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Dirty Sexy Space #4
Mine to Hold
Getting caught between two lovers has never been more dangerous. Captain Leo Grady is making his third trip to Solitaire. He’s spent five years in space and is ready for a change. Not wanting to go back to Earth, he’s chosen to pay off on Solitaire. All he needs is a woman willing to be his wife. Given that women are heavily outnumbered on the fleet of first settlers he knows he can’t sit around and wait. He has to act. Vance Knox has been working with vet, Silke Rask, for the last six months. He fancies her, but refuses to do anything about it because he still has a twenty year sentence to serve. He has nothing to offer any lover and he expects nothing. He made his choices a long time ago. But it burns to see her getting closer to Grady. Silke is torn between the sensible choice of Grady and the more dangerous attraction she has for Vance, but as secrets are revealed she realizes that she has to fight for what she wants. Not everyone on the ship is there because they earned their place, and old Earth money still has power. When disaster strikes and threatens the lives of everyone on board she realizes that sometimes no choice has to be made. Why should love have limits?
134 pages, Paperback
First published November 25, 2014
About the author
Shona Husk
97 books618 followersShona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 24, 2014
I have to admit, I had to read this one twice. My first reading was a mix of kindle reading to me on my ten minute drive to work and a few minutes here and there which didn't give me much chance to connect with any more than the plot.
I enjoyed it much more during my second read.
I also have to confide this one has a huge awe factor since Silke and Vance are vets which means (guess what?) adorable little animals and a goat named Satan. Sure, they're only aboard because they will be tasty when they arrive on Solitaire but how can you not like people who care of animals?
I liked the process of getting the three characters together, Silke, Vance and Leo. There was plenty in their backgrounds to give challenge, maybe a little much to tackle in the scope of a novella but considering the length of the story, I found it handled well.
This series continues to be a win for me and I enjoy how Shona Husk, Mel Teshco and Denise Rossetti continue to give us such a variety of voices and narration without losing the feel of the series.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed it much more during my second read.
I also have to confide this one has a huge awe factor since Silke and Vance are vets which means (guess what?) adorable little animals and a goat named Satan. Sure, they're only aboard because they will be tasty when they arrive on Solitaire but how can you not like people who care of animals?
I liked the process of getting the three characters together, Silke, Vance and Leo. There was plenty in their backgrounds to give challenge, maybe a little much to tackle in the scope of a novella but considering the length of the story, I found it handled well.
This series continues to be a win for me and I enjoy how Shona Husk, Mel Teshco and Denise Rossetti continue to give us such a variety of voices and narration without losing the feel of the series.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
April 23, 2020
3 Stars
November 24, 2014
Originally reviewed for Tea and Book.
In the last book by Shona, I commented on her lack of edginess.. this time, no comment!
In a new world where the men outnumber the women 4 to 1, things are going to get interesting.. Sometimes those that plan don't think about the basics. Seriously, they wanted to send LESS women because men were stronger. Ok, let's think about this.. we are going to another planet that will need to become self sufficient, Earth is slowly dying. So let's send LESS women. How did they plan to procreate and live past the first generation? Yeah that's what I thought. Next time, let the woman plan this kind of stuff..
But Shona finds a solution..
Captain Leo Grady is on his third trip to Solitaire. Only this time he plans to stay. Tired of the Air Force and deciding that it's smarter to retire on Solitaire where life may be harsh but there is chance for a future or on Earth where life is dying, he wisely picks Solitaire. But Leo also realizes that there is more to life than just surviving. He needs a wife. And the sexy scientist Silke is perfect for the job and there is definitely an attraction that goes both ways. Only, there's her prisoner, assistant seemingly standing in the way.
Earth has gotten to be a world where the Rich get richer and the poor get dead and Vance Knox understands that perfectly. At the age of 16 he was convicted of killing three rich kids from the tower, 40 years of prison is worse than a death sentence. Who cares if his sister had been raped, abused and left for dead by those three "decent" young men. They were rich and came from power and Vance was poor. Now 20 years into his sentence, Vance has studied, is working towards his veterinarian degree AND has a chance at a new life. A life on Solitaire as opposed to in it. And amazingly enough, he has found someone he cares about. WOW!! Only she has a chance at a life with a decent man.. Vance too is a decent man and he keeps pushing her towards Leo, he knows who can give Silke the better life.. Only Silke wants them both.
Silke, dared to help those who needed it and for this it was "suggested" that she take a trip to Solitaire and begin a new life. If her father hadn't had the power she might have been going as a prisoner as opposed to as the only Vet. Because of how she got on board, Silke has kept her head down. Not wanting to make any waves. But when not one but TWO sexy men show an interest Silke is confused. Both are good and decent men, can she possibly have them both?
An interesting dilemma. I don't usually enjoy threesomes of this type but it shows a realistic concept. Face it, if there are that many more men than women, people are going to get creative. That's just the way human nature is. And yes there will be times when poly couples form. I imagine it will be more than accepted.
Shona handles this with class this isn't sex for sex sake. It's a true romance only between three people.
Shauni
This review is based on the ARCs of Mine to Hold,provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on November 25, 2014
In the last book by Shona, I commented on her lack of edginess.. this time, no comment!
In a new world where the men outnumber the women 4 to 1, things are going to get interesting.. Sometimes those that plan don't think about the basics. Seriously, they wanted to send LESS women because men were stronger. Ok, let's think about this.. we are going to another planet that will need to become self sufficient, Earth is slowly dying. So let's send LESS women. How did they plan to procreate and live past the first generation? Yeah that's what I thought. Next time, let the woman plan this kind of stuff..
But Shona finds a solution..
Captain Leo Grady is on his third trip to Solitaire. Only this time he plans to stay. Tired of the Air Force and deciding that it's smarter to retire on Solitaire where life may be harsh but there is chance for a future or on Earth where life is dying, he wisely picks Solitaire. But Leo also realizes that there is more to life than just surviving. He needs a wife. And the sexy scientist Silke is perfect for the job and there is definitely an attraction that goes both ways. Only, there's her prisoner, assistant seemingly standing in the way.
Earth has gotten to be a world where the Rich get richer and the poor get dead and Vance Knox understands that perfectly. At the age of 16 he was convicted of killing three rich kids from the tower, 40 years of prison is worse than a death sentence. Who cares if his sister had been raped, abused and left for dead by those three "decent" young men. They were rich and came from power and Vance was poor. Now 20 years into his sentence, Vance has studied, is working towards his veterinarian degree AND has a chance at a new life. A life on Solitaire as opposed to in it. And amazingly enough, he has found someone he cares about. WOW!! Only she has a chance at a life with a decent man.. Vance too is a decent man and he keeps pushing her towards Leo, he knows who can give Silke the better life.. Only Silke wants them both.
Silke, dared to help those who needed it and for this it was "suggested" that she take a trip to Solitaire and begin a new life. If her father hadn't had the power she might have been going as a prisoner as opposed to as the only Vet. Because of how she got on board, Silke has kept her head down. Not wanting to make any waves. But when not one but TWO sexy men show an interest Silke is confused. Both are good and decent men, can she possibly have them both?
An interesting dilemma. I don't usually enjoy threesomes of this type but it shows a realistic concept. Face it, if there are that many more men than women, people are going to get creative. That's just the way human nature is. And yes there will be times when poly couples form. I imagine it will be more than accepted.
Shona handles this with class this isn't sex for sex sake. It's a true romance only between three people.
Shauni
This review is based on the ARCs of Mine to Hold,provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on November 25, 2014
November 22, 2014
Well this is the fourth book in this series exploring what could happen if humans attempted to colonise another planet. Onboard the ES Siren there's a unique mixture of scientists , military and even criminals all set to make a new life for themselves. Not all will survive the new harsh conditions when they reach Solitaire but somehow these people have to find a way to not only survive but thrive there as well. The future of the human race is at stake but for some bizarre reason those who control who travels have foolishly allowed the men to outnumber the women and that's about to cause all sorts of problems. Silke is a veterinarian in charge of the animals onboard. She hadn't really planned to go into space but circumstances meant she had very little choice . She's kept her head down and got on with her work but her assistant Vance ( who happens to be a prisoner) looks at her in a way that leaves her no doubt that he's interested. Silke doesn't want to ruin their friendship but when she realises Vance is not the only man interested in her she's faced with a dilemma that takes her breath away.
Captain Leo Grady has decided to stop traveling backwards and forwards through space and join the settlers on the new planet but he doesn't want to spend his life alone and has been looking for the perfect partner .Leo believes that Silke would make a perfect mate as she's intelligent , interesting and above all else attractive but there's a fly in the soup! Leo has seen the way that Silke and Vance look at each other but nothing ventured nothing gained. Vance has spent many years in person paying for a crime he doesn't regret but this is a new start and he is determined to do his best. Trying to study so he too can be me a veterinarian he's got a job that he loves but it may be taken away from him at any moment so toeing the line is paramount . What makes his life harder are the feelings he harbours for Silke but his love for her is something he struggles to keep secret. When Leo starts coming round Vance sees all too clearly why he is there but as a prisoner there's nothing Vance can say or is there?
Oo so not what I expected . Ms Husk has delivered a really interesting story that tackles a dilemma. What would happen if you really couldn't decide between two completely different lovers ? In a society that's truly unequal where the balance between the sexes tips heavily in favour of the males of the species what would happen? I liked that this is first and foremost a romance and not just a ménage that's designed to titillate the reader. There's no gratuitous sex scenes just a believable solution to a very tricky problem.I loved that Vance owned his own sexuality and Leo's journey was not forced at all which made it far more believable . This is a beginning to what clearly could turn into a rock solid relationship that encompasses three people . Silke is a very lucky lady to be sure and I hope that the authors writing this series allow the readers to catch up with these characters.
Captain Leo Grady has decided to stop traveling backwards and forwards through space and join the settlers on the new planet but he doesn't want to spend his life alone and has been looking for the perfect partner .Leo believes that Silke would make a perfect mate as she's intelligent , interesting and above all else attractive but there's a fly in the soup! Leo has seen the way that Silke and Vance look at each other but nothing ventured nothing gained. Vance has spent many years in person paying for a crime he doesn't regret but this is a new start and he is determined to do his best. Trying to study so he too can be me a veterinarian he's got a job that he loves but it may be taken away from him at any moment so toeing the line is paramount . What makes his life harder are the feelings he harbours for Silke but his love for her is something he struggles to keep secret. When Leo starts coming round Vance sees all too clearly why he is there but as a prisoner there's nothing Vance can say or is there?
Oo so not what I expected . Ms Husk has delivered a really interesting story that tackles a dilemma. What would happen if you really couldn't decide between two completely different lovers ? In a society that's truly unequal where the balance between the sexes tips heavily in favour of the males of the species what would happen? I liked that this is first and foremost a romance and not just a ménage that's designed to titillate the reader. There's no gratuitous sex scenes just a believable solution to a very tricky problem.I loved that Vance owned his own sexuality and Leo's journey was not forced at all which made it far more believable . This is a beginning to what clearly could turn into a rock solid relationship that encompasses three people . Silke is a very lucky lady to be sure and I hope that the authors writing this series allow the readers to catch up with these characters.
December 1, 2014
This is the 4th book in the Siren series and I have enjoyed the others as well. These can be read as a stand-alone, so don’t worry if you haven’t read the others. The passengers of the siren are on their way to a new home. Earth is dying and the Siren is on its way to Solitaire to colonize a new home. Silke is a vet on board to help care for the animals that are being transported and her assistant, who happens to be a prisoner is interested in more than just a friendship, the only problem is that so is Captain Leo Grady. How can she choose between these two very different men? Great read, the story is excellent and keeps you hooked until the very end. I am loving this series.
November 23, 2014
This book was my first literary threesome. And I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the fact that this story had an actual enjoyable plot behind it and wasn't just filler until you got to the "good stuff". It was also a welcome break from the trend of vampires/werewolves/witches and the billionaires/secretaries/maids trends that seems to have taken hold of everyone recently. I'm not much of a Sci-Fi person, so I wasn't sure how well I'd be able to get into the story line and being in space but I really enjoyed it. Will definitely recommend this book!
December 27, 2014
On the importance of being able to knit your own socks in a pre-industrial colony on a far away planet. An enjoyable sci-fy ménage romance.
May 5, 2018
Mine to Hold is the fourth book in the Dirty Sexy Space series by author Shona Husk. This is my first time reading the series and I was not lost starting with this one.
This is a story about Silke, Vance and Captain Leo. Leo is transporting human colonists to a new destination. He has decided to join them. He is tired of always moving around. He wants a family and a home.
I liked the people in this book, not just the main characters. There is a sense of real companionship and connection with them all.
Vance, he has been a prisoner for a crime he is not sorry for. He is now helping the local veterinarian with the animals on the ship.
He has many secrets. He is not willing to share them at first.
Silke, she is the Vet. She is in charge of all the animals on the voyage. She is also facing her own dilemmas. Like her definition of love. She thought it was one way now she is discovering she wants more.
She is a strong character. I liked her a lot she has real vulnerability and lots of strength that kept me turning the pages.
Overall this is a great read. I cannot wait for more from this series in the future.
Five Shooting Stars
This is a story about Silke, Vance and Captain Leo. Leo is transporting human colonists to a new destination. He has decided to join them. He is tired of always moving around. He wants a family and a home.
I liked the people in this book, not just the main characters. There is a sense of real companionship and connection with them all.
Vance, he has been a prisoner for a crime he is not sorry for. He is now helping the local veterinarian with the animals on the ship.
He has many secrets. He is not willing to share them at first.
Silke, she is the Vet. She is in charge of all the animals on the voyage. She is also facing her own dilemmas. Like her definition of love. She thought it was one way now she is discovering she wants more.
She is a strong character. I liked her a lot she has real vulnerability and lots of strength that kept me turning the pages.
Overall this is a great read. I cannot wait for more from this series in the future.
Five Shooting Stars
August 1, 2023
A nice twist on this story.
December 6, 2014
Why Choose Only One?
This series must be read in order. The first book is Yours to Uncover: ES Siren 1. The second book is Yours to Command: ES Siren 2. The third book is Yours to Desire: ES Siren 3. This is the fourth book.
Silke has secrets.... More than she is willing to share. That is why she is avoiding relationships of any kind other than friendship. But it has been six months and she is friends with two very different men... And she can't choose! Does she have to? Will either of them even want her if she reveals her secrets?
Vance is a whites prisoner. He is in love with Silke but will NOT be with her. For one thing he has 20 Years left on his sentence. For another he LOVES his job. He doesn't want her to compromise her new life and screwing his boss would Sooo lose him his job! He has been studying to be a vet for years and that was BEFORE the trip to Solitaire! So he will push her towards Leo... He is a good guy after all and way more suitable. Will he have the strength to resist touching Silke? What does it mean that he is so attracted to Leo(he is bisexual but this just makes things so much more complicated!)? He should just keep to himself right?
Leo is an Air Force officer. He is crazily attracted to Silke but afraid of getting burned again. He is on his third trip to Solitaire but this time it's for good... So he wants to find a wife. After all he is a catch... At least on paper. He thinks Silke would be a good match for him. They get along and are great friends while still being attracted to each other... But Vance holds him back as he can see that the other man has feelings for her. Will she choose him instead of Vance? Why is he so hesitant and confused? Should they just share her? How can this possibly work without one or all of them getting hurt?
I LOVE this series! Though short every book is incredibly satisfying :) The trip to Solitaire is incredibly fun to read especially written by these three amazing ladies! Full of action, intrigue, adventure, suspense, thrills, chills, mysteries and so much more these futuristic SciFi romances are addictive and fun reads I can't get enough of! I can't wait to read the next one Mine to Keep: ES Siren 5 to see what happens next! Not to mention the many many more in the future! I hope this series never ends... Hehe
***This series is suitable for adult readers who like their erotica mixed with scifi and are not homophobic ;D
This series must be read in order. The first book is Yours to Uncover: ES Siren 1. The second book is Yours to Command: ES Siren 2. The third book is Yours to Desire: ES Siren 3. This is the fourth book.
Silke has secrets.... More than she is willing to share. That is why she is avoiding relationships of any kind other than friendship. But it has been six months and she is friends with two very different men... And she can't choose! Does she have to? Will either of them even want her if she reveals her secrets?
Vance is a whites prisoner. He is in love with Silke but will NOT be with her. For one thing he has 20 Years left on his sentence. For another he LOVES his job. He doesn't want her to compromise her new life and screwing his boss would Sooo lose him his job! He has been studying to be a vet for years and that was BEFORE the trip to Solitaire! So he will push her towards Leo... He is a good guy after all and way more suitable. Will he have the strength to resist touching Silke? What does it mean that he is so attracted to Leo(he is bisexual but this just makes things so much more complicated!)? He should just keep to himself right?
Leo is an Air Force officer. He is crazily attracted to Silke but afraid of getting burned again. He is on his third trip to Solitaire but this time it's for good... So he wants to find a wife. After all he is a catch... At least on paper. He thinks Silke would be a good match for him. They get along and are great friends while still being attracted to each other... But Vance holds him back as he can see that the other man has feelings for her. Will she choose him instead of Vance? Why is he so hesitant and confused? Should they just share her? How can this possibly work without one or all of them getting hurt?
I LOVE this series! Though short every book is incredibly satisfying :) The trip to Solitaire is incredibly fun to read especially written by these three amazing ladies! Full of action, intrigue, adventure, suspense, thrills, chills, mysteries and so much more these futuristic SciFi romances are addictive and fun reads I can't get enough of! I can't wait to read the next one Mine to Keep: ES Siren 5 to see what happens next! Not to mention the many many more in the future! I hope this series never ends... Hehe
***This series is suitable for adult readers who like their erotica mixed with scifi and are not homophobic ;D
November 25, 2014
Mine to Hold: ES Siren 4 builds on the first three novellas in the series. While those books did a lot of world building on the Siren ship, this one deals with survive skills that will be needed on the distant planet. The ship encounters problems on the way, which is to be expected while traveling a year in space. Along with that there is the questioning of the social economic pecking order that exists on earth. How will it change once they get to Solitaire, if they arrive at all? The plot is complicated and well thought out, I loved the sock knitting class. You can count on Shona Husk to tell an intriguing story.
The three characters involved are from different walks of earth life but have the same core values at heart. I liked all three, Captain Leo Grady, Vance Knox and Silke Rask, but found their solution to be out of the norm. Realistic, who is to say? I would like to see a sequel of their life on Solitaire. With Vance having many years of his prison sentence left to serve, it would be interesting to see how it would play out there.
Copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
The three characters involved are from different walks of earth life but have the same core values at heart. I liked all three, Captain Leo Grady, Vance Knox and Silke Rask, but found their solution to be out of the norm. Realistic, who is to say? I would like to see a sequel of their life on Solitaire. With Vance having many years of his prison sentence left to serve, it would be interesting to see how it would play out there.
Copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
December 21, 2014
Eh. Not too much to say one way or the other here. I didn't love or hate the book and wouldn't recommend or discourage another from reading it. The characters weren't memorable in any real way, which I suppose is a mark against them. But I didn't dislike them either. My biggest complaint is that for a menage book it was awfully boring. I mean down right yawn inducing. It was really late when I was reading and I actually nodded of in the middle of one of them. So if nothing else I'd saw it's a great book to put you to sleep!
Seriously though I don't normally read scifi but I've been trying to branch out a bit lately so this a bit different for me. I'd been hoping for more scify (is that a word) stuff. But it was just a lot of social class drama, two short and bland sex scenes, and a lot of character backstory. Maybe if I had read the rest in the series I would be more invested but I just couldn't get into it.
Review copy provided by netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
Seriously though I don't normally read scifi but I've been trying to branch out a bit lately so this a bit different for me. I'd been hoping for more scify (is that a word) stuff. But it was just a lot of social class drama, two short and bland sex scenes, and a lot of character backstory. Maybe if I had read the rest in the series I would be more invested but I just couldn't get into it.
Review copy provided by netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2014
This is supposed to be #4 in a series but I have not read the others nor do I think they are necessary to this plot line. Mine to Hold actually feels like a beginning of a series itself.
Silke is the Vet on this pilgrimage to start a new colony in space. She is in charge of keeping the livestock alive and well enroute and upon arrival. Vance is a con who has work duty in the barn. He likes Silke but will not act on it because of his status. Grady is looking to start over as a civilian. He is coming to this new colony with the hopes of sharing this new life with a wife.
Why should a woman have to choose when the ratio of men to women is 4:1? This story is short and to the point. A small attempt is made to add bulk to the story but there really isn't much.
Silke is the Vet on this pilgrimage to start a new colony in space. She is in charge of keeping the livestock alive and well enroute and upon arrival. Vance is a con who has work duty in the barn. He likes Silke but will not act on it because of his status. Grady is looking to start over as a civilian. He is coming to this new colony with the hopes of sharing this new life with a wife.
Why should a woman have to choose when the ratio of men to women is 4:1? This story is short and to the point. A small attempt is made to add bulk to the story but there really isn't much.
March 5, 2015
****An Advance Reader's Copy of Mine To Hold by Shona Husk was generously provided to me via NetGalley in exchange of honest review.
This is the first time I'm doing this: I'm delaying my rating. Because basically I have to read the previous books of this series to get this book, and as much as I liked this one, I don't get the basic plot. But overall I enjoyed it and will read the full series sometimes soon.
This is the first time I'm doing this: I'm delaying my rating. Because basically I have to read the previous books of this series to get this book, and as much as I liked this one, I don't get the basic plot. But overall I enjoyed it and will read the full series sometimes soon.
December 18, 2014
This was a fascinating story of Leo, Silke, and Vance. It takes place on a futuristic space flight to colonize a planet. There is some sizzling passion, emotional drama, and hold your breath moments. I would like to find out more about what happens with this threesome once they land.
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