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Venus Ascendant #1
Terms & Conditions Apply
“Welcome to Venus Ascendant, a Public Grade space station in the Andromedan Galaxy. With our open-to-all policy, any being in the universe can find their perfect R & R, romantic getaway or dangerous liaison at our purpose built resort. The on-board empathic AI Ganesa ensures that anyone coming to Venus Ascendant will find their heart’s desire, with suites that transform from luxurious boudoirs to sunset-lit beaches to dark BDSM dungeons. So come to Venus Ascendant and find exactly what you’re looking for!”
It was meant to be a romantic getaway for Marie and the love of her life Jaisen; a chance for him to get to know her better after months of her denying him more than a few stolen kisses. Instead, Marie finds herself dumped and alone on Venus Ascendant with no credit for a transmat and the next starship home not due for another hour.
But the all-seeing AI isn’t going to leave anyone aboard the space station with their dreams unfulfilled. Marie's boyfriend might not have made it to the station, but there are others willing and able to take on the role - even if they aren’t entirely human.
A Science Fiction Romance Short Story
A Gulf Coast RWA Chapter Silken Sands Self-Published Star Award Finalist 2013
www.gccrwa.com
It was meant to be a romantic getaway for Marie and the love of her life Jaisen; a chance for him to get to know her better after months of her denying him more than a few stolen kisses. Instead, Marie finds herself dumped and alone on Venus Ascendant with no credit for a transmat and the next starship home not due for another hour.
But the all-seeing AI isn’t going to leave anyone aboard the space station with their dreams unfulfilled. Marie's boyfriend might not have made it to the station, but there are others willing and able to take on the role - even if they aren’t entirely human.
A Science Fiction Romance Short Story
A Gulf Coast RWA Chapter Silken Sands Self-Published Star Award Finalist 2013
www.gccrwa.com
ebook
First published November 18, 2012
1 person is currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Pippa Jay
21 books209 followersPreviously an Analytical Chemist & stay-at-home mum, Pippa Jay is now a Science Technician who writes scifi and supernatural stories to engage the emotions. Somewhere along the way a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moment looking after her chickens, creating cosplay for humans and dolls alike, and studying the Dark Side of the Force. Although happily settled in the historical town of Colchester in the UK with her husband of 30 years and three not-so-little monsters, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.
Pippa Jay occasionally blogs at Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works include YA and adult stories crossing a multitude of subgenres from scifi to the paranormal, often with romance, and she’s one of eight authors included in a science fiction romance anthology—Tales from the SFR Brigade. She’s also a quadruple SFR Galaxy Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3rd place), the 2015 EPIC eBook awards, the 2015 RWA LERA Rebecca (2nd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands Star Awards (2nd place).
You can stalk her at her website, or at her blog, but without doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as @pippajaygreen.
****Please do not send me review requests, event invites or recommendations****
Pippa Jay occasionally blogs at Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works include YA and adult stories crossing a multitude of subgenres from scifi to the paranormal, often with romance, and she’s one of eight authors included in a science fiction romance anthology—Tales from the SFR Brigade. She’s also a quadruple SFR Galaxy Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3rd place), the 2015 EPIC eBook awards, the 2015 RWA LERA Rebecca (2nd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands Star Awards (2nd place).
You can stalk her at her website, or at her blog, but without doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as @pippajaygreen.
****Please do not send me review requests, event invites or recommendations****
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 21, 2012
A space station, a woman who's been dumped, and an avatar... ingredients for a romantic cocktail delicately crafted by Pippa Jay. There were several surprises along the way, and some fabulous characters one can really sympathise with.
Having read Pippa Jay's previous works, and thoroughly enjoyed them both, it wasn't much of a surprise that Pippa has once again created a setting that my imagination is immediately at home in. The writing is vivid, and drew me into the story with ease. This is a quick, easy read, and a fabulous scifi romance.
Having read Pippa Jay's previous works, and thoroughly enjoyed them both, it wasn't much of a surprise that Pippa has once again created a setting that my imagination is immediately at home in. The writing is vivid, and drew me into the story with ease. This is a quick, easy read, and a fabulous scifi romance.
March 4, 2013
This story is short but packs a large punch. I read it in a few hours and am still mulling over and thinking about the characters and the moral of the story and the emotions, hours after finishing it. When a story can affect me like that, then it's definitely worth reading.
It's a sweet, sexy, heart-breaking and heart-warming story with some really neat science fiction elements. I didn't want it to end so fast!
Lovers of science fiction and paranormal romance will enjoy this little ditty.
I'm starting to love Pippa Jay's storytelling technique and her unique way of making me feel all "warm and fuzzy" inside.
It's a sweet, sexy, heart-breaking and heart-warming story with some really neat science fiction elements. I didn't want it to end so fast!
Lovers of science fiction and paranormal romance will enjoy this little ditty.
I'm starting to love Pippa Jay's storytelling technique and her unique way of making me feel all "warm and fuzzy" inside.
January 28, 2013
I LOVED this short story! Absolutely fabulous. I enjoyed the characters, but the descriptions that Pippa used, really had me feeling like I was right there in the middle of Venus Ascendant.
I felt like I was right there in the room with Marie and Soren.... although, I think I really wanted to shoo Marie out so I could have Soren to myself. :-) Thanks for taking me on such a fabulous trip from the comfort of my sofa!
Keep it coming Pippa. Can't wait to read more.
I felt like I was right there in the room with Marie and Soren.... although, I think I really wanted to shoo Marie out so I could have Soren to myself. :-) Thanks for taking me on such a fabulous trip from the comfort of my sofa!
Keep it coming Pippa. Can't wait to read more.
January 6, 2013
For such a short story, Terms & Conditions Apply packs a huge emotional punch. It is sweet and sexy rolled into one, with a surprising twist at the end.
November 5, 2025
Terms & Conditions Apply was a fun and sexy short story with an excellent twist ending! Marie, the heroine, is stranded on a pleasure planet after her boyfriend never shows up for their romantic weekend getaway. She’s beyond ticked off. Waiting for the next transport home, she’s approached by an android. Soren, the hero, might not be human but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have feelings, dreams and emotions. He approaches Marie—sees how alone and sad she is—and is determined to fulfill her dreams. She’s hesitant to take him up on his offer to stay on the planet, not only because of being dumped but he’s not a real man. Despite being beyond gorgeous, how can a robot make her feel loved and wanted?
In a world where any fantasy can be reality…sometimes love has a price.
If you’re looking for a quick sci-fi read with a romantic element, this is the book for you! Loved how the heroine grew and changed throughout the story. And the ending… Wow! Definitely took me by surprise. Having read several of Pippa’s works, I love the way she blends science fiction with romance to create memorable characters that keep you turning the pages. A fantastic story!
A few of my favorite lines…
What business was it of theirs what she did? Freedom of choice was supposed to be the station’s credo.
Hades forbid anyone should ask her what was wrong.
For Marie, it was like someone carving out her heart with a blunt instrument.
Oh, please, she told herself, it’s not as if it’s a real man. Just a copy of one!
Why did she keep treating him like a prostitute instead of the man she believed she could see?
For a moment she forgot what he was. He felt human and alive.
In a world where any fantasy can be reality…sometimes love has a price.
If you’re looking for a quick sci-fi read with a romantic element, this is the book for you! Loved how the heroine grew and changed throughout the story. And the ending… Wow! Definitely took me by surprise. Having read several of Pippa’s works, I love the way she blends science fiction with romance to create memorable characters that keep you turning the pages. A fantastic story!
A few of my favorite lines…
What business was it of theirs what she did? Freedom of choice was supposed to be the station’s credo.
Hades forbid anyone should ask her what was wrong.
For Marie, it was like someone carving out her heart with a blunt instrument.
Oh, please, she told herself, it’s not as if it’s a real man. Just a copy of one!
Why did she keep treating him like a prostitute instead of the man she believed she could see?
For a moment she forgot what he was. He felt human and alive.
December 23, 2012
Terms & Conditions Apply was a fun and sexy short story with an excellent twist ending! Marie, the heroine, is stranded on a pleasure planet after her boyfriend never shows up for their romantic weekend getaway. She’s beyond ticked off. Waiting for the next transport home, she’s approached by an android. Soren, the hero, might not be human but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have feelings, dreams and emotions. He approaches Marie—sees how alone and sad she is—and is determined to fulfill her dreams. She’s hesitant to take him up on his offer to stay on the planet, not only because of being dumped but he’s not a real man. Despite being beyond gorgeous, how can a robot make her feel loved and wanted?
In a world where any fantasy can be reality…sometimes love has a price.
If you’re looking for a quick sci-fi read with a romantic element, this is the book for you! Loved how the heroine grew and changed throughout the story. And the ending… Wow! Definitely took me by surprise. Having read several of Pippa’s works, I love the way she blends science fiction with romance to create memorable characters that keep you turning the pages. A fantastic story!
A few of my favorite lines…
What business was it of theirs what she did? Freedom of choice was supposed to be the station’s credo.
Hades forbid anyone should ask her what was wrong.
For Marie, it was like someone carving out her heart with a blunt instrument.
Oh, please, she told herself, it’s not as if it’s a real man. Just a copy of one!
Why did she keep treating him like a prostitute instead of the man she believed she could see?
For a moment she forgot what he was. He felt human and alive.
In a world where any fantasy can be reality…sometimes love has a price.
If you’re looking for a quick sci-fi read with a romantic element, this is the book for you! Loved how the heroine grew and changed throughout the story. And the ending… Wow! Definitely took me by surprise. Having read several of Pippa’s works, I love the way she blends science fiction with romance to create memorable characters that keep you turning the pages. A fantastic story!
A few of my favorite lines…
What business was it of theirs what she did? Freedom of choice was supposed to be the station’s credo.
Hades forbid anyone should ask her what was wrong.
For Marie, it was like someone carving out her heart with a blunt instrument.
Oh, please, she told herself, it’s not as if it’s a real man. Just a copy of one!
Why did she keep treating him like a prostitute instead of the man she believed she could see?
For a moment she forgot what he was. He felt human and alive.
August 3, 2015
A girl who is taken to an expensive luxury space station and dumped, finds a new way of life. An AI who has the mind of a man who was terminally ill and altered into this form, comes to help her and provides physical compensation.
This is an erotic tale which is well written; it keeps the reader's interest and sympathy even though the romantic plot is somewhat predictable. Well, obviously the AI guy is going to be a great lover and the girl is going to fall for someone who's been decent to her at a time when she felt lonely and unwanted. But we also see that they can't continue a relationship.
I'd add that in real life, it would be better to have interests and work plans in common with someone before deciding that you love them. We don't find out what this lady does for a living, likes to read or watch, although we know her social status. Maybe after her emotional state died down she'd find it easier to find new friends on Earth. That's all I'm saying.
Several possible endings were zipping through my mind as I read and I was not surprised by the one which turned up, because I've read a lot of SF, but some readers won't have seen it coming and won't necessarily like it. We can't always have what we want and that'll be the case even in the exotic future. Good on the writer for not making a simple conclusion.
This is an erotic tale which is well written; it keeps the reader's interest and sympathy even though the romantic plot is somewhat predictable. Well, obviously the AI guy is going to be a great lover and the girl is going to fall for someone who's been decent to her at a time when she felt lonely and unwanted. But we also see that they can't continue a relationship.
I'd add that in real life, it would be better to have interests and work plans in common with someone before deciding that you love them. We don't find out what this lady does for a living, likes to read or watch, although we know her social status. Maybe after her emotional state died down she'd find it easier to find new friends on Earth. That's all I'm saying.
Several possible endings were zipping through my mind as I read and I was not surprised by the one which turned up, because I've read a lot of SF, but some readers won't have seen it coming and won't necessarily like it. We can't always have what we want and that'll be the case even in the exotic future. Good on the writer for not making a simple conclusion.
June 19, 2013
Emotional, romantic, and has great worldbuilding. I really liked the Venus Ascendant as a character herself. The main characters were sympathetic and well-done. The sex was tasteful and not overdone. The story felt like it ended perfectly for the plot. Short, sweet, and engaging. I found this story a nice twist on the sexbot love story. It was both sad, in a way, and sweet. Both MCs seemed to be lost souls who are great together.
October 25, 2013
There should be more stories about R and R in space. I really enjoyed the concept of the Venus Ascendant, both as a vacation destination in space and as an alternative life extender. The story itself is a fun, sexy, romantic escape with some intriguing concepts that I'm still thinking about.
While I would enjoy seeing more stories with this setting, I also appreciated that it was short, packing so much in, like a satisfying morsel.
While I would enjoy seeing more stories with this setting, I also appreciated that it was short, packing so much in, like a satisfying morsel.
May 3, 2014
This is a sweet SF Romance story about a young working class woman jilted by her boyfriend and finding new love. I liked her and the hero, but felt that the relationship developed waaay too fast. And the decision she makes at the end left me with more questions than a certainty that there was a happy ending.
July 29, 2015
This SFR short is so well written it grabs you with the first sentence and doesn't let you go until the last. Beautifully constructed world building is combined with a good story and two very well done main characters that are easy to connect to and will have you caring about them and what happens to them. It's a quick read, but its powerful and the ending is anything but expected.
July 29, 2013
Enjoyable shorter story. Big premise that I would have liked to have seen explored in more depth. Unusual ending for a romance. Strong writing. 3.5 stars
Discussed this book in more detail here: http://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/2013/...
Discussed this book in more detail here: http://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/2013/...
February 15, 2014
This was cool. One of those stories that stick with you. I find myself rehashing it over and over. I love an ending I don't see coming. This one especially left me equally satisfied and frustrated--in a good way.
December 15, 2014
Another author I'm stalking. This was cool. One of those stories that stick with you. I find myself rehashing it over and over. I love an ending I don't see coming. This one especially left me equally satisfied and frustrated--in a good way.
March 9, 2013
Originally published on our website: http://nudgewinkwink.com/terms-condit...
November 7, 2014
I don't read a lot of short stories, but Pippa is one of my auto-buy authors. An excellent introduction to her style and voice. And Soren.... YUM!
March 6, 2020
Fantastic read
I don’t like to give spoilers on the books that I read. I believe the blurb on the back is enough for you to decide if you will read the book or not. If you choose to read, enjoy!
I don’t like to give spoilers on the books that I read. I believe the blurb on the back is enough for you to decide if you will read the book or not. If you choose to read, enjoy!
July 13, 2015
I guess I'm just getting to be an old fogey, because this well written love story just didn't tug at the old heartstrings. For most of the story, I was on the verge of being bored. And the ending was just too contrived for me.
May 20, 2016
This had a good story, but it was just, she meets a guy, has sex, falls for him, then theres and HEA ending. Very blah.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews