ONE THOUSAND BRIDES

Review

ONE THOUSAND BRIDES – Solange Ayre

ISBN: 1-4199-1028-9

April 2007

Erotic Science Fiction Romance – Short Story

Rated: S-ensuous

On board an alien spaceship

Thirty-nine year old Janis Stone is finally getting married. She never thought it would happen but it is. Janis has stopped by the bridal shop to try on her wedding dress to see if the starvation diet she’s been on for months is working. Janis isn’t going to let anything spoil the wedding she’s always dreamed of –not even her fiancé Gary’s comment that she’s too fat. While trying on her dress an announcement comes over the loud speaker – but it’s not limited to the shop where Jan is trying on her dress.

"People of Earth…" the announcement begins… and then proceeds to announce that due to the death of their females “they” will be taking one thousand brides from earth.

Jan is sure it’s got to be a joke, until she passes out, and when she wakes up it’s in an alien infirmary on board their spaceship.

Secondus Delos of the Tawny Spotted Pelt is a doctor on board the spaceship, and the official liaison to “the brides”. Delos is the first alien Jan meets and something about the man – er - alien intrigues her. Jan learns the aliens who abducted her, and one thousand other earth woman, are Terilians. The Terilians are nearly identical to humans, with the exception of the sharp fangs, furry ears – and the ability to leap across a room like a cat. Jan finds herself drawn to Delos, despite the fact that he’s an alien – but her attraction and desire for the sexy doctor my all be for naught – since the Primus, Thaddeus has his sights on her for his bride.

Once Jan has recovered sufficiently from the transport from earth she meets the other brides, and is quickly chosen as their leader, and the one to act as a liaison with the Terilians. While initially Jan and the others want only to return to Earth, when they learn that it’s impossible they must decide if they will willingly choose to be brides and mates of a Terilian male or fight to the death to avoid that fate. Jan would be willing if Delos could be her choice, especially after a few sensual sessions in Delos’s arms convinces her there is no place she’s rather be. However, a Secondus can never have first choice of brides – even if the bride in questions desires it.

Will the brides find happiness in the arms of their feline mates, and will Jan find herself bound to a man she doesn’t want, or will she and Delos find a way to be together?

ONE THOUSAND BRIDES is a fun and fast read. The characters are well developed and the premise of the story is unique. I quite liked Janis and Delos and was rooing for them to find a way to break the rules. The sensual encounters between them are romantic as well as extremely heated. Secondary characters, while portrayed in enough detail to allow the reader to get a broader sense of the Terilians and the woman taken from earth, are not central to the story. The dialogue is crisp and the character interaction is amusing and sexy. With an almost comic book beginning, ONE THOUSAND BRIDES quickly grabs the reader’s interest and the developing relationship between Jan and Delos provides the meat of the story, carrying the reader along on the rocky road to happily ever after – and includes some really hot sex!

For a highly entertaining read, I highly recommend Solange Ayre’s ONE THOUSAND BRIDES.

Terrie Figueroa