Review: Hunters by Lindsey Bayer and Michelle Marquis

Hunters by Lindsey Bayer and Michelle Marquis

Publisher: Carina Press
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Kirillian Harmony Knox was one of the most successful bounty hunters in the galaxy—until a brain-eater named Prime became her only failure and escaped, landing her in jail. Now free, she'll stop at nothing to catch him and stop his murderous rampage.

Unfortunately for Harmony, fellow hunter Bart Tanner has the only available transport. Arrogant and ruthless, Tanner is known for killing most of his bounties. Harmony can't stand him—yet she can't deny the deep sexual desire sparking between them.

Once enslaved as a cage fighter by a cruel Kirillian, Tanner harbors a deep hatred for the alien race—though he's drawn to Harmony's luscious sensuality, and they soon indulge in erotic encounters.
When Prime puts out a hit on Harmony, things intensify, and Tanner realizes their lust has turned into something deeper—but if he and Harmony aren't careful, more than just their lives will be at stake...



Desmond’s Review

At its heart, Hunters is about two embittered people having no time or inclination for love, but internally battling their need for intimacy. This is what makes a good story, the character arcs, written by Ms. Marquis and Ms. Bayer, allow us to peek into both Harmony Knox and Bart Tanner and follow their journey.

Initially, these two people with a history of not being able to stand each other, are thrown together in a ship, forced to confront one another. As dissimilar metals mixed in a caldron, Harmony and Bart combative relationship serves to define these two strong characters and cause them to address their similarities and differences.

The main characters, as described above, carry most of the story, but there are secondary characters, who are the catalyst for the arcs of the two protagonists. Prime, an alien criminal and the source of Harmony’s obsession, is a intelligent cockroach like being and a brain eater. His skip from harmony’s clutches ruins her 100% record and this, above all, defines her reason to reject intimacy with Bart.

Harmony is a Kirillan and Bart despises Kirillians because he was once held captive and forced to cage fight for them. Hence, his tool for rejecting Harmony. Both of these spheres collide during the story.
Ms. Marquis and Ms. Bayer handle the sex scenes quite well, especially one where they are ‘performing’ to try and locate a skip they need to bring back. In all cases, whether feverish or sweet, you get the idea these two people like each other for more than the sex.

Hunters is a well written story about two people, who obviously need each other, but have yet to realize it. Their adventure carries them through their arcs until they both determine what’s really important--each other.

Desmond’s quote:  “Hunters is a well done space opera, a love story couched within an adventure. The characterizations are masterful, fully realizing both the virtues and flaws of Harmony Knox and Bart Tanner. I recommend this as a good, summertime read and a lot of fun.”

4 Tea Cups!