Waffling between 3-4 stars out of 5.

This book felt extremely emotional and fully drew me in. Mark and Dale had a beautiful relationship that I completely believed. However.

There are so many things about this one that I have a hard time wrapping my head around. Don't misunderstand, I have no problem with the kink or D/s vibes. My problem is the whole "pet" thing. The dynamic shifted weirdly between D/s master-slave sort of thing, and an actual family pet dog. I fully noped out when the author included a note at the end about the book being a tribute to her family pets. If you extrapolate to the story, it becomes about these aliens fucking and breeding their pet dogs. That being said, I think if you ignore the last couple chapters of the book, you can blissfully ignore the weird dog dynamic and enjoy a more D/s vibe instead.

Continuing on with the weird vibes. Why insist that three of the four human characters are actually straight? Obviously they have no problem with m/m sex and romance, as each of them fall in love with several other men. They even have a chance to leave this situation, but all choose to stay with the men they love. I completely understand and agree with their choice, but why still insist that they're actually straight men who just chose to enjoy the pleasure they've been provided with? Is this some sort of "turning straight men gay" kink that the author has? I guess I kinda get it, but also sexuality is such a personal and imperative thing. What if you were an earnestly gay or straight person, but someone insisted that you have sex with and fall in love with someone opposite your preference. You would feel uncomfortable, wouldn't you? This is your world, author. Just make everybody bisexual!!

All in all, this book was very enjoyable, with some pretty awesome steam. However, I had to keep performing Olympic-level mental gymnastics to work around some of the squicky vibes. And I haven't even gotten into some of the plot issues. Proceed with caution. ( )

This was interesting. It was a bit of an odd book with lots and lots of sex. And by lots, I mean LOTS. At times, it felt like all the book was about was sex. The story of being captured, sold as pets, being breeders, and finding a home despite the situation was interesting when it wasn’t overshadowed by the sex. ( )

This was a book I was actually reluctant to start reading. Tymber Dalton is a hit or miss kind of author for me. I either love or hate her work. Well this book truly was on the love side of things. I didn't want to put it down; resented the kids for expecting me to cook dinner... lol! When the tears started, everyone was asleep thankfully, so they couldn't make fun of me. And I don't cry easily over a story!

But these characters really got to me. They have been written with a beautiful touch. They all have their flaws, none are too perfect to be true. The relationships between them all is varied and not textbook standard or carbon copied.

Tymber Dalton invites us into this wonderful, exciting and alien world and makes us at home there. She takes us on a journey of love, growth and adaptation to all things strange and beautiful. I won't tell you that the story is without it's flaws; the use of the term "milker" was a bit jarring to be honest, but not enough to put me off. But the ending was perfect for this tale.

I was left satisfied, completely! It's definitely a story I will be revisiting in the future. ( )

This is a great book which took me totally by surprise. I admit that I found it very hard to get into, most of the first half of it felt like a set-up for the rest. A very essential set-up, but I can only say that with the benefit of hindsight. I must admit that it didn't feel like it at the time of first reading it.

The whole situation the main character, Dale, finds himself in is just too weird for words. I think that may be why the author spent a lot of time and effort on explaining the details. Dale is captured by the Terrans' enemies, the Algonquans, but he is not a political prisoner, he is now a "breeder pet". When he meets fellow "pet", Mark, he finally gets some explanations. The emotional depth of their feelings for each other, as well as for two more "pets" and their master is believable and moved me to tears at the end.

This is not your standard novel. It has some very weird and potentially disturbing situations in it. Due to the higher intelligence and development of the Algonquans, humans really would be seen as pets by them. This is very hard to take, but makes perfect sense from an "objective" (i.e., non-Terran) point of view.

If you enjoy a sci-fi story with a truly different (and sometimes scary) point of view, you will probably like this book.

( )

I went to a meeting and look what Marte convinced Momo that we need to read...and yes Elsbeth too...can't leave her out of this fun. :) And gawd...the instigator must join and we must grab her spanking partner, Susan. A fivesome BR=nothing but trouble.


So I guess this will happen...eventually. O_O "