Paired Pursuit by Clare Murray

CMurray-MD01.Paired Pursuit

If you’re looking for a super-sexy, dystopian/sci-fi read, then Paired Pursuit by Clare Murray is just what you need! Genetically engineered super soldiers (and twins, to boot!) meet their match in a young woman desperate for survival in an alien-ravaged world. Who wouldn’t love to read about two perfect men with a protective streak a mile wide falling for the same woman? Tons of sexiness, two heroes, and one resourceful heroine make for a wild first book in Clare Murray’s Matched Desire series.

CMurray-PairedPursuit“Danger rises in the night and so does desire.”

Her last living relative dead, Mari is evicted from her shipping container and leaves Flagstaff for the first time in seven years. Boarding a train for Scar City (formerly Reno), she keeps a white-knuckle grip on her debilitating panic attacks.

When the train lurches, she loses that grip and is picked up, calmed down, and turned on by the only other passengers in the car.

Finn and Gareth are under orders from their superiors to follow a slim lead on a stolen alien device. At first Mari is only a pleasant distraction, but through their telepathic Twin link, the brothers discover they both sense a powerful attraction to her that goes far beyond pheromones.

With dawning horror, Mari learns the Twins are after the same device she s seeking, her only hope to get money for a better life. Once they reach Scar City, the three realize they re living on borrowed time unless they can discover the device s secrets before attacking aliens bring the city walls tumbling down.

“Warning: Contains two genetically modified warrior heroes, a woman whose worst nightmare is wide open spaces, and distractions of a vibratory nature.”

Mari’s introduction to the Twins, Finn and Gareth, is more than a little fortuitous. That said, there was an immediate attraction. It was fun to read about this spirited young woman enjoying moments of self-discovery with her men. She obviously felt safe with them, but Mari still held back until she got to know them better. It didn’t take long, as people in dire situations tend to bond quickly. The scenes with the three of them were sweet and sexy and full of meaning. I would have liked the relationship between the three of them to be a little more fleshed out.

A favorite character was Patrice, a kindly old woman with a vicious guard dog. Patrice took to Mari right away and became a grand-motherly figure. Full of her own secrets, Patrice was no coward. In fact, she’s downright impressive. Living on her own for years, she also proved that she’s a survivor. A great example for Mari, and someone for her to turn to in place of her parents.

The super-soldier angle is an oldie but a goodie. In Paired Pursuit, the genetic engineering was an effort to stave off alien invasion. The engineering was successful, but so were the aliens. In a world ravaged by this alien species, the Twins (as the soldiers are known because they are typically bred in pairs) are not treated as fully human. They are somewhat viewed as government property. The Complex where the Twins live and train is brought up several times, and I do hope to see more of it. I think that could be the most interesting aspect of the series. Not too much information was given about the aliens, but the overall impression is that there isn’t much information available.

An enjoyable, sexy read, Paired Pursuit is full of entertainment.  Whether it involves humans and super-soldiers fighting off alien advances or a little super-soldier double loving, the story progressed quickly and provided a nice set-up for many books to come. I’m more than a little curious to see how this alien invasion will play out. So, if you’re like me and in the mood for a super sexy story filled with aliens and genetically engineered soldiers (that share EVERYTHING), then Paired Pursuit is the perfect fit.

Read Order:
Paired Pursuit
Paired Objective

About Sarah 47 Articles
A 30-something mother of a teenage (going on 30) daughter, I read between 4-8 books a week. Between work, chauffeur responsibilities, and reading, I don’t have much free time . However, I do like to knit and crochet in the winter (quality scarves and hats are highly underrated!). My favorite genres are urban fantasy, contemporary romance, and paranormal romance. I tend to binge read when I find a great new series, so I love to discover new-to-me series that already have several books out.