Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Recent Read

Undercover by Lauren Dane

Why this one: I have quite a few of her books now and figured it was time I start reading them. This was the first

Steam Level: Um, uh, yep, OK

Author Website Blurb:

A sexy debut exploring an erotic future universe of passion, danger, and deceit…

On the battleground or in the bedroom, one woman and two men fight for dominance in a bold, new, and excitingly different direction in erotica…

As a lieutenant of the Federation military, Sera Ayers is accustomed to giving orders, not taking them. Now she must obey the one man she can’t stand—and can’t stop thinking about.

With the enemy Imperialists gaining ground, a covert team is assembled by Ash Walker. Ten years before, Sera had lovingly submitted to Ash’s dominance in the bedroom. But when he was forced into a political marriage, she refused to play mistress. His marriage now over, Ash wants Sera on his team—and back in his bed.

The third team member, Brandt Pela, has an elegance to match Ash’s savage sexuality. And when their undercover plan requires Sera to pose as Brandt’s lover, it ignites a passion among the three of them more dangerous than their mission.


My Thoughts: I said a while ago that I had gotten my ankles wet with Erotic Romance. Since then I figure I'd gone up to mid-thigh but with Undercover, I jumped right into the pool, the deep end, a cannonball into the deep end of the pool. So I may be blushing and stammering when I do this review.

As you can tell by the blurb, this is a futuristic. I love a good Futuristic and this one qualifies. Sera Ayers is in the Federation and has command of a crack team. But she is taken off her team when she is needed to go undercover on a three man undercover operation to help discover who is leaking secrets to the enemy. The only problem is one the team members is an ex-lover, Ash Walker, who broke her heart ten years earlier when he was forced to marry someone else. As a member of a ranked family, he didn't have the luxury of marrying Sera who was from an unranked family. Years later she is still angry and bitter at this decision. Ashes marriage didn't last but the main obstacle is still there. The third member of the team, Brandt Pela is Ash's best friend and former brother-in-law; his sister is Ash's ex-wife.

While Sera is still very angry at Ash, the incredible, incendiary attraction still exists between them. But there is also a deep attraction growing between Sera and Brandt.

Now - back to the mission. The three of them need to travel to another world very sexist in nature and Sera's undercover role to Ash and Brandt's playboy roles is to play Brandt's plaything. And to make it look real, it has to be real as they are constantly being monitored and watched. It takes time, but eventually Sera begins to forgive Ash and once she does - WOA MAMA!! This book goes into places I've never been to before!! I once started a Lora Leigh book and it had menage scenes in it but I didn't really get that far into it. But this one I kept on reading and um, uh, right, alright then - how to go on. Phew - lets see, there was m/f, m/f/m, a little bit of m/m/f. And ah, some domination/submission. And ah, spanking - yep - spanking. And talking - they loved to talk. Quite graphically they loved to talk. And, well, just lots of stuff.

So now the question - did I like this book. And the answer - yes I did. Quite a bit. While the actual story was only part of the book, the story was very well written. There wasn't a lot of details and the world building could have been filled in a bit more but overall it was a good story. I blushed though - a lot - when I read it. And it was quite hard to put down - because it was very well written. I'm glad I have more of this authors books to read - and I will be reading them - once my cheeks go back to normal. I have the next book in this series - Relentless, as well as all the Chase Brothers books (because Jessica enjoyed them).

Grade: 4.25 out of 5

25 comments:

Mary G said...

Hi Kristie
I love Lauren's books. You will read the Chase brothers back to back I'm sure. They were hard for me to put down. Awesome review.

Teddy Pig said...

Yep Chase Brothers!

You will like those very different but good.

Leontine said...

Hi Kristie - I read this book in Jan 2009 and just like you I just couldn't put this book down. The Menage was so well done, part two in this series RELENTLESS has more world building in it and I really look forward to book three INSATIABLE where LD spins it in a new direction. For me LD has been a 2009 author discovery and the one that even topped this series is her new one that started with Laid Bare.

And you can stammer away, I enjoyed your review just the same ;)

Anonymous said...

Great review Kristie.

I did read a lot of pretty explicit stuff not too long ago. I am not sure why but lately my eyes have been glazing over when the couple gets to the bedroom. I'm just bored by it right now.

So I will wait to pick this one up until I am looking for a certain heat level once again!

Patti (@TheLoveJunkee) said...

I've only read Laid Bare, and I bought one of her shifter books,but I'm ready to read all her books - her writing is amazing!

novelnelle said...

Thanks for the review Kristie. I have tried a few romantica/erotica books but the story always seems to be somewhat lacking in them. I'll make sure to keep an eye out for this one.

Hilcia said...

Love your review! This looks like a good one and I'll definitely look it up. :)

Kristie (J) said...

Patti: Her writing is amazing. It was a very good balance between the storyline and the graphic content. I'm glad I have the next one in the series.

Jessica: I can see why a steady diet of this level could lead to skimming and then a level of numbness. But for a first book read with this level of graphic sexual content - well I really enjoyed it. I debated putting this next bit in the review but then thought it fell under the TMI category, but - now how to put this delicately - it left me 'itchy' and as a widow without a partner, no 'real' way to relieve that itchiness - or less delicately - horny as hell and no guy to relieve it on. *wicked grin*

Leontine: This fifty*mumble* year old also thought the menage very well done - though I don't have anything really to compare it with. I'm glad to see she gets into more world building in the next one as if I had one complaint about this undercover, it was the lack of knowing more.

Teddy Pig: I'm looking forward to taking on *g* the Chase brothers books. I got all the books at the same time - which is unusual for me, specially considering I'd never read a one of her books before - but now I'm glad. There's something to be said about instant gratification - and I mean that in more then one way - heh heh heh heh

Mary - if all the rest of her books are as good as this one was then I am in for a treat. Though I think I will spread them out over a ways - in order to avoid overheating with no benefit of a fan.

Kristie (J) said...

Hilcia: I enjoyed that cannonball jump into the pool and I'm looking forward to that 'thrill' again ;) If you like books with a steam level off the charts then this one gets a strong rec from me.

Anonymous said...

LOL Kristie I just loved this review! You have grabbed my attention and I have added this book to me TBB list (March is Menage Month on my blog, so I will be saving this book for then).

:o)

MsM

Kristie (J) said...

Novelnelle: Oops - missed you first time round. That's what happened with the Lora Leigh book - I just didn't like the writing or the characters enough to stick around for the 'fun' stuff. But the balance in this one is quite good. I don't have a lot to compare it too - yet - but I was impressed.

Elizabeth: Well - this is very good as a menage book - not that I have a lot to compare it to mind you, but the dynamics of 3 worked quite well. And Sera was a very happy camper.

Lori said...

I loved Relentless even more than Undercover. I'm betting you will, too, just knowing your preferences.

And I think you'll love the Chase brothers books as well.

Lauren is an autobuy for me. Even her paranormals. She's the only author I can say that about when it comes to paranormals.

Renee said...

What Lori said.

I actually read Relentless first--which is m/f, and like it even better than Undercover. LD doesn't shortchange the other aspects of the story while serving up the steamier bits.

I just recently read the first in her Cascadia Woves series, and liked it very much.
It sounds like I'm going to have to check out these Chase brothers!

orannia said...

Oh. I've heard of this book but have been meaning to read it...but haven't :( However, after your review I think I will treat myself and buy it! Great review Kristie, and from your review I guess I can say you liked your dip in the pool? *grin*

The Scarf Princess said...

I really enjoyed Undercover too. I liked the interaction between the three of them. They were loving and really talked about their relationship and where it would go. And the scene with Ash using his bald head in a before unthought of way--loved it.

Jill D. said...

Hey Kristie!

Would it be okay if I linked your review to my RT challenge? Since Lauren Dane is an author that will be attending RT. Also, did you read the book in November or October? That's just so I know which post to link it too.

Leslie said...

I'll just be you were blushing. :) This book was hot!

I enjoyed this one and loved Relentless. No menage but very hot sex scenes. :D

Kristie (J) said...

Lori: I was looking up her books on Chapters and she has quite a back list - and a few upcoming - so I'll have a lot to read - in small doses :-)

Renee: A number of people seem to like Relentless better. I was looking a bit this morning for it - and the Chase Brother books but then I had to leave for work - but I'll look harder for it now

Orannia: *g* - yes I did - I did enjoy that jump in the pool. And I look forward to another jump in it - now that I'm wet.

Joder: Hello - and welcome!! The scene with his head did have me scratching mine and thinking 'huh?? - a head? Really??'
And I liked the way they worked things out amongst themselves too. They really did seem to think of all the angles.

Jill: *g* Feel free!! I did notice she will be at the RT convention. I will look forward to getting some of her books there. And I read it in November.

Leslie: It is indeed hot! In fact I don't think the word hot is hot enough. It's hotter then hotter then hot. And despite the blushing - I enjoyed that aspect vera much.

Tara Marie said...

I've never read Lauren Dane. You're review sent me over to amazon and I ended up ordering Laid Bare instead can't explain why I chose it over this one.

ReneeW said...

What a very cute review! I'm laughing over here. I've never read Lauren Dane either but, man, I think I better go look for this one.

Tricia said...

Ah Kristie I loved your review and I'm still laughing! I've read this author in an anthology before I think I'll have to add this book to my list :)

Kristie (J) said...

Tricia: Despite being um, somewhat overheated while reading this book, I really do recommend it. I've been trying to find the next one. I know it's somewhere in the house but so far I've been stymied trying to find it.

Renee: Thanks *g*. I hope it came across as how incredibly incindiary this one was. Hottest book I've every read - by a long shot. And I proved to myself that I'm not a fuddie duddie *g*

Tara Marie: I don't know if Laid Bare is as steamy as Undercover - but best have a glass of cold water beside you - just in case *g*

MrsMixx said...

AHah i totally get the "i might be blushing while writing my review" I don't know how i got to read Erotic romance while 6 months ago i swore i'd never read those.
This is a great review, i'm thinking about reading this book, i'm in the mood for some Ménage ;)

Kristie (J) said...

Pattepoilue: It was my first real Menage book and I wasn't sure what to expect. It's something I didn't think I'd ever read either and if my sons could ever get a look at what their mother reads - well it would be fun to try and guess what *laughing* their thoughts might be.

MrsMixx said...

;) I've got the inverse problem, i still live at my parents and those are't the kinds of book i'd like them to find lol Good thing they don't read English ;)