Unearthed [Mass Market Paperback]

Now hurtling through space, Tess awakens to a new sense of reality. Aliens DO exist - great they are Hunks in Space instead of ET or the Worm Men from Men in Black. Still, Tess is not too thrilled with the adventure. She has a cat to feed and a career on the edge of taking off, and while sexy space aliens bring to mind all sorts of questions, she would just as soon be returned to terra asap!

Cohl Travers, the sexy alien in question, has no intention of doing as Tess asks. He explains he abducted her for a reason - to save his father's life. He is a seeker, a finder of lost treasures (sort an Indiana Jones in space!). On a planet near to his, two brothers rule and war for control. One faction asked Cohl to find an amulet famed to bring peace and power to a ruler. He refused, so they kidnapped his father and are holding him hostage until Cohl delivers the lost treasure. Only, finding the amulet is just half the problem. He must have a singer with a precise pitch and quality of voice to sing a song to release the amulet from where it is magically held. And Tess is that singer, the only one in the whole universe with the perfect voice.

Grudgingly, Tess finally agrees to help with fetching the amulet, but without Cohl telling her how dangerous the trek could be or that if she fails to sing the song precisely it will result in her death. Oh, well, leave it to a male to neglect 'small details' such as your life hanging by the thread. Nice to know some things do not change even though you are flying through space. However, Tess soon comes to realize the biggest threat is to her heart!

Tess is so charming, so 'down to earth'. She does not want much, just to get back to her cat and her singing career, but she cannot stop herself from being drawn to Cohl. Budding hopes of a romance are nearly dashed when she learns Cohl is a runaway prince from the planet near the warring one. But the heart does not listen. Cohl regrets he is forcing Tess to help, but has little choice with his father's life in the balance. But kidnapping Tess brings a lot of complications. The opposition has found out he is going for the amulet and will do anything to stop him, including kidnapping and killing Tess. Worse, he is feeling really guilty for taking Tess from her life. And despite growing attraction, an attraction he fears is love, he will not stop until his father is freed, risking his life and Tess' in the quest.

Tess' and Cohl's adventure is so charming, so steamy, one of those that linger in the mind and heart long after the book has been put down. Ms. Barry shows a brilliance for humour and timing, an uncanny ability to add that touch to a tense situation without it slipping over into farce. She creates strong characters that leap off the page and takes your hand, pulling you into a super adventure, fraught with space aliens, personal robots with an attitude, tense battles, and a quest that rivals the search for the Holy Grail.

Barry, a first time author, shows control, a strong voice and the magical ability to conjure marvelous characters. She 'sees' her alien worlds so she is able to make the readers see them, experience them as well. Unearthed is first class romance, but it is also first class SCI-FI.

Yes, there’s a lot that is classic in this futuristic romance, but that it not to say that this tale gets tired. The action moves along at a good pace, there’s elements of danger throughout, and there is enough heat between Cohl and Tess to keep interest fresh. It’s not a groundbreaker, but it is a good example in the Futuristic style.

Cohlman "Cohl" Trae Salle's home planet, Yre Gault, is in another quadrant of the galaxy. His father, Montral, has been kidnapped by a group called the Traka-Nor. They live on the northern hemisphere of the planet Trakas. The Traka-Sou reside on the southern hemisphere. The two hemispheres are ruled by brothers and are at war. Rommol, the leader of the north, holds Montral ransom. Cohl must locate and collect the Demisian Amulet to be exchanged for his father. Legend states that the amulet gives the possessor the ability to control their enemy. It is hidden in a secret chamber somewhere on Demisie, a planet that supposedly did not exist. Tess's voice is needed to unlock the amulet from its chamber. Only her voice has the exact range, pitch, and quality needed for success.

It all sounds bad, right? It gets worse, much worse. Cohl has yet to tell Tess who he really is and what dangers they must go through simply to reach the amulet's chamber.

***** The more I read from this author, the more I love her. Barry has an astounding talent for sucking in her readers and holding onto them tighter than Super Glue. And this is the first of the "Un" series. I've been reading them out of order, so I can tell you that you honestly do not have to read these in order to understand or enjoy them. Each one is a stand-alone tale. I can hardly wait to dive into the next. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.