CONTACT (New Eden 1) by Jessica Marting -review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 13, 2024

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Trapped on the low-tech planet New Eden after a devastating earthquake, Hannah’s last-ditch attempt to save her people via a galactic SOS brings help in the form of a cyborg crew in need of a new place to live, led by the enigmatic RH103.

Rebuilding the ravaged New Eden is only one of the crises RH103 is facing. He doesn’t know why he and his crew were created, how they acquired their starship is a mystery, and worst of all, his cybernetics are failing. His attraction to Hannah is a distraction he can’t afford. But her returning his feelings is a surprise, and might be just what he needs before a total system shutdown.

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REVIEW: CONTACT is the first instalment in Jessica Marting’s adult NEW EDEN erotic, sci-fi romance series. This is RH103 aka Rhys Hammond, and Hannah Forsyth’s story line.

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Rhys and Hannah) CONTACT follows in the wake of the arrival of a spaceship and a crew of cyborg soldiers on New Eden. Approximately two years earlier, a devastating earthquake destroyed most of New Eden, and in doing so, killed all but twenty-one of the original inhabitants. Desperate for help, Hanna Forsyth sent out an SOS but never expected to come face to face with her future in the guise of RH103. RH103 and his crew had been searching for a new home since an ion storm wiped out the planet where they had been. Responding to Hannah’s SOS , RH103 and his crew would find the peace and friendship they had been looking for but RH103 aka Rhys never expected to fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between our story line couple, and the potential fall-out as memories from the past threaten to end the life of our story line hero.

The world building reveals some of the back story and histories of our story line couple. RH103 and his crew were once human but centuries of cloning created the ultimate soldier. Hoping to settle,RH103 intercepted Hannah’s transmission, and discovered a planet in need of help. Hannah Forsyth had become the de facto leader of their small community, a community of twenty survivors of a deadly earthquake. Unprepared and without most the minimal resources built by their founding fathers, Hannah worked diligently to keep the survivors alive, some who did not appreciate the work being done.

The relationship between Rhys and Hannah is one of immediate attraction although Rhys is unaware of the how or why. Centuries of obedience and working on command, would be replaced by autonomy and self-awareness such that each member of his crew would become an individual within the cyborgenic hive. As Rhys re-discovers his humanity, Hannah will discover she has fallen in love with more than a man. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to several members of the New Eden community including Hannah’s friends Jasmine and Rodelle, as well as Rhy’s twenty-man crew of fellow cyborgs: SP29 aka Samuel, and DL16 aka Darius-there is something developing between Jasmine , SP29 and DL16.

CONTACT is a story of discovery and acceptance, family, friendships, relationships and love. The intriguing premise is captivating but most of the conflict is contained to first contact; the romance is seductive and exploratory; the characters are charismatic and charming.

Copy supplied by Booksirens

Reviewed by Sandy