The Morcai Battalion: The Pursuit by Diana Palmer is a appealing universe. This is my first foray into Palmer's world, I felt a bit lost. Mekashe is an older hero who falls in love with a much younger human. After years of separation the fire is still there. There is such a level of ignorant childish behavior from the heroine at the beginning of this book that I almost did not finish. Only after heart-wrenching disaster in her life does Jasmine become the female deserving of the hero. Everything tied up nicely at the very end in a quick and painless fashion. I enjoyed the world Palmer has created, I'm going to read the first book in the series.

THE PURSUIT is a fascinating look back into author Diana Palmer's sci-fi world. This is her fifth offering and each one is better than the last. One of my favorite things that an author can do in a series is bring back past characters and she does a great job in doing this while still making it the main couples story. Jasmine and Mekashe are the center of the storyline as we watch them in the past, present, and get a look of hope for the future. Jasmine had a lot of growing up to do and this author stretched things out to give her that time, and give us the time to meet and like other characters - such as her fellow Rojaks.

I enjoy the Morcai Battalion series and, as I am not a real big sci-fi fan, that says something. Ms. Palmer gives her readers an amazingly well scripted look at this sometimes violent very turbulent world. She fills it with people that feel realistic, some likable and others not so much, but characters that will stay with you long after the last word is read. I can't wait to get my hands on the next of this authors Morcai Battalion books.

Annetta Sweetko, reviewing for Fresh Fiction

Link to complete review: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=65469

This entry in the Morcai Battalion series is the weakest, primarily because the heroine is so unsympathetic (even allowing for her youth and sheltered upbringing) until almost halfway through the book. As much as I personally love the series and reread it, this one won't be a reread for me. I do hope there are more stories though, because it is a fascinating universe.

I have always known Dian Palmer was a fan of Science Fiction but this is the first book I have tried of hers in this genre. It's funny but no matter the setting or time, I can always tell DP's writing style. Good story and characters. I enjoyed this latest installment of the Morcai Battalion series.

At first it seemed like this book had a vampire problem. Not literally, there are no vampires in this science fiction romance. (If you want vampires in space read Break Out by Nina Croft – it’s awesome) But The Pursuit still began with the same problem that most vampire romances have – what in the galaxy does a 250 year old male want with an 18 year old female? Beyond the obvious. But in order for this to result in a believable happy ever after, she has to be something really really special for this relationship to work. After all, what do they have in common? While her fresh perspective on pretty much everything may seem charming for a while, she will grow out of it. Will the person she grows into still fit into his already very much established life?

Just as I got frustrated with the corner that it seemed this book was painting itself into, it took a sharp turn and jumped completely out. And got a whole lot better as a result.

At first, the story in The Pursuit reads an awful lot like a old-fashioned Harlequin category romance moved into space. The hero is rich, powerful and much, much, MUCH older than the naive, innocent, sheltered, beautiful and virginal heroine. It’s only when the story breaks that pattern that things really take off.

So to speak.

Mekashe is the commander of the Imperial Guard on his home planet, a member of the mysterious and secretive race called Cehn-Tahr. He is also a member of the Royal Clan, but fairly far down the line of succession.

He is also 250 years old, but looks like he’s in his mid-30s at most. His race was genetically engineered and enhanced at a point far back in their history. While they appear mostly human in public, their real form is clearly derived from a giant and sentient cat species. By position, Mekashe is a high-ranking military officer. His would-be inamorata has problems with both.

His emperor (and great uncle) has insisted that he take some of the R&R he’s entitled to by traveling on a passenger liner from Terravega, now the human home planet, to Memcache, his home.

On that journey he meets the woman of his dreams. Quite literally. He has been dreaming of tall, slim, blonde Jasmine Dupont for years. She is the daughter of the first human ambassador to Memcache, and honestly, at the beginning of the book she’s the epitome of the TSTL heroine.

Not only is she basically a child at 18, she is self-absorbed and offensive at every turn, to the point where she commits a diplomatic faux pas so bad that it costs her father his job and eventually his life, as well as kills any hope for the budding relationship between herself and Mekashe. Her stupidity could literally have killed her, as the offense she committed usually carries the death penalty.

It’s only when things hit absolute bottom that Jasmine finally becomes the person she was meant to be – a person who might be able to stand beside Mekashe as an equal – if they ever find each other again.

Escape Rating B: The first part of this book is frustrating as hell. Jasmine may be 18, but she acts like a child at every turn. She is derisive of the military and she hates and fears cats. Poor Mekashe sees her as his fated mate, or at any rate his mate for life, but is rightfully worried that she will react badly when she discovers his true identity and form. And he’s right to worry. It’s a disaster.

But a disaster that she is still strangely shielded from. The Cehn-Tahr are so secretive that her father is not allowed to tell her the reason for his dismissal. She doesn’t know what she did and therefore can’t learn from it. Her parents have protected, indulged and cosseted her at every turn, and it has done neither her nor them any favors.

It’s only when she’s at the very real end of her rope that she really takes responsibility for herself and her own life, even if she still doesn’t know what it was she did wrong. She finally grows up. She also tells herself that she hates the Cehn-Tahr in general and their emperor in particular, but her feelings for Mekashe never die – no matter how much she wants to kill them.

Circumstances (with a little help from their friends) finally push Mekashe and Jasmine into each other’s orbit again. And while the HEA resolves awfully quickly and the problems are solved too easily (to the point of deus ex machina or in this case, perhaps deus ex medica, easy), by the time it happens, Jasmine has grown into a person who is worthy of it.

About that ending and all the people in it, as well as those who help along the way… This book probably makes no sense if you have not read the first and foundational book in the series, The Morcai Battalion. Which was surprisingly awesome military science fiction. While the main characters in that book are mostly secondary or tertiary characters in this one, the worldbuilding is all done in that first book. The romances that follow it, including this one, are the wrapping up of the loose ends created in that original scenario. So while I don’t think you need to read all of the intervening books to get to this one – that first one is essential. And highly recommended.

I made the mistake of starting this book without reading any of the previous books in the series. I'm usually okay with doing that sort of thing but with this being sci-fi romance and what has come before (there's a lot of mentions of previous characters and things that happened in the past) and not being up with all the previous world building that went on, I felt myself drifting with this book. Don't get me wrong, what I read, I enjoyed. I found Jasmine to be utterly delightful even though she was a self-pronounced ditz. And Mekashe was so sweet in his attraction to Jasmine and his joy in finally finding her after being alone for so many years. I could see myself getting heavily invested into both these characters and I'm certain I will once I get a bit more back story under my belt. One thing though, I'm nervous about them being forced apart for whatever reason. The blurb implies it's a conscious decision on Mekashe's part and that's what makes this a second chance romance even though the story opens with Jasmine and Mekashe meeting for the first time and exploring a sweet budding relationship. I'm looking forward to picking this book up again once I've caught up with the first four books.

I would like to say that I’m not the type of person who likes to read Space Sci-Fi stories I usually stay away from that genre. But I can say that Diana Palmer has officially made me a fan. The story of Jasmine and Mekashe will keep you on the edge of your seat,make you cry, and of course make you smile. Get ready to explore rare planets and meet plenty of good soldiers who are ready to rescue those in need.