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| Bonds of the Maleri | 
 enlarge | Author: Kate Steele
Publisher: Changeling Press LLC
Category: Book
List Price: $13.95
Buy New: $12.07
You Save: $1.88 (13%)
New (13) Used (5) from $12.07
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 465334
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.9
ISBN: 1595964819
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781595964816
ASIN: 1595964819
Publication Date: February 13, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
On the faraway planet of Belthola exists a group of extraordinary men, the Maleri. Born with empathic powers, they devote themselves to the service of their planet as mediators, diplomats, doctors, lawmen and scholars. Where help is needed by any planet or people, they generously provide it. But even those with powers have their weaknesses. For the Maleri, the use of their gift can eventually cause madness, even death. The one thing that can prevent such an ill fated end is the taking of a mate. Male. One with whom they can join -- mind, body and soul.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
Excellent novellas March 15, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This book is composed of five novellas, each featuring a different Maleri. They are a special sect of an alien race (humanoid, of course) who must mate with a same-sex partner to keep their telepathic gifts from driving them insane. The bond is metaphysical, and usually instantaneous. Convincing their human mates of that is another matter entirely! Enjoyable, light-hearted gay romance with hot sex.
"Mate Hunt" - The first novella introduces the author's mythology with a few paragraphs and a hot threesome! The stage is set for the hot sex that will follow in every story. Col must finally seek a mate, and he goes to Earth to do so. Matthew isn't ready to accept who he is, and at first withdraws from Col. But this is romance, and they get their happily ever after. Oh, and more hot sex.
"Double Trouble" - As often happens in this kind of series, this second entry has loose ties to the first. In the first, Col bonded to Matt. Now, we meet Matt's brother Eric who has chosen to travel to an alien world in hopes of a new life. What he finds are two of the hottest men he's ever seen, twin brothers who are desined for him. Though enjoyable, this novella is pretty much just hot sex, albeit with some unique men, and a loose plot. It is the weakest of the 5 stories, and though the brothers don't have sex with each other, it was a little too close to incest for my taste. But worth reading.
"Between Love and Law" - This novella really demonstrates the potential of the Maleri series. There is still a lot of hot sex, but the backstory has more meat to it. Chase is director of the Taskin City Security Bureau. He is also Maleri, and his bond has reacted to Caz. Caz is a chameleon, and a thief. Chase knows Caz is being forced to break the law by a powerful person. Can Chase convince Caz to trust him enough to let him help? More angst, a more detailed plot and more of the trademark steamy sex.
"Ride 'Em Cowboy" - This is my favorite of the novellas because of a good story and an interesting hero. In the previous entries, the Maleri was always confident and self-assured. But in this tale we have Zebian. He's a computer geek who's not very good with people. He is sent to Earth to research ranching for use on another world. He knows nothing about such a life, and though he isn't used to the physical labor, he doesn't give up. Jace is the rancher tasked with teaching the new greenhorn about ranching. He soon finds himself attracted to young Zeb and teaching him other things. Zeb must return to his home world though, not fully aware of the bond he formed with Jace. But a Maleri needs his mate to keep him sane...
"Redemption" - The second best of the series. Jor has been exiled from the Maleri. He refuses to take a mate who would share such disgrace with him. But, a Maleri must mate or he faces a painful death. Dane is a human man once mated to a Maleri. When his mate died, Dane nearly joined him; the loss of that psychic bond almost drove him to suicide. When Dane finds himself coming to the aid of Jor, he at first denies the bond that forms. He feels that he's betraying his former mate. Jor wants nothing to do with the bond either. These two must overcome their grief and pain to accept a new love they both desperately need. This is much more of a love story than the other novellas. Very tender.
Overall, I highly recommend this series and hope the author writes more novellas about this intriguing, and highly erotic, race. One thing I don't like - the cheesy CGI cover. For e-books, I can accept them. But a print book should have more effort placed in an important marketing feature. "Never judge a book by its cover" is good, but rarely followed advice. I have never seen a CGI cover that was sexy; the people always look fake and this is no exception.
 Bonds of the Maleri- A Joyfully Recommended Title June 2, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Mate Hunt
On the planet Belthola, a unique group of males are born empathic. When they reach adulthood, they become part of a brotherhood known as the Maleri. These men offer their skills to people on Belthola and other worlds as well.
One such Maleri is Coltas Oldarie, a man wishing for a mate of his own and determined to find him. Col journeys to Earth to seek his mate and discovers Matthew Ashton and his brother Eric. At first, Matt denies a bond between himself and Col, but Col is intent on overcoming every obstacle to make Matt see that they are meant to be together.
First in a scorching hot futuristic series, "Mate Hunt" neatly sets up the Maleri men and their place in the universe. Extremely sexy and fast paced, yet somehow endearing and light hearted at the same time, "Mate Hunt" is very entertaining.
Double or Nothing
After witnessing his brother Matt happily mated to Maleri empath Col, Eric Ashton agrees to journey with them back to Col's home in Taskin City on Belthola. At a party upon their return, Eric meets twins Greyian and Sethian Dennon who turn out to be Eric's fated mates. Instant lust and a growing bond have Eric accepting Grey and Seth fairly quickly, but chaos ensues when Eric is kidnapped by a scientist and taken to the planet Arela. It's up to Grey and Seth to save their mate and unearth a growing conspiracy before it is too late.
Adventure and sizzling encounters make "Double or Nothing" an exciting story you can't put down. Twin hotties Grey and Seth and the more sexually experienced Eric heat up the pages, while the mysterious kidnapping gave me another reason to thoroughly enjoy "Double or Nothing" even more.
Between Love and Law
Head of Security for Taskin City, Chasetien Kaldor is a man dedicated to his time-consuming and fulfilling job, yet he yearns for the one thing he doesn't have: a mate. As he gets older, though, the psychic energy in his brain is building steadily and only his mate can bring him relief and happiness. A gut feeling one night leads him to the man who would be his, a thief named Cazius Rey. Questionable art collector Kogan Delmon, recently arrived from the planet Lamarra, is blackmailing Caz into stealing a Belthola national treasure, but not if Chase has anything to say about it. Chase plans to help his mate catch a blackmailer and then claim Caz for his very own.
"Between Love and Law" is sexy, provocative, and all-around wicked fun to read. The Maleri stories just keep getting better and better, and I am having a great time reading this series. Chase and Caz scorch the pages, all male and hot as blazes! A greedy collector, an unwilling thief, and a cop make a solid triangle in "Between Love and Law".
Ride `Em Cowboy
At the tender age of twelve, Zebian Bakar lost both his parents and learned early to keep his emotions tightly bottled up. Years later, Zeb is highly skilled in data gathering and computer analysis while still emotionally distant to others. Zeb is sent to Earth, to Wyoming and the Free Plains Ranch to learn about cattle ranching and breeding for another planet planning on starting their own ranching system. Part owner of Free Plains Jace Fremont doesn't want a `green horn' on the ranch, but one long look at Zeb and the distractions begin for both men. When danger threatens, the men stop denying their love, but how can two men from different worlds work things out?
Sexual tension between main characters Zeb and Jace literally jumps off the pages in "Ride `Em Cowboy." Two very different men from Zeb, the Taskin City computer expert, to Jace, the rugged cattle rancher, offer a unique perspective on life to each other. These characters make the plot fun, sexy, and most importantly a pleasure to read.
Redemption
Years ago Jorrian Tavaris, a Maleri empath, commited an unforgivable sin and was banished from Belthola. Since then, Jor has spent his life drifting from planet to planet, living as a gambler determined to not search out his mate and die by himself when the psychic energy buildup is too much for his brain.
Dr. Dane Jeffers once loved a Maleri, but his mate was killed while on a diplomatic mission. These days find him on the backwater planet Casithia where he treats patients with what little medicine is available. Fate brings Jor to Dane and to the horror of both, they are destined mates. Although they plan on ignoring their bond, another stroke of fate shoves the two together during a quarantine and makes things incredibly tough for the men to ignore each other and the bond between them.
"Redemption" pulls at the heartstrings and demonstrates the importance of turning left or right when you reach that fork in the road. Powerful emotions make "Redemption" the strongest one-two punch in the Bonds of the Maleri series. Two hot guys in pain are hard to beat and what a great pair they are!
Bonds of the Maleri runs the gamut from light-hearted to heavy drama with just about everything in between. The one common thread in all the stories is the very strong characterizations and the incredibly hot, carnal sexual situations between the men. Talented author Kate Steele doesn't hold back and makes sure each story is even better than the last one. This is definitely a something-for-everyone kind of series. I Joyfully Recommend Bonds of the Maleri.
Lisa
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
 The plot was horrible June 21, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was hoping for a love story, but it was not evident. The book lacked substance, plot and climax. It was a straight forward illogical erotic story. The sex scenes were awkard and out of place. No character development was excuted to draw you into the character and ultimately the book. Did not finish the book. Would return if I could.
Bonds of the Maleri by Kate Steele March 20, 2008
Mate Hunt (Bond of the Maleri 1) by Kate Steele: A short enjoyable reading. Mate Hunt is the first enstallment of the Bond of the Maleri series and in effect is very short (56 pages) and full of hints for the continuing books of the series.
Col is a young and hunk man of the Maleri: 6 feet and 9 inches of male eager to find is mate. But when he finds Matt, Matt runs away with fear... Why? With gentleness and patient Col succeeds to gain the trust of Matt and to convince him that he is his destined mate.
Double or Nothing (Bond of the Maleri 2) by Kate Steele: Eric has lost is human partner and when his brother finds his Maleri alien mate, he decides to follow in Belthola, the home planet of the Maleri.
When their ship is harboring Erin feel a sudden sexual urgency: a feeling he shares not with one but two Maleri men, Greyan and Sethian, twins.
Unlike his brother Matt, Eric is not new to male lovers, and Greyan and Sethian are young eager men, who appreciate very much a willing and experienced mate.
The agreement is made, but on Belthola planet, not everyone believes in the honesty of the Maleri...
This story in comparison with the first enstallment is more complete. Eric is a strong character who succeedes to take control of two out of hand twins.
Between Love and Law (Bond of the Maleri 3) by Kate Steele: Chase is a lawman, Caz is a thief... The perfect pair, aren't they?
By everyone, also his Maleri brothers, Chase is considered a quite and controlled man. But when he senses his mate, every control loosened. But Caz arrives to him with troubles and feelings of guilty, and only the unjudgemental behaviour of Chase could heal his soul.
Chase is strong and thoughtful, not an impressive character, but you feels a peaceful sensation around him, like an healing one. Caz is a trobled soul who ids hungry to melt in the warm embrace of Chase.
Ride 'em Cowboy (Bond of the Maleri 4) by Kate Steele: Zeb is a man of the Maleri who remained orphan at 12 years old and went to live with his mentors. The needs to love his so hight that he decide to not share sex with them, fearing to loss them and thinking that sex is a much too strong link.
When he is 24 years old his Maleri mentor decide to send him on earth to study the human life. He is host of Jace, a real modern cowboy of 37 years old. From the first moment the two are drawning by each other. And when Jace kiss Zeb, the Maleri bond is made. But nor Zeb or Jace could think to leave their homes.
But the Maleri bond is strong...
Zeb is young and innocent, an IT geek who never shares his feelings with the other. Jace is content with his ranch's life, but sometimes he is alone, and wants someone who waits him when he return home after an hard work day.
Redemption (Bond of the Maleri 5) by Kate Steele: Jor his a Maleri man banished from Belthola cause an error he committed years ago. But now Jor his 38 years old and the faith of a Maleri man without mate is near: dead.
During a visit to an another planet Jor is injured and Dane, a doctor, help me: during a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation the Maleri bond between Jor and Dane is made. But Dane knows well what this is, he is an ex Maleri mate who lost his mate and doesn't want to risk his heart again.
And also Jor doesn't want a mate: he has chosen to dead instead. But Dane sees in him a kind heart and...
In this book the sex is not the main thing: the feeling, of love and guilty, are protegonists. Nor Jor or Dane are impressive characters, but both are quite and tender. A peaceful reading.
Love or Death March 22, 2008
That's an easy decision, or it should be. Good book, fun read about an interesting race of gay guys who have to find their heart mates or go insane and die. What a choice. The five stories are all enjoyable, though not terribly challenging. The mating instinct in the Maleri, once initiated, cannot be stopped or denied without harsh consequences for both lovers, so it can't realistically be denied. The storylines were OK, the sex good, the lovers enjoyable, but not especially stimulating. I'd give this one three and a half to four stars and encourage you to read it if you want a pleasant night's entertainment and some pleasant erotic stimulation, but while it will enchant you (especially several of the guys), it won't particularly move you to deep feelings. Enjoy it within the limits to which it reaches.
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