Author: Tessa McFionn
Genre/Age: Sci-Fi Romance/Adult
Series: Rise of the Stria (Book One)
Publisher: Fiery Seas Publishing
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis: When Kahlym cal Jhuen, freedom-fighting leader of the Chandar Stria, breaks into a prison ship controlled by the Rimmarian Thrall, he only expected to rescue two of his crew. But when he discovers a terrified female during his escape, he is immediately captivated by her unique beauty and makes a snap decision to take her with him. However, his good deed backfires when he learns he has stolen the Thrall Emperor’s prize.
Down to her last dollar, Evainne Wagner expected nothing out of the ordinary when she stepped out of her Boston apartment. Instead, she found herself in the middle of an intergalactic firefight, complete with strange soldiers with deadly weapons pointed directly at her. Salvation arrives in the nick of time in the form of a mysterious leather-clad warrior, skidding in and whisking her away. Trusting her heart, she follows, hoping to find answers as well as a way home.
Safely on board his ship, he learns more about her and her rare skills, triggering the memory of a half-forgotten prophecy spoken at the time of his cursed birth. Outcast because of a cruel twist of fate, he finds unexpected acceptance, even affection, from his new passenger.
Could she be the one who holds the future of his people, as well as his own heart, in her tender hands?
“Are you okay?”
Her eyes flared wide and she scooted further away from him. He raised his hands, hoping to ease her fears.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“You wanna step this up, Kahl? Things are getting dicey down here.” Brel’s normally calm voice shouted over the blasts echoing through the link.
“Working on it,” he muttered. He turned his focus back to the cowering female. Even in her fear-stricken state, she fascinated him. Everything about her was unlike anything he had seen in all his travels throughout the Dantaran galaxy. Her wide brown eyes transfixed him until all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss away her alarm.
Without warning, his frozen ward grabbed one of the guard’s discarded weapons at his feet and fired a quick volley over his shoulder. Spinning, he drew his own gun, but not before the Thrall soldier crumpled in a mangled heap.
Holy crap. He rounded his gaze back to her, the blaster held out before her with trembling arms. This mysterious female just saved his ass.
In another unexpected twist, she flipped the blaster in a flourish, offering the handle to him. Panic continued to bleed from her shivering body. A smile warmed his lips behind the protection of his visor. Shaking his head, he patted her hands, wrapping his fingers around hers to cradle the pistol. Still with the hopes that she understood his body language, he pushed the gun back to her before he stood. His gentle embrace guided her to rise next to him. Yet, she reached her full height long before him, the crown of her head barely reaching his armpit.
“Kahl! Now! We can’t hold them off much longer!”
Explosions and loud voices poured down the hallway. Together, they looked toward the billowing smoke as it rounded the corner. Time to get the hell out. Her head swung back to face him and, to his surprise, she grabbed a hold of his gauntleted hand.
Kahlym wrapped his fingers around hers and gave her a sharp nod before he took off.
“We’re coming in hot, Dhaer. Make sure the door is open and for the love of Ishtanti, don’t shoot us.”
The pair ran in complete synchronicity, his gun trained on any obstacles in front of them while she handily guarded their flanks. Soft, exotic murmurs fell from her lips like a litany and blasts ricocheted off the walls while they raced on. Never once did she tug his arm to slow his breakneck pace. Alarms blared in angry pulses as they turned the last corner.
“Oh, c’mon,” Dhaerin chuckled over the comm link. “It was just that one time and you survived, so what are you whining about?”
Tessa McFionn is a very native Californian and has called Southern California home for most of her life, growing up in San Diego and attending college in Northern California and Orange County, only to return to San Diego to work as a teacher. Insatiably curious and imaginative, she loves to learn and discover, making her wicked knowledge of trivial facts an unwelcomed guest at many Trivial Pursuit boards.
When not writing, she can be found at the movies or at Disneyland with her husband, as well as family, friends or anyone who wants to play at the Happiest Place on Earth. She also finds her artistic soul fed through her passions for theatre, dance and music.
A proud parent of far too many high school seniors and two still living house plants, she also enjoys hockey, reading and playing Words With Friends to keep her vocabulary sharp. She is currently the treasurer of the San Diego chapter of Romance Writers of America and loves spending time working with such amazingly intelligent and creative writers.
Social Media:
Buy Links:
No comments:
Post a Comment