Let me preface to say that I'm a die hard romance reader and I wanted to try a different genre so I am reading Stardoc.  I'm 3/4 the way through Stardoc and am really enjoying it so I decided to put the rest of the series on my reminder list. I read a huge spoiler in the description of one of the books -

spoiler below..........

In Shockball, it says .....Cherijo and her new husband, Duncan....

Say it isn't so that Kao dies? Spoilers please, I don't think I'm going to be able to read the rest of the series. *sigh*

What happens to Kao?

Why in Endurance does the description say...the man she once loved stabbed her in the back...Who Kao?

I don't want to give you too many spoilers, but suffice it to say that Kao isn't in the second book.

This isn't a series to read if you have to have the typical romance-style "happily ever-after" type relationships.

ETA: Not to say that this series isn't good. I've read 6 (i think) so far, and I've got the rest, to date, in my TBR. I really like Viehl's books.

She also writes the vampire Darkyn series under the name Lynn Viehl.  That series is much more typical romance with HEA. 

Sarah, I think you're right, it's not a series that I'm going to continue with because I'm having major issues with killing off the "hero". And if she ends up with Duncan, I haven't liked him from the start. *sigh*

Thanks Emily, I like herstyle of writing so I'll try that series. :)

If I recall correctly, she has several other pen names.  Each a slightly different genre.

Yep.  Also suspense / mysteries under Jessica Hall.

I like the series very much myself, but I am not a romance reader.  I also liked her book Blade Dancer which has a similar tone.

Thanks Emily, i'll look up Jessica Hall also. :)

Matt, I've been reading romances for so long that I can't stand when they kill off a main character That's a big 'ole no-no in romances.

Then the Stardoc series is definely not for you.  The main characters seem to get killed right and left.  But not all of them stay dead. 

Have you tried Linnea Sinclair?  Or Wen Spencer?  I'd recommend those SF choices for folks coming from romance.

Edited to add, farther down the forum is a thread called Space and romance that focuses on SF with romance.  Or romance with SF.

EmilyKat,  Thanks for the recommedations on authors.

Pamela

I love Linnea Sinclair, she might be just what your looking for if you want romance and an HEA with your sci-fi.

I have Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair on my wish list, is this a good start or should I try another one of her books? I'm also going to look at the Wen Spencer books, which one would you recommend?

I'd personally recommend either Finder's Keepers or An Accidental Goddess. 

For Wen Spencer, the Tinker series has more romance.  And A Brother's Price is a gender switch.  Men stay home with the kids.  It is a stand alone.

Thanks Emily!  :)

For whatever reason, I prefered Games of Command.  For other authors I'd try the Miles series by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Most of the books don't have a  romance per se, but they all follow Miles and later in the series there's a couple romances.

Games of Command and Finders Keepers are my two favorite Linnea Sinclair books.

I've also read Tinker by Wen Spencer and I liked it. I've got a few more of hers (incluing A Brother's Price) in my TBR as well.