even if he can't make love to her in the fullest sense of the act. I really loved this intimacy between them - besides it was hot (lol), it was really touching and sweet. I was happily surprised by all these scenes and almost got teary for Lynx!
I liked Lynx (who couldn't like Lynx? he pulls at your heart) and I liked Bonnie and I always love the worlds that Cheryl Brooks creates. Her Cat Star Chronicle series is like combining steamy romance with Star Trek - it works!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2010
I read this whole book last night and have to say for just picking it up at the library and not reading any of the prior books it was really good. Throughout the book you are able to get glimpses of what happened in the piror books. I loved Lynx he is so HOT and needy and everything you don't want from a guy, but at the same time once he was able to open up to Bonnie who feel in love with him for just who he was and not anything else it was good to see Lynx caring and softening up towards her as well as falling in love.
Needless to say that Bonnie's ex comes into the picture and tries to stir things up to get back with Bonnie but Lynx has other ideas now that he has found someone who loves him as he is.
What I found interesting about this book was that it is about the future that could potenitally happen one day but at the same time it also kept in time with Earth's old History, (three stooges)all I am going to say on that. :) Happy Reading
Needless to say that Bonnie's ex comes into the picture and tries to stir things up to get back with Bonnie but Lynx has other ideas now that he has found someone who loves him as he is.
What I found interesting about this book was that it is about the future that could potenitally happen one day but at the same time it also kept in time with Earth's old History, (three stooges)all I am going to say on that. :) Happy Reading
September 21, 2010
My favorite of the series so far. The Heroine who consistantly chooses the wrong boyfriend plot has been done before, but it works really together with the hate Lynx has for women. Lynx' story is simply very sad, and I confess I shed a couple of tears watching him overcome his trauma's.
The super orgastic sperm stuff still is slightly ridiculous, but because Lynx is impotent due to his trauma's for a while, the evolution of their intercouse isn't as silly as in the other books.
For a Smut in Space story this one was unexpectedly emotional.
The super orgastic sperm stuff still is slightly ridiculous, but because Lynx is impotent due to his trauma's for a while, the evolution of their intercouse isn't as silly as in the other books.
For a Smut in Space story this one was unexpectedly emotional.
April 24, 2015
4.5 stars.
At first being a male slave with a harem of women to please might not sound to bad. For most men having oh so many willing women to sleep or rather have sex with would be a dream come true.
However for Lynx after 10 years of harem life and the 'wonderful' treatment he received he developed a distaste for all women so much that he was sold due to their favorite toy not preforming up to par.
Then you get Bonnie who is feed up with men after her boyfriend steals away in the night with all her money leaving her to not only work the farm solo but carry and raise their child alone.
So plot set up Lynx and Bonnie deal with their own issues while trying to not only work together but avoid each other as well. I think it was a very well developed heart-pulling story. You have these two characters that have had so much happen to them by the opposite sex but still find themselves struggling to deal with each other.
I enjoyed this much more than the previous books just due to the fact I could feel the frustration, the love, the lust the overall confusion jumping off the page. It wasn't all erotic "I can bring you more joy than you'll ever know' sex all the time. It rose beyond that.
Re-read and it was just as good as the first time
At first being a male slave with a harem of women to please might not sound to bad. For most men having oh so many willing women to sleep or rather have sex with would be a dream come true.
However for Lynx after 10 years of harem life and the 'wonderful' treatment he received he developed a distaste for all women so much that he was sold due to their favorite toy not preforming up to par.
Then you get Bonnie who is feed up with men after her boyfriend steals away in the night with all her money leaving her to not only work the farm solo but carry and raise their child alone.
So plot set up Lynx and Bonnie deal with their own issues while trying to not only work together but avoid each other as well. I think it was a very well developed heart-pulling story. You have these two characters that have had so much happen to them by the opposite sex but still find themselves struggling to deal with each other.
I enjoyed this much more than the previous books just due to the fact I could feel the frustration, the love, the lust the overall confusion jumping off the page. It wasn't all erotic "I can bring you more joy than you'll ever know' sex all the time. It rose beyond that.
Re-read and it was just as good as the first time
June 11, 2011
I give this a 4.5-4.75. I save 5 star ratings for books i would read again....and again....and again. Outcast is so close to this i couldn't just give it a 4 star. I got this book as a free kindle download and absolutely loved it. My only regret is it is number four in this series and know I know some details of the first three. This however will not keep me from buying the kindle bundle of the first three books and thoroughly enjoying them.
As far as Outcast goes you will for sure fall for tortured Lynx and the strong, caring Bonnie. Lynx will tug at your heartstrings with his abused past and honest hard working nature. Bonnie is not the usual feisty females we tend to see in PR. With not a mean bone in her body and her determined, caring nature you will love Bonnie as much as Lynx. The world Brooks has built is extremely interesting especially since I do not read as much sic-fi as paranormal.
I could not put the book down and wouldn't have except I do require some sleep as I started this book in the evening. I quickly finished the book as soon ad I woke up. This is a definitely read for sci-fi / paranormal romance readers! Although I do suggest starting at the beginning.
As far as Outcast goes you will for sure fall for tortured Lynx and the strong, caring Bonnie. Lynx will tug at your heartstrings with his abused past and honest hard working nature. Bonnie is not the usual feisty females we tend to see in PR. With not a mean bone in her body and her determined, caring nature you will love Bonnie as much as Lynx. The world Brooks has built is extremely interesting especially since I do not read as much sic-fi as paranormal.
I could not put the book down and wouldn't have except I do require some sleep as I started this book in the evening. I quickly finished the book as soon ad I woke up. This is a definitely read for sci-fi / paranormal romance readers! Although I do suggest starting at the beginning.
August 8, 2013
Abandoned by her man on a farm on a strange planet in the middle of nowhere, pregnant with his child, the heroine posts a ad looking for help. The hero has escaped enslavement by those who seek to use his sexual prowess, he's been stripped of his sexual awareness by his captors and as a result can feel nothing towards his employer though he knows very well how much she wants him. He's a very quiet and distant man who only feels safe and comfortable around babies and children. He's disgusted by her weak man who left her behind in such a condition and takes over all the manual labor around the farm before and after she gives birth. The heroine was whiny and weak. At first she's glad he feels no attraction towards her but it's very soon that she starts wishing he would. That's fine but she was very pathetic about it. On the plus side that equaled out to not a full 350 pages of graphic sex. Small miracles.
June 26, 2011
'He naively thought that life as a sex slave would be pure plasure...'
'Every man's dream... One man's nightmare...'
After reading such a thing on the cover and in the introduction, how could I have not read this book? Come on, that sounds sooooo cheesy, it's hilarious;p
Anyway, the book wasn't as bad as I thought. It gets 3 stars within it's genre - it was a really cute smut and it actually took some time for the main characters to get together, which built up a nice tension. If you want to read something that is simple, doesn't require much thinking, and is kind of sexy, you can give it a go.
'Every man's dream... One man's nightmare...'
After reading such a thing on the cover and in the introduction, how could I have not read this book? Come on, that sounds sooooo cheesy, it's hilarious;p
Anyway, the book wasn't as bad as I thought. It gets 3 stars within it's genre - it was a really cute smut and it actually took some time for the main characters to get together, which built up a nice tension. If you want to read something that is simple, doesn't require much thinking, and is kind of sexy, you can give it a go.
June 10, 2011
WOW! What an amazing story full of passion but so much heartache! When I dream about a book or find myself thinking about it during my work day because I can't wait to read it then I know it is good and this books had a tremendous impact on me.
Don't know when I will get to the review but had to let just let you all know how good it was!
Don't know when I will get to the review but had to let just let you all know how good it was!
January 23, 2019
This series is definitely picking up. Favorite so far!
Tome Infinity and Beyond Round 2, Tier 3 Challenge: class structure
Tome Infinity and Beyond Round 2, Tier 3 Challenge: class structure
Want to Read
June 8, 2011Kobo free download 6/8/11
September 8, 2020
4 stars for the off-world details.
Minus 2 stars for the awful sex, repetitive monologues & inner monologues, terrible dialogue, and nauseous romance.
Actual rating: 2 stars ⭐⭐
I only liked this series for the off-world aspects. The author should write sci-fi minutes the vomitous romance.
I won't be reading further into the series. I bought the first 4 books, read them like a trooper since I hate wasting money, and now I'm happy to move on.
I really despised Jack in this novel, so I'm glad I won't be afflicted with more of her nastiness. She's like a crazed old aunt who forgot to take her medication and then had a manic episode while high on viagra. I seriously can't stand her, and no one with any sense could, either.
The way the romantic couple needs to be stuck at the hip, in all 4 books, really got on my nerves. WHY?? Why must you be stuck at the hip? Why must you have the same effing conversation all the time, about your eternal and everlasting love? I've loved someone to distraction, so I know about love and its obsessions, but if I had to be stuck to his hip and listen to him talk all through my waking hours, I might dump him just to get away and have some peace. It's not normal, even for a fantasy novel, to have such an obsessive degree of togetherness and constant sex. It's just not. It's given me mental scars. It's made me dislike romance.
The only redeeming factor is the off-world setting. All 4 off-world settings, so far, have been amazing. I loved all the various planets described, all the bizarre alien life, and everything about space travel. If we could just cut off the romance and sick-making sex, this would be a stellar series, not just an interstellar one (see what I did there? 😏).
Minus 2 stars for the awful sex, repetitive monologues & inner monologues, terrible dialogue, and nauseous romance.
Actual rating: 2 stars ⭐⭐
I only liked this series for the off-world aspects. The author should write sci-fi minutes the vomitous romance.
I won't be reading further into the series. I bought the first 4 books, read them like a trooper since I hate wasting money, and now I'm happy to move on.
I really despised Jack in this novel, so I'm glad I won't be afflicted with more of her nastiness. She's like a crazed old aunt who forgot to take her medication and then had a manic episode while high on viagra. I seriously can't stand her, and no one with any sense could, either.
The way the romantic couple needs to be stuck at the hip, in all 4 books, really got on my nerves. WHY?? Why must you be stuck at the hip? Why must you have the same effing conversation all the time, about your eternal and everlasting love? I've loved someone to distraction, so I know about love and its obsessions, but if I had to be stuck to his hip and listen to him talk all through my waking hours, I might dump him just to get away and have some peace. It's not normal, even for a fantasy novel, to have such an obsessive degree of togetherness and constant sex. It's just not. It's given me mental scars. It's made me dislike romance.
The only redeeming factor is the off-world setting. All 4 off-world settings, so far, have been amazing. I loved all the various planets described, all the bizarre alien life, and everything about space travel. If we could just cut off the romance and sick-making sex, this would be a stellar series, not just an interstellar one (see what I did there? 😏).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2022
3.8 stars.
The male protagonist is very different from previous ones in the series, traumatized by his past and now hating all women. This was a welcome point, because the Zetithians were becoming too alike. The female protagonist was a man-hater, making them a perfect matched pair 😄. Other novelties include the 3rd person narration from multiple characters (I despise single, 1st person stories), and the male love interest, former sex slave dealing with sexual inadequacy.
Unfortunately, the first half of their interaction is a streaming pile of 'too stupid to live' as one side pushes too hard and the other hides too much 💩 To be fair, they each have legitimate reasons for their actions but it's SOOOO FRUSTRATING 😠🤯. Luckily, their connection is beautiful; also the sex is hot 🔥. And the community shows up, including some old friends!
Whew, considering all the great things in this book, I shouldn't downgrade it so much. However, the frustrating parts were SOOOO FRUSTRATING!
The male protagonist is very different from previous ones in the series, traumatized by his past and now hating all women. This was a welcome point, because the Zetithians were becoming too alike. The female protagonist was a man-hater, making them a perfect matched pair 😄. Other novelties include the 3rd person narration from multiple characters (I despise single, 1st person stories), and the male love interest, former sex slave dealing with sexual inadequacy.
Unfortunately, the first half of their interaction is a streaming pile of 'too stupid to live' as one side pushes too hard and the other hides too much 💩 To be fair, they each have legitimate reasons for their actions but it's SOOOO FRUSTRATING 😠🤯. Luckily, their connection is beautiful; also the sex is hot 🔥. And the community shows up, including some old friends!
Whew, considering all the great things in this book, I shouldn't downgrade it so much. However, the frustrating parts were SOOOO FRUSTRATING!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2023
Better than the first book in the series (and I haven't read 2 or 3 so I cannot speak to them), Outcast is the fourth entry in the Cat Star Chronicles.
There were some things I quite liked about the book - the setup was good. I liked the two main characters, Bonnie and Lynx, in their first chapters. I liked that there was tension between them.
I did not like that Bonnie went from seemingly capable independent woman to very needy the moment Lynx showed up. I understood she was lonely and wanted someone to talk to, but I'd have preferred her to be more aloof and to have circumstances continually put her and Lynx in close proximity and needing to communicate.
There's some language around the cat folk in these books that commodifies them in a really uncomfortable way.
There were some things I quite liked about the book - the setup was good. I liked the two main characters, Bonnie and Lynx, in their first chapters. I liked that there was tension between them.
I did not like that Bonnie went from seemingly capable independent woman to very needy the moment Lynx showed up. I understood she was lonely and wanted someone to talk to, but I'd have preferred her to be more aloof and to have circumstances continually put her and Lynx in close proximity and needing to communicate.
There's some language around the cat folk in these books that commodifies them in a really uncomfortable way.
October 8, 2023
Up to this point this one is my favorite. Maybe because it feels like more of a relationship was built before anything really happened, and Lynx is such a sympathetic heart breaking character. All of them so far have been in slavery but his experience and PTSD seems the more realistic from the abuse he suffered. Bonnie is a sweet character too, and get desire to just make him finally understand what happiness is makes for a sweet story, with some surprises along the way.
September 26, 2020
Very entertaining. This is a new author to me. It is #4 in the series and I plan to read #1-3 soon. There is a tidbit of each at the end. Love the storyline- homesteading on a distant planet with a variety of aliens; strong, brave and adventurous heroine; lovable and sexy hero; comic scenarios, nasty villains; and a group of interesting characters as friends. Fun and funny.
February 20, 2020
A woman hurt by her boyfriend, who left her, alone and pregnant. A man, used and abused for many years, who now claims to hate anyone female; made to work together, and completely unsure of each other, will this bloom into something more or will it always be separately together! Well worth reading!
March 22, 2023
2,5 stars.
The beginning and middle was cute, except the couple could have communicated at least a little bit, but whatever. The ending resembled the previous books with abrupt I love you's, the snard bs and the clownish sex. Also Jack needs to mind her own effing business.
The beginning and middle was cute, except the couple could have communicated at least a little bit, but whatever. The ending resembled the previous books with abrupt I love you's, the snard bs and the clownish sex. Also Jack needs to mind her own effing business.
December 31, 2017
I always feel like a degenerate for loving these hot-guys-with-animal-genes scifi books. I should probably have an Only God Can Judge Me tag for this sort of thing but you know what? Yolo.
April 5, 2018
awesome
August 20, 2022
sure i stepped into the middle of a series but
its pretty good once I had my bearings
its pretty good once I had my bearings
July 24, 2021
Because I've read the series up to this book and enjoy seeing the recurring chracters, I don't want to give this book too low a star review but there was a lot I didn't like in here.
Not serious, triggering things. Just a lot of annoyances.
For one, I'm glad that the author let's us know why Lynx behaves angrily with Bonnie in the beginning. That might have bothered me, had I not known why he was behaving so standoffish.
But Bonnie seems to have no respect for herself. I just couldn't identify with her character. Your boyfriend has left you pregnant and alone. Stolen jewelry and money. And the first thing you decide to do after hiring help, is to beg them for attention and conversation?
Whilst claiming you are off men because of the hurt you went through? Made no sense to me.
Then, Lynx goes from a period of being impotent to.... How should I put it? This book turned into porn real fast. I don't like books heavy on sex scenes that don't progress the story.
Romance is always accused of being softcore porn. This book proves that notion right.
The characters of previous books appear too but not entirely in a meaningful way. Sex scenes were shared out for all.
I feel like if Bonnie hadn't been such a contradicting character, i.e. needy, and 60% of the sex scenes were left out... This book would be OK.
Not serious, triggering things. Just a lot of annoyances.
For one, I'm glad that the author let's us know why Lynx behaves angrily with Bonnie in the beginning. That might have bothered me, had I not known why he was behaving so standoffish.
But Bonnie seems to have no respect for herself. I just couldn't identify with her character. Your boyfriend has left you pregnant and alone. Stolen jewelry and money. And the first thing you decide to do after hiring help, is to beg them for attention and conversation?
Whilst claiming you are off men because of the hurt you went through? Made no sense to me.
Then, Lynx goes from a period of being impotent to.... How should I put it? This book turned into porn real fast. I don't like books heavy on sex scenes that don't progress the story.
Romance is always accused of being softcore porn. This book proves that notion right.
The characters of previous books appear too but not entirely in a meaningful way. Sex scenes were shared out for all.
I feel like if Bonnie hadn't been such a contradicting character, i.e. needy, and 60% of the sex scenes were left out... This book would be OK.
April 24, 2012
I almost didn't download this as I didn't like the first book in the series, Slave, but the Kindle edition came up as free one day and I was honestly curious if there would be improvement since the first book or if it would feature another kind of alien. Obviously, I skipped books two and three, but I wasn't concerned about missing any plot points in a larger story arc.
So ... the major things I noted in this book:
1. The hero in this book is the same kind of cat-like alien that the hero was in the first book. I was actually OK with that. I figured the familiarity would help in not making the book seem so kinky as the first one seemed to me, and I was right. While I was still not turned on by the sex scenes, at least they didn't bother me. I actually mostly breezed right through them. Also, I realized that the entire series is probably mostly about these cat-like aliens, and probably every hero is from that same planet, which I thought was a nice premise for a science fiction series.
2. The writing actually seemed worse, not better. At first, I couldn't pinpoint why, and it wasn't until I finished the book that I realized what it was — it was a different point of view. The first book was written in the heroine's first person point of view, and this one was written in an omniscient third person point of view. This is not to say that first person POV is better than third person POV; in fact, it's usually the case that third person is better than first person. But it really depends on the author and the story being told, and for some reason, this book did not at all benefit by being told in the POV in which it was told.
Luckily for me, the book included excerpts from some of the other books in the series, and I could immediately tell why the third person POV wasn't working for this book. For instance, the first and second books are written in the heroines' first person POV — Captain Jacinth in the first one and the witch whose name I've forgotten in the second one — and much of the descriptive narration, how the words are arranged and what exactly is noticed, actually ADDS to the characters. There's a voice there, a personality, and it altogether makes for better, smoother, more entertaining reading. I can only assume that the author excels particularly when writing first person POV. With Outcast, though, there seems to be less personality, less of a voice, and it feels like too much telling and not enough showing. I don't know if that is all due to the POV, though, and I can understand why the author would decide to change over to a third person POV after doing the first two books in the first person POV; there are scenes in this book where the heroine isn't present, and she couldn't possibly be there to witness what goes on, like the hero's history or his side of the story.
Which leads me to another major thing I noted in this book...
3. There are far too many unnecessary scenes. I actually got to like the main characters — the hero and the heroine. I liked their back stories and their personalities, and I liked how they interacted with each other. I wanted this book to be solely about them, but there were scenes that had absolutely nothing to do with them, scenes where the characters from the previous books would be featured; they would discuss things that had nothing to do with the H/h, and they would have their own sex scenes. For anyone reading this book out of the blue, without having read the previous books, this would seem to come out of left field, and the big question would be, who the heck are these characters, and why are they being featured so much? Who cares about their sex scenes? This is a book about Bonnie and Lynx, not about Jack and Cat. This for me was my biggest complaint about the book.
The rest, however, I liked. I think I like the story even better than the first.
So ... the major things I noted in this book:
1. The hero in this book is the same kind of cat-like alien that the hero was in the first book. I was actually OK with that. I figured the familiarity would help in not making the book seem so kinky as the first one seemed to me, and I was right. While I was still not turned on by the sex scenes, at least they didn't bother me. I actually mostly breezed right through them. Also, I realized that the entire series is probably mostly about these cat-like aliens, and probably every hero is from that same planet, which I thought was a nice premise for a science fiction series.
2. The writing actually seemed worse, not better. At first, I couldn't pinpoint why, and it wasn't until I finished the book that I realized what it was — it was a different point of view. The first book was written in the heroine's first person point of view, and this one was written in an omniscient third person point of view. This is not to say that first person POV is better than third person POV; in fact, it's usually the case that third person is better than first person. But it really depends on the author and the story being told, and for some reason, this book did not at all benefit by being told in the POV in which it was told.
Luckily for me, the book included excerpts from some of the other books in the series, and I could immediately tell why the third person POV wasn't working for this book. For instance, the first and second books are written in the heroines' first person POV — Captain Jacinth in the first one and the witch whose name I've forgotten in the second one — and much of the descriptive narration, how the words are arranged and what exactly is noticed, actually ADDS to the characters. There's a voice there, a personality, and it altogether makes for better, smoother, more entertaining reading. I can only assume that the author excels particularly when writing first person POV. With Outcast, though, there seems to be less personality, less of a voice, and it feels like too much telling and not enough showing. I don't know if that is all due to the POV, though, and I can understand why the author would decide to change over to a third person POV after doing the first two books in the first person POV; there are scenes in this book where the heroine isn't present, and she couldn't possibly be there to witness what goes on, like the hero's history or his side of the story.
Which leads me to another major thing I noted in this book...
3. There are far too many unnecessary scenes. I actually got to like the main characters — the hero and the heroine. I liked their back stories and their personalities, and I liked how they interacted with each other. I wanted this book to be solely about them, but there were scenes that had absolutely nothing to do with them, scenes where the characters from the previous books would be featured; they would discuss things that had nothing to do with the H/h, and they would have their own sex scenes. For anyone reading this book out of the blue, without having read the previous books, this would seem to come out of left field, and the big question would be, who the heck are these characters, and why are they being featured so much? Who cares about their sex scenes? This is a book about Bonnie and Lynx, not about Jack and Cat. This for me was my biggest complaint about the book.
The rest, however, I liked. I think I like the story even better than the first.
May 25, 2009
If it ain't broke...
Lynx was quite young when his homeworld of Zetith was destroyed and he and his commrades were sold into slavery. Not yet versed in the art of enticement his fellow males were known for he might have been thrilled to become the slave of a harem filled with females in need of his attentions. But what might have started out as a chance to learn how to give pleasure soon became anything but enjoyable. Used to the breaking point he not only suffers from impotence but a well deserved dislike of women.
Meanwhile, Bonnie has been burned by the opposite sex in a much different fashion. Left to care for her farm and just a few months shy of giving birth, she's been abandoned by the boyfriend she had hoped would be there for her. In need of a hired hand to help her around the place she's pleased to give Lynx a job and a place to stay. Unfortunately, Lynx isn't too thrilled about working for a woman and the relationship between employee and employer gets quite rocky.
Can Bonnie help Lynx heal old wounds and see that not all women are going to use him? Will Lynx learn to trust Bonnie and find a life of love and satifaction? Well, if you want the answers to those questions you better get your butt to the bookstore and pick Outcast up!
The fourth in the Cat Star Chronicles, Outcast is definitely a bit different. The most obvious difference is that this is where the series shifts from the first person storytelling of the heroine to a third person perspective. I know most readers prefer the third person because they get to see what the hero is thinking but I personally thought the first person set this series apart and made me as a reader feel more in tune with the heroine. That said, the third person perspective in this one did offer room for the story to go different places. Brooks is a little shaky in pulling this new style off but fans of the series should enjoy getting to see what's going on in Lynx's head.
The romantic plot for this one was my favorite so far. I loved the idea of a used and abused hero who doesn't want love or sex. I loved that Bonnie was interested in Lynx and how he constantly rebuffed her. Both characters do a lot of growing before they can come together. It was also great to see a pregnant heroine who was perfectly capable of going on without the father there. Bonnie was a strong woman worthy of a great hero and I liked her so much I almost felt Lynx wasn't good enough for her.
My only real struggle with this one was bringing so much of Cat/Jack and Leo/Tisana into it. Their scenes that weren't directly related to Bonnie and Lynx's story were a bit distracting and the love scenes in particular felt out of place. I love getting to see old characters we're familiar with come back again but it just didn't work for me this way.
Overall fans of scifi romantica should love this one and if they haven't been following the whole series I suggest they get on it soon. Fans of the series may find the jump from one style to another a little rough but the story makes up for it pretty well. Enjoy!
Lynx was quite young when his homeworld of Zetith was destroyed and he and his commrades were sold into slavery. Not yet versed in the art of enticement his fellow males were known for he might have been thrilled to become the slave of a harem filled with females in need of his attentions. But what might have started out as a chance to learn how to give pleasure soon became anything but enjoyable. Used to the breaking point he not only suffers from impotence but a well deserved dislike of women.
Meanwhile, Bonnie has been burned by the opposite sex in a much different fashion. Left to care for her farm and just a few months shy of giving birth, she's been abandoned by the boyfriend she had hoped would be there for her. In need of a hired hand to help her around the place she's pleased to give Lynx a job and a place to stay. Unfortunately, Lynx isn't too thrilled about working for a woman and the relationship between employee and employer gets quite rocky.
Can Bonnie help Lynx heal old wounds and see that not all women are going to use him? Will Lynx learn to trust Bonnie and find a life of love and satifaction? Well, if you want the answers to those questions you better get your butt to the bookstore and pick Outcast up!
The fourth in the Cat Star Chronicles, Outcast is definitely a bit different. The most obvious difference is that this is where the series shifts from the first person storytelling of the heroine to a third person perspective. I know most readers prefer the third person because they get to see what the hero is thinking but I personally thought the first person set this series apart and made me as a reader feel more in tune with the heroine. That said, the third person perspective in this one did offer room for the story to go different places. Brooks is a little shaky in pulling this new style off but fans of the series should enjoy getting to see what's going on in Lynx's head.
The romantic plot for this one was my favorite so far. I loved the idea of a used and abused hero who doesn't want love or sex. I loved that Bonnie was interested in Lynx and how he constantly rebuffed her. Both characters do a lot of growing before they can come together. It was also great to see a pregnant heroine who was perfectly capable of going on without the father there. Bonnie was a strong woman worthy of a great hero and I liked her so much I almost felt Lynx wasn't good enough for her.
My only real struggle with this one was bringing so much of Cat/Jack and Leo/Tisana into it. Their scenes that weren't directly related to Bonnie and Lynx's story were a bit distracting and the love scenes in particular felt out of place. I love getting to see old characters we're familiar with come back again but it just didn't work for me this way.
Overall fans of scifi romantica should love this one and if they haven't been following the whole series I suggest they get on it soon. Fans of the series may find the jump from one style to another a little rough but the story makes up for it pretty well. Enjoy!
May 14, 2009
Outcast by Cheryl Brooks is book four in the Cat Star Chronicles series. In this installment, Zetithian Lynx has been stolen from his planet at its destruction and sold into slavery. A slave of slave women, Lynx is made to share his special intimate talents with 50 harem women. At first, he enjoys the constant lovemaking, but after a while it begins to wear on him and he loses the ability to feel arousal. Kicked out of the harem, he travels on his own to find work, to earn enough money to buy land and live quietly. After his bad experience with the harem women, Lynx wants nothing to do with a woman ever again.
Imagine his upset when he comes to work for Bonnie, who is with child by her ex-boyfriend, a man who stole her money and ran off. As an honest and hard worker, Lynx decides to stay, though he has no interest in even being Bonnie’s friend. Despite the unfriendliness that Lynx displays, Bonnie tries her hardest to live with him peacefully even though the two of them can barely get along. Lynx is nothing short of rude and dismissive, even a bit mean at times. After a while though, Bonnie begins to love Lynx. Despite his attitude and her knowing he wants nothing to do with women, she can’t help but fall prey to his good qualities.
However, Lynx has no interest in loving her back.
Yet.
In Outcast, Cheryl Brooks creates a very realistic world. I have to praise her creativity for not only thinking up good characters, but also in the creation of unique planets and alien species. I am not usually one for science fiction-y type things, but I loved the setting for Outcast. The entire “here we are on an alien planet” thing was so casual that you slipped right into the reality of it as if it were quite simply so.
Brooks really drew out the tension on this one, too. Outcast didn’t have the lead female and sexy male hero fall instantly into each other arms. The conflict between the two was great, even if main character Bonnie DID fall in love with Lynx awfully quick. I can’t blame her, though, because a cute guy is a cute guy. It was truly sweet the way that the two of them fought, and how different Bonnie’s perception of Lynx was to how he really felt. Yeah, he had a chip on his shoulder and it showed. But, in any good romance/erotica book, the steadfast female soon enough melts the ice of the cold, distant man’s heart in no time.
Outcast is creative, humorous, emotional, and sexy. It was my introduction to sci-fi erotica and romance, and I have to say that I enjoyed this one very much. I haven’t read any of the other Cat Star Chronicles, but I plan to go out and get a copy of 1, 2, and 3 as soon as possible. It was unbelievable fun to involve myself in the personal world of Bonnie and Lynx.
Imagine his upset when he comes to work for Bonnie, who is with child by her ex-boyfriend, a man who stole her money and ran off. As an honest and hard worker, Lynx decides to stay, though he has no interest in even being Bonnie’s friend. Despite the unfriendliness that Lynx displays, Bonnie tries her hardest to live with him peacefully even though the two of them can barely get along. Lynx is nothing short of rude and dismissive, even a bit mean at times. After a while though, Bonnie begins to love Lynx. Despite his attitude and her knowing he wants nothing to do with women, she can’t help but fall prey to his good qualities.
However, Lynx has no interest in loving her back.
Yet.
In Outcast, Cheryl Brooks creates a very realistic world. I have to praise her creativity for not only thinking up good characters, but also in the creation of unique planets and alien species. I am not usually one for science fiction-y type things, but I loved the setting for Outcast. The entire “here we are on an alien planet” thing was so casual that you slipped right into the reality of it as if it were quite simply so.
Brooks really drew out the tension on this one, too. Outcast didn’t have the lead female and sexy male hero fall instantly into each other arms. The conflict between the two was great, even if main character Bonnie DID fall in love with Lynx awfully quick. I can’t blame her, though, because a cute guy is a cute guy. It was truly sweet the way that the two of them fought, and how different Bonnie’s perception of Lynx was to how he really felt. Yeah, he had a chip on his shoulder and it showed. But, in any good romance/erotica book, the steadfast female soon enough melts the ice of the cold, distant man’s heart in no time.
Outcast is creative, humorous, emotional, and sexy. It was my introduction to sci-fi erotica and romance, and I have to say that I enjoyed this one very much. I haven’t read any of the other Cat Star Chronicles, but I plan to go out and get a copy of 1, 2, and 3 as soon as possible. It was unbelievable fun to involve myself in the personal world of Bonnie and Lynx.
August 28, 2010
I was bad and skipped book #3 just wasn't interested in reading the story after reading what the blurb was about, thought Outcast would be more interesting but it wasn't by much.
Sold into slavery when his planet was destroyed, Lynx was enslaved in a harem. He is a favorite due to his feline gene, which gives him remarkable sexual powers, but after ten years, Lynx is exhausted. Thrown out without a penny, Lynx is bitter and anti-female. He emigrates to a new planet but can only find a job with a female rancher. Bonnie's boyfriend has left with all their money and she needs help with the ranch as she's pregnant. Lynx is cynical, but honest, and though he has made it clear that he wants no part of a romantic relationship, Bonnie can't resist him. She finds out about his impotence and becomes determined not to let such a beautiful and sensual young man go to waste.
Outcast is a sci-fi romance meets erotica romance and is brilliantly written by Cheryl Brooks. The background to the story is about a breed of warriors who are a mix between cats and humans and their planet has been blown up and any survivors are hunted down and killed and no-one really knows why. The Cat Star Chronicles is all about the few warrior survivors of the war who fought together and were all sold into slavery and how they've survived since, found their mates and are trying to find each other again.
After reading the blurb I really wasn't sure if I was going to like Outcast but thought I'd give it ago because it had to be better than Rogue. What I loved about Outcast was Bonnie, she was a brilliant character and didn't seem to ever let anything get her down. Bonnie is left running the farm after her boyfriend runs off with all the money and her grandmothers ring and she's heavily pregnant needing someone to help her run the farm.
What I didn't like about Outcast, Lynx oh my god seriously if you love a tortured hero who takes it out on an innocent person, like Bonnie then Lynx is your guy. After a while I seriously got a bit sick of Lynx and his attitude. It took Lynx a looong time for his attitude to change and by that point I was thinking of putting the book down but happily Lynx's attitude changed and the storyline picked up pace and added an extra element of interest, well it did for me anyway. Bonnie's ex-boyfriend wanted back in Bonnie's life and was determined to try and get rid of Lynx so he could have his old life back but happily Lynx realised Bonnie really loved him and offed the guy.
Ok so I didn't love Outcast, but I liked it and thought it was a good book and I liked that it was a change of pace from the previous books.
Sold into slavery when his planet was destroyed, Lynx was enslaved in a harem. He is a favorite due to his feline gene, which gives him remarkable sexual powers, but after ten years, Lynx is exhausted. Thrown out without a penny, Lynx is bitter and anti-female. He emigrates to a new planet but can only find a job with a female rancher. Bonnie's boyfriend has left with all their money and she needs help with the ranch as she's pregnant. Lynx is cynical, but honest, and though he has made it clear that he wants no part of a romantic relationship, Bonnie can't resist him. She finds out about his impotence and becomes determined not to let such a beautiful and sensual young man go to waste.
Outcast is a sci-fi romance meets erotica romance and is brilliantly written by Cheryl Brooks. The background to the story is about a breed of warriors who are a mix between cats and humans and their planet has been blown up and any survivors are hunted down and killed and no-one really knows why. The Cat Star Chronicles is all about the few warrior survivors of the war who fought together and were all sold into slavery and how they've survived since, found their mates and are trying to find each other again.
After reading the blurb I really wasn't sure if I was going to like Outcast but thought I'd give it ago because it had to be better than Rogue. What I loved about Outcast was Bonnie, she was a brilliant character and didn't seem to ever let anything get her down. Bonnie is left running the farm after her boyfriend runs off with all the money and her grandmothers ring and she's heavily pregnant needing someone to help her run the farm.
What I didn't like about Outcast, Lynx oh my god seriously if you love a tortured hero who takes it out on an innocent person, like Bonnie then Lynx is your guy. After a while I seriously got a bit sick of Lynx and his attitude. It took Lynx a looong time for his attitude to change and by that point I was thinking of putting the book down but happily Lynx's attitude changed and the storyline picked up pace and added an extra element of interest, well it did for me anyway. Bonnie's ex-boyfriend wanted back in Bonnie's life and was determined to try and get rid of Lynx so he could have his old life back but happily Lynx realised Bonnie really loved him and offed the guy.
Ok so I didn't love Outcast, but I liked it and thought it was a good book and I liked that it was a change of pace from the previous books.
October 6, 2013
Oh, The Cat Star Chronicles. It's one of my favorite romance/erotic series. This fourth book in the series took a different perspective that I enjoyed: it was in the third person point-of-view versus the first and it had a more serious tone to it.
The story mostly followed the two protagonists, Bonnie and Lynx. Bonnie was a strong-willed person who was betrayed by the man she thought she loved. What was very interesting about her character was that she was six months pregnant at the start of the book. It was surprising at first to find out about this since I'm not used to reading these kind of characters in erotic fiction. However, I found myself loving the idea of a pregnant woman still being able to find love and be able to experience sexual passion. Next, Lynx was the tragic hero. He was mistreated and sexually abused for ten years as a slave. His experience had traumatized him to the point that he despised women. My heart completely went out to him. Lynx's character showed that men can too be sexual victims.
Throughout the story, there was much tension between the protagonists. I came to sympathize with both Bonnie and Lynx. I kept rooting for them to immediately hook up but at the same time I wanted them to slow down so Lynx could be healed. When reading the scene with the fire, I was gushing. I absolutely loved the emotions that came spilling out. It was the perfect way for these two lonesome characters to have their first kiss.
Though this was an erotic book, it read more like a romance. It didn't have as many sex scenes as the other three did. It was more emotional than anything else. I appreciated that since it made Bonnie and Lynx's relationship sweeter and realistic.
Unfortunately, this book would have been perfect if it weren't for the last part of the book. Jack, Cat, Leo, and Tisana from the previous books made an appearance . It was great to see them at first since it felt like old friends coming for a visit, but their scenes were too long. The scenes deviated from the main purpose of the story. Also, I did not care about their sex scenes. They were unneeded. I found myself skimming through these pages. I would have liked to have seen more of how Lynx saved Bonnie from someone in her past and I would have enjoyed that the epilogue were a little longer since it was very cute.
Overall, I liked the book because of the two main characters. They were unique and were a refresher as to what I'm use to reading in romance/erotic fiction. The relationship between Bonnie and Lynx was very genuine. I just wish that the last few pages were done a different way. It was a great read though.
The story mostly followed the two protagonists, Bonnie and Lynx. Bonnie was a strong-willed person who was betrayed by the man she thought she loved. What was very interesting about her character was that she was six months pregnant at the start of the book. It was surprising at first to find out about this since I'm not used to reading these kind of characters in erotic fiction. However, I found myself loving the idea of a pregnant woman still being able to find love and be able to experience sexual passion. Next, Lynx was the tragic hero. He was mistreated and sexually abused for ten years as a slave. His experience had traumatized him to the point that he despised women. My heart completely went out to him. Lynx's character showed that men can too be sexual victims.
Throughout the story, there was much tension between the protagonists. I came to sympathize with both Bonnie and Lynx. I kept rooting for them to immediately hook up but at the same time I wanted them to slow down so Lynx could be healed. When reading the scene with the fire, I was gushing. I absolutely loved the emotions that came spilling out. It was the perfect way for these two lonesome characters to have their first kiss.
Though this was an erotic book, it read more like a romance. It didn't have as many sex scenes as the other three did. It was more emotional than anything else. I appreciated that since it made Bonnie and Lynx's relationship sweeter and realistic.
Unfortunately, this book would have been perfect if it weren't for the last part of the book. Jack, Cat, Leo, and Tisana from the previous books made an appearance . It was great to see them at first since it felt like old friends coming for a visit, but their scenes were too long. The scenes deviated from the main purpose of the story. Also, I did not care about their sex scenes. They were unneeded. I found myself skimming through these pages. I would have liked to have seen more of how Lynx saved Bonnie from someone in her past and I would have enjoyed that the epilogue were a little longer since it was very cute.
Overall, I liked the book because of the two main characters. They were unique and were a refresher as to what I'm use to reading in romance/erotic fiction. The relationship between Bonnie and Lynx was very genuine. I just wish that the last few pages were done a different way. It was a great read though.
September 24, 2009
Read for the PNR Monthly challenge read.
After I finished reading this, I had the book blues. You know how you feel after you've read a book you've enjoyed and you don't want it to end? Yea.
So this book was a very welcome surprise. I've been reading the series off and on since discovering it. It's not my usual PNR read, but more of a Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Sometimes you have to read different stuff to shake it up now and then. lol I've read the first three in the series, (so far there are ten) and I thought they were good enough so when I see a book from the series on sale, I buy it. I was expecting this to be more like the previous three. I was very happily surprised that it was even better.
The prologue gives you the background of Lynx. While he is made a slave, just like the male characters in the previous book, I felt since he was made a slave at such a young age, and made to do things and experience life in such a harsh way, it was more of an emotional story. But also, I'm glad that that portion was not dragged out. You feel the sadness and heartbreak of that experience and the effect it has on how he views how he thinks of himself and women in particular. Then he is freed only to find work on a farm with Bonnie as his employer and a woman. Bonnie is struggling to work on her farm and happy to have Lynx help her, only to discover he doesn't like women, which means he doesn't like her. She doesn't quite know what to make of Lynx but to her horror, she develops feelings for him.
Bonnie and Lynx are the oddest of couples, and I think that is part of what makes this story work. I also think that the strength of the characters came through and you could see it. They both had been in bad situations. Lynx a little worse than Bonnie, but they both manage to come through it and keep going.
There was a lot of things I enjoyed, like the subtle snarky humor that was spread out through the story. I liked that the characters from the previous books showed up and had more than just cameo appearances. I think the story had a much better flow overall, which added to my enjoyment. I looked forward to having time to read this and didn't want to put it down, especially when it was time for bed. lol I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the following books are written more like this one.
After I finished reading this, I had the book blues. You know how you feel after you've read a book you've enjoyed and you don't want it to end? Yea.
So this book was a very welcome surprise. I've been reading the series off and on since discovering it. It's not my usual PNR read, but more of a Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Sometimes you have to read different stuff to shake it up now and then. lol I've read the first three in the series, (so far there are ten) and I thought they were good enough so when I see a book from the series on sale, I buy it. I was expecting this to be more like the previous three. I was very happily surprised that it was even better.
The prologue gives you the background of Lynx. While he is made a slave, just like the male characters in the previous book, I felt since he was made a slave at such a young age, and made to do things and experience life in such a harsh way, it was more of an emotional story. But also, I'm glad that that portion was not dragged out. You feel the sadness and heartbreak of that experience and the effect it has on how he views how he thinks of himself and women in particular. Then he is freed only to find work on a farm with Bonnie as his employer and a woman. Bonnie is struggling to work on her farm and happy to have Lynx help her, only to discover he doesn't like women, which means he doesn't like her. She doesn't quite know what to make of Lynx but to her horror, she develops feelings for him.
Bonnie and Lynx are the oddest of couples, and I think that is part of what makes this story work. I also think that the strength of the characters came through and you could see it. They both had been in bad situations. Lynx a little worse than Bonnie, but they both manage to come through it and keep going.
There was a lot of things I enjoyed, like the subtle snarky humor that was spread out through the story. I liked that the characters from the previous books showed up and had more than just cameo appearances. I think the story had a much better flow overall, which added to my enjoyment. I looked forward to having time to read this and didn't want to put it down, especially when it was time for bed. lol I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the following books are written more like this one.
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