Once Upon a Time in Space

Once Upon a Time in Space by Heather Massey

In the distant future, Earth is dying. The planet is an overpopulated pit of despair. Humans dwell underground, but the crust is quickly disintegrating, killing millions. The rest have no escape. Nick Venture, a strapping mechanic with a secret heritage, faces an unjust death sentence. Desperate to avoid this fate, he accepts an offer from a rogue scientist to claim a newly-discovered planet in exchange for his freedom. To his surprise, Nick discovers he is the last living descendant of Christopher Columbus. Joined by a ragtag group of ex-military soldiers, he embarks on a mission to save humanity. This journey places him on a collision course with Raquel Donovan, the deadliest pirate in the galaxy. The sexy, patch-eyed captain of the Deathraven is on a mission of her own—one of vengeance. The last man she expected to encounter was the devastatingly handsome Nick Venture. But his ships are a bounty beyond her wildest dreams. After she enslaves Nick and his crew during a hijack, the two adversaries find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another. But Nick is far more than he seems. When he traps Raquel with a clever ruse, she has no choice but to join the mission as his protector. As the journey continues, their attraction ignites like a raging solar storm. Raquel is a mystery Nick is determined to unravel. But her secret agenda, as well as their lust soaked encounters, threaten to derail both of their missions even as humanity’s time runs out…. 

In a last ditch effort to save the people of a dying Earth, Nick, the last living descendant of Christopher Columbus, and his crew set out to discover a new planet capable of sustaining life. However, when he runs into Raquel, known as the deadly pirate Siren, he knows he is in for trouble, as he is irresistibly drawn to her. Raquel has a mission of her own, but she is keeping her lips sealed. When she raids Nick's ships, the last thing she expects is for him to turn it around and entrap her. She reluctantly agrees to a fools bargain as she knows 
the more time she spends near Nick, the less she will be able to keep her distance. She can't afford the distraction, but sometimes the heart just won't listen.

This book was definitely not what I expected, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The descriptions of the sexual desires and actions of the characters was so thorough, I cannot help but consider this book to be more of an erotica than a normal romance. While the abundance of sex was a bit overwhelming at times, the story behind all of it was still very interesting. I felt drawn to the characters and genuinely hoped they could overcome their obstacles. The main pair grew as most great couples do, with each one "rubbing" off on the other. One goes from being icy and closed off to warm and accepting, while the other goes from being overeager to having a little strength of his own. I felt they complemented each other well, especially as they started to "mold" themselves to the other one's personality. In the end I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good romance with plenty of steamy action.

(Received from Netgalley)

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