The first time Sarah sees Tihar, she's a wee bit freaked out. The Askole warrior has tentacles, snakelike features, and black, armored-plated skin. Even weirder, she finds him strangely attractive. Tihar's torso is sculpted perfection and his black scales are actually kind of sexy. Who knew challenging Tihar to combat would start the Askole mating dance?
As the two grow closer, their romance comes to a screeching halt when Askole rebels attack Tihar's home world. He tells Sarah she is his heart's destiny and that he will love her to the end of time, then he abruptly severs their mental bond and disappears. Sarah's left reeling from shock, but she's a Jones and isn't about to let a galactic war stop her from hunting down her mate. Can the two of them find their way back into each other’s arms?
Publisher's Note: The first half of Game On Askole is a prequel to Vexing Voss, and the second part moves forward three years.
New. Favorite. Series.
I fell in love with this book from page 1. The tone is so playful and, frankly, hilariously sarcastic. The humor totally clicked with me, and I had several laugh-out-loud moments.
This is the first book I've read in the series, but I'm absolutely going to double-back and start from the beginning.
The imagery was unreal; I actually felt like I was IN the story, that I could see (and smell) what the characters were experiencing.
But, my most favorite part about the book was Tihar's love and devotion to Sarah. They shared a unique connection, and Gail used that to the couple's advantage in such a perfect way.
I met a lot of fun characters in this story, and I truly can't wait to go back and read their stories or read their future stories as Gail publishes them.
To me, this is one of those series where I don't even need to read the synopsis of the next book; I'm buying it and I know I'm gonna love it!!!
(I received a copy of this book in consideration of an honest review)
I fell in love with this book from page 1. The tone is so playful and, frankly, hilariously sarcastic. The humor totally clicked with me, and I had several laugh-out-loud moments.
This is the first book I've read in the series, but I'm absolutely going to double-back and start from the beginning.
The imagery was unreal; I actually felt like I was IN the story, that I could see (and smell) what the characters were experiencing.
But, my most favorite part about the book was Tihar's love and devotion to Sarah. They shared a unique connection, and Gail used that to the couple's advantage in such a perfect way.
I met a lot of fun characters in this story, and I truly can't wait to go back and read their stories or read their future stories as Gail publishes them.
To me, this is one of those series where I don't even need to read the synopsis of the next book; I'm buying it and I know I'm gonna love it!!!
(I received a copy of this book in consideration of an honest review)
A glittering blue light blossomed in front of us.
Sam gasped, “What the hell?”
“Force field maybe,” I cried.
With a frightened whinny, the horse skidded to a complete stop.
The light faded and a seven-foot-tall medieval knight; complete with black horned helmet and armor stood there.
The horse took one look the knight and started bucking. I flew off and landed on a prickly brush. “Yeow!”
Sam sailed over the horse’s head and crashed into the knight. He, she, or it, just stood there. The black armor seemed to absorb the light until all you saw was its glowing yellow eyes.
“Sonvabitch! That smarts.” I yanked a thorn out of my ass and very carefully climbed to my feet. Was the knight in cahoots with the Tai-Kok or the Coletti? Either way it was bad for us.
Sam stared up at the knight and asked mentally, “Am I seeing things or is that a medieval English knight?”
“It does look like one, but medieval knights don’t carry laser pistols. It’s alien. Got any weapons?”
“A knife. You?”
“Nope.” I eyed the knight. “That armor looks pretty heavy. We should be able to out run him.”
“My thoughts too.” Sam got to her feet.
A deep growly voice asked in my head, “Do you belong to the Jones clan?”
I said out loud, “Oh my God, it’s talking to me Sam.”
“Me, too, and psychically.”
“The vibes I’m getting from it are definitely male.” Goose bumps skittered over my skin. It was like my entire body was being stroked with a feather. “And he’s horny,” I added.
“You think he’s looking for Kaylee?”
I shrugged. “Who knows?”
The knight pushed an emblem on his gauntlet. The helmet shrank away, revealing an alien nightmare. Tentacles squirmed about his snakelike features. His black skin had armor-plated scales. He cocked his head to one side and bared some evil-looking fangs.
“Is that a smile?”
“Could be. I think he’s trying to look friendly,” my cousin said incredulously.
“Friendly?” I chortled. “That smile would send most sensible people running for their lives.”
“Yup. Good thing we aren’t sensible.”
The alien’s red forked tongue slithered over his lips.
We both took a step back. Sam pulled her knife. “If he tries to eat us, I’m slitting his throat.”
The knight’s compelling yellow eyes studied us as he asked again, “Do you belong to the Jones clan?”
Sam sidestepped the question with one of her own, “Who are you?”
“I am called Tihar.”
I could see why Voss had picked him to be my interrogator. Tihar was damn scary looking. “He’s working with the Coletti,” I told Sam and switched to mind talk, “You’re an Askole?”
“I am.” Tihar said proudly.
I casually glanced around for something I could use as a weapon. Nothing but rocks and cactus. “What do you want?”
“I seek females from the Jones clan.” The Askole suddenly picked Sam up.
My cousin stabbed him in the neck with her tactical knife. The blade didn’t even break the skin.
Tihar disarmed Sam and sniffed her. “You smell like Kaylee. Do you share her talent in bed sport?”
“What? No!” Sam squawked in outrage.
Good God, Kaylee’s mental broadcast of her bedroom activities had the entire male population of the galaxy wanting their own hot-to-trot Jones female.
“Hey, knock it off, you pervert.” Sam smacked wildly at the tentacle slithering over her chest. “How do you know Kaylee?”
“We had many adventures on the planet Roma.” Tihar dropped Sam and reached for me.
I ducked under his outstretched arm and took refuge behind a Saguaro cactus. “You do not want to smell me.”
Moving faster than the eye could follow, Tihar zoomed around the cactus and scooped me up. I gasped as he stuck his nose in my armpit.
Tihar inhaled and his tentacles stood straight up. “Gak. You stink worse than Davit blood worms.”
“I do, don’t I?” I couldn’t resist touching Tihar’s face. His skin kinda felt like a rattlesnake’s. Dry and scaly. “Put me down. C’mon, big guy, I don’t like being manhandled.” One of Tihar’s tentacles stung my neck. “Ow!”
“Clever little female, you are disguising your scent.” His tentacle crawled down the front of my jumpsuit. “You are a Jones female with fine breasts.”
Shit! It was like being groped by an octopus. I gripped the silky tentacles and yanked them off my breasts. “On Earth, you don’t put your hands on a woman without permission.”
“Askole mating rituals allow us to touch a chosen female.” A tentacle caressed my face. “So, soft.” Without any warning, Tihar spun me upside down and jammed his face in my crotch.
Sam had the gall to laugh. “Is that romance Askole style?”
God, I hoped not. I punched him in the jaw and shouted mentally, “Stop that!” I rubbed my knuckles. Damn. It was like hitting a brick wall.
The Askole flipped me around. “How else am I to determine if you are fertile?”
“A medical scanner,” I retorted and swatted at another tentacle. “Why do you need to know if I’m fertile?”
“I am looking for a strong female to mate with.”
Oh, hell no. I squirmed frantically. “Put. Me. Down. Now!”
“I will offer three times the bride price for you and the other female.”
“No! We are not for sale,” Sam yelled.
Tihar totally ignored her. “Who is the head of your clan?”
“The Overlord. Release her,” Voss growled. Blood covered the left side of his face.
Oh, thank God. I couldn’t believe how happy I was to see the Battle Commander. Voss, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to throttle me. It wasn’t my fault he forgot to duck.
“I came to this world to find and claim a Jones female. You will not stop me,” Tihar bellowed.
“You can have a Jones female. But not these two. Give Sarah to me.” Voss bared his fangs.
I shot Voss a venomous glare. “You’re giving away Jones women like prizes now? Become our allies and win a hot-to-trot mate?”
“I will fight you for Sarah.” Tihar’s gaze was full of deadly resolve.
Sam rolled her eyes. “Should have known. Testosterone is universal.”
Seizing handfuls of Tihar’s tentacles, I jerked them as hard as I could. “Hey! I’m a warrior. I have killed over eight hundred Tai-Koks in battle. You will treat me with the respect I deserve.” I gave him my best batshit crazy stare. “Got it?”
“Yes, lady warrior.”
“Put me down.” To my utter surprise, Tihar obeyed. I eased away from him.
“I will give the Overlord four times the bride price for this one. She is worthy to be my mate.”
“Lucky, you,” Sam quipped.
Rho popped in, seized Sam and poof. They were gone.
Damn. That was one sneaky move.
His gaze never leaving the Askole, Voss commanded in his perfect English, “Come to me, Sarah.”
I willingly took a step toward the Battle Commander.
Tihar’s enormous armored hand clamped down on my shoulder. “I have claimed this one.”
“Like hell you have,” I snarled. “Let go of me or I will hurt you.”
The Battle Commander tensed and bellowed, “Do not attack Tihar, Sarah. It will signal your interest in mating with him.”
“What? You’re joking? Right?”
“I am not,” Voss responded.
A cackling laugh broke from Tihar. “She has already struck me.”
Voss spat something that sounded like a curse word. “Do you know what you have done?”
“He was sniffing my crotch,” I yelled in exasperation.
Tihar taunted Voss. “The mating dance has begun and not even the Overlord can stop it.”
“No! It hasn’t,” I shouted. “I’m human and your rules don’t apply to me.”
“Your world is now part of the Coletti empire. The Battle Commander knows our customs and failed to properly protect you. As a warrior, you can challenge me to combat.” Tihar’s rather toothy grin was alarming. “Do you dare duel with me?”
I opened my mouth to respond.
Tihar bellowed a terrifying war cry.
“Mwah-hah-hah.” I bellowed back and gave myself a mental head whack. I had watched that minion movie with my five-year-old cousin way too many times.
Voss and Tihar stared at me in utter disbelief.
“What was that?” Voss’s mouth twitched as if he was struggling not to laugh.
Putting on my best poker face, I replied, “My battle cry. Why?”
“The purpose of a war cry is to frighten your enemies. Not reduce them to laughter,” Voss answered.
“I’m a fighter pilot. I seldom engaged in hand-to-hand combat.”
“As my mate, you will need a proper war cry,” Tihar announced.
“Thanks, but I’ve got one. Now prepare to get your ass kicked. Mwah-hah-hah.”
Tihar’s tentacles curled tightly. “It is foolish to think you can beat me, lady warrior. Surrender now.”
My temper flared to life. “Surrender? Not in this lifetime.”
“Think hard before you challenge me.” Tihar touched his gauntlet and his armor simply shrank away. “Do you think you can subdue me?” He stood perfectly still, allowing me to inspect him.
Not a chance in hell, which was why I planned on cheating. A sigh escaped me. Tihar’s torso was sculpted perfection. Thick muscles corded his arms and legs. Who knew black scales could be sexy?
Another tap and Tihar was completely nude. “Can you refuse this?”
My eyes bugged as I stared at Tihar’s super-duper hard-on. Holy cow! Askoles had humanlike penises, humongous balls and no pubic hair. Huh? Would you look at that? Even his man parts had scales. I linked with Sarah. “Get a load of this.”
“Kinda busy. Talk later.”
“Okay, but Tihar is hung like a bull elephant.”
Voss threw his hands up in disgust. “Quit staring at his body. You are only encouraging him, Sarah.”
“He is an eyeful.”
“I am also a master of the thousand delights,” Tihar proclaimed.
Voss crossed his arms and declared, “The only way to become a master is to have had sex with that many females.”
“You’re a man whore?”
“No, a teacher. I have taught many females in the pleasure houses these techniques.” Tihar held out his hand. “Surrender and I will begin your lessons.”
Sam gasped, “What the hell?”
“Force field maybe,” I cried.
With a frightened whinny, the horse skidded to a complete stop.
The light faded and a seven-foot-tall medieval knight; complete with black horned helmet and armor stood there.
The horse took one look the knight and started bucking. I flew off and landed on a prickly brush. “Yeow!”
Sam sailed over the horse’s head and crashed into the knight. He, she, or it, just stood there. The black armor seemed to absorb the light until all you saw was its glowing yellow eyes.
“Sonvabitch! That smarts.” I yanked a thorn out of my ass and very carefully climbed to my feet. Was the knight in cahoots with the Tai-Kok or the Coletti? Either way it was bad for us.
Sam stared up at the knight and asked mentally, “Am I seeing things or is that a medieval English knight?”
“It does look like one, but medieval knights don’t carry laser pistols. It’s alien. Got any weapons?”
“A knife. You?”
“Nope.” I eyed the knight. “That armor looks pretty heavy. We should be able to out run him.”
“My thoughts too.” Sam got to her feet.
A deep growly voice asked in my head, “Do you belong to the Jones clan?”
I said out loud, “Oh my God, it’s talking to me Sam.”
“Me, too, and psychically.”
“The vibes I’m getting from it are definitely male.” Goose bumps skittered over my skin. It was like my entire body was being stroked with a feather. “And he’s horny,” I added.
“You think he’s looking for Kaylee?”
I shrugged. “Who knows?”
The knight pushed an emblem on his gauntlet. The helmet shrank away, revealing an alien nightmare. Tentacles squirmed about his snakelike features. His black skin had armor-plated scales. He cocked his head to one side and bared some evil-looking fangs.
“Is that a smile?”
“Could be. I think he’s trying to look friendly,” my cousin said incredulously.
“Friendly?” I chortled. “That smile would send most sensible people running for their lives.”
“Yup. Good thing we aren’t sensible.”
The alien’s red forked tongue slithered over his lips.
We both took a step back. Sam pulled her knife. “If he tries to eat us, I’m slitting his throat.”
The knight’s compelling yellow eyes studied us as he asked again, “Do you belong to the Jones clan?”
Sam sidestepped the question with one of her own, “Who are you?”
“I am called Tihar.”
I could see why Voss had picked him to be my interrogator. Tihar was damn scary looking. “He’s working with the Coletti,” I told Sam and switched to mind talk, “You’re an Askole?”
“I am.” Tihar said proudly.
I casually glanced around for something I could use as a weapon. Nothing but rocks and cactus. “What do you want?”
“I seek females from the Jones clan.” The Askole suddenly picked Sam up.
My cousin stabbed him in the neck with her tactical knife. The blade didn’t even break the skin.
Tihar disarmed Sam and sniffed her. “You smell like Kaylee. Do you share her talent in bed sport?”
“What? No!” Sam squawked in outrage.
Good God, Kaylee’s mental broadcast of her bedroom activities had the entire male population of the galaxy wanting their own hot-to-trot Jones female.
“Hey, knock it off, you pervert.” Sam smacked wildly at the tentacle slithering over her chest. “How do you know Kaylee?”
“We had many adventures on the planet Roma.” Tihar dropped Sam and reached for me.
I ducked under his outstretched arm and took refuge behind a Saguaro cactus. “You do not want to smell me.”
Moving faster than the eye could follow, Tihar zoomed around the cactus and scooped me up. I gasped as he stuck his nose in my armpit.
Tihar inhaled and his tentacles stood straight up. “Gak. You stink worse than Davit blood worms.”
“I do, don’t I?” I couldn’t resist touching Tihar’s face. His skin kinda felt like a rattlesnake’s. Dry and scaly. “Put me down. C’mon, big guy, I don’t like being manhandled.” One of Tihar’s tentacles stung my neck. “Ow!”
“Clever little female, you are disguising your scent.” His tentacle crawled down the front of my jumpsuit. “You are a Jones female with fine breasts.”
Shit! It was like being groped by an octopus. I gripped the silky tentacles and yanked them off my breasts. “On Earth, you don’t put your hands on a woman without permission.”
“Askole mating rituals allow us to touch a chosen female.” A tentacle caressed my face. “So, soft.” Without any warning, Tihar spun me upside down and jammed his face in my crotch.
Sam had the gall to laugh. “Is that romance Askole style?”
God, I hoped not. I punched him in the jaw and shouted mentally, “Stop that!” I rubbed my knuckles. Damn. It was like hitting a brick wall.
The Askole flipped me around. “How else am I to determine if you are fertile?”
“A medical scanner,” I retorted and swatted at another tentacle. “Why do you need to know if I’m fertile?”
“I am looking for a strong female to mate with.”
Oh, hell no. I squirmed frantically. “Put. Me. Down. Now!”
“I will offer three times the bride price for you and the other female.”
“No! We are not for sale,” Sam yelled.
Tihar totally ignored her. “Who is the head of your clan?”
“The Overlord. Release her,” Voss growled. Blood covered the left side of his face.
Oh, thank God. I couldn’t believe how happy I was to see the Battle Commander. Voss, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to throttle me. It wasn’t my fault he forgot to duck.
“I came to this world to find and claim a Jones female. You will not stop me,” Tihar bellowed.
“You can have a Jones female. But not these two. Give Sarah to me.” Voss bared his fangs.
I shot Voss a venomous glare. “You’re giving away Jones women like prizes now? Become our allies and win a hot-to-trot mate?”
“I will fight you for Sarah.” Tihar’s gaze was full of deadly resolve.
Sam rolled her eyes. “Should have known. Testosterone is universal.”
Seizing handfuls of Tihar’s tentacles, I jerked them as hard as I could. “Hey! I’m a warrior. I have killed over eight hundred Tai-Koks in battle. You will treat me with the respect I deserve.” I gave him my best batshit crazy stare. “Got it?”
“Yes, lady warrior.”
“Put me down.” To my utter surprise, Tihar obeyed. I eased away from him.
“I will give the Overlord four times the bride price for this one. She is worthy to be my mate.”
“Lucky, you,” Sam quipped.
Rho popped in, seized Sam and poof. They were gone.
Damn. That was one sneaky move.
His gaze never leaving the Askole, Voss commanded in his perfect English, “Come to me, Sarah.”
I willingly took a step toward the Battle Commander.
Tihar’s enormous armored hand clamped down on my shoulder. “I have claimed this one.”
“Like hell you have,” I snarled. “Let go of me or I will hurt you.”
The Battle Commander tensed and bellowed, “Do not attack Tihar, Sarah. It will signal your interest in mating with him.”
“What? You’re joking? Right?”
“I am not,” Voss responded.
A cackling laugh broke from Tihar. “She has already struck me.”
Voss spat something that sounded like a curse word. “Do you know what you have done?”
“He was sniffing my crotch,” I yelled in exasperation.
Tihar taunted Voss. “The mating dance has begun and not even the Overlord can stop it.”
“No! It hasn’t,” I shouted. “I’m human and your rules don’t apply to me.”
“Your world is now part of the Coletti empire. The Battle Commander knows our customs and failed to properly protect you. As a warrior, you can challenge me to combat.” Tihar’s rather toothy grin was alarming. “Do you dare duel with me?”
I opened my mouth to respond.
Tihar bellowed a terrifying war cry.
“Mwah-hah-hah.” I bellowed back and gave myself a mental head whack. I had watched that minion movie with my five-year-old cousin way too many times.
Voss and Tihar stared at me in utter disbelief.
“What was that?” Voss’s mouth twitched as if he was struggling not to laugh.
Putting on my best poker face, I replied, “My battle cry. Why?”
“The purpose of a war cry is to frighten your enemies. Not reduce them to laughter,” Voss answered.
“I’m a fighter pilot. I seldom engaged in hand-to-hand combat.”
“As my mate, you will need a proper war cry,” Tihar announced.
“Thanks, but I’ve got one. Now prepare to get your ass kicked. Mwah-hah-hah.”
Tihar’s tentacles curled tightly. “It is foolish to think you can beat me, lady warrior. Surrender now.”
My temper flared to life. “Surrender? Not in this lifetime.”
“Think hard before you challenge me.” Tihar touched his gauntlet and his armor simply shrank away. “Do you think you can subdue me?” He stood perfectly still, allowing me to inspect him.
Not a chance in hell, which was why I planned on cheating. A sigh escaped me. Tihar’s torso was sculpted perfection. Thick muscles corded his arms and legs. Who knew black scales could be sexy?
Another tap and Tihar was completely nude. “Can you refuse this?”
My eyes bugged as I stared at Tihar’s super-duper hard-on. Holy cow! Askoles had humanlike penises, humongous balls and no pubic hair. Huh? Would you look at that? Even his man parts had scales. I linked with Sarah. “Get a load of this.”
“Kinda busy. Talk later.”
“Okay, but Tihar is hung like a bull elephant.”
Voss threw his hands up in disgust. “Quit staring at his body. You are only encouraging him, Sarah.”
“He is an eyeful.”
“I am also a master of the thousand delights,” Tihar proclaimed.
Voss crossed his arms and declared, “The only way to become a master is to have had sex with that many females.”
“You’re a man whore?”
“No, a teacher. I have taught many females in the pleasure houses these techniques.” Tihar held out his hand. “Surrender and I will begin your lessons.”
   |  Zoey Jones is determined to find her mother's killer. Surrendering to a fierce Coletti warrior is the last thing on her mind. When Voss is determined to make Zoey his mate, she unleashes her own brand of whoop-ass to discourage his pursuit. When her clever disguises, skunk perfume, stun gun, and smoke bombs fail to stop the ruthless warlord, she's forced to negotiate her surrender: she would mate with him if he would help her find her mother's killer. To Zoey's surprise, Voss agrees, and the hunt is on. Their quest to bring the villain to justice leads to unlikely alliances in an interplanetary war, and more surprisingly, to love. |
 | The chase comes to an abrupt halt when the Tai-Kok attack Tucson, forcing Bree to team up with the Coletti warlord to stop them. Suddenly plucked from Earth by a crazed Tai-Kok commander, Jaylan and Bree find themselves stranded on a hostile alien world, and being tracked by a deadly Askole assassin. Neither of them expected to find love. |
 | Kaylee knew being a Coletti Warlord's mate wasn't going to be easy. Not only was Talree downright scary, he had a bossy streak a mile long and collected enemies like most men collected lovers. But while Kaylee's life might not be perfect, Talree truly loved her. Flash forward nine months to a very pregnant, insanely hormonal and cranky as hell Kaylee. If the pregnancy wasn't enough to drive her crazy, Talree's enemies are tap dancing on her last nerve. The Shani Queen Mother, a psychotic alien with a bone to grind against Talree, decided she wanted the planet Tartum--a barren piece of crap loaded with Ditrum crystals, and part of the Coletti Empire. Her master plan? Kidnap Kaylee and hold her for ransom. If the Overlord refused to give Tartum to the Queen Mother, she would feed Kaylee and her son to the Tai-Kok. She thinks Kaylee will beg for mercy. Boy, is the alien bitch in for a surprise. She's about to meet a woman suffering from hormone overload and a serious lack of chocolate. The only one begging for mercy will be the Queen Mother. Copyright © Gail Koger |
 | Wulf knows Yakira is his soulmate. Now he just needs to convince her. But with intergalactic terrorists on Yakira’s trail, there’s little time for romance. What’s a hot-blooded Coletti warlord to do? Yakira feels safe and cherished with Wulf, but he is a Coletti--the ultimate predator with a taste for blood, a passion for battle, and the need to control everything in his life. The big question is: how does she make Wulf understand she’s a powerful psychic with kick-ass bionic limbs and quite capable of taking care of herself? |
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Thank for having Tihar, Sarah and me over. They all say hello. Warning! Hysterical laughter will occur while reading this book!!
ReplyDeleteThey all sound awesome but I would choose to read Just Desserts because that cover is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love the books and can't pick a favorite of them. I'm always looking forward to the next book in the series.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this amazing giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThey sound so good. Just Deserts sound great!
ReplyDeleteSo the questions on the Rafflecopter were:
ReplyDelete1. What do you think of the books?
I have read all of Gail's books except for 2 of them and they are not in this series. I adore her books, she has a great wit and sense of humor.
2. Which one interests you the most? Quinn which she is still working on
Right now.
Tammy Ramey
trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com
I forgot to put it in my comment above but I have all of the books on my read bookshelf at Goodreads so I marked those entries as done, I hope that is okay.
ReplyDelete