RetroLurv Reviews: Forced Mate
Rowena Cherry
Forced Mate
Love Spell
ISBN-10: 0505526018
ISBN-13: 978-0505526014
Science fiction romance
November 2004
I don’t know anything about chess. Well, not true. I saw that huge chess board and pieces in the first Harry Potter movie *g* and I sort of know the point of the game. I don’t play, never have, but I didn’t have any problem understanding the intricacies that Cherry uses within her chess-inspired science fiction romances. I’m bringing back this Amazon review to get the Cherry party started in light of my reviewing the upcoming fourth book, Knight’s Fork. The series actually kicks off with a short story in ebook format, Mating Net (which I’ve yet to read), but I began with this one, Forced Mate, and thoroughly enjoyed it. If different and out-of-this-world is what you’re looking for, this is the series for you. I literally had never and still have never read a science fiction romance series like this. I would advise some time to invest because it is an intricate world Cherry has built, but I’ve found it very worth it with each book so far.
I’ll be posting my review for the second book, Insufficient Mating Material, soon as well. In the meantime, feel free to check out the author’s site and I hope this light review will help anyone that’s not read the series yet. Originally written for Amazon on May 7, 2006:
As a huge fan of sci-fi romance, I feel the world does not have enough of these great, intricately imaginative authors. I search long and hard for books like “Forced Mate” and I was grinning from ear to ear by the second chapter! If you have an appreciation for well thought out plots, ones that dare to overstep the boundaries that exist for romances today, then take that flying leap with Rowena Cherry’s “Forced Mate”. Prepare to literally steep in the intrigue, character conflict, extremely interesting world-building and blazingly hot romance.
Prince Tarrant-Arragon, whose name reminds me instantly of “tyrant” and “arrogant”, is in need of a mate. Not any mate will do though–he needs the last fertile female of his people. Djinni-vera, or Jinny a she calls herself, is that last fertile princess. Hidden on Earth for her protection, she is nonetheless ferreted out by Tarrant. Being that she is very sensitive about his reputation, Tarrant decides not to reveal his true identity. He will tame his defiant mate-to-be, but soon he wants more than just her compliance. In an adventure of the heart that takes them from Earth to the oppressive Royal Deserts and the War Star of the inferior An’Koori, Tarrant-Arragon and Djinni-vera will have to come face to face with what makes each other tick. Will what they find out about one another shape their love or tear it apart?
What a spectacular read! I did not like Tarront-Arragon at first, though I found him vastly amusing. As a future emperor, he had the delusion that everything he wanted would fall at his feet in gratitude. Not so our heroine. Djinni gives our sexy hero a run for his money, and he, in turn, her. It’s an interstellar chess match of wit, wooing and many surprises for the both of them. Author Cherry has penned a mind-blowing world in her new series. The attention to detail, the characters, it’s all top-notch. I loved the secondary characters too, especially Grievous. Hint, hint, Ms. Cherry! Love to see more of him! Looking forward to your second in this wonderful series.
November 2009
October 2009
September 22, 2009
December 1, 2009
July 28, 2009
May 26, 2009
May 5, 2009
August 2009
March 31, 2009
August 25, 2009
October 13, 2009
November 3, 2009
August 4, 2009
July 28, 2009
September 1, 2009
November 3, 2009
May 2009
August 4, 2009
October 28, 2008
I have seen this one on the shelves and heard a ton about Cherry’s series, but haven’t picked it up. It looks like they might have repackaged it (or maybe I’m remembering a different cover.)
Either way, this review puts me in mind of it again — I will have to finally pick it up.
Kmont, what a lovely surprise Google brought me tonight! And what a brilliant idea to reprieve the reviews of first Forced Mate and later Insufficient Mating Material, especially since the hero of Knight’s Fork (’Rhett) is in both.
And, so is Grievous.
All the best,
Rowena Cherry
Hi, Meljean,
Your memory is correct. There are two covers, and always have been.
There is an electronic version of Forced Mate which was produced with a different editor, and it has a black and white cover with the gorgeous Matthew Twiggs on it.
Best wishes,
Rowena Cherry
Ms. Cherry, I love to look back on the books I’ve read anyway, so it was a lot of fun. Tarrant-Arragon chasing Djinni-vera across that huge English field will be a scene I remember for a loooooong time!
Meljean, I’m glad Cherry could answer your Q, cuz I had no clue lol. Hope you enjoy the book when you get it! :D
Aaaak. My most humble apologies, kmont! I meant reprise (as in Webster’s third meaning of the verb…) not reprieve!
So you liked the field scene! For anyone who is interested, there is a photograph of that field on my website to illustrate that particular scene.
http://www.rowenacherry.com/excerpts/excerpt_11.php
(Or click my name)
A photo of a field? Ah, but it is a very interesting field, on a hillside, with prehistoric artwork carved into the white Dorset chalk.
For some idea of scale, the manly dimension is around thirty linear feet. It should not have been that long, but during one of the trench renovations, the original tummy button was mistaken for the meatus.
(That might be a slight exaggeration on my part. Scholarly reference books don’t mention urologist terms.)
In my younger days, I used to run across Dorset fields in high heels and also scale gates and wire fences quite often. I forget the name of the competitive sport, but I still have the trophy I once won. Heels are hard on the ankles, but it’s impossible to run in wellies!
Heels? *chokes* Did you say HEELS?? I’d have needed surgery afterward. :D
I started reading this thinking it would be another trashy sci-fi romance novel…but it pleasantly surprised me
I mean it still has sex and gorgeous men but it does have a real plot,beyond the heroine traveling trough space and getting hardcore sex from every man she mets *shudders*