View All Titles by Melodee Aaron

REVIEWS for Desert Heat [An Ike Payne Adventure 2]

4.5 Stars/Hot: "Life changed for Ike Payne in many ways. She acquired a husband whom she is very much in love with and a new job as Marine General of His Majesty's Starship Boone. As happy as she was, they still had their fair share of troubles. Even after a year, Devon's memory problems had not improved. As a matter of fact, they were getting worse. However, the couple was determined to see the bright side of things and keep going. Then the ship they shared with Miranda and Jack crashed in the middle of nowhere. Now, the four of them struggle to survive the dangers that surround them in an unknown land.
     What can I say; Melodee Aaron produced another best seller. An Ike Payne Adventure 2: Desert Heat was even better than the first installment. The original story introduced me to Ike and Devon, while the follow up novel carried me on a journey with the couple and brought Miranda and Sergeant Jack Ingram into the fold. I am guilty of loving sequels that follow a lead character over a period. Sue me. I had the pleasure of knowing Devon as he became more comfortable with himself. He was a different man, more self-assured and assertive. In my humble opinion, it showed in his lovemaking. Between Ike and Devon it was a constant battle of who desired the other more. Their active sex life caused me a very restless night. However, Desert Heat lacked some of the extra debauchery that For the Love of Payne possessed. I have confidence that things will heat back up [in] the next installment. Ike was just enjoying time with her husband and it was a pleasure to experience married life through her eyes. Even the sub-characters were interesting. They added something new, and vivacious to the tale. I'm so excited. I just know there is going to be another chapter in the Ike Payne saga and I cannot wait." —Suni Farrar, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

4 Angels: "Melodee Aaron's Desert Heat continues the Ike Payne Adventures. Ike and Devon are wildly in love but must face the issues and complexities that Devon's previous injuries bring. Not only does Devon have memory lapses, he may also have to face a life threatening situation. Miranda is a complication that no one really wants to deal with but cannot ignore since they all care about her. They all have various feelings of attraction, and although Ike has a past filled with sexual escapades, she has made it clear she does not want to share Devon. In the midst of all of this confusion is a cauldron of intrigue and political scheming on the planet of Nerumie. I must confess that the polyamorous storyline disturbed me. Devon and Ike are so obviously in love and Devon does not want to hurt Ike yet the situation most definitely could have. Thankfully Devon and Miranda were open and honest. I anxiously await the next installment to read more about Ike and her adventures." —Trang, Fallen Angel Reviews

"On the HMSS Warren E Boone, Marine Brigadier General Ikira Payne is in charge of security for the 25,000 inhabitants. The Emperor, his wives, and their offspring are Ike's personal charges. She and her husband, Devon Hanson, are close friends with all the Royals. Multiple marriages are part of the culture, but Ike and Devon want only each other.
     A rebellious faction on Nerumie has disrupted the production and trade of the ferrous ore, Morgane, and the Emperor decides that his youngest daughter, Miranda, should put her diplomatic training to use by finding out the cause of the problems. Ike and Devon are to accompany her. Sergeant Jack Ingram, who works closely with Ike, is to serve as Miranda's personal bodyguard. All does not go well when what should be a routine trip turns into a struggle for survival. There are many secondary characters and story complications which help and hinder the hope for peaceful solutions to the political situation on Nerumie.
     The lovemaking between Ike and Devon and Jack and Miranda scorches the pages and includes light bondage.
     With Desert Heat, Melodee Aaron tells a tale of intrigue, danger, loyalty, unpleasant surprises, and changing relationships as morality is openly and honestly discussed with a cohesive, uncluttered style. I recommend it." —Maggie Anderson, Romance Reviews Today

STORY EXCERPT

Devon relieved Jack at midnight. He tried to crawl out of the sleeping bag without waking Ikira, but she hugged him tightly. "Don't get stupid out there. We both know you tend to do that now and then."

"I guess I do, but not this time. Sleep, and I'll see you at 0400."

The screaming cries of earlier hadn't repeated, but Jack said the scanners picked up large creatures moving around more than two kilometers away. The scanners picked up much closer small animals, the size of cats and smaller, but Jack didn't see anything. More troubling, Jack said he heard a sound like flapping wings in the skies overhead. Large flapping wings. The scanners showed nothing.

The temperature readout said minus twenty-one degrees. The wind blew by the cave entrance at sixteen meters per second, howling like a banshee. The tactical display in Devon's helmet said the temperature to exposed skin would feel like minus fifty-one degrees.

Devon checked his weapons, huddled in his coat, and watched the scanners.

Devon didn't look at his watch. His memory problems prevented him from knowing the time. He heard a noise from behind him, inside the cave. He turned suddenly and saw Miranda, huddled in a coat, her sleeping bag wrapped around her.

His pulse quickened at the sight of her. Since he met Miranda nearly a year ago, Devon found himself attracted to her. At first, he wrote it off as the infatuation of an older man for a younger woman. Young and very pretty, he thought his feelings for her normal. Maybe even healthy.

As time went by, his attraction never diminished. That wasn't normal or healthy. Devon tried many times to push it down inside his mind, but it always came back. Usually, it came back stronger than before. Miranda never showed any interest to him.

She was what he thought of a touch person. She liked to touch people. Miranda often placed her hand on his arm when she spoke to him. The touch caused his attractions to build and his heart to race. His mind never seemed to work right when she was around.

His thinking never became so clouded that he forgot Ikira. He carried no small amount of guilt in his heart for just thinking about Miranda. The idea of cheating on Ikira made his stomach hurt. He couldn't do that.

However, the idea of a multiple relationship made him smile. Polyamory was what Miranda's parents call it. Many people in a relationship, all in love with one another. That, he could do. If, and only if, Ikira would be involved.

Just a male fantasy, he knew. Attracted to Miranda or not, Ikira would always be his first true love and his wife.

Devon flipped his visor up and smiled at Miranda. "Why are you up?"

She sat on the rock beside him. "I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep." She repositioned her coverings. "Anything happening?"

"Just some bogeys on the scanners in the distance." He looked at the young Princess. Her profile in the red glow of the night lamps made his palms sweat, despite the frigid temperature. "I know this is hard for you."

"Yes, it is. I'm doing all right, I guess." She paused for a time. "I know I'm a spoiled brat, and things aren't going the way I want them to go right now. Mostly, I'm scared."

"Me, too."

"Jack said he was scared, too. What about Ike?"

"She's as scared as the rest of us." He wondered about the fear he felt being so close to her. He hoped he could control the urge to grab her shoulders and kiss her.

"Then why I am the only one acting scared?"

"Pretty simple. Ikira and I have been in the service for thirty years. Jack's not far behind. We're trained to turn off our emotions and do our jobs. That's especially true for Jack and Ikira. Our job right now is to keep us all alive until someone can find us."

"I've never been in a situation like this before."

"Neither have I. Ikira hasn't, either, and I don't think Jack has." He smiled at her. "This is a first for all of us, I guess."