What do you think?
Rate this book
Once Upon A Time In Space
In the sea of stars, an epic love story is about to begin...
Earth is dying. Nick Venture, the last living descendant of Christopher Columbus, embarks on a dangerous mission to find a new planet and save humanity. This places him on a collision course with Raquel Donovan, the deadliest space pirate in the galaxy.
Raquel lives for one purpose: revenge against a horrible demon from her past. When an attempt to hijack Nick’s starship backfires, Raquel becomes his protector in order to avoid capture by the tyrannical Space Defense Corps. Nick and Raquel are irresistibly drawn to one another despite the forbidden nature of their attraction. But the conflicted pirate’s deepest secret could tear the couple apart even as humanity’s time runs out…
(source: http://www.heathermassey.com/book.html)
Earth is dying. Nick Venture, the last living descendant of Christopher Columbus, embarks on a dangerous mission to find a new planet and save humanity. This places him on a collision course with Raquel Donovan, the deadliest space pirate in the galaxy.
Raquel lives for one purpose: revenge against a horrible demon from her past. When an attempt to hijack Nick’s starship backfires, Raquel becomes his protector in order to avoid capture by the tyrannical Space Defense Corps. Nick and Raquel are irresistibly drawn to one another despite the forbidden nature of their attraction. But the conflicted pirate’s deepest secret could tear the couple apart even as humanity’s time runs out…
(source: http://www.heathermassey.com/book.html)
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2011
60 people want to read
About the author
Heather Massey
23 books34 followersHeather Massey (she/her) is a geek mom who's the proud parent of a terrific daughter and married to the love of her life. Heather is best known for her sci-fi romance blog, The Galaxy Express.
Though she’s neither an award-winning nor bestselling author (thank you for not judging!), her stories provide quality entertainment by way of fantastical worlds, action-adventure, and larger-than-life characters who fall in love while battling evils such as classist jerks, corporate greed, the patriarchy, and corrupt politicians.
Though she’s neither an award-winning nor bestselling author (thank you for not judging!), her stories provide quality entertainment by way of fantastical worlds, action-adventure, and larger-than-life characters who fall in love while battling evils such as classist jerks, corporate greed, the patriarchy, and corrupt politicians.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 15, 2011
Fantastic Sci-fi Romance Erotica! Star Track Move Over!
Wow, I really enjoyed this read. It took me a little to get into in the beginning but after about 30 pages the story took off and what an action pack adventure. Humanity’s survival is at risk on earth because of a greedy and corrupt government, however, there are pirates running around in space living the best they can by jumping other ships and stealing their cargo.
Nick Venture, an ordinary guy who has been rescued by some Corporate official doctor who sets him on a mission to find a new planet called Eden in order to save humanity. Only thing is, Nick is not a computer/science guy who fly’s spaceships, but the Corporate Officials don’t care because his Christopher Columbus heritage singling him out to be the last survivor from that line is their only hope that the new world should be discovered by.
Nicks journey and adventure begins with three spaceships and a great humorous crew. However, things get interesting when the pirate Raguel jumps his ship to steal his supplies; she is automatically sexually drawn to Nick’s sexuality radiating all kinds of sensual thoughts throughout her whole body. To make a long story short, Nick bargains with Raguel and convinces her to become their guide and protector from the corrupt government and other pirates in order to get to the New world to save earths people.
The adventure is fantastic and the sexual erotica between Nick and Raguel is pretty steamy teasing you and driving you crazy until the end when it explodes to a climaxing erotica of HOT HOT SEX scenes.
There was lots of fighting action between the other pirates and the government military. I loved all the characters different personalities, some were pretty humorous. I thought the story line was well written and thought that this would make a great series/Movie as in search for new planets. The writing was very visionary and I felt like I was right there within the story. Great Read!
Wow, I really enjoyed this read. It took me a little to get into in the beginning but after about 30 pages the story took off and what an action pack adventure. Humanity’s survival is at risk on earth because of a greedy and corrupt government, however, there are pirates running around in space living the best they can by jumping other ships and stealing their cargo.
Nick Venture, an ordinary guy who has been rescued by some Corporate official doctor who sets him on a mission to find a new planet called Eden in order to save humanity. Only thing is, Nick is not a computer/science guy who fly’s spaceships, but the Corporate Officials don’t care because his Christopher Columbus heritage singling him out to be the last survivor from that line is their only hope that the new world should be discovered by.
Nicks journey and adventure begins with three spaceships and a great humorous crew. However, things get interesting when the pirate Raguel jumps his ship to steal his supplies; she is automatically sexually drawn to Nick’s sexuality radiating all kinds of sensual thoughts throughout her whole body. To make a long story short, Nick bargains with Raguel and convinces her to become their guide and protector from the corrupt government and other pirates in order to get to the New world to save earths people.
The adventure is fantastic and the sexual erotica between Nick and Raguel is pretty steamy teasing you and driving you crazy until the end when it explodes to a climaxing erotica of HOT HOT SEX scenes.
There was lots of fighting action between the other pirates and the government military. I loved all the characters different personalities, some were pretty humorous. I thought the story line was well written and thought that this would make a great series/Movie as in search for new planets. The writing was very visionary and I felt like I was right there within the story. Great Read!
March 16, 2011
Fantastic Sci-fi Romance Erotica! Star Track Move Over!
Wow, I really enjoyed this read. It took me a little to get into in the beginning but after about 30 pages the story took off and what an action pack adventure. Humanity’s survival is at risk on earth because of a greedy and corrupt government, however, there are pirates running around in space living the best they can by jumping other ships and stealing their cargo.
Nick Venture, an ordinary guy who has been rescued by some Corporate official doctor who sets him on a mission to find a new planet called Eden in order to save humanity. Only thing is, Nick is not a computer/science guy who fly’s spaceships, but the Corporate Officials don’t care because his Christopher Columbus heritage singling him out to be the last survivor from that line is their only hope that the new world should be discovered by.
Queentutt review below.
Nicks journey and adventure begins with three spaceships and a great humorous crew. However, things get interesting when the pirate Raguel jumps his ship to steal his supplies; she is automatically sexually drawn to Nick’s sexuality radiating all kinds of sensual thoughts throughout her whole body. To make a long story short, Nick bargains with Raguel and convinces her to become their guide and protector from the corrupt government and other pirates in order to get to the New world to save earths people.
The adventure is fantastic and the sexual erotica between Nick and Raguel is pretty steamy teasing you and driving you crazy until the end when it explodes to a climaxing erotica of HOT HOT SEX scenes.
There was lots of fighting action between the other pirates and the government military. I loved all the characters different personalities, some were pretty humorous. I thought the story line was well written and thought that this would make a great series/Movie as in search for new planets. The writing was very visionary and I felt like I was right there within the story. Great Read!
Wow, I really enjoyed this read. It took me a little to get into in the beginning but after about 30 pages the story took off and what an action pack adventure. Humanity’s survival is at risk on earth because of a greedy and corrupt government, however, there are pirates running around in space living the best they can by jumping other ships and stealing their cargo.
Nick Venture, an ordinary guy who has been rescued by some Corporate official doctor who sets him on a mission to find a new planet called Eden in order to save humanity. Only thing is, Nick is not a computer/science guy who fly’s spaceships, but the Corporate Officials don’t care because his Christopher Columbus heritage singling him out to be the last survivor from that line is their only hope that the new world should be discovered by.
Queentutt review below.
Nicks journey and adventure begins with three spaceships and a great humorous crew. However, things get interesting when the pirate Raguel jumps his ship to steal his supplies; she is automatically sexually drawn to Nick’s sexuality radiating all kinds of sensual thoughts throughout her whole body. To make a long story short, Nick bargains with Raguel and convinces her to become their guide and protector from the corrupt government and other pirates in order to get to the New world to save earths people.
The adventure is fantastic and the sexual erotica between Nick and Raguel is pretty steamy teasing you and driving you crazy until the end when it explodes to a climaxing erotica of HOT HOT SEX scenes.
There was lots of fighting action between the other pirates and the government military. I loved all the characters different personalities, some were pretty humorous. I thought the story line was well written and thought that this would make a great series/Movie as in search for new planets. The writing was very visionary and I felt like I was right there within the story. Great Read!
March 15, 2011
I read this book over a couple of days last week, also via NetGalley, and wow. It packs punch! I don’t typically read a lot of romance books, but when I read that this was science fiction romance, I had to give it a go.
We start the book from Raquel’s point of view, and she is portrayed as a rather scary character. I had to wonder whether I’d be able to identify with her, but it took very little time to learn that there are very good reasons for her actions. We don’t find out those reasons in depth until late in the book, but they are there, and gratifying once detailed to the reader.
Nick on the other hand seemed a fairly likable character from the start. He works hard, and while he hasn’t really striven for success in life, we gather than pretty much, with the current state of affairs (you know, the whole world dying, everyone trying to survive below the surface thing) you get what you can and you’re happy to have anything at all.
Nick gets fired though, and things go from bad to worse very quickly when he gets into a brawl and ends up in jail. Then comes the offer he simply can’t refuse – to captain a mission to a new planet – despite his complete lack of skills for the job. I did have a little bit of difficulty suspending my disbelief here because it seems he is chosen for this role simply because he is the last known descendant of Christopher Columbus. I kind of feel like because the mission is such a big deal, those who are backing it would want to put someone with more skills into the role of Captain, but oh well.
To his credit, Nick knows he isn’t cut out for the job and feels incredibly out of his depth. This is a good thing, and let me buy back into the storyline. He feels like he is a figurehead more than anything else, though strangely, the crew do look up to him and seem to expect *something* more from him.
The contrast between the two main characters is great – when they meet there is obvious chemistry despite their differences. Nick plays the hero, and Raquel the villain, but by the end of their first few exchanges they are tied together on this mission, you can really see that they are going to have clashes, both mentally and physically and it makes you want to read on.
It is very much a romance novel, as well as a science fiction, the two sides being fairly well balanced. The explicit details of the fantasies each of the characters have, as well as the eventual sex, makes it feel closer to erotica than romance for me. Very well written erotica, but more detailed than I had expected to find – that said, the author does say that it’s a *hot* read and she isn’t wrong!
The plot is fast paced, and engaging, and for the most part I thoroughly enjoyed it. The mission to find a new planet in order to save human-kind is an important one, and the subplots involving pirates and crooked elite military forces were really enjoyable as well. I love reading stories where the underdogs are trying their hardest to succeed against huge odds and strong foes. The secondary characters are for the most part excellent as well, with their own storylines playing out in the background. I ran the gamut of emotions while reading this book, including sadness – I actually shed tears after reading one scene, and I’m sure you’ll know which if you decide to give it a read!
If I have any criticism of the book it would also be towards the end. I don’t want to include spoilers, but I got frustrated with some of Nick’s choices, and his self absorption on his troubles when there were bigger things at stake. Thankfully, he corrects those and ends on a good note.
All over, a very good book. The ending was wrapped up a little too fast for my tastes, but otherwise it was fairly evenly paced. I would happily recommend this book to anyone who likes some romance with their science fiction. I think there is enough of both to keep any reader satisfied.
We start the book from Raquel’s point of view, and she is portrayed as a rather scary character. I had to wonder whether I’d be able to identify with her, but it took very little time to learn that there are very good reasons for her actions. We don’t find out those reasons in depth until late in the book, but they are there, and gratifying once detailed to the reader.
Nick on the other hand seemed a fairly likable character from the start. He works hard, and while he hasn’t really striven for success in life, we gather than pretty much, with the current state of affairs (you know, the whole world dying, everyone trying to survive below the surface thing) you get what you can and you’re happy to have anything at all.
Nick gets fired though, and things go from bad to worse very quickly when he gets into a brawl and ends up in jail. Then comes the offer he simply can’t refuse – to captain a mission to a new planet – despite his complete lack of skills for the job. I did have a little bit of difficulty suspending my disbelief here because it seems he is chosen for this role simply because he is the last known descendant of Christopher Columbus. I kind of feel like because the mission is such a big deal, those who are backing it would want to put someone with more skills into the role of Captain, but oh well.
To his credit, Nick knows he isn’t cut out for the job and feels incredibly out of his depth. This is a good thing, and let me buy back into the storyline. He feels like he is a figurehead more than anything else, though strangely, the crew do look up to him and seem to expect *something* more from him.
The contrast between the two main characters is great – when they meet there is obvious chemistry despite their differences. Nick plays the hero, and Raquel the villain, but by the end of their first few exchanges they are tied together on this mission, you can really see that they are going to have clashes, both mentally and physically and it makes you want to read on.
It is very much a romance novel, as well as a science fiction, the two sides being fairly well balanced. The explicit details of the fantasies each of the characters have, as well as the eventual sex, makes it feel closer to erotica than romance for me. Very well written erotica, but more detailed than I had expected to find – that said, the author does say that it’s a *hot* read and she isn’t wrong!
The plot is fast paced, and engaging, and for the most part I thoroughly enjoyed it. The mission to find a new planet in order to save human-kind is an important one, and the subplots involving pirates and crooked elite military forces were really enjoyable as well. I love reading stories where the underdogs are trying their hardest to succeed against huge odds and strong foes. The secondary characters are for the most part excellent as well, with their own storylines playing out in the background. I ran the gamut of emotions while reading this book, including sadness – I actually shed tears after reading one scene, and I’m sure you’ll know which if you decide to give it a read!
If I have any criticism of the book it would also be towards the end. I don’t want to include spoilers, but I got frustrated with some of Nick’s choices, and his self absorption on his troubles when there were bigger things at stake. Thankfully, he corrects those and ends on a good note.
All over, a very good book. The ending was wrapped up a little too fast for my tastes, but otherwise it was fairly evenly paced. I would happily recommend this book to anyone who likes some romance with their science fiction. I think there is enough of both to keep any reader satisfied.
February 26, 2012
I'm a little confused why everyone seems to think this is a good book. Not only is the plot banal and predictable, but the characters are ridiculous. Even the sex scenes are boring- and, for the most part, imaginary. I almost laughed every time the "red ascot" went flying in Nick's dreams. I didn't find him in the least bit sexy. I found him to be whiny and petulant. Not to insult women writers, because there are many who can give a good perspective on men, but this was so obviously written by a woman who was hoping a man would react in these ways. It was ridiculous.
Additionally, back to a plot point- hiring this guy to be captain of a space fleet because he's the last living relative of Christopher Columbus? Seriously? He had no other qualifications to be the captain of a space ship, much less the small fleet with which he was tasked.
This was so weak in the sci-fi category, I can't even begin to start... Honestly, it's as if she took a bodice-ripper from the 7 seas and put it into space. There was no accounting for fighting in a vacuum, much less how impossible it would be to maneuver quickly when you don't have faster than light technology. They wouldn't've even been able to see the missiles coming at them until they were about to be destroyed. Utterly ridiculous.
OH and yes, let us not forget the perfect ending. Weak and disappointing. Honestly, I don't know why I even bothered to finish this... it was like a car wreck that you can't take your eyes away from.
Additionally, back to a plot point- hiring this guy to be captain of a space fleet because he's the last living relative of Christopher Columbus? Seriously? He had no other qualifications to be the captain of a space ship, much less the small fleet with which he was tasked.
This was so weak in the sci-fi category, I can't even begin to start... Honestly, it's as if she took a bodice-ripper from the 7 seas and put it into space. There was no accounting for fighting in a vacuum, much less how impossible it would be to maneuver quickly when you don't have faster than light technology. They wouldn't've even been able to see the missiles coming at them until they were about to be destroyed. Utterly ridiculous.
OH and yes, let us not forget the perfect ending. Weak and disappointing. Honestly, I don't know why I even bothered to finish this... it was like a car wreck that you can't take your eyes away from.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2011
Pure pleasure of a read written with intense delicacy!
Heather Massey is not looking for an easy way out. Her writing tackles every angle in Once Upon A Time In Space and leaves me sated. The sentences and paragraphs flow like fresh water down my throat on a hot day. Romance matched the adventure head on. Hope battling with Vengeance. The need for something more rivals with the constant conflicts that stand in the way. Every aspect of an entertaining read is present and accounted for.
Each character is written with distinct personalities. Raquel was a fun mystery that Heather gradually unravels for us. Nick's strength, unyielding heart and his willingness to lay his heart on the table is a fond treat to read.
If you had not guessed already I really enjoyed this title. SciFi Romance is definitely taking up residency in my reading preferences. Even for amateur scifi adventurers like me Once Upon A Time In Space is an easy read. For the seasoned scifi readers Heather writes with brilliance so you'll have to grab this one as well. Click Here to read the first three chapters.
If you are interested in the genre Heather Massey runs a fantastic blog. She has the best postings and is a MUST follow. The Galaxy Express.
http://www.lovlivlifereviews.com/2011...
Heather Massey is not looking for an easy way out. Her writing tackles every angle in Once Upon A Time In Space and leaves me sated. The sentences and paragraphs flow like fresh water down my throat on a hot day. Romance matched the adventure head on. Hope battling with Vengeance. The need for something more rivals with the constant conflicts that stand in the way. Every aspect of an entertaining read is present and accounted for.
Each character is written with distinct personalities. Raquel was a fun mystery that Heather gradually unravels for us. Nick's strength, unyielding heart and his willingness to lay his heart on the table is a fond treat to read.
If you had not guessed already I really enjoyed this title. SciFi Romance is definitely taking up residency in my reading preferences. Even for amateur scifi adventurers like me Once Upon A Time In Space is an easy read. For the seasoned scifi readers Heather writes with brilliance so you'll have to grab this one as well. Click Here to read the first three chapters.
If you are interested in the genre Heather Massey runs a fantastic blog. She has the best postings and is a MUST follow. The Galaxy Express.
http://www.lovlivlifereviews.com/2011...
March 3, 2011
A very tasty SciFi romance with just the right mix of adventure and romance. Massey creates a believable future that is gritty and bleak, but also gives it colour by writing a story that's full of action, hardship, heroics and hope. I really liked the cast of minor characters who made the story come further alive. My favourite has to be Twitch, Nick's pilot and practically his second in command. The romance between Nick and Raquel is steamy, intense and skirting the edges of frustrating, but that makes the good parts all the more satisfying. All in all a great read.
January 23, 2015
Where to start?
Liked: The plot (Save the world). Raquel. The male character doing the chasing (and expressing the most interest). The secondary characters.
Disliked: Nick. Could he have been any more stupid, whiny, and childish? The whole Christopher Columbus ancestry. Nick's fantasies. His one with the frozen women was creepy and weird. His ones about Raquel were often during moments where that should have been the furthest from his mind. Just no.
Liked: The plot (Save the world). Raquel. The male character doing the chasing (and expressing the most interest). The secondary characters.
Disliked: Nick. Could he have been any more stupid, whiny, and childish? The whole Christopher Columbus ancestry. Nick's fantasies. His one with the frozen women was creepy and weird. His ones about Raquel were often during moments where that should have been the furthest from his mind. Just no.
March 22, 2011
Really enjoyed this rollicking space adventure.
Full review on my blog. http://dianedooley.wordpress.com/2011...
Full review on my blog. http://dianedooley.wordpress.com/2011...
May 5, 2011
With planet Earth on the cusp of dying it's up to the last known descendant of Christopher Columbus and a Lady Pirate bent on revenge to find a planet where the human race can start over again in this highly emotional, on the edge of your seat, futuristic read. Raquel Donovan was left scarred inside and out by a vicious military man trying to stop her family spreading the propaganda of searching for a new planet. She was forced into making the ultimate choice and it cost her family their lives and her her eye. Guilt now drives her to find this man and exact her revenge which leaves her no time for romance no matter how attracted she is to the captain who steals more than her ill-gotten gains. Nick Venture only wanted a promotion but soon finds himself captaining a trio of spaceships to a planet believed to be humanity's salvation. Along the way he meets a sexy siren with a heavy heart who captures his attention like no woman before. Will the two of them survive the dangers of space or will the journey to salvation end in sorrow and death?
This is an incredibly exciting book with colorful characters and a sexual attraction that builds slowly and ends up being very worth the wait. The trip through space is full of battles and piracy and keeps you on the edge of your seat like the best episodes of Star Trek. The romance is gut-wrenching and steamy and the steady build-up makes for a very believable relationship. All of this makes for a perfect balance between action and emotions.
Nick Venture never planned on becoming humanity's hero but fate had other ideas and he soon becomes the quintessential hero. He's sexy and full of swagger and will sacrifice everything to find a new home. He and Raquel are incendiary together and she's the one thing that he won't sacrifice for the sake of the mission. Since he equates home with the love of a good woman, he refuses to have one without the other. This speaks volumes as to his feelings for Raquel and I ached for him as Raquel fought through her demons without him.
Raquel has been chased by demons and weighed down by guilt since her youth. Revenge is all that matters to her and she forsakes everything for that one goal. She doesn't concern herself with love or thoughts of the future since she's focused on this one goal. At least until she meets Nick, who's the first man to beat her at her own game. She finds his physical and emotional strength attractive and longs to let someone else carry the burden for awhile. These shared emotions are what brought them together and helped them weather the storm. Her character had horrible things happen to her, both emotional and physical, and it was tear-inducing seeing her struggle to put the past behind her to create a future with Nick and added to the believability of their relationship.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! There was gripping action, steamy interludes, and colorful and unique secondary characters that added an extra element of fun to the story. The story brings together the best of sci-fi and romance and makes for a very satisfying read. I highly recommend it and would love to revisit this world again with so many larger than life characters left to tell their stories.
This is an incredibly exciting book with colorful characters and a sexual attraction that builds slowly and ends up being very worth the wait. The trip through space is full of battles and piracy and keeps you on the edge of your seat like the best episodes of Star Trek. The romance is gut-wrenching and steamy and the steady build-up makes for a very believable relationship. All of this makes for a perfect balance between action and emotions.
Nick Venture never planned on becoming humanity's hero but fate had other ideas and he soon becomes the quintessential hero. He's sexy and full of swagger and will sacrifice everything to find a new home. He and Raquel are incendiary together and she's the one thing that he won't sacrifice for the sake of the mission. Since he equates home with the love of a good woman, he refuses to have one without the other. This speaks volumes as to his feelings for Raquel and I ached for him as Raquel fought through her demons without him.
Raquel has been chased by demons and weighed down by guilt since her youth. Revenge is all that matters to her and she forsakes everything for that one goal. She doesn't concern herself with love or thoughts of the future since she's focused on this one goal. At least until she meets Nick, who's the first man to beat her at her own game. She finds his physical and emotional strength attractive and longs to let someone else carry the burden for awhile. These shared emotions are what brought them together and helped them weather the storm. Her character had horrible things happen to her, both emotional and physical, and it was tear-inducing seeing her struggle to put the past behind her to create a future with Nick and added to the believability of their relationship.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! There was gripping action, steamy interludes, and colorful and unique secondary characters that added an extra element of fun to the story. The story brings together the best of sci-fi and romance and makes for a very satisfying read. I highly recommend it and would love to revisit this world again with so many larger than life characters left to tell their stories.
April 6, 2011
Sci Fi Romance is a new genre for me. I have to say that I am really starting to like this genre. The heroines are strong and kick ass and are very independent.
I have to be honest-I expected a tad more romance and a lot more of space smex; however, the story managed to hold my interest even when Nick kept acting like an idiot around Raquel. (He moaned quite a lot over why she didn't feel the same way about him that he did about her.) This is going to sound weird-but after awhile I realized I kinda of liked Nick acting like an idiot about Raquel instead of the other way around. It's always nice when the guys do the chasing of the girl-and Raquel gave this guy quite a chase.
Nick was such a unique character. He was thrown into a leadership role in a job that he had no experience in. He started out being really unsure of himself, and felt like asking for help would diminish his role as captain. He gradually came to listen to his crew and they came to respect him much more for it in the long run. The crew members in this book are what kept me reading when I felt like Nick and Raquel should have spent much more time together then what they did. Their slang, like Uncle Goddamn had me rolling. I am somehow going to have to work that phrase into my vocabulary! While I loved the crew, Nick and Raquel were harder to like. Their stubbornness was just too much at times. I did gradually come to like them and understood why they acted the way they did-but it took awhile. I'm not sure how much of how I felt about Nick and Raquel is because I read this book on my computer and not my kindle, rather then the actual chemistry between the two. Sometimes I think reading ebooks this way makes it harder to enjoy the story being told.
The secondary storyline of saving Earth was an interesting one. I liked how it was thrown in there without being preachy. It's just goes to show what could happen in a not so distant future if we don't stop changing our ways and take better care of our planet. It was just a nice refreshing storyline then just having a romance happen.
Bottom line: It was a nice change of pace from the erotica novellas I usually read.
Favorite Quote:
Bewitched with pleasure, she gasped for air. Nick‟s lips pressed against the inner curve of her left breast—a warm, sweet nuzzling. She felt his body shifting as he tried to maneuver between her legs. The telltale rush of blood heralded an orgasm. It felt good.Too good, clamored the warnings in her head. Ecstasy she didn‟t deserve was clouding her judgment.
Curran Crush Meter: Low (sorry Nick)
Barrons Hero Hotness Meter: Low
Rhiannon Kick Ass Heroine Meter: High
Martini Sigh Meter: Medium
Ethan/Merit Sizzle Meter: Medium
February 18, 2011
In a last ditch effort to save the people of a dying Earth, Nick, the last living descendant of Christopher Columbus, and his crew set out to discover a new planet capable of sustaining life. However, when he runs into Raquel, known as the deadly pirate Siren, he knows he is in for trouble, as he is irresistibly drawn to her. Raquel has a mission of her own, but she is keeping her lips sealed. When she raids Nick's ships, the last thing she expects is for him to turn it around and entrap her. She reluctantly agrees to a fools bargain as she knows
the more time she spends near Nick, the less she will be able to keep her distance. She can't afford the distraction, but sometimes the heart just won't listen.
This book was definitely not what I expected, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The descriptions of the sexual desires and actions of the characters was so thorough, I cannot help but consider this book to be more of an erotica than a normal romance. While the abundance of sex was a bit overwhelming at times, the story behind all of it was still very interesting. I felt drawn to the characters and genuinely hoped they could overcome their obstacles. The main pair grew as most great couples do, with each one "rubbing" off on the other. One goes from being icy and closed off to warm and accepting, while the other goes from being overeager to having a little strength of his own. I felt they complemented each other well, especially as they started to "mold" themselves to the other one's personality. In the end I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good romance with plenty of steamy action.
the more time she spends near Nick, the less she will be able to keep her distance. She can't afford the distraction, but sometimes the heart just won't listen.
This book was definitely not what I expected, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The descriptions of the sexual desires and actions of the characters was so thorough, I cannot help but consider this book to be more of an erotica than a normal romance. While the abundance of sex was a bit overwhelming at times, the story behind all of it was still very interesting. I felt drawn to the characters and genuinely hoped they could overcome their obstacles. The main pair grew as most great couples do, with each one "rubbing" off on the other. One goes from being icy and closed off to warm and accepting, while the other goes from being overeager to having a little strength of his own. I felt they complemented each other well, especially as they started to "mold" themselves to the other one's personality. In the end I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good romance with plenty of steamy action.
June 28, 2011
Single sentence summary: Nick has been given a mission to investigate an alternative planet for human since Earth is falling apart and the mission has only once chance of success that even space pirates won't be able to sway his determination to find the new home for mankind.
I liked many of the elements in this story. The main character, the space pirates and the quest to investigate a planet that may be the new Earth. What I didn't like about this story was how much it dragged for me. I kept thinking things would speed up but instead it kept a steady and slightly slow pace towards the end. The pacing of this book didn't cause tension to build but instead drove me a little crazy. The characters also had more time to grate on me and I ended up just wanting them to have crazy, steamy sex and get the whole damn thing over with.
My other problem related to the pacing was due to the action. It was action-y and fast paced but the moment it was over, the whole novel slowed down again and so created more of a roller coaster feeling to this entire book. I didn't like the quick, fast pace and then everything came to almost a complete stop. It made it so that I couldn't drop comfortably into this book and just enjoy it. As a result, I found this book easy to put aside after the action parts and hard to pick back up.
I thought this book had a lot of potential and maybe with some smoothing out of the pacing, it could be great. It wasn't great and instead was just good. 3.25 Stars.
Thanks to Red Sage Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
I liked many of the elements in this story. The main character, the space pirates and the quest to investigate a planet that may be the new Earth. What I didn't like about this story was how much it dragged for me. I kept thinking things would speed up but instead it kept a steady and slightly slow pace towards the end. The pacing of this book didn't cause tension to build but instead drove me a little crazy. The characters also had more time to grate on me and I ended up just wanting them to have crazy, steamy sex and get the whole damn thing over with.
My other problem related to the pacing was due to the action. It was action-y and fast paced but the moment it was over, the whole novel slowed down again and so created more of a roller coaster feeling to this entire book. I didn't like the quick, fast pace and then everything came to almost a complete stop. It made it so that I couldn't drop comfortably into this book and just enjoy it. As a result, I found this book easy to put aside after the action parts and hard to pick back up.
I thought this book had a lot of potential and maybe with some smoothing out of the pacing, it could be great. It wasn't great and instead was just good. 3.25 Stars.
Thanks to Red Sage Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
March 17, 2011
Originally Posted at http://thespinecracker.blogspot.com/
I love a good sci-fi. There, I'm laying it all out; letting my inner geek out. And Massey's sci-fi is just that, good and fun. I enjoyed her believable version of space and future, and the on-going power struggle of good vs evil that humanity doesn't ever seem to evolve from.
After a slightly long set-up through separate point of views, our main characters are thrust together under intense and extraordinary circumstances that helps fuel the fast pace of the rest of the story. I enjoyed how Massey didn't sacrifice the action, in a romantic story-line. There are run-ins with space pirates, an planet that in itself is a monster, and a diabolical regeme focused on galactic rule. But we can't forget to mention the heat. There is definitely that. For a romance though, I was surprised, and appreciative of how she makes her characters work for the good stuff. It really helped the connection between the two characters feel real to me, and the natural progression helped the rest of the story really come together.
The other part of Massey's story that had me really surprised was the silent message of what might happen to our planet if we don't take care of it. Her description of a dead earth, an earth so uninhabitable that people are forced underground to survive, is easily imaginable... as scary as that is.
Bottom Line: Although it's not a perfect read, Once Upon a Time in Space is an entertaining and exciting story of love and space adventure.
I love a good sci-fi. There, I'm laying it all out; letting my inner geek out. And Massey's sci-fi is just that, good and fun. I enjoyed her believable version of space and future, and the on-going power struggle of good vs evil that humanity doesn't ever seem to evolve from.
After a slightly long set-up through separate point of views, our main characters are thrust together under intense and extraordinary circumstances that helps fuel the fast pace of the rest of the story. I enjoyed how Massey didn't sacrifice the action, in a romantic story-line. There are run-ins with space pirates, an planet that in itself is a monster, and a diabolical regeme focused on galactic rule. But we can't forget to mention the heat. There is definitely that. For a romance though, I was surprised, and appreciative of how she makes her characters work for the good stuff. It really helped the connection between the two characters feel real to me, and the natural progression helped the rest of the story really come together.
The other part of Massey's story that had me really surprised was the silent message of what might happen to our planet if we don't take care of it. Her description of a dead earth, an earth so uninhabitable that people are forced underground to survive, is easily imaginable... as scary as that is.
Bottom Line: Although it's not a perfect read, Once Upon a Time in Space is an entertaining and exciting story of love and space adventure.
March 11, 2011
This is a Quickie Review. Full review available at The Romanceaholic
I’m not sure if I was simply not in the mood for sci-fi erotica, or if there was actually something about the writing, but this book simply didn’t do it for me. There was an enormous amount of very steamy sexuality, which I admit is great, but it almost got to the point at times that I wanted to skim until they were done fantasizing in great detail about boffing each other.
Raquel kept throwing off such mixed signals that poor Nick was practically running in circles for most of the book, and while I thoroughly enjoyed the corrupt military, I have to say that the “phanotom planet” could’ve been written out entirely and we wouldn’t have missed a single thing.
Someone who is more interested in the erotica portions than the storyline might rate it quite a bit higher, but I’m going to have to say 2/5 Stars for me.
I’m not sure if I was simply not in the mood for sci-fi erotica, or if there was actually something about the writing, but this book simply didn’t do it for me. There was an enormous amount of very steamy sexuality, which I admit is great, but it almost got to the point at times that I wanted to skim until they were done fantasizing in great detail about boffing each other.
Raquel kept throwing off such mixed signals that poor Nick was practically running in circles for most of the book, and while I thoroughly enjoyed the corrupt military, I have to say that the “phanotom planet” could’ve been written out entirely and we wouldn’t have missed a single thing.
Someone who is more interested in the erotica portions than the storyline might rate it quite a bit higher, but I’m going to have to say 2/5 Stars for me.
March 29, 2011
Reviewed at: Library of Lights
Date reviewed: 17th Feb 2011
Review link: http://mykindaland.com/?p=140
Looking for a hot, sensual read but pretty wary of the usual setting on the beach or secluded places? Well, look no more. Try reading ‘Once Upon A Time in Space’ by Heather Massey. This book is rather unusual for an adult fiction, but it is a very thrilling and sensual read nevertheless. The setting and the characters are very original. The plot guarantees to bring you out of your world, literally.
I rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.
I received this ARC from Red Sage Publishing via Netgalley. I wasn’t compensated in any ways for writing this review.
Date reviewed: 17th Feb 2011
Review link: http://mykindaland.com/?p=140
Looking for a hot, sensual read but pretty wary of the usual setting on the beach or secluded places? Well, look no more. Try reading ‘Once Upon A Time in Space’ by Heather Massey. This book is rather unusual for an adult fiction, but it is a very thrilling and sensual read nevertheless. The setting and the characters are very original. The plot guarantees to bring you out of your world, literally.
I rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.
I received this ARC from Red Sage Publishing via Netgalley. I wasn’t compensated in any ways for writing this review.
June 6, 2016
I should get an award for finishing this book.
Picking a man to lead a space expedition based SOLEY on him being the last direct descendant of Chris Columbus was ridiculous. Looking past his DNA there was no reason for him to be chosen to lead a group of three ships! He was clueless yet all of these knowledgeable people followed his orders, even when they all knew he was 100% wrong. And somehow in all his cluelessness he manages to outwit the 'Siren'.
The Siren is this smart, tough, pirate queen who turns into a needy, dumb, cat in heat the moment she meets the H. When you add in the spaceship's cloaking devices that un-cloaks at the worst times and an odd number of fantasies, at least, one at a truly inappropriate time you have a hard book to plow through.
Picking a man to lead a space expedition based SOLEY on him being the last direct descendant of Chris Columbus was ridiculous. Looking past his DNA there was no reason for him to be chosen to lead a group of three ships! He was clueless yet all of these knowledgeable people followed his orders, even when they all knew he was 100% wrong. And somehow in all his cluelessness he manages to outwit the 'Siren'.
The Siren is this smart, tough, pirate queen who turns into a needy, dumb, cat in heat the moment she meets the H. When you add in the spaceship's cloaking devices that un-cloaks at the worst times and an odd number of fantasies, at least, one at a truly inappropriate time you have a hard book to plow through.
March 17, 2011
Not a fan of Science Fiction but Once Upon A Time in Space was a exceptional book. Heather Massey did an immense job of making this story flow from start to end. The descriptions of the environment from space ship to the dying planet of Earth. I didn’t feel overcome with terms which confused me. The action in this novel was fine but the love scenes were sizzling.
Reviewed by Novel Diva
Rating: 3 Divas
Heat Rating: Flame
Reviewed by Novel Diva
Rating: 3 Divas
Heat Rating: Flame
Read
October 6, 2013Meh.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews