Saturday, June 9, 2012

Review: Undercover by Lauren Dane

3.5 out of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy/Erotica
Author: Lauren Dane
Rating: 3.5 Stars out of 5
Blurb:
A sexy debut exploring an erotic future universe of passion, danger, and deceit…

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.



Sera is an underclass citizen working her way through military ranks with determination and skill after having lost her love and only sexually dominant partner, Ash, to a marriage arranged by his Family and fitting to his Family rank.

Ash, divorced for 7 years, has always wanted Sera back in his bed and heart and when the time comes to use her body and skill in an undercover operation exposing high profile Families aiding traitorous forces he simply must have her again.

Brandt, Ash's undercover partner, is Ash's best friend and occasional lover. He is a perfect balance to Ash - thoughtful to his impulse, dark to his light - except in the bedroom, where they are both dominants. Brandt has heard stories of Sera for years and now that he's met her, has an unrequited need to have her in his bed and at his feet.

Lauren Dane's Undercover was an entertaining, sexy read that was quickly paced with hot ménage scenes throughout. Surprisingly enough, I enjoyed this book, even with its lack of depth and detail. Even the world that is so different than our own is never really explained in full, like we are supposed to be aware that the world is now worlds and each planet is just a train ride away. That being said, I was fond of Sera and her undercover concubine persona, Sela. Sela enabled Sera to open up to both Brandt and Ash safely and allowed her to be vulnerable when in reality she is to anything but.

Although I enjoyed Dane's characters separately, the relationship between Brandt, Ash, and Sera is one that seems to come with illogical ease - which is where the triad becomes much less realistic. For three people who have never experienced a triad relationship before, the lack of jealousy and the ease of emotional navigation surprised me. Not that everyone acts on their jealousy - but I really thought that there would be more to work out then, "oh yeah, I'm cool if you sleep with her when I'm not around - no big," and "oh yeah man, me too!"

That being said, where Undercover lacked in depth it made up for in hot sex and plain enjoyability. I felt myself getting sucked into this bizzarre world created by Ms. Dane and was really taken with both Brandt and Ash - although Brandt holds my heart.

I really wanted this future world explained in more detail - giving the reader historical background to better understand the decisions of Dane's characters. Also, I wish the triad had more time to develop honest familiarity - but overall the book was adequately written and gratifying.

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