Love's Captive by Myra Nour is available from The 1stBooks Library.

Serena never expected to be taking a trip to another planet after a wrestling match against Olga. 

However that is just what happens when she finds herself being kidnapped by aliens and taken to the planet Volarn.

Her first attempts at escape, together with Olga who has also been abducted, bring about no success at all and it is soon obvious that they are on a huge spaceship with dozens of other women who have been taken from Earth.

Rhamus is the king of Volarn and now it is his responsibility to solve the problem of infertility which is now the curse of many of their women.  Deciding that the best hopes of success lie with the females of Earth he illegally hires kidnappers to abduct a number of women who will used as mates for his people.

The women taken must be tall (for Volarnian's are naturally taller than the people of Earth) and in good physical condition.  They must also have no family ties on Earth and so not missed.  His own personal preference is that no women with red hair are amongst the number.  It is unfortunate therefore that Serena is a flame-haired beauty who is more than a match for him.

Serena's first impression on Rhamus does not go well, not only is her hair colour distasteful to him, she is also wearing the uniform of the Getra, the women warriors of his planet.  The uniform having been slipped into the pile of clothes to choose from by his sneaky younger sister Kasha.

But when Rhamus goes through the Tarthra Choosing Ceremony he is drawn to Serena and he cannot stop himself from making her his queen and then his wife.

Serena is not too happy about this but her resistance is useless against the powers that Rhamus has and her own sudden feelings for her captor.

Settling into her new life as queen Serena has to combat against the jealousy of Kasha, and to keep her eyes open for a chance to escape.  After calling a truce with Olga, they and Nicole - a woman kidnapped by mistake, launch an escape attempt.

But while Serena may be able to envisage escaping from the planet she cannot so easily see herself escaping from her feelings for Rhamus and his people, most of whom are friendly and helpful towards her and her friends.

However when Serena is kidnapped once more, this time by an enemy of Rhamus she is forced to face her most hidden fears in order to start to rebuild her life.

Rhamus meanwhile must learn to conquer his prejudices and accept Serena for what she is despite her hair colour.

A great story which portrays very well another planet similar to Earth but still vastly different.  I could have done without the giant spider like creatures though - I say while trying to discover where the one that was crawling around the ceiling here earlier has gone.  I admit to a phobia about all creep-crawlies and especially spiders - reading about giant ones is not something I really enjoyed.

I did feel that the ending could have been different.  I was disappointed that Serena and Rhamus could not come up with another solution to the sterile problem other than to continue with the original plan of Rhamus and kidnap more women.  However since there are sequels in the works perhaps this issue is one that can be dealt with later.

A good read with very likeable characters, even the kidnappers :-)

I look forward to reading the sequels.
 

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Love's Captive by Myra Nour is available from The 1stBooks Library

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