This book starts off with the spice right away and it doesn’t let up. If you like your Fantasy Romance books extra spicy, then pick this book up.

I enjoyed that this book wasn’t all spice, but that the storyline was actually good too. Mara is back on her home planet but doesn’t remember anything about it. She’s trying to find familiarity there. As the description hints, it’s definitely Anastasia influenced with regards to her story (I’m sure you can deduce what that might be based on the description, but I’ll avoid spoilers).

Mara’s (Boyfriend? Lover? Partner?) sets off on a quest that keeps him gone for months but leaves a bodyguard behind that Mara is to seek pleasure from when she desires it. The bodyguard happens to be from a civilization that took Mara’s planet from her people so there’s political strife and hard feelings there.

When Mara starts falling for the bodyguard she struggles with this because of his identity and of course her traveling partner. How does it end? Pick it up and find out.

Adventure of hidden royals, greed, betrayal, and prejudice in a world of different planets and reality. How do we define virtue when corruption is rampant - who are the good versus evil.

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: violence, death of family (past), claustrophobia, political upheaval

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f science fiction romance
-bodyguard romance
-insta attraction
-forbidden romance
-he's been hired to satisfy her
-bang it out
-just a hookup
-steamay

Listen if you say to me an Anastasia x Bodyguard retelling and it's in space I am immediately going to download and read it. This was a great escapist read. It immediately hits the ground running and never lets up. Mara is strong, independent, confident in herself and her sexuality, yet a bit of a mystery. No past, without a family, and a mystery to herself.

Immediately drawn to Cal (although the sex definitely helped) he's sign to take care of all of her needs while she's back on her home planet. Trying to learn more about herself, and deny her feelings for Cal and insist it's all about sex. I love how the story wove the sex and intimacy, not afraid to show how Mara tried to distance herself from Cal and using his very willing body and instead falling for him. These two just keep crashing into each other and i was here for every moment of it.

Both Cal and Mara trying to figure out their places, this was such an enjoyable read, and I can't wait to discover more from this author.

Steam: 4.5

From the beginning of this book, the reader is totally engaged. This book was so exciting and kept me frustrated, and in suspense at every turn. Loved Mara's determination and fierceness.