I'd been looking forward to Kia's story since I finished the first Planet Nerak book, Close Encounters of the Sexy Kind. While I chuckled at Kia's introduction to Planet Earth and found Nick sexy, I think Mala's and Mason's romance from the first book resonated more with me.

I could have done with a bit more development with Nick's character and some follow-through on those Nerak gems that Kia had - especially when Nick isn't a category-type billionaire hero. On the contrary, he appeared to me to be scraping together a living as a cop. He's hoping to save enough money to open a bar and become a beach bum if he can find someone to look after the bar. Other than that, he has no other ambition and is a slob - his apartment is littered with dirty clothes and the sink is full of unwashed dishes...on second thoughts, maybe Nick isn't all that sexy because if there was an epilogue, I fear Kia would be left manning the bar, washing Nick's dishes and laundry while he surfs and fishes all day, everyday.

Anyway, while Nick may not come off better when compared to Mason, the sheriff-hero from Book 1, Cosmic Sex was a fast and enjoyable-enough read. If Karen Kelley does write a third Planet Nerak book, however, I don't think I'll buy it unless I know someone who has read Book 1 and 2 and still recommends it. This is because I don't think the new-alien-on-the-block plot device can stretch to 3 books. Already, in Book 2, there's the inevitable repetition of Kia talking openly in public about wanting sex from Nick. Scenes like that are funny the first time, can still raise a chuckle the second but the third time? Nah.

I would also have liked to see more of Mala and Mason as well as Barton and Carol from the first book but they didn't appear until near the end. Cosmic Sex wasn't a big disappointment but I did expect a little better.