Hearts of Steel
by Jennifer Dunne, Elizabeth Stewart, Cassie Walder

In the future, the line between human and machine becomes blurred. Androids can be programmed to be perfect lovers... but whether their HEARTS OF STEEL allow love to become real is the question. If anyone knows, it would be Milo O'Shea, owner of O'Shea's Discount Bot Shoppe, who supplies full- service androids for cut-rate prices in these very different stories of futuristic lovers.

My Darling Clementine by Elizabeth Stewart

Nathaniel Huntington is looking for a female sex robot in Milo O'Shea's Discount Bot Shoppe. He's seen a wide variety of "fembots", but he's looking for something "special". What he finds is My Darling Clementine, a one-of-a-kind creation. Nathaniel finds that her sexual talents are not her only abilities. She cooks and sings as well. Their uneasy relationship soon blossoms as Clementine fills the lonely void of his life. For them, life finally seems to be going their way. Until life intrudes with secrets both carry...secrets that could destroy their love.

In Batteries Not Included by Cassie Walder

Amanda needs a new bot to help her with chores on her secluded cattle ranch. She knows she has to replace her faithful bot Mike, but when she walks into O'Shea's, all she is looking for is an affordable bot. What she gets is unexpected love and passion from the handsome Timothy Johnson, a very unusual bio-mechanoid. To save him and Jean, another bio-mech, from destruction, Amanda puts her life and her heart on the line.

Illicit Programming by Jennifer Dunne

Maeko and Koie, members of different Muns, purchase two bots to assist them in their assignment to begin terraforming a distant planet. As the two couples travel to the planet Aysha to begin the work, feelings they never knew existed began to surface. And the only ones who can teach M and K about love and passion are the bots Sean and Meghan, both uniquely programmed by O'Shea's Discount Bot Shoppe.

Jennifer Dunne's Bio

Jennifer Dunne has always been a voracious reader, devouring romance, fantasy, and science fiction books by the score. When she turned her hand to writing books, those three elements mixed and mingled freely in her works. Her first novel, Raven's Heart, won the EPPIE award for best SF original ebook, and took second place in the Sapphire Awards for best science fiction romance. She has written a vampire romance (Dark Salvation), and contributed anthology stories about holidays on distant worlds ("To Life" in Infinite Celebrations), do-gooding demons ("Vacation" in Heaven & Hell), and magical animal rights activists ("The Tower"). Her newest novel, Shadow Prince, is the first of a proposed series of fantasy stories set in the Illornian Empire. When not writing or reading, Jennifer works for IBM as a web site developer. Jennifer is also active in a number of writing organizations, and has served two terms as president of her local RWA chapter, two terms as president of RWA's Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal special interest chapter, and six years as the managing editor of the SF Romance newsletter, in addition to teaching online writing classes.

Interview