PJ's Reviews > Captivated

3.5 'Utopian' Stars

Kidnapped by an alien ship and sold into slavery on a nearly-abandoned planetary settlement, Franny finds herself belonging to three ore miners, Cade, Nebraska and Dawson, who've pooled together everything they had to buy her thinking only about the harsh winter that's just days away from setting in.

It doesn't take long before the men realize their prize is a living, breathing fiery red-head who isn't so hot over the idea of being passed around for their pleasure. At the same time, it isn't long before Franny realizes her survival depends on them. Right about the time other miners start beating at the door making outrageous offers to have them share her.

I don't read much fantasy romance, but I'm expanding my horizons, so to speak. Romance plots can get repetitious and tossing an interplanetary wrench into the gears can shake things up a bit. And I found I REALLY enjoyed this. Sure, I would have loved an Epilogue to know how things turned put, but I suppose I can make something up on my own.

Well written and edited. I liked how peeling away the grime and roughness from the three, lonely miners revealed their true, individualistic selves. This might be short story, but sometimes that's all it takes. *grin*

If I was rating this under Polyamorous/Romance/Fantasy Novellas then I'd rate this closer to a 4.25. (view spoiler)[As mentioned above, only an Epilogue and, for me, personally, maybe loosening up of the 'rigid' sharing schedule (i.e., an actual ménage scene) might have strengthened my rating for this. I only mention this because maintaining three separate relationships obviously added serious strain to the group as a whole. And 'coming together' might lessen that and increase a sense of shared bonding. (See, I'm not a total smut. I'm thinking solely of group dynamics.) *wink* (hide spoiler)]