Title:
Heart Of The
Betrayed

Author:
Angela Verdenius

Published By:
Wings ePress

ISBN #:
Electronic:
1-59088-195-8

Print:
1-59088-816-2

Release Date:
Available Now

Format:
Electronic, Print

Can a woman betrayed ever regain the ability to trust?

Dana is a Reeka Warrior Woman. Her fighting skills are honed to perfection; she is strong, stubborn and unshakable. Dana has gained a faultless reputation as a bodyguard because she covers all bases. Trusting no one else, Dana alone is responsible for protecting the lives of many intergalactic leaders over the past few years. As her father Diago abandoned her at an early age, Dana has learnt the hard way that males are untrustworthy. She believes that any woman that makes herself vulnerable to a male should be prepared for pain and heartache as males inevitably leave. Tall, strong and determined, Garret cannot seem to get the message that Dana is just not interested in him and never will be. It seems that wherever she is the young Daamen trader keeps on turning up. Always going out of his way to try to please Dana, she can't fathom the reason for his persistence.

Dana is summoned to Orkra by her father, a man she has not seen or heard from since she was 6 years old. Her brother, Rominac, has been captured by the Southlanders. Women occupy the Southland area of Orkra. Any males found on their lands are sold at auction as slaves. Males who keep woman as their chattel similarly govern the Northland. When Dana decides to go to the Southland Garret and the Daamen traders offer the use of their spacecraft and accompany her (against her wishes). The spacecraft breaks down and crashes into an unknown part of the Southland. It is only when Garret and another Daamen are captured and are to be sold as sex slaves that Dana begins to realise that her control of the situation has slipped. She also discovers her brother in a jail cell amongst other male slaves. Dana is aghast at the possessiveness rising within her for Garret. She denies to herself that she could have tender feelings for the handsome Daamen, she merely needs to repay him for all of his previous kindnesses… and of course this is why she accepts the challenge issued for a fight to the death to regain ownership of "her" males.

It is always a pleasure to re-visit Angela Verdenius's intergalactic universe filled with the Daamen, Reekas, Bountyhunters and Space Pirates. Heart Of The Betrayed is the third book in Ms Verdenius's Heart and Soul series, but readers do not have to be familiar with the series to enjoy this book. This reader was hooked from the first page. Ms Verdenius gained my interest through her strong characters. Dana, the Reeka gives some clear insights into the reason why she behaves the way she does, her emotions are very close to the surface. She has set very high standards for herself to prove her superiority over the males of her past. Dana holds onto her strong beliefs no matter what challenges the author presents. The Daamen trader, Garret provides a lot of the humour throughout the book. The slow progress he makes with Dana obviously frustrates him and his very male thoughts had me laughing out loud. Sex scenes are used to show Dana's evolution. This reader found these erotic descriptions, ranging from soft and considerate to hot and intense, very true to life. An absolutely recommended book for readers who enjoy futuristic stories!

Reviewed by: Naomi