This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Sci-Fi Romance
Published by Indie/Self Published
Released on January 3, 2016
Pages: 141
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Shari read the first book in this series and it put the author and series on my radar. I love a good cyborg romance with a strong amount of action and intrigue. I took the chance that I could jump in with book two and it ended up working out with brief references to the hero from book one.
The story starts out with Kai Andros, a Terran cyborg, deeply embedded in a shadow ops mission on the space station of an alien terrorist race. He is thought to be the bodyguard android of the general’s youngest daughter, Mariska. It is the best chance anyone has gotten so far to infiltrate and gain intel on the terrorists that will hopefully lead to gaining the location of the race’s enigmatic and powerful leader. So far his mission hasn’t produced any significant information. The girl is just a mission until he learns what her evil father plans for her.
Mariska is a pariah amongst her people and an embarrassment to her own father. Her physical deformities are kept hidden behind head scarves and she is hidden away. Her lonely existence changes when her father calls her to him and tells her that he is sending her to another race as a concubine in exchange for the possibility of establishing a base in the other race’s territory. Mariska is excited to finally have the chance to make her father proud and maybe be accepted so she eagerly embraces her new circumstances.
Kai knows that the mission is critical and that one woman’s life against the potential of many lives saved shouldn’t be considered. But knowing the fate of this innocent young woman weighs on him particularly since her own father is the one sending her to her painful death. Kai may be cyborg, but he is still also very human. He chooses to defy his orders and save Mariska. He will now be hunted by friend and foe. But as he gets to know Mariska, he knows it is worth it.
Alright, so this is fairly typical of its type- sexy cyborg soldier, vulnerable woman, a mission, exciting battles, the rescue, the forbidden passion and romance- yep, all good. I eat this stuff up.
But that said, the author took the time to develop the world around this pair and give them backstories with depth. Kai has knocked around the galaxy and seen it all. He stays pretty open-minded about stuff until he encounters a race that aren’t just narrow-minded but insist it is their way or else. Mariska totally drank the Kool-Aid about her own race and culture even if it’s oppressive and many suffer under the regime. She isn’t cruel and hasn’t harmed anyone, but she believes that she deserves no better. Honestly, the situation was something going on in our world right now- religious extremists, terrorism, opposing ideals…ring a bell? And this does play a strong role in the story.
Mariska is a bit of an innocent because of being kept ignorant and sheltered, but the one piece of education she does get? Seduction and pleasure. Oh yeah, Kai wasn’t disappointed by how well she learned those lessons.
And Kai, he’s an honorable soldier and loves what he does, but he has a crisis of conscience when he must choose between his mission and Mariska’s certain death. He is exciting and passionate- the total hero who will take the consequences for his actions, protect the innocent, and fight hard. He is good for Mariska because he challenges her thinking without being intentionally cruel. He has great camaraderie with his fellow cyborg soldiers. Incidentally, I would love to get Dale’s story.
So, I was well pleased by this cyborg romance and would definitely read more of the series. Those who enjoy encountering alien races, strong sexy cyborg soldiers, and passion amongst the stars should give this one a go.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Challenges Met:
Romance Roundabout #26 Sci-Fi Rom
Literary Pickers #26 Alien/Human
New to Me #13 author/series
Diversity #4
About Cara Bristol
Cara Bristol continues to evolve, adding new subgenres of erotic romance to her repertoire. She has written spanking romance, contemporary romance, paranormal, and science fiction romance. No matter what the genre, one thing remains constant: her emphasis on character-driven seriously hot erotic stories with sizzling chemistry between the hero and heroine. Cara has lived many places in the United States, but currently calls Missouri home. She has a husband and two grown stepkids. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading and traveling the world.
Cara loves to hear from readers. You may post a comment on her Web site/blog, http://carabristol.com, email her at carabristol50 (at) yahoo (dot) com, or friend her on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/cara.bristol.3.
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I can honestly say I’ve never read a cyborg romance!
Stephanie
http://stephie5741.blogspot.com
LOL! I picked one up by chance a few years ago. It happened to have a lot of humor, excitement, and romance so it hooked me in. I’m always glad to come across one once in a while and pick it for some light sci-fi romp.
Sounds good although it’s not for me. I see cyborg and I imagine Arnold S now… Hahaha
Oh dear, yeah, that image would turn me off too. I still picture uber sexy guys who have all the computer parts on the inside.
I haven’t read a lot of cyborg books, i did read a series where the cyborg was the evil guy and very creepy and disturbing, so it took me a few second to remove that image and consider a book with a cyborg as main character hwere the cyborg is a good guy. I like the sound of this plot with how he saves Mariska and now everyone is after them. I always like a good forbidden romance book, it just makes for a fun complication when it comes to the romance. And it’s great when the author makes the… Read more »
I get a certain image stuck in my head sometimes and you’re right, it’s hard to see it differently after that. This was definitely a forbidden romance for sure. Lot of fun and excitement.
I’ve not read a cyborg story before. At least, not that I can recall. Glad you enjoyed this one!
I dare you, Lekeisha. Haha! Just kidding. Everything in its time or place.
I did have a good time reading it.
Do you know I’ve never tried a cyborg or monster romance..LOL I am glad this was one you and Sheri both enjoyed!
I blame Eve Langlais. I picked up her first cyborg romance- laughed and squirmed my way through it and now I enjoy them on occasion.
Every time I see that, I think of Eve. I still need to finish her her cyborg series. Glad you liked this one. I’ll have to try it.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads
Yes, her cyborgs were my first encounter and it was a good one so it encouraged me to go on to one or two other writers. This was my first with this author. Not sure I’ll go back for book one as the blurb didn’t hook me in, but I might go on with new ones.
The guy on the cover looks like John Cena. lol. Well good for her mastering seduction and pleasure. That always comes in handy. 😀
When I saw the cover, I giggled. A bare chest, but then a camo hat. Just struck me as funny.
Yep, girlfriend might think she’s second-class because she’s female and illiterate, but she definitely knows her way around a man’s body.
Thank you so much for the review of Mated with the Cyborg! I wanted to create a cyborg hero who is truly heroic. The theme of the Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance series is “Saving the girl and the galaxy one mission at a time.” Each book features a different cyborg and heroine in a dangerous situation. Mated with the Cyborg is currently in production to become an audiobook, and the third book of the series, Captured by the Cyborg will be released in ebook March 15. Dale Homme, a secondary character in Mated, will be the hero of that one. I… Read more »
Woohoo! So glad the next one is Dale’s story. I enjoyed when he was in the scenes.
And thanks so much for stopping by, Cara. Loved your story and your cyborg world.
And yes, I guess he would have pants and probably boots. I hadn’t gotten that far in my imagination to see him pantless, too. That would be even funnier if he were just wearing the hat- oh, and maybe the boots.
Looks like an interesting series, I haven’t read one with a cyborg yet, it’s time I should do it 😉
You read such a variety that you really must add a cyborg to your conquests, Iza. 🙂
Mmmm Kai sounds yummy. I love a good strong hero. I really need to read more cyborg romances. It’s been an age! Glad you enjoyed it, Sophia!
He was total hero material. Ever since Eve’s cyborgs, I get a hankering for one now and then. 🙂
Mmmm Kai sounds yummy. I love a good strong hero. I really need to read more cyborg romances. It’s been an age! Glad you enjoyed it, Sophia!