3.5 stars ( )

After the crew has survived the dangers of the previous book, they are now focusing on settling down on their new planet. With all the erotic entanglements and the need to start planting food, most of them are busier now than they were when drifting in space. But the distress call, and answering it, brings new dangers of staggering proportions – and I will admit that I was utterly shocked by the revelation as to who is behind it. Mystery, surprises, and lots of hot action between lovers in various combinations are as much part of this fourth volume as the slowly developing rapport between the captain, who now goes by his first name, Khurshed, and all of his men.

While three of Khurshed’s lovers have now officially moved in with him, so to speak, there are also others he has somewhat more unusual relationships with. Echo remains somewhat aloof, but is beginning to approach one of the other men. Rux, the alien shape-shifting clone they found in the research lab has a particular liking for Khurshed and vice versa, but he also begins to branch out. Finally there is the mystery of Antoine, the first officer, and I was fascinated with the details about him and the captain that begin to emerge.

Outside these various erotic exploits, the crew makes a very scary discovery, ends up with a gift horse they’d rather not look in the mouth too closely, and have to decide if they want to stay on their new homeplanet or if they should run. It leads to an action-packed installment that ends up opening a whole new storyline that I am hoping to find out more about when the next book is released in early February.

If you like your action/adventure a little mysterious and very suspenseful, if you think that a ménage between four men can become more interesting by occasionally adding three others into the mix (but never at the same time), and if you’re looking for a read that is an entertaining combination of science fiction and gay erotic romance, then you will probably like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by NineStar Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )