Recently out of rehab, Sasha James is determined to keep her head down, complete her parole and never touch amber again. The chip in her neck controls her cravings for the highly addictive drug, but also tracks her every move. Not that she goes anywhere other than work and the halfway house she calls home—a far cry from her luxurious former life as lover of the mining colony's top drug dealer, Guy Christiansen.
Agent Nathan Sterling has no desire to see Sasha fall back into amber, but his sister has become Guy's latest conquest and the unexpectedly attractive Sasha is the key to getting her back. So in exchange for an introduction, he offers Sasha the one thing she can't refuse—her freedom. From the chip, her parole and even the planet if she wants. Though he would be sorry to see her go…
Torn between her growing attraction to Nathan, fear of Guy and the allure of amber, Sasha accepts. But who will save her if Guy refuses to let her go a second time?
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a Sci-Fi romance.
Linnea Sinclair used to be my “go to” author for everything Sci-Fi, but it’s
been a few years since she’s published anything. I may have just found a new
author to replace my Linnea Sinclair addiction. It’s Cathy Pegau, and her
recent release, Caught in Amber is balls to the walls awesome. Cathy also writes
Sci-Fi Lesbian Romance, which was her debut, Rulebreaker in 2011. Caught in
Amber is and one of the best Sci-Fi Romances I’ve
read in recent memory.
Caught in Amber takes place in the same word
introduced in Rulebreaker (which I haven’t read and must rectify). We’re introduced
to the heroine, Sasha, as she’s sitting at a bar having a drink. Sasha has been
out on parole for eight months. She used to be in the Nevarro Correctional Rehabilitation
Center where she spent the last five years as her punishment and recovery as an amber addict. Amber is a big illegal drug of choice on Nevarro, and her
ex-lover, Guy Christiansen is the top dealer of it. Sasha’s more than happy
to stay far, far away from Guy because she holds him responsible for her
getting to the drug. But then Nathan Sterling forces his way into her
life. Nathan needs Sasha’s help. It appears that most of the women Guy has been
with after Sasha left him not only look much like her in appearance, but end up
dead because of their addiction to amber. Nathan’s younger sister, Kylie works
for Guy and he’s afraid Kylie will be another victim of Guy's. Nathan believes
Guy is still in love with Sasha, and she can help save Kylie, but must approach
Guy about a business deal with Nathan. Sasha is dead set against seeing Guy
again but Nathan can reduce to terms of her parole and get rid of the chip in
her neck that tracks her and controls her amber cravings. If she’s successful in helping Nathan, she can leave
Navarro and her unfortunate past behind.
Sasha decides to help Nathan because she wants to
get back at Guy for him throwing her away like garbage. But when she walks into
the lion’s den, so to speak, she may have been incorrect in her assumption
regarding Guy. At the time she went to rehab, she was heavily under the influence of amber, and
what she vaguely remembers is different from what Guy tells her that happens.
She sees with her own eyes that Guy does still care about her and knowing the
only way she can get Guy to welcome Nathan into the business is to pretend she
wants to rebuild their relationship. Guy is more than thrilled.
Nathan isn’t thrilled with Sasha’s act and is
worried she could be in much more danger than he first thought. He no longer
believes that Sasha is an end to a means and doesn’t want her hurt. At first he
isn’t sure she can pull the ruse off, but she surprises himm but both must stay in their roles or suffer the
consequences.
Not only is Sasha being forced back into the world
that almost destroyed her, but now she has Nathan who not only can give her the
freedom she longs for but the affection she so desperately needs.
Caught in Amber is everything I look for in a
romance. The characters her are very dimensional and rich with their
personalities. You really connect with Sasha and the grief she’s going through.
Everything is well balanced with her from beginning to end.
Nathan comes across more as a typical hero you find
in most romances. But who really shines here is Guy, the villain of the story.
I really connected with him and I found myself sympathetic to how he was
portrayed because it’s obvious how much he cares for Sasha, although he's this
big drug lord who uses people to get what he wants. Part of me wanted to see
flashbacks of them together, to get an idea of how Sasha ended up with him, how
she became addicted to amber and how she became
bitter and lonely.
I really can’t find anything wrong with Caught in
Amber. Cathy hit a home run with this one. Her writing is engaging and grabs
you from the first page. Also the love scenes sizzle and the chemistry and
attraction between Sash and Nathan is very believable.
Caught in Amber is one book I’m recommending
everyone read. This is a book I want to hug and I’m proud to say one I wouldn’t
mind having babies with. Carina Press has a good thing with Cathy, and if Caught
in Amber is proof of Cathy’s writing skills, I can see her taking the Sci-Fi
genre by storm. Caught in Amber is one book I’m urging readers to grab ASAP. “It’s
so good” is the mantra that kept running through my head as I read. (Carina Press, $5.39)
Final Grade: A-
Bookpushers
Diane Dooley
Tracy's Place
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