Title: Deep Space Dreaming
Author: Loretta Laird
ISBN: 978-1-62420-164-6
Email: lorettalairdx@hotmail.com
Genre: Sci-Fi/Romance
Excerpt Heat Level: 4
Book Heat Level: 1
TAGLINE
Join Jenni as the man in her dreams becomes a reality and
the lusty adventure to find their way home begins..
BLURB
Humankind has spread like roaches across the universe
thanks to the technology provided by a benevolent race known as the Trinz.
Little did they know of the greed of humanity. A few pure souls began to dream
of a paradise called Killanti, a new world where life could begin again.
Jenni dreams of a man who passes through her dreams and
into her bed. Together they embark on a quest for answers that leads them
across the universe and into each other’s hearts. Can their love transport them
to their own utopia?
REVIEW:
Deep Space Dreaming
Loretta Laird
978-1-62420-164-6
By David Cairns
4 Stars out of 5
What appeared at first to be a cheesy romance novel, the kind which I
seldom read, turned out to be a really fun read. I'm more of a soft sci-fi fan
than a hard one when it comes to books, so the plot of this story which
involved a number of planets and species really appealed. Lead character, Jenni
is a human who literally meets the man of her dreams. He happens to not only be
Trinz,not human, but also devastatingly handsome and in possession of a forked
tongue. (engage imagination for erotica) Deep Space Dreaming is at heart a love
story, or more precisely, a red hot love story but the science fiction setting
and plot which house the love story make it very interesting,more interesting
than I expected. It's soft science fiction which supports the plot rather than
overwhelming it, and the reader with technicalities.
I don't read a lot of erotica because I tend to find it all amusing
rather than arousing, and I'm just not that into reading descriptions of love
making regardless of how poetic they are, but I really enjoyed Deep Space
Dreaming, and Laird's turn of phrase. This is an easy to read and entertaining
novel with nicely imagined creatures from other worlds and a running commentary
from them on the faults of humankind which might have upset the late, great
Gene Roddenberry, Deep Space Dreaming works as entertainment. I highly
recommend it.
EXCERPT
As
her eyes opened and the early rays of the simulated daylight bombarded her
senses, a cry of disappointment escaped Jenni's rosy, swollen lips. She reached
up a hand and touched the tender flesh, feeling where the pressure of rough
lips had assaulted them with desperate fervor as she bid a passionate farewell
only moments prior. It seemed so real, her head throbbed where it struck a rock
and her fingers gently explored the spot. Gasping Jenni felt the tender swell
of the lump and recalled how she lost her footing on the rock. Her dream
returned as it did each and every night. Yet this time it changed; this time he
had been there. He revealed himself, no longer content to linger in the shadows
of her mind.
It
was a dream that haunted Jenni's every waking moment, pulling her back to
blessed slumber each night. Her days were spent moving from task to task in a
kind of trance, her mind elsewhere, thinking of the vivid dreams that were
becoming more and more real.
Jenni's
colleagues noticed a change in her in recent weeks. They commented on the way
her pallid skin contrasted with the dark circles that rimmed her pale blue
eyes. Their concern was touching to a girl who had no remaining family. Jenni,
at the tender age of twenty three, was the youngest navigational pilot assigned
to a seeker vessel. Her grades at the University of Holborn 4 had been
exemplary. At her post on Chicago 3, Jenni was in charge of navigation. Her
role was to patrol and seek out rebels who may be harbored among the, thus far
unchartered, planets of the Romeo Zone.
She
was content with her lot. She loved to charter the planets and stars, marveling
at the beauties of the universe. Jenni loathed the created atmospheres of the
planetary domes. She longed for the freedom to explore a planet such as the one
in her dreams where fresh air prevailed and greenery surrounded her. The feel
of her bare feet on the soft, damp grass appeared to her as real as the
constant presence that eluded her until last night. For last night, the bare
chested man sought her out and made himself known to her.
The
dreams started shortly after the tragic death of her parents. Jenni was
eighteen. She had just begun her space pilot training and was awaiting her
first leave. She planned to spend time with her parents on their home world of
Texas 9, in the Lima Zone, when news of their demise reached her. Jenni's grief
had been raw. Her tears fell relentlessly and none of her classmates could
rouse her from her mourning. Sleep brought her only comfort as it blocked out
the pain that ripped through her heart. At first, Jenni dreamed of a world
cloaked in mist that swirled and moved in mysterious patterns around her. She
sensed mountain ranges looming through the vapor, but no concrete images would
form in her mind. Each wakening, she would try in vain to recreate the land she
conjured in her dreaming. After many nights, hills and valleys had taken shape
and Jenni felt a calmness that aided her sleep and refreshed her tired mind.
Each night she would long for slumber to engulf her so she could escape from
the metal world in which she resided to the landscapes of her dreams.
Time
passed and the dream did not fade; rather the world grew around her. New life
sprung up as flowers and streams appeared. Jenni was soon among the fragrant
growth, strolling through gardens that seemed to be hers alone. Small flying
creatures buzzed softly in her ear as gentle breezes caressed her face. The
grass beneath her feet was as soft as the covers on her bed and she reveled in
the sensation of sinking her toes into its lush pile.
The
man appeared one night at the edges of her consciousness as if watching her
wonder and contentment. She tried to turn her head and observe him fully, but
he remained elusive and distant. Jenni could feel it was a male presence. She
didn't know how but she just knew. Each waking, Jenni would try to recapture
her dream; try to piece together the puzzle of his identity. As he continued to
observe her, Jenni felt a sense of peace settle upon her. His presence somehow
brought comfort to her pain and loneliness. She tried to engage him, tried to
draw him into her dream more fully. She sensed a deep reluctance, a wave of
regret that left her breathless. In the dawn, Jenni would awaken, her face wet
with tears as she mourned for her own loss as well as a loss she could not
explain.
With
time, Jenni began to learn how to move freely within her dream. No longer was
she an observer of her own actions but in control of them. Each night she would
seek out new wonders, new glens and pools in which she would frolic. Each
night, the same benevolent force regarded her conduct with silent appraisal.
One
night, not long after she had been assigned to Chicago 3, Jenni's dreams
changed. She drifted off to sleep as usual, eager to return to the land where
she roamed free. Finding herself beside her favorite pool, Jenni shed her loose
white shift and stepped naked into the crystal blue water. The edge of the pool
was shelved, allowing her to stand waist high in the water. Beyond the rocky
ledge the pool opened into a deep clear lagoon. The motion of her body in the
still pool caused gentle ripples that lapped against her silky skin. Enjoying
the sensation, Jenni threw back her head and laughed with unbounded joy. She
paused as an unfamiliar sound reached her ears. It was a low rumble as if an
animal growled in the dense trees beyond. Waiting to hear if anything was
approaching, Jenni held her breath. When no further sound shattered the
peaceful glade, she continued with her bathing. Dipping herself under the water
then submerging, she repeated the pattern, finally emerging breathlessly at the
surface. Flicking her long strawberry blond hair so it cascaded down the sun
kissed flesh on her back, Jenni shivered. Chilled by the depth of the water,
she decided to exit the pool and restore her body temperature. The large,
smooth rocks that circled the pool provided a place to lay and feel the warmth
of the sun on her bare flesh, and she eagerly climbed upon them, stretching out
and basking in the glow of the fiery orb. As usual the perpetual presence
lingered out of her reach, just at the edge of her vision, elusive yet
constant.
The
sun quickly did its work, and Jenni was soon aching for the feel of the cool
water once again. She stood up, this time with the thought of diving from the
rocks into depth of the pool. Smooth and slippery, the rocks proved to be a
hazard for the adventurous diver as her foot slipped and she fell into the
water, striking her head on the rock as she tumbled.
As
water rushed into her body, quickly filling her lungs, Jenni sensed a blackness
overwhelm her. Her eyes closed as she lost consciousness. Unsure if she were
still dreaming, Jenni felt two strong hands pull her from the water across the
hard surface of the rocks and onto the soft blanket of the grassy bank. Unable
to open her eyes yet fully aware, she coughed as a deluge of water travelled
through her body, anxious to make its escape. The same two hands turned her on
her side as water spewed unceremoniously from her mouth. Gasping for air, Jenni
forced her eyes open against the glare of the sun. Two dark eyes looked back at
her from under a scowling set of eyebrows.
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