Title: Solar Wind
Author: Carole Ann Lee
Published in September 2008 by Awe-Struck E-books, Inc.
Genre: Futuristic
ISBN:
Zeke Slater is a tough, secretive, and thoroughly dangerous man. Captain of the freighter, Solar Wind, this delectable six-foot-three hunk of testosterone hauls cargo and pretty much keeps to his own routes of commerce. He has also gotten a reputation as a "Pirate" in some of the rougher circles in which he often finds himself, but that is all right by him. Having the repute of being hard and ruthless is not a bad thing when you are in Zeke's business, and it saves him from a lot of unnecessary worry when others steer clear of one with such an unsavory reputation. He has had his moments, and any of his real friends would agree. One would only have to ask his closest friend, Nick Banner, for all the assurances you might need on that matter, but then Nick could be said to be prejudiced. One thing Zeke knows for certain is he can count on the Banner men, and they can count on him. Between them, Zeke and Nick have cut a swath through space, leaving broken hearts behind them, neither wanting a committed relationship. But that changed with the entrance of Tressa Loring in Nick's life. Of course, Zeke can snicker and wish Nick well, all the while swearing it won't happen to him.
As with anything else, when you become smug and complacent, and gloat over another's "fall from bachelorhood," you should be wary. Little could Zeke guess things were about to change in his own life. The crate in the hold held a very unwelcome piece of cargo, one Zeke could have done quite well without. Zeke hated redheads, and the reason was the very person he found stowing away in a cargo container on the Solar Wind. Miss Kira Delaney was nothing but trouble, and that from the first time they met. Ren Delaney's little girl was spoiled, willful, and more trouble than any woman was worth. How she ended up on his ship, and how quickly he can get her off were the only two answers he was interested in, but as usual, he despaired of getting the truth from her, let alone any real reasons making any kind of sense. The mysterious hair implement, a jeweled comb found on the landing bay and given to his care was the only connection he could find. The information secreted within was only the tip of the iceberg, and the only clues he had to go on because Kira, as usual, was not going to tell him any of the truth...
Headstrong and willful seems to be a mark of the women in the lives of the Banner Men and their associates, and in this, Kira Delaney is no exception. Kira was totally and completely unhappy, to say the least, at this turn of events. Having one of her father's oldest employees and friends shot in front of her, then having to run for her life, being knocked dizzy and trapped into a cargo container were bad enough. Finding said container was in the cargo hold of the Solar Wind, captained by none other than Zeke Slater, a man who undoubtedly hated her most in the known universe, was about the last straw. Kira had no misconceptions about Zeke's feelings for her, nor about the welcome she'd received as a stowaway. She knew her actions in the past had impacted his life negatively, and although she was sorry, she couldn't change things, nor bring back the friend Zeke had lost. She did know she couldn't trust anyone with what she thought, and she had to get to Echo and her father's partner so he could help her straighten out the mess the business was in, catch whomever it was that was embezzling and cooking the books. Oh they set it up well enough to make it look like Kira herself was solely responsible, and it was the main reason she couldn't, wouldn't ask Zeke for help.
Kira's relationship with Zeke was a very rocky one, and much of it was her doing. She was young, and didn't know a lot of things about life in general, just how to survive. Her ignorance, adventurousness, and strong instinct toward self-preservation brought about several nasty encounters, one of which involved one of Zeke's friends, and to make matters worse, it got him killed. She knows there is not a chance in the universe Zeke will ever forgive her for being the means and reason of his friend’s death. Now Kira realizes it has sown a very strong distrust of her within him. This, again, a consequence of her impulsiveness as a youth, and something Zeke was not going to quickly forget. Reflecting back, she understood why he felt the way he did towards her, and in retrospect, couldn't blame him. But now was the time for truth, but Kira, being Kira to the max, only manages to make things worse. In making up a ridiculous story, she only added to her woes, and when her life came into jeopardy yet again, Zeke almost didn't make it in time to save her, then almost lost his own because of her disobedience. Now she is faced with the shock of Zeke's involvement of human trafficking, and not understanding the job he performs, makes things between them intolerable. The only thing he wants to know from her is when will she ever learn to obey orders, but without trust, Kira really can't tell him. Yet what happens if and when it is too late?
Carole Ann Lee has revisited her wonderful futuristic World from Banner’s Bonus, and brings us the story of Nick's best friend and partner in Solar Wind. Zeke Slater, a character in his own right, is many things; he is a pirate, smuggler, cargo hauler, and friend, all depending on who he is with, the situation he is in, and whom you ask. Struggling with the past, and not trusting the future, Zeke is less than pleased when he finds Kira on board the Solar Wind. Past experience with her had taught him she is nothing but trouble, and she brings back one of the worst experiences of his life. Kira is not thrilled to be caught on Zeke's ship either, but for once, her predicament is not one of her own making. Now they have to struggle to put the past behind them, and try to find out exactly why Kira's life seems to be in danger, and who has the knowledge and the greed to want her father's legacy. What Kira find out is not pleasant, but when she discovers Zeke's role, the spark of trust is ignited. And when Zeke's life in endangered, much to her surprise, Kira Delaney finds she is more than willing to lay her own on the line for him.
Zeke Slater is a man of whom many would steer clear, but not Kira. She has always been attracted to him, even though she does rub him the wrong way. Zeke wears an aura of danger about him though he sometimes parades in “sheep’s clothing,” he is not a person to trifle with or cross. Kira is nothing to him but trouble, and she has always had a way of bringing it to his door. In Solar Wind, when he finds out she really is in dire straits, he is honor driven to try to help. It is a damnable situation for Zeke, but honor, however, is a lesson well taught to Zeke by Max Banner, his surrogate father, and mentor. He grew up amid the lessons and taught the same codes, camaraderie, cooperation, and companionship as the rest of the Banner men. He knows that above all in the universe, he can count on Nick and his family to jump in to help him as his is considered one of their own. Loyalty is all a part of the Banner Creed, and when Zeke and Kira require their assistance, the Banner's will ride along to the rescue just for the fun of a good fight. Solar Wind is another must read, and an example of a delightfully rendered romance. Carole Ann Lee is to be congratulated on a job well done! Look for Zeke and Kira’s story at Awe-Struck EBooks, as this great read will be released in September 2008!
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
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