Ria Candro
ISBN #: 978419931741
Publisher Name: Ellora's Cave Publishing/Aeon
Date Released: December 2010
Price: $5.20 Retail
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance
Book Format: eBook

BACK COVER BLURB:

When Natalie awakens on a spaceship manned by three gorgeous and adoring hunks, she’s convinced she’s dreaming. It’s up to Andros, Leikos and Zafron to prove to her she’s not. And that she’s the perfect mate for all three of them.

Spygian alpha males travel far and wide in search of their perfect partner. And then share their mate in the most delicious, pleasurable ways they can imagine. But for Natalie, loving these red-hot aliens means leaving Earth. Is she willing to take a chance on a love that’s out of this world?

COVER SNARK:
Once again, I just don't like Ellora's Cave's covers. The woman looks like a fifty year old plastic surgery barbie doll.


FIRST LINES:

The front panel of the ship's control room slid open, exposing a view of space through the clear, impenetrable shield.

"We are approaching Earth now," said Leikos, Andros' second-in-command.

Okay, are you satisfied with my sucky plot review? I'm trying, but you know I totally suck at giving plot reviews. So let me tell you what I liked and didn't like.

Overall, I really liked MATED as a story and I'm on a sci-fi kick now too. I've liked the sci-fi stories that I've been reading. MATED isn't an exception. Although it's a quick, simple, steamy read, it captured me and I liked how she set up the world. Although this is a ménage relationship, because of the men's culture and their planets history, I totally bought into their relationship and I believed in it.

There were a few things that I wish were fleshed out. For one, I didn't get in the beginning why Natalie didn't go to college. She was griping that she didn't get a promotion because she didn't have a degree and that the reason she didn't have a degree is because her parents died and so they couldn't pay for college? Umm, WTF? Hello, ma'am, this is the 21st century here, do what everyone else does, go to college part-time, or go to college on-line. I totally didn't get that reasoning, and I rolled my eyes when reading that in the beginning. But maybe that's me because everyone in my family who went to college paid for it themselves. (BTW, does anyone want to pay back my student loans, they're killing a sister – note of advice from Aunty Lynette, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GO TO A PRIVATE WOMEN'S COLLEGE – NEVER, THE EXPENSE IS NOT WORTH IT).

Anyhoo, back to my review.

I also wish that Ms. Candro went a little deeper into the world building. She has a great set-up, intriguing premise, solid writing, but I wanted to know more about the world that the men come from. I also didn't understand how the men knew Natalie was their mate? It infers that theirs a way for them to just know, but it wasn't explained.

Besides that, this was a solid sci-fi read and I'd definitely check out her next release.

WHERE PURCHASED:
Received copy from publisher for review.

RATING: