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Category: Science Fiction/Romance
Description: Trill falls in love with Raphael, but when he is brutally murdered before her eyes, she vows never to love another. But love another, she does, although not without complications. Trill makes her way to Harbor Town, a city on the humanoid reptilian planet, Twain 4, and there she meets another man to whom she is attracted. This new human she has found on Twain 4 desperately needs her help. He has suffered at the hands of a brutal extortionist who slaughtered his family outright, and now he's terrified the extortionist will kill others close to him if he doesn't sell his magtrain factory for almost nothing. The only way this man will allow Trill to help him is if he can protect her while she is with him. He disguises her as a half-human, half-reptilian being, a mixed species, despised by both human and reptoid alike. Through this experience, Trill learns to respect all beings--not just human beings...
eBook Publisher: Awe-Struck E-Books, 2000
eBookwise Release Date: December 2001

12 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [320 KB]
Words: 77234
Reading time: 220-308 min.

Reviewed by Sally G. Laturi of IVY QUILL REVIEWS: "I am in awe of Mr. McGregor's writing style and ability. To entwine so many elements on different levels into a novel, and to do it in such a way that the book is smooth and fast-paced, makes Mr. McGregor a true artist, in my opinion. The Raphael Experience is fun, exciting, and thought-provoking all at the same time. I'm happy to recommend it and I'm looking forward to reading it again!"

Reviewed by Joyce Lavene, coauthor of Flowers in the Night, Mask of the Stranger, and Still the One. "In The Raphael Experience, author Alan McGregor (Night Beasts, Awe-Struck Books, November 2000) has given us a strangely moving book of sci-fi and romance. Not since Tanith Lee, has an author done justice to a relationship between a synthetic creature and a human and yet managed to say so much more."

Raphael stood quietly at her side. He was a tall man, confident in bearing. His shoulder-length blond hair cascading in perfect waves across the back of his head. His features were finely chiseled, like a Greek sculpture, and his blue eyes sparkled in the afternoon sunsshine.

Trill didn't consider herself that pretty, although others had told her she was. She was a slender woman with dark hair that fell down her back. Her petite face was graced with a strong mouth she considered too severe, and black snapping eyes. Her hair framed her face beautifully. At least, that's what Raphael said. Raphael had told her many times that he loved her and that she was beautiful, but she knew the comments were coming from a most unusual man, a man who loved her unconditionally. He could say things like that to her and mean them. Raphael was perfect and only perfect comments came from him.

Trill felt warm at the touch of Raphael's perfect hand on her imperfect shoulder. "You're not telling me everything, Trill." Raphael's face looked all-knowing as he looked deeply into her eyes.

Trill felt herself panic. "What do you mean?" She tried to sound innocent and unconcerned. "I just wanted us to take a long weekend off. That's all. We deserve this, don't you think?" But then something snapped inside her. She couldn't hold it in any longer. She began to cry.

You've run out of money, haven't you?" Raphael said gently. Now his blue eyes were piercing into her soul. "They're taking me because you've finally run out of money." It was almost a question.

"No ... I..."

Raphael looked at her in his gentle, questioning way.

"Raphael, they've ... they've increased the lease payments. I can't keep up with them anymore. They're going to..."

Raphael kissed her softly on her lips. The immense comfort in that kiss was not enough to calm her. "It's all right, Trill," he whispered. "We knew this day would come. We knew it would come."

Trill gripped the front of his shirt and sobbed into his chest.