Pilot Kira Jensen simply wanted to avoid being mindwiped by her own people. Developing feelings for Commander Tal Kaegen—the enemy she’d shot down—well, that was a complication she didn’t need.When she tried to convince him to divulge the Net codes, Tal offered her his name. His name! There is nothing more sacred in Serrissian culture, and he offered it to her … a Deridian pilot he didn’t know, a … didn’t know, a woman with a history so heinous he’d never understand let alone look at her with desire again. Kira had no choice but to run—from the responsibility of that offering and her past, but mostly from the man who captivated her.
Now, her superiors are forcing her to spy on Tal, on an isolationist, military-run world with outdated notions toward women and technology. No one wants her there, except one very frustrating and handsome Commander who tempts her beyond all reason. Tal trusts her implicitly—even though he shouldn’t. When assassinations, infighting and a mole threaten his command, Kira puts everything on the line for him. She has nothing to lose, except her heart, the one part of her she’s determined to keep as far from Tal as possible.
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Loved it! Who doesn’t want to read a good romp through space that includes super-secret codes, a mystery mole, a rescue of the love of the hero’s life, a traitor to a planet, a heroine REALLY good with knives, a bad guy who is nasty as hell, and a hero who is arrogant yet amazingly romantic at the same time? Oh, I forgot about the political intrigue and Council member whack-a-mole, puppets and puppet masters, stinky flowers to honor the dead, and siblings who get along like, well, siblings. And a psychedelic bracelet. All of this is as specific and general as I can make it without spoilers. You want explanations? You’ll have to read the book. Yes, there are declarations of love, explosions, intrigue, mystery, espionage, betrayal, and romance. But anyone can write those tropes. It’s the moments in between and the special details that make The Traitor’s Touch stand out as a great read.
From the action-packed opening to the final chapter, this sci-fi romance has it all: intrigue, great world-building, and a heroine & hero you’re rooting for as they race to figure out whom to trust and whether the bond being forged between them, symbolized by the magical, ancient threads of the kenut on Kira’s wrist, is strong enough to hold. This feels like the start of a great series: one in which there truly is a fate worse than death, the living death that is mindwipe.
I received an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
I loved this book! We’re dumped right into the action and it doesn’t stop.
Julie is a great author who knows how to spin the web of the story just enough to keep you guessing. There’s lots of intrigue. Don’t miss it!
A fantastic debut. The Traitor’s Touch drew me in from page one and held me until the whirlwind ending. If you enjoy creative world-building, romance, suspense, juicy subplots and steamy love scenes, this is the book for you. Can’t wait for Book 2. Follow this author!
Julie has another hit with the beginning of this series. Tal & Kira have an attraction to each other from the moment they meet after she shoots them out of the air. He’s gets captured by her people the Deridians & she’s used to help him escape so that they can get the codes to bypass the security net his people, the Serrissians, have in place to protect their planet. After he escapes, she’s branded a traitor & sent in to be a spy on him to get the codes. She doesn’t know that she’s a pawn, but she’s determined to do what she’s told in order to save her brother from being mindwiped. She just finds it harder & harder as her feelings for him continue to grow.
The characters are well written & each is unique. You get lots of backstory on Kira to help you understand why she is the way she is. Tal is quite complex as he has multiple sides to him that has to be presented. This story has a little bit of everything–intrique, deception, action, steaminess, & a HEA.
Wow what a fast pace read that will have you on the edge of your seat and you will be wanting to read the next story of this series..