FUGITIVE

Author: Cheryl Brooks ISBN: 9781402229404 1/2010 PARANORMAL/FUTURE Publisher: SOURCEBOOKS

When a Zetithian fugitive meets a beautiful Earth woman, their passion may cost them both their lives... Manx is a Zetithian fugitive with a feline gene that gives him remarkable sexual powers. He has been in hiding in the remote jungles of Barada Seven ever since being marked for extermination by the violent Nedwuts. Artist Drusilla arrives on Barada Seven, enticed only by the promise of finding a nature paradise there. But she discovers a wildlife she wasn't expecting when she encounters Manx. Reckless with desire for the beautiful Earth woman, Manx risks his life to win her as his mate. It's only a matter of time until the Nedwuts find them, but it will take all of Manx and Drusilla's passion, skill, and ingenuity to survive.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Cheryl Brooks sets her paranormal romance FUGITIVE (The Cat Star Chronicles #5) on the planet Barada Seven, as far from Earth as Drusilla, a Terran painter of birds, could get. Her agent promised her peace, quiet, and plenty of exotic birds. Well, at least there were plenty of birds. After the last man her agent set her up with (a gay guy who just wanted a pretty girl with lots of money to give him a pretty life), the last thing she was looking for in the outer reaches of space was any kind of man. Good thing Manx is more than most men. His planet, Zetithia, was destroyed by several species in concert (leaving only a handful of Zetithians spread across space), but mostly by those spacer bad boys, the Nedwuts. Some have speculated that despite the fact that Zetithian women could have taken or left their men, women of nearly every planet are irresistibly drawn to them and never want them to leave after experiencing the Zetithian males’ sexual prowess. Will Drusilla discover those benefits for herself before the Nedwuts—or worse—find Manx?

Brooks obviously has fun creating new worlds! Each planet the Zetithians find is uniquely wonderful and Barada Seven is no exception. The people there are quite homely, but that just showcases their brightly colored flora, fauna, and off-world visitors. Drusilla finds that once she starts painting the shy cat-man, Manx, she just can’t stop. She wonders if he’s as yummy looking up close, and after consulting the security system built into her rental home, writes an invite on the beach outside her back door. The result is steamy jungle love, which is another Brooks specialty. Although this is the fifth book in the series, it stands alone quite well, with a nice entrance of Captain Jack, her crew, some Nedwuts, and even some other lovely ladies seeking Manx’s sperm for a little genetic modification of the males on their own planet.

I truly enjoy the relationships Brooks creates with her wandering cat people and their new mates. These men really know what makes women tick and make it their number one priority to keep their mates pleasured and happy.  Such a lovely experience. I just wish she’d create a few Zetithians for sale. I know I’d buy one! There’s plenty of action with fighting off the bad guys, and some interesting diplomatic situations to consider with planets that don’t allow weapons of any sort.

FUGITIVE (The Cat Star Chronicles #5) is a great rollicking space adventure, a steamy romance, and an artistic palette all rolled into one. It reads like a dream; one I wish will never end.

Susan Barton