Imperative:  Missing You by Belinda McBride
Changeling Press
Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Futuristic
Short Story, M/M, M/F, M/F/M, Ménage
Review by Xeranth

Aquamarine Davis has an exciting future. The up and coming young choreographer is leaving town for a new job when she feels the unwelcome call of the Imperative. Hounded by an intense, biological compulsion to find her mate, Marina reluctantly attends the local mating assembly.

Artist Con Montgomery is thrilled that the Imperative finally called! At 32, he believed his time had passed. For years, he's been haunted by visions of blue which he knew symbolized his mate. The Imperative leads him to Duncan Sinclair, and Con immediately recognizes his future in the smiling blue eyes of this man.

When Con and Duncan walk out of the Assembly together, they leave something behind: Marina. Their mate.

♥ ♥ ♥

Missing You is written with a surgical skill which grabbed my emotions from the very first chapter. My initial reaction was to tear up and I connected with the feeling of loss that the heroine, Marina, is overwhelmed by. The hardest thing anyone can deal with is the sure knowledge that there is no way to assuage the heartache, yet life must go on. 

The drama and conflict of the story is stark when faced with the contrast of happiness between the other two heroes of the story, Con and Duncan.  This being a short story, Ms. McBride strove to provide enough background for her heroes so the reader could believe in their initial happiness and in the process as it slowly unravels.  

I found the balance of sex in the story quite satisfactory.  The author did not compromise the integrity of her story for a bunch of long and drawn-out sexual acrobatics. There is a definite attempt to make the characters come across as people with feelings and insecurities, to invite the reader to be invested in the final outcome. When they do come together, it is seductive, passionate and at times quite humorous. I loved the ‘nose’ issue.

The idea of the Imperative is unique and an interesting way to explain the occurrences of alternate lifestyles.  My favorite part of this idea is the assurance that unions based upon the influence of the Imperative work and work quite well.   I wish all marriages and unions had that kind of insurance.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be some rocky times though. We are after all, human. And as humans, we do things without truly understanding why…until we get that ‘Aha!’ moment.  I felt that moment came a tad too quickly for the characters, that it was rushed,  but I believe it’s due to the nature of the story length and not because the author ran out of things to say.

Missing You is a book well worth taking the time to read for those who enjoy a little ménage, a little biological magic, a lot of loving and a interesting spin on relationships.  If you prefer stories where the characters are the stars and the hot passion is a strategic embrace to tie it all together, then this is the story for you.