Lord Anders has been summoned home for the funeral of the King, he boards a ship, expecting a short trip to his home planet, but what he gets instead is a captain that he feels a spark for. Captain Zack and Lord Anders decide to start a no string affair that they don't expect to last much past their arrival at Lord Anders home planet. When things start to go wrong soon after Lord Anders joins the ship, the two must work together to save their society and lives of those they love.

This was a good book, I enjoyed the premise of the book. Zack and Lord Anders didn't seem like they would have anything in common which made for a good read. While I enjoyed the book it took a bit of time to really get into the book, it was slow in the beginning but once the action started picking up the pace of the book picked up too.

Secret princes, assassination plots, intrigue and steamy romance - this story has it all, Particularly interesting - and enjoyable - is the inversion of the soulbond trope: where usually being a perfect match would everything perfect, both characters see that their own lives and plans are quite different from each other's, and being 'bonded' - able to feel each other's feelings - doesn't negate the need for actual communication to work things out.
I was provided a copy of this book by Riptide Publishing via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

When Anders' father dies, it's suddenly a race against the clock for Anders to get back to the capitol in time for the funeral. Despite being in mourning, meeting Zach on his journey is dangerously distracting from the political machinations they're about to have to deal with. The forces acting against them might pull them apart forever, or might just kill them.

There were too many plot holes in this book for me to list out in one review. The most glaring one, of course, is the fact that Anders immediately jumps into bed with the first hot spaceship captain he meets despite his beloved father barely being dead a few hours. Almost every pivotal scene in this book coincided with a bit of information that felt like it was made up on the spot to make that scene fit, or had a bit of backstory suddenly thrown in, or something equally poorly composed added that made me grind my teeth. Adding what felt like faked depth to the story made it feel unrealistic and made it very difficult to read.

I also had issues with the emotions in this story. None of it felt real, from the romance to their almost constant arguing, mostly because there was no depth to it. Anders and Zach would be talking--or even just sitting in the same vicinity--and something would spark and they would be screaming at each other. Seconds later the fight would be over and they would be having graphic sex instead. There were a few scenes of this that I reread a couple of times just to figure out what that spark was, and I couldn't figure it out.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. The story of Zach and Anders is a decent read but is lacking. Zach is written as being very strong, both physically and mentally, which is the part I liked most. Anders is at times strong but appears to be whinier than one would associate with being king. The king is portrayed as being somewhat weak. I would have made the king strong with the traits that Zach has. The story is very erotic and sexual throughout the entire book.

Sooooo, this was not very good. There was WAY too much sex, given the length and amount of plot. It seriously suffered from lack of subtlety or buildup. As an example, the first time the two men met was over a dinner at the captain’s table. The only conversation was about the steak, and it’s barely a conversation. There was no indication that these two men had any interest in each other. Then on the next page, they were jumping into bed and the pet names and ‘this is special’ starts. The whole book was like that. The authors don’t give anything time to develop, just lobbing stuff at the reader out of no where.

Mechanically, the writing is fine, except for some repetition. They seemed to do nothing but rub noses and fall into bed. But the book is just too long. Half of the petty squabbles could have been cut and we’d still understand they were struggling to get to know one another. As could half the sex scenes. They were fairly repetitive anyway, always doing the same things. I just didn’t enjoy it and have no interest in continuing the series.

I really liked the concept in this. The way the author did fated mates is different than a lot of the other stories I've read that has that. However, the characters in the story didn't do it for me really. I hated Zach and Anders. Zach is the captain of a ship and he doesn't want to find a mate because of all the changes it implies, particularly when it involves a royal. There is so much back and forth between the two of them about whether or not they like each other. I get all relationships have their ups and downs, particularly with the fated mates, but in this one you don't actually see them get to know each other and make their relationship more than the bond. What it should have been was replaced with unnecessary dialog that I felt didn't do much to actually move any of the plots in the story. This was my first from this author, but hopefully her next book is something I like. I'm willing to give her another shot.

ARC title provided via Netgalley for an honest review.

Sometimes a book falls flat, and unfortunately nothing could save this for me.

I’m not usually one for a royal romance story, but every once in a while… handsome royals do it for me. But especially if the story is set in space and involves a curmudgeonly Navy space captain who resists a prince’s charm.
Review

In His Majesty’s Service had an exciting premise. A royal on the way back for a family funeral finds his fated soulmate right about the time a deadly conspiracy is exposed. While his handsome, sexy Captain may have an allergy toward relationships and bonding, the man also scrambles to protect Anders. There was a nice push and pull going on with the relationship issues and with the intrigue part of the story.

This may be fated mates, but it is not easy. They are a pair of opposites and come with complicated backgrounds. Anders and Zach fuss, fight, and have a ton of make-up bouts. At times they are hilarious and swoony, but at others I did want to flick the pair of them on the ears. Zach especially. The soulmates match up had a psychic element to it that came with extra connection other than just a mate attraction in this world. I enjoyed this along with the two men’s take on it all.

I had a good time with the book, but I did feel that it could have been streamlined somewhat particularly when it went over the same ground with this pair and their love affair (yep, I was skimming sex scenes and arguments by the end because it wasn’t advancing the plot), but also the acrimony between Zach and the two security guards for Anders got a tad annoying too.

So, a little long-winded, but still a fantastic read. Those who enjoy super spicy M/M Sci-Romance with a twist of intrigue should give it a go.

My thanks to Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

4 Stars!

Lord Anders Hawthorne is on his way to the king's funeral and the last thing he expects is to feel so attracted to the captain of the spaceship that is transporting him. They start a no-strings attached entanglement but Anders can't stop his growing feelings for Zach, especially once he realizes Zach is his match. Zach doesn't want to find his soul mate, he's seen first hand what finding his later in life did to his own father and the effect it had on his family, never mind that he's not willing to give up his life for anyone.

Trouble seems to follow Anders, though, who's been keeping secrets and soon they find themselves in the midst of a battle for the Collective's throne.

The story itself, with Anders real identity and the whole plot to take the Collective over was amazing. I couldn't get enough of all the twists and turns that the story took. It was full of intrigue and suspense as we followed Anders and Zach in their quest to getting to the bottom of it all.

I absolutely loved Anders! He was such a sweet, supportive, patient character. I loved that he never pushed Zach into agreeing to their bond, even if my heart broke along with his at every one of Zach's refusals. I had a bit of a trouble with Zach. I liked him, but I was fed up with his attitude. I get his reasons for not wanting to find his match, but truly, Anders was so perfect for him and Zach harping on not wanting to bond over and over, didn't endear him to me. The worst was when after bonding, at Zach's request, by the way, Zach acted like he'd been forced or cornered into doing it. Ugh, enough is enough already! By then, I wasn't even sure I wanted him to be with Anders, to be honest. *sighs*

The book is really good, well-written and interesting, I loved Anders, even if Zach got on my nerves, there were a lot of hot, sexy scenes between them and it all worked out well in the end, so there's that. Recommendable!

*** Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley by Riptide Publishing for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

So if you like space porn and post concussion/radiation poisoning/other deadly incidents sex then this is for you. I personally could not get into as I am very much not a fan of instasex at the moment. I really love bonding fic but this was a bit of a let down for me. I didnt enjoy it that doesnt mean others wont for the reasons I didnt. I did not enjoy Zach or Anders and just overall the rescuing/dying/fucking was not my jam.

The writing isnt bad but it isnt great. Its kind of like a sad apple pie for me.