A two-part adventure of time travel, romance, and interstellar intrigue that takes you "from the L.A. barrios to the universe! Excellent" (The San Diego Union-Tribune).   Born in Mexico but living in East LA much of her young life, Tina Santis Pulivok has always felt different from her friends and family. Her mind picks up the moods of others, but she's never understood why--until a bizarre meeting gives her a one-of-a-kind connection to a soldier from the future. Their connection will transcend both time and space--and the future of both their worlds depends on it . . .   Earthborn Tina knows the strange man on the street must be lost, but she can't imagine just how far he is from home. Althor, an Imperial Space Command pilot, left his planet in 2328 to attend a reception in Washington DC--and somehow ended up in 1987 Los Angeles. When the military captures his starfighter, he and Tina race to recover the ship before it detonates--and takes a large swath of California with it . . .    Starborn Following her heart, Tina leaves Earth behind when she travels to a future universe with starfighter pilot Althor. But the more she learns about his powerful, telepathic family, the more she realizes how much danger they're in, as a merciless enemy targets the newlywed couple in a treasonous plan to conquer human civilization.   Praise for Lightning Strike   "A space adventure for the twenty-first century." --Nancy Kress, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author   "A truly masterful accomplishment of world-building, an example of consummate craftsmanship and an impeccable feel for the technical and social possibilities that lie ahead of us. Hard science fiction fans can rejoice--the next superstar is here." --Romantic Times