The title says it all.

Riker and Troi. The cover art for these two novels even feature them. The love story needs to be told and it has been.

This story starts with the Enterprise being sent a troubled planet where there is no real way to solve the problem. The population is turning violent and the crew is stretched thin trying to put out the fires, both literally and figuratively.

This is a wonderful character study of not just the regular cast but as well as new character including the security chief. In addition we get to explore Riker search for his father and struggle with the ailing relationship.

I was disappointed in the clichés used in the end of the first part of the story. Riker finding his father at gunpoint and Crusher informing Picard that the cure for this planet is also the cause of the disaster it is facing. It gave me a false sense of expectations for the second part.

Finally this series is going somewhere

The A Time to... series of novels have been a bit underwhelming thus far but in "A Time to Love" and "A Time to Hate" the series begins to come into it's own with the strongest pair of novels yet. It doesn't require non-stop action and excitement to provide an absorbing tale, although both these novels have their share of tension and conflict. Robert Greenberger takes the simple and straightforward approach of letting the characters be the center of the story, which makes for an extremely rewarding read.

Jointly colonized a hundred years ago by two violent races previously hostile to each other, the Bader and the Dorset, the Federation member world Delta Sigma IV has always been a model of interspecies cooperation. When it was discovered that a naturally occurring gas is shortening the inhabitant's life spans it seemed as if Starfleet Medical had found a counter agent. But someone has seriously miscalculated and the Enterprise-E is assigned to investigate when mysterious outbreaks of violence seem to be linked to the treatment.

To complicate matters, Kyle Riker, William Riker's estranged father, the man who headed the Federation delegation working to study and resolve the medical issues of the Bader and Dorset, is missing and he aims to stay that way. The situation quickly dissolves from bad to calamitous as escalating violence begins to spread across the planet and the governing council proves to be incapable of making any decisions. Called upon to provide everything from medical aid and security to damage control and repair teams for an entire planet whose population is hostile to each other and to them, the crew of the Enterprise soon realize that they can't hold the planet together for long.

Knowing they are on their own, Beverly Crusher works franticly but when she does unravel the mystery behind what has been triggering the long-suppressed aggression of the Bader and Dorset, the answer just provokes more questions. Speed is of the essence and finding a solution must take priority, and when a solution is found it is far from ideal. To save the populace of Delta Sigma IV, Picard must also condemn them.

As "A Time to Love" opens Captain Picard, and by extension his crew, are still laboring under the shadow of their encounter with the "demon ship" ("A Time to be Born", "A Time to Die"). Now considered a liability by many at Starfleet Command this latest is just another in a string of what one Admiral called "lousy assignments" meant to try to nudge Picard toward retirement. Beverly Crusher is contemplating a return to Starfleet Medical and Riker and Troi have started to give serious consideration to their own futures.

Given everything that has gone on in the characters lives over the course of the first four novels of this series it is refreshing to have Greenberger focus on the characters and their relationships with each other. It gives the reader an opportunity to really get to know each character a bit more at this point in their lives; the years have brought changes to them all. The years have also meant new crew members, characters we don't know as well, and these two novels also provide an opportunity to get to know several characters like security chief Christine Vale a whole lot better.

There is a lot going on in "A Time to Love" and "A Time to Hate". Several sub plots weave themselves together into one cohesive whole. "A Time to Love" starts out a bit slowly as each of the numerous character arches are established but once that is accomplished the story begins to pick up momentum. One of the strongest sub plots is Will Rikers hunt for his father, that storyline supplies much of the mystery and intrigue but also builds on everything we already know about their relationship. Fans of the William Riker and Deanna Troi romance will no doubt be satisfied by the direction their lives take in these novels.

In case I've given you the impression that the story is all about the characters let me assure you that these two novels aren't without action sequences, although primarily it is hand-to-hand combat and the majority of the action takes place in "A Time to Hate". As you read you also begin to get an inkling that there is something more than meets the eye going on with regards to the Bader and Dorset's medical issues but the major plot twist in the final pages of "A Time to Hate" still comes as a complete and shocking surprise.

"A Time to Love" and "A Time to Hate" finally have this series heading in the right direction.

Series Highlight: "A Time to Love"

There is a lot to 'love' about this book. The "A Time To..." series serves as a setup to the last TNG movie, Star Trek: Nemesis. In it, the crew and ship we know are undergoing many changes, many which were rather unexpected. In it, Data is without his emotion chip that we've been used to since Star Trek: Generations. Troi and Riker, who got back together during the course of Star Trek: Insurrection, took their relationship to the next level by joining together in marriage. Apparently, Beverly Crusher also decides to return to her Season 2 position as head of Starfleet Medical.

While the "A Time to..." series has been an interesting concept, I as a reader haven't seen the idea executed all that well. The first two books, Born/Die, started the series with an awkward story that isn't very believable by TNG standards. As another reviewer said, the Enterprise's reputation is tarnished and those in the Federation and Starfleet Command begin to cast doubts at Picard. The crew is shaken and people are leaving the Enterprise left and right. While the previous books, Harvest/Sow, shows the crew getting back on the saddle, this book really hits the nail on the head in terms of the premise. We get an idea why the decisions were made by the main crew.

This book deals with a planet in distress. Something is causing two races living on one planet to suddenly turn against one another after nearly a century of peace and unity. The Enterprise is there to investigate the reasons behind the sudden change; and they're there to capture and detain Kyle Riker, Commander Riker's estranged father. "A Time to Love" in some manners fills in the gaps to the Kyle/William Riker relationship that another book, Star Trek: Lost Era; Deny thy Father, left out. We get the chance not only to see Riker in action as an investigator and showing off his command skills, but we get to go inside his head and understand his troubled relationship with his father. The book builds up on this 'Fugitive' theme with son hunting down father and ends on a thrilling note, making you want more but having to wait for the conclusion in the next book, "A Time to Hate."

Another great part of this book is the exploration of relationships. If you're a fan of Crusher, she's given a lot of attention in this book. Her character begins to make comments and observations about how things are changing. She strikes it home with the Next Generation theme of family and how hard it is at times to let go and move beyond the comforts of this close-knit relationship. Crusher makes some shocking and revealing comments about what's keeping her on the Enterprise, including comments on her relationship with Picard. Finally, a book that doesn't shy away from such things. Troi and Riker really seem closer in this book to moving on to that next step in their relationship. Picard comes off as a tragic hero, moving beyond the events that nearly ended his career but being worn down by them and having to accept that time changes things and people.

There is a nice balance between the mission at hand and the character's personal lives. I felt as if the previous books in the series left little time for the reader to understand or get the chance to see the characters change and move towards making their decisions about their futures on the Enterprise. This book though takes the time out and keeps things moving smoothly so you can't grow tired of one plot or another. Part of the B Plot involving La Forge and Data and the lack of equipment and replacement parts did seem out of place and to take away from the other plots but this minor thing can be looked over I think.

"A Time to Love" works in that it really takes on the premise and drives it home. The questions opened by Nemesis finally seem to be taken on. They aren't answered but they are at least dealt with finally in the series. It is shorter than the others but I don't see this as a hang up. It seems to have the right amount of material and nothing seems over-done. I actually finished this book wanting more, exicited, anxious to read how this ends and how the characters will be changed by the conclusion. It is a mystery and is filled with suspense, action, death, love and a mix of emotions. Robert Greenberger seems to take on these books and delivers.