The Darvel Exploratory Systems Series by SJ Sanders

In the future a united Earth, to deal with the problem of population control, divides its population into classes of citizen and non-gratis. To be born a non-gratis means a life of little freedoms and the constant possibility of being assigned to work on a colony. Lacking citizenship, every aspect of their life is controlled from where they live, down to marriage and childbearing regulations... moreIn the future a united Earth, to deal with the problem of population control, divides its population into classes of citizen and non-gratis. To be born a non-gratis means a life of little freedoms and the constant possibility of being assigned to work on a colony. Lacking citizenship, every aspect of their life is controlled from where they live, down to marriage and childbearing regulations. The only possible escape from life as a non-gratis is to qualify for one of the limited slots available for entrance into the military. For most, however, it is the only life that they will ever know. Charlie has prepared all her life for the possibility of being shipped off to work in a colony, so when she is selected for part of the initialization phase colony laborers she is determined to make the best out of a new life on a very different and hostile planet. Assigned as a labor assistant in the exploratory lab seems like a step up in the right direction for her. Caring for the wildlife specimens is far preferable to working as a laborer preparing the first of the fields or in any of the common industries. That is, until a vaguely humanoid specimen is captured and brought in. The promise of death that clings to it is fulfilled when it breaks out from containment and she finds herself hostage to a being with a thirst for vengeance. Far away from the colony, Charlie is forced to carve out a new life for herself in a dangerous world, but will she be able to safeguard her heart from the biggest threat of them all? —A male who is determined to claim all of her. Warning: this book may contain possible triggers. Book contains graphic sex and violence. less

Being a citizen on United Earth doesn’t guarantee a life one wants. For Lori Straford, born into the lowest caste of citizens—the pleasure arts strata of their society—it is an inescapable fate which she can only hope to better by enlisting as a spa attendant and masseuse on one of the luxury world colonies under the purview of Darvel Exploration Corporation... moreBeing a citizen on United Earth doesn’t guarantee a life one wants. For Lori Straford, born into the lowest caste of citizens—the pleasure arts strata of their society—it is an inescapable fate which she can only hope to better by enlisting as a spa attendant and masseuse on one of the luxury world colonies under the purview of Darvel Exploration Corporation. When she is talked into working on one of their mining planets for a year with the promise of a hefty bonus and to be transferred to her choice planet after more non-gratas can be sent over, it is too good of an opportunity to pass up. It will be tiring work but as long as she plays everything by the book then she will have everything she has ever dreamed of. Until everything goes wrong. Strange predators on the loose around the colony stationed on an inhospitable world is bad enough, but when a mining accident leaves Lori buried deep within the mines, she is vulnerable to the very real dangers that surround her in a hidden world. Her will to live is challenged and her ambitions tested when a monster of the depths takes her to be his and makes her question everything that she thought she knew and wanted. Slengral is a hunter, an unmated male forced to live a solo existence in the cave systems of the Algatha, separate from the female-ruled civilization of the shinara, he refused to submit to the females of his species as a breeding partner, unwilling to settle for less than a mate. When a wingless and tail-less alien female enters his territory, he doesn’t hesitate to lay claim on her. He cannot protect her himself, however. Enlisting two rejected solitary males, Daskh and Kehtal, to aid in her care, they must learn to live a life different than they have ever known and risk losing it all when the human colony takes back the female that means more to them than life itself. Warning this book has graphic sex and violence that may not be suitable for all readers. Although this book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, it is part one of a duet (this dealing with the conflict with the human colony while the second book, Serpents of the Night, releasing later this year deals with the shinara). less

All Vanessa Williams wanted for the holidays was to escape the demands of her parents’ social schedules and comfortable place to work on her book. Having the opportunity to do so while enjoying the comforts of a cabin on an alien world seemed like the perfect way to pass the season. Plans change, however, when her shuttle crashes in the inhospitable mountains, and she finds herself waiting out the storm in an alien castle with a male whose burning gold eyes promise forbidden pleasures... moreAll Vanessa Williams wanted for the holidays was to escape the demands of her parents’ social schedules and comfortable place to work on her book. Having the opportunity to do so while enjoying the comforts of a cabin on an alien world seemed like the perfect way to pass the season. Plans change, however, when her shuttle crashes in the inhospitable mountains, and she finds herself waiting out the storm in an alien castle with a male whose burning gold eyes promise forbidden pleasures. Mating with an alien would be the ruin of her career and guarantee that she can never go home, and yet the more time she spends with him, the more she can’t imagine any other future. Jor’ytal has waited many revolutions to feel the call of the a’talynal, the heartsong between himself and a compatible female. That it has happened so close to the Hashavnal, the Day of Joy, feels like destiny calling. His a’talyna is small and human, and although he dislikes the species who have colonized the southern continent of his world, he cannot help but to feel a need to protect her and desire to care for all her needs. With the storms keeping her within his estate it is the perfect opportunity to court his mate, even if he must evade her escort to do so. In mixing the human customs of Solstice with Hashavnal, and a solstice tree that goes terribly wrong, he is on the path to win her heart and not even a human delegation whose very presence can steal her away will deter him. This novel contains a bonus 14. 5k short story Aturian Gifts of Yule. less

No one ever said that be a non-gratas was easy, but neither did they say that there was a possibility of becoming a genetic experiment to the benefit of Darvel Exploratory Corporation. When Gwen Brody woke up with amphibious genetic and surgical modifications to help her survival chances on Xal2614 it was bad enough, but living with it and having the pressure from her mission partner to fulfill more intimate parts of their mission to sustain data gathering beyond their lifetimes was another... moreNo one ever said that be a non-gratas was easy, but neither did they say that there was a possibility of becoming a genetic experiment to the benefit of Darvel Exploratory Corporation. When Gwen Brody woke up with amphibious genetic and surgical modifications to help her survival chances on Xal2614 it was bad enough, but living with it and having the pressure from her mission partner to fulfill more intimate parts of their mission to sustain data gathering beyond their lifetimes was another. Yet, when her partner mysteriously disappears into the swampy environment into which they were sent, Gwen has a new problem when an alien shows up at her door singing his courting songs and triggers a heat that she can’t escape or ignore. The Frog Prince is a 20k sci-fi romance novella set in the Darvel Exploratory systems universe and inspired by the fairytale The Frog Prince with graphic sex. less

Lori’s happy ever after in Risa Colony with her mates is challenged Slengral is summoned back to the Aglatha shinara by none other than queen matriarch, Zathexa—who happens to be his mother? With his sister and heir to the shinara dead, Slengrala is commanded to return home not until to fulfil his duty to mate and breed a new queen, but to answer to the charges made against him... moreLori’s happy ever after in Risa Colony with her mates is challenged Slengral is summoned back to the Aglatha shinara by none other than queen matriarch, Zathexa—who happens to be his mother? With his sister and heir to the shinara dead, Slengrala is commanded to return home not until to fulfil his duty to mate and breed a new queen, but to answer to the charges made against him. It seems like their happy ever after is being put in jeopardy as their family has to return to the Aglatha caverns and into its depths to the shinara itself to solidify the legitimacy of their relationship and face the obstacles in the way of their future. With the entire court of the noble matriarchs against them and no other options at hand to provide a future ruler for the shinara, will Daskh, Kehtal, Slengral and Lori be able to look forward to a continuing future together? Serpents of the Night is the awaited continuation and final conclusion to Serpents of the Abyss that will take readers from Risa colony, to the depths of the Algatha, and the mountains beyond on the planet Shenara. less