Pirate Syna Davout didn’t expect to get caught in the middle of a revolution when she boarded the luxury yacht in orbit around Hamunaptra. All she has to do for enough money to keep her ship flying for a year is snatch the money onboard the yacht and run. The job seemed easy enough, until she discovered she was the diversion in a Tse ploy to kill the two rogue telepaths onboard the yacht. Suddenly embroiled in a firefight between the Tse and the two fugitives, it isn’t hard for Syna to pick a side.  The Tse are the same heartless minions who imprisoned her and killed her lover a year ago.

With his partner dead, Galen Fash needs Syna's help to complete his mission. He knows that the two of them are the last hope the rebel psion forces on Hamunaptra have to slow the Tse advancement across known space long enough for them to build up their forces. What Galen doesn’t need is to get involved with the pirate captain. While he’s agreed to stay out of her head, that doesn’t stop her from broadcasting her powerful emotions. Emotions that draw him to her like a moth to flame.

Never mind that she’s attracted to Galen, Syna plans on dropping him off close to the main trade lanes. She’s just too uncomfortable having a guy around who can read her mind anytime he chooses. Supposedly, some psions can even use mind-control, and she definitely wants no part of that. Besides, she’s still mourning Anbjorn. She can’t imagine replacing him, not just yet anyway. And then there's the fact that Galen’s mission is pure suicide. Nevertheless, Syna finds herself drawn willingly into his fight, and not just because of the tempting sum of money he offers her. The man needs a keeper and who better for that job than a kick-ass expert in hand-to-hand combat? Plus, in Syna's book, the Tse still have a lot to answer for.  What she doesn’t expect is to fall in love with Galen.  Nor does she expect to encounter a lover’s betrayal.

Albeit short, Hearts And Minds is a fabulous, fast-paced story that gives the impression of a more epic tale. It took me a few pages to get into, but only because of the sci-tech speak for which J. C. Hay is well-known. A sci-fi/fantasy author, this is Mr. Hay’s first venture into the romantic sci-fi genre, and I have to say that he got the romantic elements just right. Syna and Galen are personable, intriguing and easy to like. They’re about as different as night and day, but that very disparity actually works to make them perfect for each other. I loved that Syna, if not the stronger one, was the more adept of the two at hand-to-hand combat. She isn’t afraid to take on the leadership role, and Galen is secure enough in his masculinity to not only accept her proficiency but to actually depend on her strength. Galen is charming in a sweet, almost shy kind of way and just sexy enough to trip and then accelerate my heart rate.

Ladies, don’t let the fact that this story was written by a man deter you from reading it. After enjoying it so much I hated to see it end, I can wholeheartedly recommend it to all fans of romantic sci-fi. Since the author left several dangling threads, I’m hoping he’ll come up with at least one sequel to answer my questions. Who is the traitor in the psion ranks? Is Jonas, Galen’s friend and partner, really dead?  I have reason to wonder, and you will, too. All in all, this is a great book! Don’t miss it!