WICKED HARVEST - Anitra Lynn McLeod
Kensington Aphrodisia
ISBN: 0-7582-3533-X
ISBN 13: 978-0-7582-3533-6
August 2009
Erotic Science Fiction Romance

The planet Diola

After three seasons as the Harvester, Chur Zenge is so disillusioned by his post that only his dedication to his duty enables him to perform his tasks.  On the day of the Harvest, Chur relieves the maidens of their virginity, allowing them to become fully realized citizens, and to search out their bondmates.  The tales of the erotic pleasures the Harvester enjoys have turned out to be just that: tales.  Only by claiming a bondmate will Chur be able to achieve satisfaction, but he is too honorable a man to lay claim to a woman who may already love someone else. 

During his third ceremony however, things change when the final sacrifice is his paratanist, his personal servant, and the “brain” behind his position.  It is only when the paratanist lays herself out on the table that Chur realizes the servant is even a woman, and her startling sensuality is an even bigger shock.  In spite of the drugs that prevent him from reaching climax, the moment he enters Enovese he is unable to control himself.  The penalty for a paratanist to lose her virginity is death, as is the penalty for deflowering her.  Yet Enovese’s solution: to claim her as bondmate, would trap him the very way he never wanted to trap another.  Chur has a different solution – to keep hidden the change in their relationship, and punish her in every pleasurable way possible.

WICKED HARVEST is an intriguing and erotic science fiction romance.  For five thousand years the people of Diola have followed the ancient ways and the myths surrounding the Harvesters have made it an enviable position.  Chur devoted every aspect of his life to becoming the strongest warrior in order to become the Harvester, only to find out that much of the myth is untrue.  Enovese was raised at the tanist house, trained from birth to serve her masters, speak only when spoken to, and remain hidden at all costs.  Destined to die a virgin, and with no choice about anything in her life, Enovese wants more, and from the moment she meets Chur, she knows he is the one who will change things for her.  The sex between them is intense, but Chur is too angry over Enovese trying to take advantage of him to be fair. 

As the story progresses, both Chur and Enovese struggle with the discontent with their stations in life, but can they change five thousand years of tradition?  Intrigue abounds as Chur starts to question some of the rituals and, for the first time since he took over as Harvester, a challenger arises.  Though a bit different from the typical romance, WICKED HARVEST is a riveting tale that is sure to please.

Jennifer Bishop