FORCED MATE

Author: Rowena Cherry ISBN: 0505526018 11/2004 EARTH 1994/FUTURISTIC PLANET Publisher: DORCHESTER

By all the Lechers of Antiquity, what was a god­-Emperor to do when his chosen mate was caught on tape speculating that he was a brute and a bore in bed? Renowned for his sexual prowess all over the galaxy, Prince Tarrant-Arragon had a reputation for depravity to keep up, even if the reality of his private life was a far different story. His personal inclination would be to woo his intended with charm and wit, but politics and Tigron tradition called for abduction fol­lowed by swift consummation. Embarking on a skilled seduction with as many moves as an interstellar chess match, Tarrant-Arragon felt confident in his ability to take his queen. But he hadn't counted on the unpre­dictability of his little Earthling or the startling fact that she would make a pawn of his own heart.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Ok, I just have to say it. This futuristic romance, FORCED MATE by Rowena Cherry, is not for me. The whole feel of the book doesn't mesh for me, though I enjoyed the humor. How is that possible, you ask? I guess it's because it is English humor and I find that dry, sarcastic wit quite funny. Other than that, I am afraid, the book falls short of my expectations.

So what was the problem? Well, for starters, the names are too difficult for my taste. It seems like a little thing, I know, but I actually had to keep reminding myself that I needed to drop the D at the beginning of the heroine's name (and some others) every time a name started with that letter. That became annoying after a bit. I also found the plot and players a teensy bit confusing. There is a lot of "alien lingo" (for lack of a better term) and references the author has, that still are perplexing me.

In other words, this book could be too complicated—except for the one British gentleman's sarcasm—for my small brain, and I might just be too dumb to figure out who-is-who and what was going on. Either that, or I just didn't care for the plot. I truly don't know which one it is!

Shannon Johnson