The Commanders' Mate

After seeing Commander Karter in several books and watching him interact with Dara (Chloe, Seth, and Dorian's daughter), we have begged Grace for him to get a mate and she answered us with this great story. (To understand my review, I just want to put it out there, I read for story and could care less about the sexy times) This story drops us right into the middle of the Hive war, as mentioned in the previous books, the Battlegroup Karter is actively holding back the Hive in sector 437. Karter was tested years and years ago and has been too busy to have any thoughts of a bride. Ronan is also a Commander and is just as intense as Karter due to the heavy weight of responsibility demanded by their positions. Erica has always loved the stars and jumped at her chance to be among them, especially after her testing as part of a Prillon sandwich (her words, not mine). This story is told from all three POV and we get to see just how tortured Karter is and how much weight is on his very broad shoulders. I really loved Karter and Ronan and even though Erica is just a feisty as the other Interstellar Brides, I guess I just wasn't as impressed with her as I was with the other brides - she does love both of them and fights for a true mating but that's about it. BUT, Karter and Ronan make up for any deficiencies I felt Erica had. The new development in the war is a major game changer and the Coalition is going to have their hands full dealing with it. I love this series and while I have received advanced copies of these books (yes, I joined Grace's review team to get my hands on these books as soon as possible), I have purchased every single one. Purchasing these books and writing reviews so that others have a chance to discover this talented author's work is my way of supporting her and my habit :)

Us die hard Grace fans have waited so long for this book. Karter has been woven in so many other past books. I felt like I “knew him”. He was nothing like I thought he would be. Karter to me was always so in control and sure of himself. I remember in past books when he had been softened by little Dara. He was honorary Uncle/babysitter. How he doted on her had me thinking he’d be more of a romantic but he wasn’t as soft and warm as I expected. You got to know what was really going on in his mind, how he felt, his worries and even his flaws & insecurities. Ronan was an amazing second!! To me he was more self assured and knew exactly what he wanted, then went for it. They balance each other out well for Erica. I really liked her character as well. She also knew what she wanted and wasn’t going to be pushed away and sat on a shelf like a China Doll. She was spirited, yet not someone who had to prove themselves and be this hard ass temperamental woman/mate that some of the past female characters have been. Through out the book you see how she gives strength to Karter and soothes his inner termoil. He cares so deeply for his people it tears him up inside when he looses another and another in the long never ending Hive War. Little by little every death takes a piece of his soul and hardens him more and more. I loved knowing on the outside he was cool, calm and collected in his leadership, but inside he was chaos. That was the part in past books that we weren’t given insight to. I liked it. To not give away a spoiler I’ll be vaugue, if you read the book you’ll know my reference here. The collars had me upset at the beginning but then I understood why and it really was the catalyst to bring it all together. Another great addition to my favorite all time book series by my favorite author. Keep them coming Grace. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

MAY THE GODS WITNESS AND PROTECT YOU As with the other Interstellar Bride books by Ms. Grace Goodwin, they read great as a continuing saga, but each book will read well as a stand-alone. But, if you have been a loyal fan, you were cheering for Commander Karter being matched with a mate—even if now he was unsure if that should even take place. Throw in a surprise from his past and a strong, determined woman from Earth, and you have an amazing story. In the middle of a disaster in another sector, loss of lives, loss of another Commander and friend and to come face to face with a lifelong friend that you believed to be dead is shocking. Not near as much as a surprise as to be told that you mate from Earth was being transported to this ship, in the middle of a war zone. Commanders Karter and Wothar had always agreed that they would share a mate the way Prillon males do. Now, after all this time, a match has been found and in transport to him—will he send her away? Will Ronan still expect to be his second? “We will protect her. We are a danger to her. I want her. I vowed to be your second and I will not renege on that. It may have been five years since we’ve seen each other last, but my honor has not changed. Nor has yours.” Erica arrives at transport and is met by two warriors. She knows the way of Prillons, and she is shocked to learn that both these warriors are Commanders, not just Prillon warriors. “I am Commander Makaed Karter of Battlegroup Karter. I am your mate, your primary male.” He sighed, looked past me, behind my shoulder. “The Prillon warrior whose lap you are upon is your second, Commander Ronan Wothar.” “A mate is cherished, loved, protected and possessed by her two mates. Because Prillons are mostly fighters, death is a strong possibility. Having a second means a mate will never be without a male. For love, for children, for their future.” Let the battles begin! OMG, Karter is a hardened, war battled warrior, but so is Ronan. He has every reason why he can’t take a mate—why he shouldn’t take a mate—but then Erica doesn’t see his reasoning, she accepts what the testing proved, they are 99% matched. There is no doubt there is chemistry, and sexual desire for each other and these warriors will claim him sexually but not with a mating collar. She is hurt and a bit angry, and she refuses to back down, calling them on the floor for it. “Makaed Karter was a silent storm, his emotions more powerful than I ever could have imagined. Pride in his people. Honor and humility at being trusted to lead them. Fear that he would let them down. Self-loathing for what he perceived as his own weakness, at his need for something to have for himself.” All I can say is this story was just right—Erica is the right Earth female for Kaed and Ronan—and the three of them compliment each other in strength and desires. The story is full of mystery, suspense, danger, angst, passion, and packed with sizzling erotic scenes between the three mates. “Life out here was wild and messy and full of surprises. Full of love. I had everything I ever dreamed of.”