The Claiming of Moira Shine
I originally read North Wolf first and enjoyed it a great deal, when her next title came out I had to check it out. The blurb and excerpt I read did not really appeal to me. It sounded very political and a bit dry (I hate any type of politics in romances) However, because I did enjoy North Wolf I decided to try it.
I should also warn that there is a fair bit of violence in this novel, it's also romantic so be prepared for some hot scenes too.
It is a long book, set in a futuristic/alternate world where the earth is dying. Pollution and such have taken their toll. Aliens from another world have invaded, the remaining inhabitants of earth are being rounded up and sold into slavery to the Kinnians.
Moira is among the last to be captured and shipped out, she was going to go into slavery but since an incident with a guard who ended up dead she was to be put to death.
However she is saved from that by Lord Marin, who is determined to save her to be his sex slave. Moira, in the end tries to take her life to escape.
Lord Marin is now in a dilemma. Not only can he not understand how she could try and do this, it's a foreign concept to them, but if word got out of Moira trying to kill herself he could loose everything.
He approaches Anath, an adviser to the King who has had experience with difficult slaves. Anath, refuses to help, however he says he would take the girl and make the problem disappear for Marin. Marin eventually accepts his offer as he cannot stand to loose face and turns Moira over to him.
Anath doesn't want Moira as a sex slave but wants her to spy for him. This is much more preferable to Moira and she accepts her spying duties gratefully. She acts as a kitchen slave and can freely go where Anath would be questioned.
Moira and Anath's relationship builds over time. The characterization is great. As I said I'm not interested in political intrigue in romances but it fit in well here and wasn't too much, as in it didn't take away from the relationship growing between Anath and Moira.
