Casee‘s review of Undercover by Lauren Dane
On the battleground or in the bedroom, one woman and two men fight for dominance in a bold, new, and excitingly different direction in erotica . . .
As a lieutenant of the Federation military, Sera Ayers is accustomed to giving orders, not taking them. Now she must obey the one man she can’t stand-and can’t stop thinking about.
With the enemy Imperialists gaining ground, a covert team is assembled by Ash Walker. Ten years before, Sera had lovingly submitted to Ash’s dominance in the bedroom. But when he was forced into a political marriage, she refused to play mistress. His marriage now over, Ash wants Sera on his team-and back in his bed.
The third team member, Brandt Pela, has an elegance to match Ash’s savage sexuality. And when their undercover plan requires Sera to pose as Brandt’s lover, it ignites a passion among the three of them more dangerous than their mission.
After Lauren Dane visited Book Binge and I read the excerpts of Relentless, I immediately bought Undercover on my Kindle. The series just sounded really good. Unfortunately, I was disappointed b/c the book was nowhere near as good as I was expecting.
First of all, from the blurb I read, I wasn’t expecting a menage. After I adjusted my thinking to what the relationship(s) really were about, I was okay with it. Then another surprise; the two heroes in the book were also sexually involved. Now I’m far from a prude. I’ve read m/m romance and liked it. But it just seemed so out of place in this book. So that threw me.
Sera Ayers hasn’t forgotten how Ash Walker broke her heart ten years before. It wasn’t until after Sera fell in love with Ash that she learned that he was going to marry someone else. Of course Ash offered Sera the official position as his mistress. While Sera actually considered it, her pride wouldn’t let her accept. Sera left him that day, though she never forgot him.
When he shows up requesting her presence on his military team, she refuses to go. However, as a solider, she can’t refuse a direct order from a superior officer. To say that Sera is angry is an understatement. She is furious and determined to make Ash Walker wish that he never picked her for this assignment.
Brandt Pela knows about Sera from Ash, though nothing really prepares him for her actual presence. Brandt is far from upset when it’s decided that she will pose as his mistress while they go undercover to stop the Imperialists.
Ash decides that he wants Sera back. He also realizes that he wants Brandt to be apart of the new relationship that Ash is determined to build. He loves Brandt as much as he loves Sera, in a different way of course. Brandt has found the woman for him, all he has to do is convince Sera that she belongs with both of them.
I liked the relationship between Ash/Sera/Brandt. It was the world building that I felt lacked something. I never quite followed exactly what they were doing or why. I obviously knew they were trying to stop the bad guys, but the whole Federation military and enemy imperialists just confused me. Also, the “royal” Family dynamic was also a tad confusing.
I was planning on reading Relentless right away, but I think I’m going to put it on hold for now. This book just didn’t do it for me.
3.5 out of 5.
This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
Other books in the series:
Nice review Casee. 🙂
I liked Undercover but loved Relentless. You mention the world building and IMO it improves in Relentless. The different social classes are developed further with the h/h coming from two very different social/economical worlds.
Well, I liked Relentless better than I liked Undercover–and I liked Undercover a lot.
As Leslie said, the worldbuilding is more clearly laid out there.