Alcandian Quest

I loved the first book in this series. The characters were well developed and the plot was great too. I loved the fact that the heroine in this book actually had a personality, and wasn't easily persuaded to do whatever and believe whatever her mates (yes mates, she has more than one lover/boyfriend/err...husband??) wanted her to do. The only downfall that I can come up with is that it is too short, it could've been a longer novel and still maintained an awesome story line. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Jessica was a twenty-eight-year-old virgin. She had been saving herself for marriage. That didn't mean she couldn't play a little, just wouldn't go all the way until she was married or at least engaged. Finding her boyfriend and friend naked in her bed, in her home, wanting her to join them in their sexual activities was enough to send her fleeing to her house in the California Mountains. There she found her brother and two other men whose eyes seemed otherworldly. Jessica was immediately attracted to the man called Dylan. Her body's response to him scares her though, so she turns down his request for a date. Dylan and Jett are companions-at-arms on the world of Alcandar. They're not blood brothers. Their bond is through mind bridging. This linking of the minds makes them closer than blood brothers would be. This mind bridging made them more powerful when they went into battle. It also makes them so close that the same woman would mind bridge with both of them, thus making her their mate. Dylan had found their mate on Earth when he met Jessica. Now all they need to do is convince Jessica that she belongs to them, and have her brought to their world. Jessica had been sent to the Defense Department to secure a contract. She writes documents for a living, and a contract with the Defense Department would allow her to live at her home in the mountains and telecommute. However when she arrives for her interview, she's shown to a room containing a wormhole gate, which allows for interplanetary travel between Earth and Alcandar. After being informed that the important Alcandian she had met had requested her as an emissary, she was escorted through the wormhole by Jett and several of the other Alcandar warriors. Only when Jessica is safely on Alcandar is she informed that the gates are built so that Alcandian males could find mates. Females are rare on Alcandar. Because Dylan had been able to "touch" her mind while on Earth, he knew that she was his and Jett's true mate. I absolutely loved this book! I could easily empathize with Jessica's emotional turmoil over what she feels for both Dylan and Jett as she fights to accept her kidnaping from Earth. Dylan and Jett are endearing in their endeavor to get Jessica to understand the ways of their world. Mind bridging isn't something done in the Earth dating scene. That's just not acceptable in a normal Earth society. Jessica doesn't discover her true feelings for her Alcandians until she almost loses them. Alcandar is a world where you'd have two sexy men, and no housework, who could ask for more? The beds make themselves, the bathtub cleans itself, food serves itself, and there are no dishes to do. Where is this planet? Sign me up. I want to go! I'm hoping this will be a series. There were several characters in the book that I would love to read more about. ALCANDIAN QUEST is a fascinating adventure into another world. Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

This was also my first time reading this author. Let's get one minor annoyance out of the way, then on to the book: NOTE TO AUTHOR: check out thesaurus for another word for 'passage'. Next time you feel the urge overcome you, PASS ON USING--OVERUSING--PASSAGE! *G* As I said, a minor annoyance in what was, overall, an excellent book; and the writing was really so well done that it took a long time into the book for this to get more than marginally annoying--and never so annoying as to seriously detract from the enjoyment of the story. Loved the wormhole/govt secrets take here, and since I'm not a big fan of sci fi efforts overall, that's saying something. Having read a few books in this genre, I have to say I was prepared for the worst. Fortunately, I didn't get it. *G* I very much liked the characters here; all of them were fun to read, and I also loved the way this author touched on the bigotry that I feel sure would raise its ugly head in the event that, in a galaxy far, far away, events like this should ever happen. She did a great job of getting you to suspend disbelief--aw, heck, I'm just gonna say it--she made this impossible scenario very believable by portraying the human reactions of the characters right d*mn realistically. And no, Alcandia(Alcanda? Not sure) was not some utopia of female menage fantasy; it had the kinds of problems you might expect humans to manage to come up with in such a world. And was the more likeable for it! Our hottie/heros were just to die for (Jett me one right over! *G*); she does almost as good a job painting the ins and outs of the menage dynamics as L.K. Hamilton--high praise indeed. The book held my attention throughout; the plot was interesting and original in a more realistic way than you usually ever see in fantasy or sci fi--and that just made it all the more interesting. You could almost see these people living out there somewhere in the galaxy. Add to these very nice things, the sex--so well written, so, so HOT. (Yum. *G*) And yet the romantic aspect of the story never suffered for it. I have a real problem reading about the 'dominant male' who rides over everyone else's wishes--especially his lady's--being considered 'masterful'; that's just a selfish idiot who needs to grow up in my opinion; spoiled brat does NOT equal sexy! Where you begin to think it's going to creep over into a case of the bratty male in this book (and thankfully the heroine--though sorely tempted *G*--never wimps out), the author slyly shows us that the heroine has made some unwarranted assumptions; and--well, let's not spoil it. *G* Since this book largely turns on societal expectations and the blind assumptions and prejudices people make and carry about such things, the discovery of these blind spots is a necessary and enjoyable part of the plot and the action in the book. The little asides the author so casually tosses out regarding genetics, its gearing and such, were just the kind of intelligent touches that rai

The Alcandians, a race of Aliens with a severe shortage of women, have made a secret deal with earth that allows them to take earth women as mates (that is wives) - whether the women want that at the time or not. The Alcandians don't have a problem with that because only with their true mate a mental bonding takes place as soon as they meet. So there can be no mistake about whether this is the right partner for you or not. When Jessica meets Dylan, an Alcandian warrior, who is meeting with her brother Cole, an emissary for earth, the alien senses right away that she is his mate. So he arranges for her transport to his planet and her marriage not only to him, but also his bonded friend Jett. Jessica has always wanted a man who wanted not just sex, but commitment. But now that she's confronted with not just one, but two men who want nothing more than to marry her, she's all of a sudden the one getting cold feet. Not only does she have to come to terms with the fact that in this society it's considered normal that a woman marries two men, but also with her instant mental and emotional bonding with Dylan and Jett. Add to that the intense sexual attraction between the three and the sparks are flying... I've read Mary Wine's novels since her first book, and this was another one that didn't disappoint. In contrast to other authors of erotic romances, her books are not just sexy, but the characters are also interesting. What I enjoyed most about this book was that she actually gave some thought to cultural differences and how people deal with those. She really invents fascinating worlds and cultures, as well as great characters in her books. So this is a book I can warmly recommend to readers who like their romances spicy and intelligent. The only thing that I find disappointing is no fault of the author but of her publisher, Ellora's Cave. Around August 2005, they stopped providing the European market with the new novels by their more successful authors, including Mary Wine, and as a result US-imports are the only access to those. I think they really harm their authors and the readers that way. It's simply a lot more complicated and expensive to import books yourself - and if you don't already know the author, a lot of people won't bother to go to that trouble. This means less sales and popularity for authors who could use both. One can only hope that they change their attitude to those parts of the world that are not the USA some time soon. But if you can get your hands on a book by Mary Wine - go for it. If you liked Alcandian Quest and are open for not just Science Fiction, but also paranormal novels, try her Dream-series. Those books might be even better.

Jess has just about decided to take the next step with her boyfriend when she walks in on him with in the middle of passionate encounter with her friend in her house. After walking out she heads her house in the mountains to rest and spend some time alone. She is surprised when she finds herself faced with the sexiest man she's ever met. Even being in the same room with him makes her body tingle and she finds herself almost feeling as though she is connected to him. When Dylan met Jess he was thrilled when he realized that she was his mate. And the longer he is around her the more determined he is to claim her. Unfortunately time is against him and he is forced to return to his world. However, he quickly takes steps to assure that she'll be his as quickly as possible. Jess after arriving for a long coveted job interview with the Defense Department she finds herself whisked through a portal by yet another gorgeous man who introduces himself as Jett and finds Dylan waiting for her. If the last days hadn't been shocking enough Dylan informs her that not only is she his mate but also his brother/companion Jett's. Against her will Jess finds herself falling in love with both Dylan and Jett but can she over come a lifetime of personal prejudices and find happiness with not just one man but two? Truthfully lately I have been feeling a little overloaded by the many different menage stories that seem so prevalent in erotic romance lately but Mary Wine's Alcandian Quest was a delightfully sexy menage story with a well crafted storyline. You easily understand Jess's difficultly in accepting becoming part of a relationship that include both Jett and Dylan. Jett and Dylan's world is intriguing and with a cliff hanger involving Jett's sister readers will anxiously be awaiting Mary Wine's next installment. Melissa Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed www.joyfullyreviewed.com