HeartFast
Linda Mooney
It was a world that, eons ago, had suffered a devastating plague that had rendered more than half its population unable to reproduce. As a result, in order to assure the survival of their species, the HandFast law was enacted. Every month, twenty couples were drawn by lottery. Couples whose sole purpose would then be procreation, the continuation of the species. For the length of one year, two complete strangers would follow the edicts of the HandFast, until the woman conceived. Once that was accomplished, the couple was no longer bound to each other, and they could go their separate ways while the child was given to a couple unable to bear children.
It was a cold and impersonal law, but it worked.
However, the Guardians were exempt from having their names drawn in the lottery. The very nature of their jobs, risking their lives day in and day out to protect their galaxy, precluded any thought of bearing children.
Which was why, when StarLight and Master Hunter heard their names called out to be HandFasted, their neat, orderly lives were turned upside-down. Gone was the comfortable companionship they'd known. Gone was the brother-sister working relationship and the friendship.
Now they would be forced into an intimacy neither had wanted, nor expected.
Neither would they be prepared for the overwhelming passion they would find in each other's bodies, as well as in their hearts.
And things would only get more complicated and dangerous. Because their names had been deliberately placed on the lottery, and the drawing had not been a fluke. Instead, it was the first step in destroying their world and every Guardian living.
Duration - 11h 54m.
Author - Linda Mooney.
Narrator - Chase Johnson.
Published Date - Thursday, 12 January 2023.
Copyright - © 2006 Linda Mooney ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
It was a world that, eons ago, had suffered a devastating plague that had rendered more than half its population unable to reproduce. As a result, in order to assure the survival of their species, the HandFast law was enacted. Every month, twenty couples were drawn by lottery. Couples whose sole purpose would then be procreation, the continuation of the species. For the length of one year, two complete strangers would follow the edicts of the HandFast, until the woman conceived. Once that was accomplished, the couple was no longer bound to each other, and they could go their separate ways while the child was given to a couple unable to bear children. It was a cold and impersonal law, but it worked. However, the Guardians were exempt from having their names drawn in the lottery. The very nature of their jobs, risking their lives day in and day out to protect their galaxy, precluded any thought of bearing children. Which was why, when StarLight and Master Hunter heard their names called out to be HandFasted, their neat, orderly lives were turned upside-down. Gone was the comfortable companionship they'd known. Gone was the brother-sister working relationship and the friendship. Now they would be forced into an intimacy neither had wanted, nor expected. Neither would they be prepared for the overwhelming passion they would find in each other's bodies, as well as in their hearts. And things would only get more complicated and dangerous. Because their names had been deliberately placed on the lottery, and the drawing had not been a fluke. Instead, it was the first step in destroying their world and every Guardian living. Duration - 11h 54m. Author - Linda Mooney. Narrator - Chase Johnson. Published Date - Thursday, 12 January 2023. Copyright - © 2006 Linda Mooney ©.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:07
Chapter 01 Announcement
Duration:00:24:30
Chapter 02 Waiting
Duration:00:25:51
Subterfuge 01
Duration:00:05:58
Chapter 03 Interim
Duration:00:20:16
Chapter 04 Preparation
Duration:00:12:43
Chapter 05 Ceremony
Duration:00:14:18
Subterfuge 02
Duration:00:01:44
Chapter 06 Confession
Duration:00:22:36
Chapter 07 Tolerance
Duration:00:10:00
Chapter 08 Abandoned
Duration:00:33:25
Chapter 09 Ache
Duration:00:17:08
Subterfuge 03
Duration:00:01:45
Chapter 10 Desire
Duration:00:20:03
Chapter 11 Promise
Duration:00:18:17
Chapter 12 Passion
Duration:00:27:34
Chapter 13 Friendship
Duration:00:25:17
Chapter 14 Sun Dance
Duration:00:09:00
Subterfuge 04
Duration:00:02:03
Chapter 15 Ombitra
Duration:00:17:49
Chapter 16 Reconnaissance
Duration:00:18:12
Chapter 17 Clock
Duration:00:19:29
Chapter 18 Hearts
Duration:00:20:02
Chapter 19 Arrest
Duration:00:17:25
Subterfuge 05
Duration:00:04:20
Chapter 20 Strategy
Duration:00:26:16
Chapter 21 Gardens
Duration:00:21:27
Chapter 22 Strike
Duration:00:15:59
Chapter 23 Confirmation
Duration:00:20:47
Chapter 24 honesty
Duration:00:25:05
Subterfuge 06
Duration:00:01:38
Chapter 25 Reassignment
Duration:00:21:17
Chapter 26 Instincts
Duration:00:23:38
Chapter 27 Liaison
Duration:00:21:06
Chapter 28 Attack
Duration:00:15:34
Chapter 29 Reunion
Duration:00:24:48
Chapter 30 Loss
Duration:00:25:41
Chapter 31 Investigation
Duration:00:15:06
Subterfuge 07
Duration:00:00:45
Chapter 32 Revelation
Duration:00:10:37
Chapter 33 Duplicity
Duration:00:17:38
Chapter 34 Awakening
Duration:00:11:36
Chapter 35 Future
Duration:00:08:52
Chapter 36 Family
Duration:00:09:57
Chapter 37 Tour
Duration:00:06:12
Ending Credits
Duration:00:00:17