This novella is a sequel to Gardner’s Hunter’s Moon, in which Alliana and her Sha-Shiri meet and fall in love. The heroine of Hunter’s Mate is Victoria, Alliana’s daughter.

Though Victoria has always wanted to meet her father’s people, she hadn’t planned for it to be as a captive in a test breeding program organized by one political faction of the Sha-Shiri. Her soon-to-be-mate, Kash-Koori, didn’t particularly care whether she wanted to be part of the program or not; in any case, he would do his duty. His duty, however, is not precisely what it might seem to be ...

I have to admit that I enjoyed the author’s first story in this universe, and I quite liked this sequel. Though it is helpful to have read that first novella, Hunter’s Mate stands alone very well. The author has given us a believable SF plot, wedded it to an erotic romance, and merged the two very skillfully. Her writing style is clear and descriptive, making it a pleasure to read, especially with the gems of humor scattered throughout the story. I liked the heroine Victoria -- she’s very straightforward and assertive, and is in general, a very attractive character. Kash-Koori seems to be not quite as sophisticated as Victoria (or maybe those human women just develop earlier than alien men ...), but he is a great hero, intelligent, brave, and sexy. The sex scenes are all between a male and female, and are graphic and erotic in a straightforward way. Hunter’s Mate is another fascinating peek at alien romance, and fans of SF romance will love it!

Reviewed by: Jean