Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
Elios Campbell is working on a top-secret project: translating messages from the Pandora, an alien spaceship on the edge of human territory. A favor from his mentor drops Elios into the arms of Sender Kinnison, a pilot who seems like everything Elios has ever wanted.

Their attraction is immediate and threatens to lead to more in a hurry. Even Elios' wary heart and Sender's burdened soul can't keep them apart, until a single tragic moment changes their lives forever. Elios is helpless, as Sender, driven by ghosts and duty, goes racing out of reach. Fate brings them together one last time, but can Elios take another chance on his runaway star?

BOOK REVIEW:
Elios Campbell and Sender Kinnison are part of a top secret government project that was formed when messages from an alien spaceship where heard with a sense of urgency and warning. The appropriate response of course is to build a similar spaceship to go meet the aliens and see what they’ve been saying. While the premise sounds like a cliché gambit, don’t worry; the authors have delivered a superbly written story filled with engaging characters and enough hints of the project to grab interest without diverting the focus from the romance of the main characters.

Elios Campbell is one of the linguists assigned to decipher the sounds recorded from Pandora, the alien spaceship. A workaholic and reeling from a disastrous breakup with a co-worker, Elias is settled into a safe, if somewhat mundane existence that feeds the love of his work and need to recover from heartbreak. His one gift to himself was to ask for a favor from an influential senator which allowed Elios to experience a flight in the prototype spaceships built for protection and attack, if needed, against Pandora. Although not overly adventurous, Elios is caught between his need for safety and the risks inherent in experiencing life to it’s fullest.

Sender Kinnison is the hotshot pilot that takes Elios on his brief trip through the sky. The attraction is immediate between the two men, but both are cautious requiring a touch of alcohol and some meddling from Sender’s squad to get the two together. They end up going to Elios’ apartment for a fun filled night of surprisingly hot and sizzling sex, which leads to much more. For all his adrenaline seeking ways, Sender is a contrast from his innate nature and his upbringing. He is at times tender and sweet, at others aggressive and demanding, but struggles against his strict, religious background and parental expectations. Sender has accepted who and what he is yet it conflicts with his deep held belief that the person Sender has become is innately wrong.

This internal conflict of Sender’s comes to a head when his parents are killed and he must take responsibility for his much younger sister. Now he must reconcile his upbringing with his current dreams and happiness against his sister’s future. It’s not an easy task to handle and it’s no wonder that Sender is sent into an emotional tailspin and retreats to the familiar in his confusion. Both characters have flaws and fears which shape not only the people they are but how they react to problems and conflicts. Their relationship develops quickly but has enough depth and emotion to give weight regardless of the short time it has to build. Elios and Sender’s struggle to come to terms with their past and their hope for a future makes for a genuine and captivating tale, much like the characters themselves.

The science fiction backdrop was interesting with enough world building to capture my attention (and I love science fiction) without giving into the futuristic lure of too many details and unnecessary information. Between the characters budding relationship and then conflict, the premise of the book as related to the alien ship provided a few teasing hints while giving enough references to a future sequel. Added to the charming secondary characters that rounded out a well-defined set of characters, the authors have given a wonderful first offering in a new series.

Sender and Elios are immediate favorite characters, even though at times their struggle was described perfectly as someone with a blind spot that just can’t figure out how to go around it. Thankfully both find their path together and set up future appearances that will be eagerly awaited. Hopefully in subsequent books, there will be more about the Pandora project and Macy charmingly begs for his own story. There is not too much science fiction that this book can’t be enjoyed by anyone and I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a well-written romance with wonderful characters and an engaging story with honest anguish on the path to a happy ever after.

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