Enemy Within

September 20, 2010
Political intrigue, titled aristocrats, duels, xenobiology, and starship captains feature in Burnard's over-the-top SF romance debut. Capt. Ari Idylle lost her command after being imprisoned, tortured, and inexplicably released by the alien Chekydran. When a small band of men seizes her father's ship while it's engaged in a scientific expedition, Ari butts heads with the band's captain, Cullin Seaghdh, who proves uncannily capable of manipulating her. Ari finds Cullin both arrogant and attractive as they work together to evade a Chekydran ship hot on their trail, but when Ari learns that her former commanders have placed a remote-controlled bomb in her head, she no longer knows who to trust. The ending is marred by a grotesque scene of sexualized violence, but readers will love the powerful emotion and futuristic costume-drama trappings.

November 15, 2010
After her release from captivity under a ruthless alien race known for leaving no survivors, starship captain Ari is convinced shes damaged beyond repair. Since shes been stripped of her command, shes been flying her fathers science ship. When its hijacked by pirates, Ari is startled to discover that their handsome leader might be after not the shipbut her! The bedrock of Burnards tale is a classic romance plot, complete with mistaken identity, love at first sight, and a smoldering slow-burn build to a lovely, if fluffy, ending. But it is buried within layers of far less cuddly sci-fi. Aris psychological and physical torment is brutal, and her involvement in the political intrigue between three warring factions grinds along at a jarring pace. Ari is a female protagonist in the mold of the foremost broken girl soldier, Battlestar Galacticas Lt. Kara Starbuck Thrace. In fact, Burnard references iconic sci-fi fare throughout, making this a familiar but enjoyable ride for readers looking for a blend of sci-fi and romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)