wildflowerz76's review
4.0
I read this as the main pick for the Vaginal Fantasy Book Club, August 2016.
To be honest, after HATING the alt this month and the main pick last month and not being able to even finish them, as well as not really liking the alt last month, I think I was just ready to like something. This one was decent. It wasn't fantastic, but it was nice little read. There wasn't a whole lot to it and even for a book about courtesans, the main characters thought about sex entirely too much to be believed. But it was a decent read and I enjoyed it.
To be honest, after HATING the alt this month and the main pick last month and not being able to even finish them, as well as not really liking the alt last month, I think I was just ready to like something. This one was decent. It wasn't fantastic, but it was nice little read. There wasn't a whole lot to it and even for a book about courtesans, the main characters thought about sex entirely too much to be believed. But it was a decent read and I enjoyed it.
lauraethacker's review
4.0
Space Captain & Space Sherif
I could not stop thinking about the television show Firefly while reading this book. The character & world building were decent but the book focus on inner politics of business and how honest people work within it.
I could not stop thinking about the television show Firefly while reading this book. The character & world building were decent but the book focus on inner politics of business and how honest people work within it.
minhuitstella's review
4.0
Well as my second ever "romance" novel, I was surprised at the lack of details, but happily... I like sci-fi and fantasy, but thought I would join Vaginal Fantasy book club head first. Although really, the book for me ended when they captured the guy. The romance at the end was just ... there.
macwolf01's review
4.0
I picked this as my Space Opera book for the World Cup of Romance Reading challenge, I will admit I kept putting it off until the end of the month ... genre did not really hit my fancy. Well I am admitting I WAS WRONG ... this turned out to be a good book, with well thought out plot and some great characters.
I loved the thriller aspect of the book, and was kept guessing through out. My only disappointment was ... sorry gives too much away ;)
I will have to give another Space Opera a try ... I give this book 4 Stars.
I loved the thriller aspect of the book, and was kept guessing through out. My only disappointment was ... sorry gives too much away ;)
I will have to give another Space Opera a try ... I give this book 4 Stars.
lacunaboo's review
1.0
A step above your standard sexy-times fanfiction...but not a very big step.
What I did like about this book: our kickass protagonist, Sam Keller; and the world in which spaceship brothels travel from place to place to service clients throughout the galaxy, an idea that was new to me and thus caught my interest. As far as some of the details of this world, other readers seem to think the author has borrowed heavily from Firefly, so perhaps it's not as original as I thought.
What I didn't like: characters make some really nonsensical decisions in this book, most notably during the murder investigation. A lot more research into police procedurals and how such things are actually conducted would have made this much more enjoyable.
Another point that lacked a degree of realism - turning gravity on in this space ship apparently costs more money (why?) and so should only be done when it's really worth paying the greedy corporate overlords extra for a luxury (such as taking a shower rather than twirling yourself around in floating blobs of water); the crew of the ship, at least the two who aren't courtesans, have a limited supply of clothing, ratty bath towels, and must trade their few dog-eared paperbacks for new ones when they make landfall - and yet, you can tell the ship's AI that you want a coffee or a warm wet washcloth or an ice cold water, and it's delivered to you immediately.
Another point that needed research: arthritis. How it was used in this book just wasn't realistic.
The romance was full of cringeworthy innuendos that turned into love within 24 hours. A couple of hot scenes, but not quite "fleshed-out" enough (heh heh.)
I've certainly read worse, but was glad when I made it through to the end of this one, and won't be continuing with the series.
What I did like about this book: our kickass protagonist, Sam Keller; and the world in which spaceship brothels travel from place to place to service clients throughout the galaxy, an idea that was new to me and thus caught my interest. As far as some of the details of this world, other readers seem to think the author has borrowed heavily from Firefly, so perhaps it's not as original as I thought.
What I didn't like: characters make some really nonsensical decisions in this book, most notably during the murder investigation. A lot more research into police procedurals and how such things are actually conducted would have made this much more enjoyable.
Another point that lacked a degree of realism - turning gravity on in this space ship apparently costs more money (why?) and so should only be done when it's really worth paying the greedy corporate overlords extra for a luxury (such as taking a shower rather than twirling yourself around in floating blobs of water); the crew of the ship, at least the two who aren't courtesans, have a limited supply of clothing, ratty bath towels, and must trade their few dog-eared paperbacks for new ones when they make landfall - and yet, you can tell the ship's AI that you want a coffee or a warm wet washcloth or an ice cold water, and it's delivered to you immediately.
Another point that needed research: arthritis. How it was used in this book just wasn't realistic.
The romance was full of cringeworthy innuendos that turned into love within 24 hours. A couple of hot scenes, but not quite "fleshed-out" enough (heh heh.)
I've certainly read worse, but was glad when I made it through to the end of this one, and won't be continuing with the series.
sleeping_while_awake's review
3.0
In the Black is a sci-fi/murder mystery/romance. It's a light read, and draws from all three genres rather equally.
Sam Keller, a former soldier, signs a contract as a Captain on a Mercy ship, Bonnie Belle. A Mercy ship is a courtesan ship that stops at different places in the galaxy to provide lonely men and women sexual services.
The ship stops at a mining colony, and things start well, until one of the courtesans, Halley, is found dead. Sam investigates the murder, with the pressure from The Guild to resume money-making activities.
Marshal Daniel LeClair is sent to the colony to help Sam. He and Sam have instant chemistry, but Sam won't indulge until she solves the mystery.
There's a cast of courtesans who are all possible suspects, in addition to a whole mining colony. The protection of courtesans' data makes it hard for Sam to get the information she needs.
Overall, the mystery is rather simple, so I wouldn't recommend this if you're looking for a strong mystery story. How the characters approached investigation was a bit sloppy.
However, the setting and characters seem so familiar. Other reviewers have commented on its similarity to Firefly, which I get.
The story could be an episode off a sci-fi show. The characters don't have much development, but their interactions and pressure of the mystery are entertaining enough.
Sam's trauma didn't mesh well with everything else. It felt superfluous at times, place to make her more submissive to Daniel. At least that's how I interpreted it. There were no issues of consent. They both clearly agree to pursue.
I did find the restriction of data available to Sam was bizarre. If she's the Captain of the ship, there should be extenuating circumstances that allow her to have access to everything.
Most of the romantic/steamy parts didn't occur until the end. It did make the story seem some unbalanced, like it reminded suddenly it was a romance at the end. The whole thought of doing things in zero gravity seems complicated.
Sam Keller, a former soldier, signs a contract as a Captain on a Mercy ship, Bonnie Belle. A Mercy ship is a courtesan ship that stops at different places in the galaxy to provide lonely men and women sexual services.
The ship stops at a mining colony, and things start well, until one of the courtesans, Halley, is found dead. Sam investigates the murder, with the pressure from The Guild to resume money-making activities.
Marshal Daniel LeClair is sent to the colony to help Sam. He and Sam have instant chemistry, but Sam won't indulge until she solves the mystery.
There's a cast of courtesans who are all possible suspects, in addition to a whole mining colony. The protection of courtesans' data makes it hard for Sam to get the information she needs.
Overall, the mystery is rather simple, so I wouldn't recommend this if you're looking for a strong mystery story. How the characters approached investigation was a bit sloppy.
However, the setting and characters seem so familiar. Other reviewers have commented on its similarity to Firefly, which I get.
The story could be an episode off a sci-fi show. The characters don't have much development, but their interactions and pressure of the mystery are entertaining enough.
Sam's trauma didn't mesh well with everything else. It felt superfluous at times, place to make her more submissive to Daniel. At least that's how I interpreted it. There were no issues of consent. They both clearly agree to pursue.
I did find the restriction of data available to Sam was bizarre. If she's the Captain of the ship, there should be extenuating circumstances that allow her to have access to everything.
Most of the romantic/steamy parts didn't occur until the end. It did make the story seem some unbalanced, like it reminded suddenly it was a romance at the end. The whole thought of doing things in zero gravity seems complicated.
biddywink's review
3.0
A Firefly-like murder mystery romance set in space with a strong female protagonist and a hot romance.
kelsahud's review
2.0
Although I appreciated the thought that went into the world building, this was pretty bad. The motivations of the characters were just plain bizarre-Sam, the military vet who has a horrible experience and so she decides, hey why don't I run a space brothel for a corrupt organization who requires a five year contract and will charge me for things like extra air and gravity? And then there's Daniel, the creeper detective who thinks it's okay to hit on a woman in the middle of a murder investigation.
The premise is alright, I guess: One of Sam's courtesan ladies is murdered and it's up to Daniel to figure out whodunit. The problem is that Daniel is a rather shitty detective, and that Sam literally does his job for him. I suppose he was too busy thinking of witty double entendres to review security footage or do anything useful other than being the village creep. They also fell in love in the space of about ten minutes and without having any meaningful interactions with one another, but hey, when you know, apparently, you know, even if there's a dead body floating past you when you first meet.
The premise is alright, I guess: One of Sam's courtesan ladies is murdered and it's up to Daniel to figure out whodunit. The problem is that Daniel is a rather shitty detective, and that Sam literally does his job for him. I suppose he was too busy thinking of witty double entendres to review security footage or do anything useful other than being the village creep. They also fell in love in the space of about ten minutes and without having any meaningful interactions with one another, but hey, when you know, apparently, you know, even if there's a dead body floating past you when you first meet.
ajupton76's review
4.0
Read this as the monthly read in the Vaginal Fantasy book club. It's an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the characters and while the sexual tension felt a bit forced at times, it was a relaxing read for what it was: space romance. I'll probably even pick up the sequel to this.
cozyuptocrime's review
2.0
Intriguing premise - a pleasure ship, whose moneymaking journey is interrupted by murder - but, overall, not executed very well. The murder mystery was predictable and the romance didn't have any conflict to keep me engaged. Sam and Kendra were interesting characters, and I would have enjoyed more interaction between the captain and the courtesans, or to learn more about the courtesan's inner lives. However, even with a pleasure ship, a murder, and a romance between a lone wolf and a tough captain, it seemed like nothing really happened. There was a lot of characters going from one ship to another or to the camp, or sitting and thinking for awhile, but not a lot of plot or action. I found myself being more or less bored as the story progressed. It seems like most readers enjoyed this book, it just didn't have a spark for me, and I don't think I'll be reading more from this series.