Never believing she would be one to go home and lick her wounds from a broken heart, Victoria is happy her over-protective parents aren’t home to see their daughter at one of her low points. Her need for solitude is abruptly interrupted when she’s kidnapped by one of her father’s people. A faction of the Sha-Shiri beings has come to earth for the hybrid offspring of one of their people for reproductive purposes. Victoria has no plans on being a breeder for anyone, human or alien, and she finds a friend in Kash-Koori, an alien who is more than he seems. Kash has been given the job of impregnating Victoria but the thought is repugnant to him and the two will have to join forces if they want to prevent the atrocity of forced breeding that neither wants to happen.

When I saw the word breeding I imagined a story full of sex but was pleasantly surprised to see that this little tidbit of futuristic romance was incased inside of a really interesting story. Victoria’s background alone and her knowledge of her father’s people added a depth to Hunter’s Mate that would have been lacking without her spunky personality and aggressive nature. Not a woman to lie down and accept whatever the aliens wanted, she had me laughing from first punch. Bernadette Gardner wrote a story I’m sure will win her more than a few new fans.