Lucky Strike in Riptide Publishing

Dec 14, 2014 BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley-reviews, sci-fi, erotica, menage, the-romance-reviews, suspense, aliens

3.5 Star

Ménage m/m lovers who enjoy space operas, this is the story for you. For those who enjoyed the cowboy antics of Captain Mal from Serenity and liked Inara the expensive escort, Jake and Rill will feel familiar. Jake is a captain of a space ship he won in a card game. He's rough around the edges and blurs the lines between law abiding citizen and criminal. His partner is Rill. Rill is the lover he lured from a very expensive whore house. Rill's childhood is complicated because he is a des 3.5 Star

Ménage m/m lovers who enjoy space operas, this is the story for you. For those who enjoyed the cowboy antics of Captain Mal from Serenity and liked Inara the expensive escort, Jake and Rill will feel familiar. Jake is a captain of a space ship he won in a card game. He's rough around the edges and blurs the lines between law abiding citizen and criminal. His partner is Rill. Rill is the lover he lured from a very expensive whore house. Rill's childhood is complicated because he is a designer baby - a Nova. Nova are perfect in body and mind. As a prostitute, they are unparalleled in skill, looks and cost. These two unlikely partners take on a job which is a bit more than they can handle. Lian is an alien "gem" baby. He's a rich boy who has never had to suffer in his life. When his surprise visit to a cousin is cut short, he desperately tries to make it home to deliver life threatening news. Lian basically throws himself at Jake and Rill's mercy to take him back to his homeworld. This is where the fun begins.

Ms. Davitt creates a world of intrigue, clear socio-class distinctions and sexy hawt men. The plot of this story keeps a reader in constant flight mode. This because the threesome are trying to outrun someone who has better technology and a reason to kill them. There is a definite end game for the three and time is running out. The technology used in this story is pretty nifty. The embedded interface into a body so that it can provide instant information is something quite popular. Perhaps within the next thirty years, there will be a bio interface of this sort.

The real attraction to this book is the interaction between these three males. Jake and Rill are sexy hawtness together. Jake is the rough guy. Rill adds the smooth experience. When Lian joins this dynamic duo, it takes it to another level. Mostly, because Lian is a sweet virgin. Every old experience for Jake and Rill become new again when they initiate innocent Lian into the art of manlove. Now, there is more than just sex in this story since the sex is a small part. As the three learn more about each other, Ms. Davitt shows how each of their strengths compliment the other. It's a sweet romance despite the impending doom. The conflict which these three work together to resolve helps binds them closer together. This seems to be just the beginning of their journey together. One can only hope Ms. Davitt will return to this world with another adventure with these three troublemakers. M/m romance recommended for space opera addicts.

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Nov 23, 2014 Jody rated it really liked it

Those looking for an erotic thrill ride will get just that and more in this tale of emotional discoveries, both good and bad. For two carefree space pilots their lives are changed dramatically when a rich and mysterious young man pleads for transportation to his home planet. The three of them form an unexpected bond that may be over before it starts when a bitter man close to the mystery man sets out to destroy all of them in a battle for wealth and power that ends in an exciting and danger-fill Those looking for an erotic thrill ride will get just that and more in this tale of emotional discoveries, both good and bad. For two carefree space pilots their lives are changed dramatically when a rich and mysterious young man pleads for transportation to his home planet. The three of them form an unexpected bond that may be over before it starts when a bitter man close to the mystery man sets out to destroy all of them in a battle for wealth and power that ends in an exciting and danger-filled conclusion.

Lian comes from a rich family where he's always been sheltered and protected. It's left him naive and untried in many ways. He believes the best of everyone and everything until his rose-colored glasses are ripped off by someone close to him which leaves him running for his life. Though this at first terrifies him he soon finds this test of his inner strength exciting and worth more than all the money his family has. Being with Rill and Jake is also exciting and is a sensual experience he won't soon forget as it fuels his ego and gives him a sense of power he's never had before. Lian is a sweet man just starting to experience real life after being cosseted for so long. Being with these men makes him feel a true and important part of a group and it was heartwarming seeing him mature as the story progressed.

Rill is a nova, a super sexy man created and enhanced genetically to look perfect in every way and forced into being a sex worker. It's left him a bit heartless and good at hiding his real feelings. He left with Jake willingly from the whorehouse and though they seem very different in their personalities they're perfect together. Rill is very tough on the outside, exuding power and blinding others with his beauty, and protects Jake from being taken advantage of. I loved Rill's sexy talk and his playful nature when it's least expected. I was intrigued by his past and would love to see that expanded upon in its own story.

Jake gives the impression of being tough but is kindhearted and is a champion of the underdog. He enjoys protecting others and finds himself drawn to Lian's insecurities. When all of them bond in a moment where they believe they have nothing to lose he finds their triad truly compatible as each brings something needed by the others in the group. While Jake appears strong in every other way he has his own insecurities when it comes to Rill. He's not the most handsome of men and can't understand why Rill stays with him as he'll never be rich either which is important to the Nova. I enjoyed the witty banter between these men as it teemed with sexual tension and always resulted in a steamy conclusion.

This was an exciting story with a good premise that was a bit hampered by a middle section that dragged on too long. Lian too was a disappointment early on as his naïveté led to some very poor and dumb choices. He was my least favorite character and it wasn't until he joined with Rill and Jake that he became more interesting. This was a story where we got POVs from each character which gave good insight into their inner emotions and made their connection more believable. The sexual interludes were steamy while retaining the playfulness underlying their relationships and were nicely spaced within the story. At the start of each chapter was a news-bite giving an enticing glimpse into this sci-fi world that I wish had led to more vivid world-building too. All-in-all this was a fun read, and my first from this author, and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Davitt's works as this story kept me relentlessly turning the pages in anticipation. ...more

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