This hits my "emotional isolated person learns sensual pleasure" button. Wereleopards and pack dynamics and a serial killer. HEA ending.

Wow. Why have I not heard of Nalini Singh before? The cover of Slave to Sensation assures me she's a bestselling author. Somebody's been falling down on the job.

This is a science fiction romance, which accounts for some of my excitement. There are plenty of fantasy romances, but not so many science fiction ones. And the premise is not uncommon in science fiction books: a race of futuristic humans have suppressed emotions in an attempt to eliminate violence, but it goes awry.

But there's more to it than that, and it's all in the way it's written.

Sascha Duncan is a Psy--one of the race with psychic abilities that control this future world. In fact, she's a Cardinal Psy, meaning she has the potential for great power, but she's living far beneath her potential because she's "broken." All Psy have been trained since birth to suppress their emotions, but Sascha's been feeling emotions, and fears that her mind is on the verge of collapse. She's desperate to hide it as long as she can, because the alternative is a "rehabilitiation" that would wipe her mind, leaving no trace of her self.

Lucas Hunter is a Changeling, and leader of the DarkRiver pack of were-leopards. He's working with Sascha on a joint Psy-Changeling construction project, but has a hidden motive: finding a serial killer, a Psy who's been preying on young Changeling women.

Their story is emotionally intense. Sascha's thoughts and reactions are very realistic, as she's feeling emotions more and more, and trying to interpret them and what they mean. Both of them have things they have to hide from each other, and Sascha in addition has to hide her newfound emotional state from the other Psy, particularly from her mother.

The mystery is well done, as are the paths Sascha and Lucas take to unravel it. In the process, they both find out things about themselves and their pasts, and the politics of their world. Which is another reason I liked this story so much: the intrigue.

The future world of Slave to Sensation is a complete one, with a history and complex societies. I can see several directions open to the series, so I hope it goes on a long time.

My only, very minor niggle is the cover and title. My first impression, at a glance, was that it was a BDSM erotic romance. It's not. I wouldn't have minded if it were, but I do fear that some readers will be disappointed, and some readers who'd have liked the sf-romance blend might miss it. Of course, most people probably do read the back of the book before buying, so maybe it's not a problem.

I'll definitely be looking for Nalini Singh's backlist, and watching for her future books. ( )

Though the short summary may make Slave to Sensation sound like a cheesy futuristic romance at first glance, I assure you it is anything but! Nalini writes a great story, showing a fresh new view in paranormal romance. Set in the future, her world is full of psy's and shapeshifters, changelings as they are called, and forbidden love, forbidden sensations, turned into true love with a hot, wild side.

I love when my romance novels have a sexy alpha male as the hero-- who doesn't, right? Well, Slave to Sensation delivers, giving us not only the hero, but also some of the other males in the Packs, who will, of course, have their own books later on. The men in the Packs are perfect combinations of wild and tender, sexy and funny. Oh, and did I mention that they are more than just a human man? Yeah, they can change into wolves and panthers and jaguars. Sounds like the perfect man, right ladies? Believe me, before the end of Slave of Sensation, you will be in love (or at least lust) with Lucas and his Pack members-- maybe even some of the Wolves, too.

The story had everything-- love, laughs, thrills, erotic moments and tender ones. And don't forget the cute little cubs. Yes, that's right, when their babies are first born, they usually start to take on the form of their animal side from the very start, and are able to switch back and forth around their first year. I fell in love with the twin cubs during the first scene that they came into, and I'm sure you will too.

Lucas is both rugged and dangerous yet tender and sweet. He's protective, he's demanding, he's Alpha of the Pack, and now Alpha of Sascha's heart. But don't go thinking that just becuase the males are so pushy that automatically makes them the alpha in the mating. No, their mates are just as strong willed, just as commanding, and they have their men wrapped around their fingers, but not in a bad way. They both give and take, command and listen, and add to that the fact that they share a special connection, a deep connection, *both in bed and out! ;-)* and you have a great relationship. Just reading their story makes you feel like you've walked in on an intimate moment between two people who are deeply in love. And in a way, you are. It's sweet and sexy, wild but sometimes tame. It's a perfect combination of everything!

5/5 STARS! If you love a great paranormal romance book that has fire and passion, lust and love, laughs and thrills, then Nalini's Psy-Changelings Series is perfect for you! Definitely a must read for fans of other Paranormal Romance Queens like Christine Feehan, Emma Holly, Angela Knight, and Lora Leigh. If her other 4 books are just as sexy and wonderful as Slave to Sensation, then I am sure I'm going to devour them just as quickly and as I did this one. A fresh new voice in paranormal romance, one that you should definitely keep your eye on! ( )

Yet another cheesy cover hides an excellent paranormal romance!!! In a future world, Sascha Duncan is a Psy, a member of a powerful group of beings that are programmed to feel no emotions. She knows she's different because she definitely DOES have feelings but understands that if her superiors or her high-ranking mother finds this out, she'll be sent away to be de-programmed and turned into a "vegetable." She feels lust and desire around a changeling leopard named Lucas Hunter. Their strong, developing relationship and Sascha's discovery of her own empathic nature changes her life forever.
This book was great - it looks like author Singh will be making it into a series. There was so much action, (hot) romance and supernatural scheming that it kept me at the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. Although it looks like the next installment will feature Vaughan, I'd like a story starring Dorian or Hawke. ( )

The love story between a Psy called Sascha and a shapeshifter called Lucas. The Psy aren't supposed or allowed to have feelings, but Sascha has always been different and hid the fact that she had emotions.
When a Psy serial killer goes after the shapeshifters' women, she has to choose a side and make a decision. ( )