Deidre Knight, Parallel Heat

Parallel Heat

Deidre Knight

Signet, October 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 0451219651

In the future, Refaria warrior Marco McKinley thinks any wormhole would do, as he drives lost on some highway on some remote planet called earth. He stops at some dive deciding to get drunk, when beautiful soldier Thea Haven appears out of nowhere to take his virginity.

New Timeline but in the present, Refaria warrior Marco McKinley is on planet earth to help his liege Jared regain the throne. Loyal to a fault, Marco soon finds himself desiring Central Intelligence Advisor Thea Haven, Jared's cousin, who is upset that the human Kelsey usurped what she thought, was her divine right to marry the king. Neither knows they have met in another timeline; both know this is not a good time, as the dictators who overthrew Jared on Refaria are preparing for war on earth. Still, desire flows, and Marco has been warned about twists, fate, and alternate timelines. If he chooses Thea he will betray his king; if he chooses Jared, he will betray his heart.

The second "Parallel" military science fiction romance (see Parallel Attraction) is a terrific complex thriller starring two strong protagonists struggling with what is best for their king and their people, which seem to mean separation rather than life-mating into an oneness. The storyline is action-packed, with readers believing an outer space civil war has come to earth, even as much as the alternate timelines seem genuine. With several fascinating twists that accentuates string theory, fans will be hooked from the first scar-faced encounter to the final shtkasa like roar.