Pleasure Quest

Marilyn Lee & Mary Winter & Christine Warren
Ellora's Cave (2006)
ISBN 1843605171
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (2/07)

The “Pleasure Quest” trilogy is published on-line by Ellora’s Cave.  The stories are erotica and contain strong sexual content.   Each story has the common theme of occurring in a world other than Earth. 

The first story, “The Quest:  Hunter’s Passion,” was written by Marilyn Lee.  Jemi Hunter’s husband Cody died after sustaining injuries in an accident five years ago.  Before he passed away he promised that he would find a way to return to her.  Finally, she has had contact from him and he wants to meet her on Valentines Day at an old shack.  Cody shows up in a different form and transports Jemi to another planet where she has to share a body with a female named Jeroni.  It turns out that Cody has found a way back by sharing a body with Hunter who appears to be a cross between a panther and a lion.  I found that the story was often confusing as I tried to figure out what was happening with Cody and Jemi, Cody and Jeroni, Jemi and Hunter and Hunter and Jeroni.  I also had trouble with Hunter being an animal; even he was an intelligent form from another planet. 

The second story in the trilogy, “Return from Exile,” is written by Mary Winter.  Life is good for Major Rina Corvalano as she is on the fast track in the Yelexian Military and is in love with one of her junior officers, Ter.  One night when she is having trouble sleeping, she goes for a walk and accidentally interrupts the Emperor’s son as he is making his way into the Emperor’s quarters, obviously intent on killing him.  She disarms him and by is brought up on charges before the council for attacking a member of the Royal Family.  Even though she was protecting her Emperor, Rina is disgraced and exiled from Yelexia.  Her biggest disappointment is in Ter who abandons her too. 

Three and a half years go by and Rina has become successful in hauling cargo around the galaxy when Ter comes back into her life.  He has been sent by the Yelexian Council to retrieve Rina.  The Emperor has passed away and his son has taken the throne.  Rina is forced to return to Yelexia with Ter to find out her fate.  On the way back she and Ter rekindle their relationship not knowing what the outcome of the council will be.  I found “Return from Exile” to be well written and enjoyable. 

The final story in the trilogy, “The Offering,” written by Christine Warren takes us time and planet.  Major Evenaril Cartright has been an investigator with the Protectorate Security Force for five years and has recently been disillusioned with it.  Because of the problem that she has become, she receives a new assignment.  She is being sent undercover as an Ankharan nitara, a human sex slave.  Her assigned target is Michael Taggart, a free trader with ties to the rebellion.  Eve is supposed to plant false information on his computer on his ship.  To accomplish this, Eve must first be genetically altered into a nitara, a woman with perfect attributes for Ankharan’s.  Once this is accomplished, she receives a short training before she is given as a gift to Michael Taggart.  This well-written story from “Pleasure Quest” is very fast-paced and full of surprises. 

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