Book Tour for Claimed by the Cyborg by Cara Bristol (Review & GIVEAWAY)

Former lovers reunite in this sci-fi romance full of political intrigue and surprising twists and turns.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Claimed by the Cyborg by Cara Bristol, along with my impressions of it, then add this tale of opposites attracting to your bookshelf.  Get to know more about Ms. Bristol through an interview and learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour as well.  In honor of this fifth installment in the Cy-Ops Sci-Fi series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $20 bookstore GC too!

LET'S GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MS. BRISTOL...

TSP:  What does your writing space look like and do you surround yourself with any particularly inspirational items?

CB:  I have my own office in my house. That it’s mine, all mine, is inspiring to me! Lol. I used to share an office (as well as a computer) with my husband, so I truly appreciate having my own space. I have a large L-shaped mission style desk, which was the first big item I purchased with book royalties. We live in a fairly rural area, and my office window looks out to our front lawn and the open field across the street. I see deer, squirrels, rabbits, and even groundhogs race across the yard. One day I found a groundhog under my desk! We’d left the garage door open, and I think it came in though the pet door. I recently wrote a blog post about the 10 items in my “writer’s toolkit."

TSP:  The majority of your books are sci-fi in nature, what draws you to that genre?

CB:  I got my start writing spanking romance. A lot of readers know me from the Rod and Cane Society series. But, I write sci-fi romance exclusively now. I love the possibilities that sci-fi offers. It’s both liberating and challenging to write. Liberating because you can let your imagination flow, but challenging because you literally have to create a whole new world for the reader, and you have to decide how much detail to include and what to leave to the readers’ imagination. I like to use science fiction as the background of my romances. Even though the books are sci-fi, they’re love stories. The whole point is the hero and heroine getting together. I like to say that I write science fiction romance for readers who don’t like science fiction.

TSP:  Beyond its synopsis, what do you want us to know about Claimed by the Cyborg?

CB:  It’s book number five in the Cy-Ops Sci-fi series and like all of them, it’s a standalone read. You don’t have to read the others in the series to enjoy it. They’re all romances, but Claimed by the Cyborg is most romantic of all the books. Some reviewers have been compared it to Romeo and Juliet. In the others, the hero and heroine face danger and obstacles, and in the process, fall in love. In Claimed by the Cyborg, the hero and heroine have a previous relationship and in rekindling their love, they cause thedanger. There are those in the imperial court who do not want the hero and heroine to be together. Muwhaha...

TSP:  Which of your books would you like to see made into a movie and who would play the main couple?

CB:  The Goddess’s Curse would make an awesome movie! But so would Captured by the Cyborg or Claimed by the Cyborg. The hero would have to be a really buff, built kind of guy. The heroine would have to be someone plucky. I don’t know who I would cast. I’ll let readers suggest some actors for me!

TSP:  Of all the heroes you've written, who's the most heroic in your opinion?

CB:  I created the Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance series with heroism in mind. I wanted male leads who are brave, noble, and would do anything for their heroine. The series tagline is “saving the girl and the galaxy one mission at a time.” In each book the hero must decide how much he’s willing to sacrifice for the woman he loves. (The answer is: everything). I think March of Claimed by Cyborg is very heroic because he never gives up. No matter how bleak and impossible the situation seems, he refuses to give up the hope that he and Jules could be together again.

TSP:  What are the biggest problems facing writers today and what's in store for the future for the community as a whole?

CB:  This is a timely question, and I think about this a lot. I see the biggest problem as the oversaturation of the market. Book supply has outpaced demand. When the only way to get published was the traditional way, the big publishers controlled the gates. Excerpt for a few big name authors, it was hard for writer to get published and/or to earn a living by writing. Then e-publishing and indie publishing threw open the gates and opened up the market. But that led to an oversupply of books. Because of indie publishing, the number of books has mushroomed beyond what readers can read. Already book prices have dropped and the number of books authors can sell is dropping. (I think Kindle Unlimited has played a part in this, too). For authors, it’s going to get harder and harder to earn a living. Many will stop writing. For readers, there will be some tremendous bargains, but it also means that some of their favorite authors will vanish. There are a lot of other implications too, but that’s for another interview another day. Lol.

TSP:  My site's all about favorite things, so what are your favorite things/the things you can't live without?

CB:  My Kindle, my laptop, my pedometer, my bed warmer, my fuzzy Ugg boots that I wear as slippers, my cashmere sweaters that I wear like t-shirts in the winter, and my morning cup of coffee.

March Fellows assumed he had all the time in the galaxy to pursue a relationship with Jules, an alien exchange student from Xenia, until she vanished without a trace. After years of searching, he finds his lost love on the eve of her arranged marriage.
The daughter of the Xenian emperor, Julietta never meant to fall in love with a Terran man while visiting Earth. Leaving to fulfill her responsibilities on her home planet opened up a hole in her heart that could never be filled. When March, now a cyborg, unexpectedly shows up just before she is to be bonded, she struggles to find the courage to turn him away a second time and follow through with her duty.
Before she can act, the lovers are thrust into a political conspiracy that threatens the Xenian empire and their lives.

EXCERPT:

“If Naimo should…pass, what will happen?"

“The seer will choose another mate for me."

“You will go through with it?"

“I will be required to.” The idea sickened her, but responsibility only could be delayed; it could not be shirked. Each postponement shortened the time available to produce an heir. She and Naimo or his replacement would have to couple often to ensure she got pregnant by the deadline.

“I hope for your sake he recovers, and you live a long and happy life together. I apologize for interrupting your solitude."

She would never see him again. Her heart seized, but she didn’t dare watch him go. Julietta gripped the pillar of the tacani for support. Tears trickled down her cheeks.

For a big man, he moved quietly, his footfalls making the merest pitter patter on the floor. In seconds the door would open and--

She whirled around.

March stood in front of her, his face stony, his blue eyes lit with an emotion she couldn’t read.

He grabbed her and yanked her against his chest. Her feet left the floor. One strong hand slid under her hair to grip her nape and tilt her head. His mouth slammed down on hers, would have forced her lips to part, but she was already opening for his kiss, drowning in it. Waves after wave of need swamped her body, eradicating all thought and will, except for the need to get closer, to meld into one body so no space, no cultural divide, no duty could separate them.

His tongue lashed hers, but she accepted his anger as penance, craved more, incited more as she lashed back. Teeth gnashed, deliberate and accidental, drawing blood that mixed with the decadent taste of him. Her head swirled, and she grabbed at his shoulders for support. Taut muscle, as hard as rock, offered no give, like his kiss. He didn’t coax, he took, anger and pain evident in the crush of his mouth, the steel grip of his hands.

Scalding tears of love and despair poured from her eyes and into their mouths.

When he dropped her on her feet and thrust her away, it was like tumbling into the abyss again, like returning to Xenia all those years ago.

He wiped his lips as if to erase her touch. “Have a good life, Jules.” He left and never looked back.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  iBOOKS  |  KOBO  |  BN  |  PRINT VERSION

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

One time lovers reunite in this fast-paced sci-fi romance full of political intrigue and unexpected twists and turns.  From the first page to the last readers will find themselves on an exhilarating thrill ride while rooting for two people from very different worlds fighting to reach their HEA.  It all adds up to a memorable tale that held me captive, and had my pulse pounding, to the very end.

March Fellows was once a professor who fell for a young woman from another planet.  Their time together meant everything to him, had him thinking of the future, until she left without a word.  He longed to find her but a tragic act led to a damaged body that had him becoming cyborg and to a period of fighting terrorism.  His latest mission has him delivering a gift in support of a politically advantageous marriage, but through an unexpected series of events finds himself face to face with the girl who left him long ago.  As old feelings come roaring back March soon finds himself in the middle of a plot to take over a peaceful planet, jailed for loving a woman meant to rule.  With his life and love on the line, will March let his self-doubts rule him, or will he fight for his HEA? March is a good man who felt used and betrayed by Jules.  He never stopped looking for her though and the moment he saw her again it was like she never left.  Their connection wasn't without speed bumps though as he felt that their obvious class differences, and his cybernetics, would keep them apart which has him making a life-altering choice late in the story.  In the name of love March is ultimately willing to sacrifice all which had me cheering by the end of the story.

Julietta was always drawn to Earth and relished her time there, fully immersing herself in the culture as well as finding love.  Obligation to her home planet could wait as she found joy in being just Jules with March by her side.  When time ran out she left that part of her life behind and came home to fulfill her obligations despite how unhappy it made her feel.  Seeing March though has her questioning her obligations as well as her personal satisfaction as being with him makes her a better person.  When her bonding ceremony takes a murderous turn, putting March and her people in jeopardy, she makes a decision that puts her HEA in doubt as all the political machinations came to a head.  Jules was a likable heroine torn by duty and desire which made her very sympathetic.  She truly loved March but had her future mapped out for her since she was a baby and struggled with her decision which added emotional depth to a story full of political intrigue.  With her life and love on the line she fought tooth and nail to reach her HEA in a rousing and cheer-inducing conclusion.

As part of the Cy-Ops Sci-Fi series this story is a satisfying addition that stands nicely on its own but builds on the series as a whole because of the political implications seen here.  The main couple is engaging, with their battle over duty and honor, and I was quickly consumed by their sensual romance.  Action-packed sequences were nicely balanced with the sweet and sexy interludes, that led to a slight lull at the story's mid-point, before amping up to a rousing conclusion.  Fans of sci-fi will relish this tale, and series, and will want to hold on tight in anticipation of the next installment in this well-written series.  

  

My rating for this is a B+

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

USA Today bestselling author Cara Bristol has been the no. 1 best seller in science fiction romance, bdsm erotica, and holiday fiction on Amazon. She’s the author of two science fiction romance series featuring tough alpha heroes: the Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance cyborg series and the Breeder science fiction romance series, which emph
asize character-driven stories written with a touch of humor and sizzling chemistry between the hero and heroine. Cara lives in Missouri with her own alpha hero, her husband.

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