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Uncharted Hearts #1
Calamity
Bramble's inaugural debut is equal parts steamy interstellar romance and sci-fi adventure, perfect for fans of Firefly and Ilona Andrews.
She’s got a ramshackle spaceship, a misfit crew, and a big problem with its sexy newest member…
Temperance Reed, banished from the wealthy and dangerous Fifteen Families, just wants to keep her crew together after their feckless captain ran off with the intern. But she’s drowning in debt and revolutionary new engine technology is about to make her beloved ship obsolete.
Enter Arcadio Escajeda. Second child of the terrifying Escajeda Family, he’s the thorn in Temper’s side as they’re sent off on a scouting mission on the backwater desert planet of Herschel 2. They throw sparks every time they meet but Temper’s suspicions of his ulterior motives only serve to fuel the flames between them.
Despite volcanic eruptions, secret cultists, and deadly galactic fighters, the greatest threat on this mission may be to Temper’s heart.
She’s got a ramshackle spaceship, a misfit crew, and a big problem with its sexy newest member…
Temperance Reed, banished from the wealthy and dangerous Fifteen Families, just wants to keep her crew together after their feckless captain ran off with the intern. But she’s drowning in debt and revolutionary new engine technology is about to make her beloved ship obsolete.
Enter Arcadio Escajeda. Second child of the terrifying Escajeda Family, he’s the thorn in Temper’s side as they’re sent off on a scouting mission on the backwater desert planet of Herschel 2. They throw sparks every time they meet but Temper’s suspicions of his ulterior motives only serve to fuel the flames between them.
Despite volcanic eruptions, secret cultists, and deadly galactic fighters, the greatest threat on this mission may be to Temper’s heart.
306 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2023
246 people are currently reading
7943 people want to read
About the author
Constance Fay
5 books173 followersConstance Fay writes space romance novels and genre fiction short stories. Her short fiction can be found in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Catscast podcast, and other publications. She has a background in medical device R&D and lives in Colorado with a cat who edits all her work first.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 640 reviews
January 23, 2024
“The universe wouldn’t be half as calamitously interesting without you.”
found family, warring families, and a secret mission with your enemy??? this was just all around fantastic.
thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing the arc!
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found family, warring families, and a secret mission with your enemy??? this was just all around fantastic.
thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing the arc!
Follow me on Instagram
November 4, 2024
4 Stars!
In theory, I love science fiction, but in reality, there is a fine line between getting too technical, too detailed in the minutiae, that can seriously drag a book down and become mind numbingly boring. For me, the best reads have action, humor, drama, and a bit of angst. Toss in some smexy and that’s yummy icing on the cake!
Fay’s debut novel was that perfect combo for me. She brought all the above and made her main character a banished heroine, forced to be a captain to keep her found family together and accepting a risky job (isn't it always?) to keep food in their belly and her ship in space. Set in a galaxy where 5 prominent families vie for power amongst each other, there’s a current race to stake claim on a new energy source, and Temperance finds herself neck deep in the middle, balancing precariously on the edge of not pissing off those that rule and not dying in the process.
Simply put, this was a lot of fun. In the background is a political web of intriguing power struggles and takeovers amongst these families, as each hold dominion over a precious piece of what makes the world go round, fighting for just that bit of extra to edge out the other while holding off smaller families desperate to get their foothold in. Up front and center is Temperance and her team doing a scouting mission, saddled with yummy man meat Arcadio Escajeda, a top family’s son who’s dangerously sexy and can’t help but clash with Temperance on any and everything.
This has high stakes adventure with a snarky scrappy crew and a heroine that didn't piss me off. Though Temperance’s got grit and training and smarts, and though she has every right to have a chip on her shoulder, she doesn’t. She has a soft ooey gooey center she likes to ignore and compartmentalize, and thankfully, she wasn’t all bluster and hard ass that many female MC’s are unfortunately, stereotypically portrayed. Arcadio is no slouch either. His shiny pretty exterior hides plenty of secrets not surprisingly, and of course he loves the challenge Temperance constantly presents.
The writing is easy catchy. The universe is just complex enough to keep things interesting. Top it off with a loyal crew that is equally strong with their own intriguing pasts and who looks like they’re getting their own HEA stories as well!
So overall, if you’re jonesing for some Firefly vibes with plenty of space shenanigans intermixed with enemies to lovers, close proximity, flirtatious barb filled banter, fast paced action, touches of humorous fun, and some smexy then this might suit your fancy!
I had a grand ole time, and I look forward to the sequel that comes out soon!!
Uncharted Hearts Series
1. Calamity - 4 Stars
2. Fiasco - 4 Stars
In theory, I love science fiction, but in reality, there is a fine line between getting too technical, too detailed in the minutiae, that can seriously drag a book down and become mind numbingly boring. For me, the best reads have action, humor, drama, and a bit of angst. Toss in some smexy and that’s yummy icing on the cake!
Fay’s debut novel was that perfect combo for me. She brought all the above and made her main character a banished heroine, forced to be a captain to keep her found family together and accepting a risky job (isn't it always?) to keep food in their belly and her ship in space. Set in a galaxy where 5 prominent families vie for power amongst each other, there’s a current race to stake claim on a new energy source, and Temperance finds herself neck deep in the middle, balancing precariously on the edge of not pissing off those that rule and not dying in the process.
Simply put, this was a lot of fun. In the background is a political web of intriguing power struggles and takeovers amongst these families, as each hold dominion over a precious piece of what makes the world go round, fighting for just that bit of extra to edge out the other while holding off smaller families desperate to get their foothold in. Up front and center is Temperance and her team doing a scouting mission, saddled with yummy man meat Arcadio Escajeda, a top family’s son who’s dangerously sexy and can’t help but clash with Temperance on any and everything.
This has high stakes adventure with a snarky scrappy crew and a heroine that didn't piss me off. Though Temperance’s got grit and training and smarts, and though she has every right to have a chip on her shoulder, she doesn’t. She has a soft ooey gooey center she likes to ignore and compartmentalize, and thankfully, she wasn’t all bluster and hard ass that many female MC’s are unfortunately, stereotypically portrayed. Arcadio is no slouch either. His shiny pretty exterior hides plenty of secrets not surprisingly, and of course he loves the challenge Temperance constantly presents.
The writing is easy catchy. The universe is just complex enough to keep things interesting. Top it off with a loyal crew that is equally strong with their own intriguing pasts and who looks like they’re getting their own HEA stories as well!
So overall, if you’re jonesing for some Firefly vibes with plenty of space shenanigans intermixed with enemies to lovers, close proximity, flirtatious barb filled banter, fast paced action, touches of humorous fun, and some smexy then this might suit your fancy!
I had a grand ole time, and I look forward to the sequel that comes out soon!!
Uncharted Hearts Series
1. Calamity - 4 Stars
2. Fiasco - 4 Stars
Read
April 27, 2025I can see how this would be very fun for some readers. However the humor didn't quite work for me and didn't get on well with the writing style. Things like "I'm nonplussed, completely out of plus" is painful to read. But humor is subjective and I'm sure it works for some people.
Listen, I can go for a good campy sci-fi romance. But some of the dialogue in Calamity was....a lot even for me. The main character is always snarky and self-deprecating and I think it's supposed to be fun and charming but I found her more irritating and not at all competent enough to be captaining this ship. A lot of times I like characters like this, but I think I want them to be snarky and competent, not snarky and stupid. I think other readers might like this better than I did if they know what to expect, but I do think the cover is kind of misleading. The vibe is more serious sci-fi romance, and this really isn't that. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Listen, I can go for a good campy sci-fi romance. But some of the dialogue in Calamity was....a lot even for me. The main character is always snarky and self-deprecating and I think it's supposed to be fun and charming but I found her more irritating and not at all competent enough to be captaining this ship. A lot of times I like characters like this, but I think I want them to be snarky and competent, not snarky and stupid. I think other readers might like this better than I did if they know what to expect, but I do think the cover is kind of misleading. The vibe is more serious sci-fi romance, and this really isn't that. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
March 16, 2025
OKAY I LOVE SPACE ! I LOVE FOUND FAMILY IN SPACE ! I LOVE SEXY BOYFRIEND IN SPACE ! AHHHHHHHHHH *unhinged feral screaming*
January 8, 2024
3.5 stars
This book hits the ground running literally, with the h on a mission and being pursued. Interesting debut first in series with a resourceful, self-deprecating, and spunky spaceship captain h and a super-competent and sexy H that’s foisted on her as part of her crew for a mission. A mission that’s way more convoluted than it first appears with hidden dangers and politics. Written in first person, single POV of h. No ow/om drama (minor appearance later by h’s ex that has zero impact) and neither are virgins (h begins the book in a secret relationship with the current captain before drama unfolds and that om goes on his way; no info given on H’s history).
The h is a bit of a mess flying by the seat of her pants often and the H initially looks down on her. The attraction is heavily lust based initially as h’s thoughts are reluctantly horny over H. Their relationship changes due to forced proximity and slow build. I liked how they came to value each other, though the romance aspect still felt like something was missing and the sharing of deeper feelings is left to the very end. A couple of steamy scenes that have some detail but not much explicitness. I would have preferred more detail in these scenes given they’re not FTB but also not quite as spicy as my normal reading. I think more here would have also fit the overall tone the author was going for.
Light on world-building, but heavy on action and humor. Some violence and gore is present and there’s a cult on the planet the crew’s mission takes them to. The other crew members are fun and intriguing characters on their own. Some background was given on the side characters and I liked them a lot, definitely curious about future romances for them.
The climax has so many moving pieces and side plots and conflicts converging on each other. Still, the h and H come out on top and everyone survives with a successful mission. The end highlights that they’re choosing to be with each other, though it felt more like the H was choosing her. Honestly the h needed that assurance more given her history. HFN ending and characters should appear as side characters in future books.
The writing was overall enjoyable and the pacing was well executed. I did sometimes put this down and then come back to it so it didn’t fully hold my attention all the time. Some confusing descriptions and some info was occasionally hard to keep straight or felt unnecessary. Still, as a debut it was enjoyable and I’d continue the series.
This book hits the ground running literally, with the h on a mission and being pursued. Interesting debut first in series with a resourceful, self-deprecating, and spunky spaceship captain h and a super-competent and sexy H that’s foisted on her as part of her crew for a mission. A mission that’s way more convoluted than it first appears with hidden dangers and politics. Written in first person, single POV of h. No ow/om drama (minor appearance later by h’s ex that has zero impact) and neither are virgins (h begins the book in a secret relationship with the current captain before drama unfolds and that om goes on his way; no info given on H’s history).
The h is a bit of a mess flying by the seat of her pants often and the H initially looks down on her. The attraction is heavily lust based initially as h’s thoughts are reluctantly horny over H. Their relationship changes due to forced proximity and slow build. I liked how they came to value each other, though the romance aspect still felt like something was missing and the sharing of deeper feelings is left to the very end. A couple of steamy scenes that have some detail but not much explicitness. I would have preferred more detail in these scenes given they’re not FTB but also not quite as spicy as my normal reading. I think more here would have also fit the overall tone the author was going for.
Light on world-building, but heavy on action and humor. Some violence and gore is present and there’s a cult on the planet the crew’s mission takes them to. The other crew members are fun and intriguing characters on their own. Some background was given on the side characters and I liked them a lot, definitely curious about future romances for them.
The climax has so many moving pieces and side plots and conflicts converging on each other. Still, the h and H come out on top and everyone survives with a successful mission. The end highlights that they’re choosing to be with each other, though it felt more like the H was choosing her. Honestly the h needed that assurance more given her history. HFN ending and characters should appear as side characters in future books.
The writing was overall enjoyable and the pacing was well executed. I did sometimes put this down and then come back to it so it didn’t fully hold my attention all the time. Some confusing descriptions and some info was occasionally hard to keep straight or felt unnecessary. Still, as a debut it was enjoyable and I’d continue the series.
May 3, 2024
The characters were rather flat considering this was traditionally published, but I did like the plot & world enough to keep reading in the series
June 22, 2025
Awwwww♥️ I really liked this.
‼️Sci-fi with good romance 50/50
‼️Action and adventure
‼️Fun cute banter
‼️series w different characters romance in each book
This was really enjoyable.
The audio was good 3.5 stars
‼️Safe-ish
No OW at all
No history on the H at all
The h is just coming out of a semi relationship in the very first chapter so we do see her kiss him. But he is cheating and chooses OW. The h gets over him real quick it’s mostly her pride that’s hurt. And all of this is before she meets the H.
No OP at all after they meet.
‼️Ends with a HFN we will still see them
In the others books
I will definitely continue in this series
‼️Sci-fi with good romance 50/50
‼️Action and adventure
‼️Fun cute banter
‼️series w different characters romance in each book
This was really enjoyable.
The audio was good 3.5 stars
‼️Safe-ish
No OW at all
No history on the H at all
The h is just coming out of a semi relationship in the very first chapter so we do see her kiss him. But he is cheating and chooses OW. The h gets over him real quick it’s mostly her pride that’s hurt. And all of this is before she meets the H.
No OP at all after they meet.
‼️Ends with a HFN we will still see them
In the others books
I will definitely continue in this series
April 5, 2024
3.5 stars. A good start to the series, I’m looking forward to reading more by this author one day. I liked her writing style, the storyline, and the pacing. I do wish that the connection between the MCs was based on more than just sex and mutual respect. This book has a lot of dialogue, good dialogue - but it’s mostly featuring the other characters, or during action scenes. I think if the author took the time to write more emotional dialogue between the MCs, their relationship would have felt less shallow. I also didn’t like the heroine’s betraying body syndrome in the beginning when she neared the hero, even though she did her best to not fall victim to it. Overall, the heroine was really strong and I loved that she never waited for rescue, she was always doing her best to rescue herself.
This would have gotten a four star rating if there had been an epilogue, but I’m sure this is a series where the character stories continue in the next book. Those are never as satisfying as a good epilogue for me though. I still rounded up bc I’m feeling nice.
Safe
-No virgins
-Heroine starts out in a relationship with OM but finds out that he’s been cheating on her pretty quickly (like first chapter iirc).
-Heroine is heartbroken but also gets over the other guy fairly quickly once the hero is introduced
-No info at all about the hero’s past
-No scenes with OM/OW
-No OM/OW drama
-No cheating between MCs.
This would have gotten a four star rating if there had been an epilogue, but I’m sure this is a series where the character stories continue in the next book. Those are never as satisfying as a good epilogue for me though. I still rounded up bc I’m feeling nice.
Safe
-No virgins
-Heroine starts out in a relationship with OM but finds out that he’s been cheating on her pretty quickly (like first chapter iirc).
-Heroine is heartbroken but also gets over the other guy fairly quickly once the hero is introduced
-No info at all about the hero’s past
-No scenes with OM/OW
-No OM/OW drama
-No cheating between MCs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2023
2.5 stars. This is a story I *should* really like, as I am a sucker for sci-fi stories about merc crews on cobbled together ships doing risky biz in deep space.
Here are a few of the reasons that dragged down that rating:
-A little too obvious of a Death Star trope
-Lots of little things that just didn't add up or fell flat. Like when she single handedly kicked over the massive cannon? Or the anemones miraculously producing the substance everybody is looking for?
-The author spelling "rappel" as "repel". Noooo
Here are a few of the reasons that dragged down that rating:
-A little too obvious of a Death Star trope
-Lots of little things that just didn't add up or fell flat. Like when she single handedly kicked over the massive cannon? Or the anemones miraculously producing the substance everybody is looking for?
-The author spelling "rappel" as "repel". Noooo
January 22, 2024
More of a romance in space than a sci-fi or space opera read.
Fairly mediocre, but entertaining enough. I doubt I'll continue the series.
Fairly mediocre, but entertaining enough. I doubt I'll continue the series.
November 30, 2023
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2023/11/24/...
Taking breaks is essential, and I’m a big believer in mixing it up. While I know I can be picky when it comes to romance in my SFF, sometimes a good genre mashup is exactly what I need in a palate cleanser, a bit of a breather from my heavier reads.
Enter Calamity, a new title released from Bramble, Tor Publishing’s freshly launched romantic imprint for science fiction and fantasy. A popcorny delight that launches readers into the Uncharted Hearts series where steamy romance meets spacefaring action, the story follows Temperance “Temper” Reed, an exiled member of a wealthy family hoping to make her own way in the galaxy. After refusing to bow to her older brother’s unsavory ways of doing business, Temper joins up with the crew of a ramshackle scouting ship, embracing the newfound camaraderie right up until her intense love affair with the captain blows up spectacularly in her face following his painful betrayal.
Living up to her nickname, our protagonist gives in to her impulses and buys the ship from the captain after he puts it up for sale, hoping to keep the rest of the team together. But the purchase ends up cleaning out her bank account, leaving nothing for upgrades…or anything else, really. So when the second son of the Escajeda family hires Temper for a mission to scout out the backwater desert planet of Herschel 2, she literally cannot afford to say no even though she can’t stand the guy. Devastatingly handsome and recklessly captivating, Arcadio gets added to the crew roster under his official title of head of security, but everyone knows he’s there as his family’s spy. As our misfit ensemble heads out into the great unknown on a journey marked by unpredictable threats, Temper will also be tested by the undeniable chemistry between her and Arcadio. After all, the biggest danger they face might not be out there among the stars but instead hidden in the depths of their own hearts.
I was surprised to find out that Calamity is Constance Fay’s debut. Not only does it blend genres with ease, but the pacing is also smooth and rapid, delivering plenty of twists to keep readers flipping through the chapters. Sure, the overall plot may be treading familiar ground, and I am particularly reminded of Jessie Mihalik’s Consortium Rebellion, a sci-fi romance trilogy which also deals with the interstellar drama of wealthy megacorp families and enemies-to-lovers storylines. Yet where the novel shines is its execution and the author’s ability to inject a sense of enjoyment into even the most familiar themes in this well-loved genre. Of course, we know what’s coming; the romance between Temperance and Arcadio is both expected and predictable, but arguably half the fun is in watching things play out the way we want them to. Fay delivers the results in a way that’s both heartwarming and steamy, which made Calamity an immensely satisfying read.
But balancing romance within a story is also a delicate task, and you don’t want the romantic elements to overshadow everything else, especially the sci-fi aspects and world-building in this case. Calamity succeeded in keeping the plot convincing and the characters strong, complemented by engaging relationships. Granted, side character development is where the novel falters, as there are hardly any memorable crew members besides our two main protagonists. With that said, it’s easy to forgive this when the world-building provides such a rich backdrop for the scouting vessel’s escapades, and the many conflicts they face make up for the book’s weaker areas.
All told, this makes me excited to see what more Bramble has to offer, as Calamity sets a very promising precedent for the future of this SFF romance imprint. I’ll also be keeping my eye on Constance Fay’s future projects and put the next Uncharted Hearts novel on my to-read list.
Taking breaks is essential, and I’m a big believer in mixing it up. While I know I can be picky when it comes to romance in my SFF, sometimes a good genre mashup is exactly what I need in a palate cleanser, a bit of a breather from my heavier reads.
Enter Calamity, a new title released from Bramble, Tor Publishing’s freshly launched romantic imprint for science fiction and fantasy. A popcorny delight that launches readers into the Uncharted Hearts series where steamy romance meets spacefaring action, the story follows Temperance “Temper” Reed, an exiled member of a wealthy family hoping to make her own way in the galaxy. After refusing to bow to her older brother’s unsavory ways of doing business, Temper joins up with the crew of a ramshackle scouting ship, embracing the newfound camaraderie right up until her intense love affair with the captain blows up spectacularly in her face following his painful betrayal.
Living up to her nickname, our protagonist gives in to her impulses and buys the ship from the captain after he puts it up for sale, hoping to keep the rest of the team together. But the purchase ends up cleaning out her bank account, leaving nothing for upgrades…or anything else, really. So when the second son of the Escajeda family hires Temper for a mission to scout out the backwater desert planet of Herschel 2, she literally cannot afford to say no even though she can’t stand the guy. Devastatingly handsome and recklessly captivating, Arcadio gets added to the crew roster under his official title of head of security, but everyone knows he’s there as his family’s spy. As our misfit ensemble heads out into the great unknown on a journey marked by unpredictable threats, Temper will also be tested by the undeniable chemistry between her and Arcadio. After all, the biggest danger they face might not be out there among the stars but instead hidden in the depths of their own hearts.
I was surprised to find out that Calamity is Constance Fay’s debut. Not only does it blend genres with ease, but the pacing is also smooth and rapid, delivering plenty of twists to keep readers flipping through the chapters. Sure, the overall plot may be treading familiar ground, and I am particularly reminded of Jessie Mihalik’s Consortium Rebellion, a sci-fi romance trilogy which also deals with the interstellar drama of wealthy megacorp families and enemies-to-lovers storylines. Yet where the novel shines is its execution and the author’s ability to inject a sense of enjoyment into even the most familiar themes in this well-loved genre. Of course, we know what’s coming; the romance between Temperance and Arcadio is both expected and predictable, but arguably half the fun is in watching things play out the way we want them to. Fay delivers the results in a way that’s both heartwarming and steamy, which made Calamity an immensely satisfying read.
But balancing romance within a story is also a delicate task, and you don’t want the romantic elements to overshadow everything else, especially the sci-fi aspects and world-building in this case. Calamity succeeded in keeping the plot convincing and the characters strong, complemented by engaging relationships. Granted, side character development is where the novel falters, as there are hardly any memorable crew members besides our two main protagonists. With that said, it’s easy to forgive this when the world-building provides such a rich backdrop for the scouting vessel’s escapades, and the many conflicts they face make up for the book’s weaker areas.
All told, this makes me excited to see what more Bramble has to offer, as Calamity sets a very promising precedent for the future of this SFF romance imprint. I’ll also be keeping my eye on Constance Fay’s future projects and put the next Uncharted Hearts novel on my to-read list.
May 3, 2025
Loved this. Not a single thing wrong with it.
Witty, funny, spicy and IN SPACE. ugh. they are a rare breed.
The inner monologue of the FMC was so funny and just well written.
The romance was soft but also they use insults as flirting.
Space shenanigans and rescue missions
Am already adding the next book to my to buy list next time l'm in the book store
It is exactly what it sets out to be - what more can you ask for?
Witty, funny, spicy and IN SPACE. ugh. they are a rare breed.
The inner monologue of the FMC was so funny and just well written.
The romance was soft but also they use insults as flirting.
Space shenanigans and rescue missions
Am already adding the next book to my to buy list next time l'm in the book store
It is exactly what it sets out to be - what more can you ask for?
October 31, 2023
A solid debut sci-fi romance! Calamity draws from the sci-fi romance well:
Let's start out with a hotheaded starship captain forced to take on an unwanted (HOT) crew member to complete a mission she's pretty sure has some hidden aspects. Then we'll add a tight-knit crew made up of quirky (HOT) people with different specialties (the assassin, the scientist, and the medic). And they're all operating within a galactic oligarchic government of "Families," each of which have a defined role to maintain checks and balances.
Like Jessie Mihalik's Consortium Rebellion series, the book is told in first person, present tense, from the FMC's POV. This is basically a non-stop sci-fi action movie of a novel, complete with planetary exploration, plots within plots, lots of family drama, and - oh yeah - a sexy romance. Don't look for deep world building or speculative themes, but if you know that going in, you should be good. We had a ton of fun reading it and will definitely pick up the next one.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Let's start out with a hotheaded starship captain forced to take on an unwanted (HOT) crew member to complete a mission she's pretty sure has some hidden aspects. Then we'll add a tight-knit crew made up of quirky (HOT) people with different specialties (the assassin, the scientist, and the medic). And they're all operating within a galactic oligarchic government of "Families," each of which have a defined role to maintain checks and balances.
Like Jessie Mihalik's Consortium Rebellion series, the book is told in first person, present tense, from the FMC's POV. This is basically a non-stop sci-fi action movie of a novel, complete with planetary exploration, plots within plots, lots of family drama, and - oh yeah - a sexy romance. Don't look for deep world building or speculative themes, but if you know that going in, you should be good. We had a ton of fun reading it and will definitely pick up the next one.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
May 12, 2025
4.25⭐️
3/5🌶️
Yes this was fantastic. This was the perfect balance between sci fi, plot and romance.
The FMC is the captain of her crew and the MMC is a second child of basically a powerful space mafia family. His family hires her and her crew to scout a planet for a valuable resource and they are forced to work together.
I feel like the first few chapters were hard to get through because the writing was pretty jarring at first but it improved very quickly and I flew through this book! There is tons of action throughout the entire book that doesn’t stop for long. The romance is a medium-burn enemies to lovers and it’s spicy! The plot was fast paced and very fun to read. There is also humor that made me laugh out loud a few times.
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a good sci fi romance! This is a stand alone and the next book will feature another couple. I’m kind of sad because I don’t want to leave Temperance and Arcadio behind but I’m very much looking forward to reading the next book!
First person single pov
Tropes; found family, enemies to lovers, space mafia, spice, forced proximity, banter
3/5🌶️
Yes this was fantastic. This was the perfect balance between sci fi, plot and romance.
The FMC is the captain of her crew and the MMC is a second child of basically a powerful space mafia family. His family hires her and her crew to scout a planet for a valuable resource and they are forced to work together.
I feel like the first few chapters were hard to get through because the writing was pretty jarring at first but it improved very quickly and I flew through this book! There is tons of action throughout the entire book that doesn’t stop for long. The romance is a medium-burn enemies to lovers and it’s spicy! The plot was fast paced and very fun to read. There is also humor that made me laugh out loud a few times.
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a good sci fi romance! This is a stand alone and the next book will feature another couple. I’m kind of sad because I don’t want to leave Temperance and Arcadio behind but I’m very much looking forward to reading the next book!
First person single pov
Tropes; found family, enemies to lovers, space mafia, spice, forced proximity, banter
September 17, 2025
Man, I just loved this. It was a really great space opera with a romance that threw off sparks.
The FMC and MMC were amazing, and honestly, they entire secondary cast of her ship's crew was amazing. It's such a great, eclectic group of people!
I can't wait to continue onward in the series.
The FMC and MMC were amazing, and honestly, they entire secondary cast of her ship's crew was amazing. It's such a great, eclectic group of people!
I can't wait to continue onward in the series.
March 4, 2024
Who knew I had so much to say about a romance novel. Take all of this with a grain of salt because I typically don't read romance. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't good. The tried and true story about a rag tag crew on a broken down ship trying to make a living wasn't the worst iteration I have read. The adventures were sort of interesting and the sex scenes were fine.
The characters were too generic, we spent way, way too much time in Temper's head and Arcadio was a completely boring cardboard cutout of a random hot guy. Maybe that is the point and I don't get it but....yeah not great.
It did actually have some potential so if you like this kind of book, maybe try her next one? Maybe?
The characters were too generic, we spent way, way too much time in Temper's head and Arcadio was a completely boring cardboard cutout of a random hot guy. Maybe that is the point and I don't get it but....yeah not great.
It did actually have some potential so if you like this kind of book, maybe try her next one? Maybe?
April 22, 2024
Either I'm falling out of love with slow burn romance or I don't like my romance mixed in with Sci fi.
This wasn't difficult to get through; it was just I didn't find myself invested or wanting to return to the story when I'd stopped reading it.
It was something about a banishment and falling for someone of a different blah blah blah blah........
You get the picture... 😒😒. Didn't really care
Solid 2.5 star!!!!
This wasn't difficult to get through; it was just I didn't find myself invested or wanting to return to the story when I'd stopped reading it.
It was something about a banishment and falling for someone of a different blah blah blah blah........
You get the picture... 😒😒. Didn't really care
Solid 2.5 star!!!!
April 2, 2025
100% LOVED IT!
This one had it all: sci-fi adventure, scorching romance, snarky humour, and wonderful chemistry among the entire cast of characters.
I'm thrilled to have found a new to me author whose writing is exactly my jam. I especially adored the heroine, Temperance.😍
This one had it all: sci-fi adventure, scorching romance, snarky humour, and wonderful chemistry among the entire cast of characters.
I'm thrilled to have found a new to me author whose writing is exactly my jam. I especially adored the heroine, Temperance.😍
It probably says something unflattering about me that my first instinct upon feeling attraction for a man is to irritate him.Moving on to the next in the series...
November 24, 2023
4.5 stars
The nitty-gritty: Romance, humor and thrilling action combine in this fun sci-fi series opener.
Calamity is the first book published by Tor’s new Bramble imprint, which focuses on SFF romance, and judging by how much fun I had, I see a bright future for Bramble! Yes, romance is definitely a front-and-center element, but the plot and characters are just as strong. I got lots of Firefly vibes, and in fact the main character’s ship the Quest reminded me a lot of Serenity, so fans of the show—or anyone who loves the “misfit crew in space” set-up—will have a blast.
The story centers around Temperance “Temper” Reed and her survey ship the Quest and its crew. Temper is in dire need of a good paying job when she’s offered one by the powerful Escajeda Family. Their task is to survey the planet Herschel Two and scout for any signs of a valuable mineral called phydium, which is crucial for space travel. Because the Escajedas are a mining Family, the discovery of phydium would increase their power among the other Families. Temper agrees to the job, especially since the pay is double what she would normally make. But there’s a catch: the Escajeda scion insists that his son Arcadio go along with them as security. Temper isn’t stupid, and she knows there’s an ulterior motive behind Arcadio joining the crew, but she grudgingly agrees. Arcadio might be a distraction, though. He’s a muscled piece of eye candy, and Temper can’t ignore the sparks that fly when they meet. But a job is a job, and Temper needs the money.
Once they reach Herschel Two, the crew begins their search for the elusive phydium, but there are unexpected dangers on the planet. First, they run into a religious cult called the Children, who are not happy to see them. Later, they discover another group—members from a notoriously violent Family—and suddenly it seems very crowded. For an “officially” unoccupied planet, there are a lot of people on Herschel Two, probably all up to no good. Temper, Arcadio and their crew must avoid being captured and locate the phydium before someone gets hurt.
Constance Fay’s snappy writing style is perfect for the story, which is told from Temper’s first person perspective. I absolutely loved her character, a snarky, funny woman who is loyal to her friends and will dive head first into danger to protect those she loves. Temper has been banished from her family for betraying them, but trust me, she had some very good reasons for what she did. Now she wears a tear-shaped, glowing tattoo on her face that marks her as such, but she doesn’t regret anything she did, only that her slimy brother Frederick killed someone dear to her as retaliation. I enjoyed the other members of her crew—Itzel, Micah and Caro—although the author doesn’t delve too deep into their personalities, unfortunately (although there’s always the sequel for more character development).
Arcadio is your textbook romantic interest in some ways—extremely good looking, chiseled chin, dark penetrating eyes, bulging muscles—and romance fans won’t be disappointed by his chemistry with Temper, which the author wastes no time in getting to. Despite her status as ship’s captain, Temper doesn’t hide her attraction to Arcadio, and everyone on the ship knows the moment they hook up. What I loved about their growing relationship was that they didn’t play games with each other. Fay avoids some of the traps and tropes of the romance genre by leaving out problematic things like miscommunication, and it was refreshing to be around a couple who have the hots for each other and aren’t afraid to talk about it. In such a short book, you can only expect a couple of sex scenes, and I thought they were pretty mild compared to other spicy books (the sex is nowhere near the spice level of Fourth Wing, for example). Even when Temper discovers what Arcadio is up to, the drama between the two is pretty minimal, I’m happy to report.
And if you’re into action, there’s no shortage of it here! The plot is fast-paced and thrilling, the characters are in constant danger, and the author has lots of surprises in store for the reader. I loved the way she maneuvers the various factions on the planet around each other, which made for some interesting scenes. The planet itself has a big surprise, which I won’t spoil here, and Fay uses it to her advantage to create lots of tension and drama. One of my favorite scenes, which has a wonderful combination of humor and bloody action, takes place when Temper finds a borer (a machine used in mining) to get out of a sticky situation. I also enjoyed the tech used in the story. Most people from the higher echelon Families have “mods,” or modifications to their vision, appendages or even the way they process oxygen, but only the wealthy can afford them.
I was a little unclear on how the Families worked, though, and I suspect it’s because there just wasn’t time to explain everything. If you’re in one of the top Five Families, you have it made, but the author also mentions “top Ten” and “top Fifty” so it was a little confusing. I also wanted to get to know the side characters more. The little we learn about Itzel was fascinating, and I think she could be a fantastic character with a little more page time.
Fay cleverly ties up all her loose ends, including a running joke about how lame the crew thinks the name “Quest” is for a ship. We also meet a mysterious character who will end up being one half of the romantic paring in the sequel (yes, I’ve already read the synopsis for the second book, Fiasco!) The story has a typical “happily ever after” ending, but that’s what you expect when you read romance, right? Overall, this was such a great series opener, and I can’t wait to read the next book.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
The nitty-gritty: Romance, humor and thrilling action combine in this fun sci-fi series opener.
Calamity is the first book published by Tor’s new Bramble imprint, which focuses on SFF romance, and judging by how much fun I had, I see a bright future for Bramble! Yes, romance is definitely a front-and-center element, but the plot and characters are just as strong. I got lots of Firefly vibes, and in fact the main character’s ship the Quest reminded me a lot of Serenity, so fans of the show—or anyone who loves the “misfit crew in space” set-up—will have a blast.
The story centers around Temperance “Temper” Reed and her survey ship the Quest and its crew. Temper is in dire need of a good paying job when she’s offered one by the powerful Escajeda Family. Their task is to survey the planet Herschel Two and scout for any signs of a valuable mineral called phydium, which is crucial for space travel. Because the Escajedas are a mining Family, the discovery of phydium would increase their power among the other Families. Temper agrees to the job, especially since the pay is double what she would normally make. But there’s a catch: the Escajeda scion insists that his son Arcadio go along with them as security. Temper isn’t stupid, and she knows there’s an ulterior motive behind Arcadio joining the crew, but she grudgingly agrees. Arcadio might be a distraction, though. He’s a muscled piece of eye candy, and Temper can’t ignore the sparks that fly when they meet. But a job is a job, and Temper needs the money.
Once they reach Herschel Two, the crew begins their search for the elusive phydium, but there are unexpected dangers on the planet. First, they run into a religious cult called the Children, who are not happy to see them. Later, they discover another group—members from a notoriously violent Family—and suddenly it seems very crowded. For an “officially” unoccupied planet, there are a lot of people on Herschel Two, probably all up to no good. Temper, Arcadio and their crew must avoid being captured and locate the phydium before someone gets hurt.
Constance Fay’s snappy writing style is perfect for the story, which is told from Temper’s first person perspective. I absolutely loved her character, a snarky, funny woman who is loyal to her friends and will dive head first into danger to protect those she loves. Temper has been banished from her family for betraying them, but trust me, she had some very good reasons for what she did. Now she wears a tear-shaped, glowing tattoo on her face that marks her as such, but she doesn’t regret anything she did, only that her slimy brother Frederick killed someone dear to her as retaliation. I enjoyed the other members of her crew—Itzel, Micah and Caro—although the author doesn’t delve too deep into their personalities, unfortunately (although there’s always the sequel for more character development).
Arcadio is your textbook romantic interest in some ways—extremely good looking, chiseled chin, dark penetrating eyes, bulging muscles—and romance fans won’t be disappointed by his chemistry with Temper, which the author wastes no time in getting to. Despite her status as ship’s captain, Temper doesn’t hide her attraction to Arcadio, and everyone on the ship knows the moment they hook up. What I loved about their growing relationship was that they didn’t play games with each other. Fay avoids some of the traps and tropes of the romance genre by leaving out problematic things like miscommunication, and it was refreshing to be around a couple who have the hots for each other and aren’t afraid to talk about it. In such a short book, you can only expect a couple of sex scenes, and I thought they were pretty mild compared to other spicy books (the sex is nowhere near the spice level of Fourth Wing, for example). Even when Temper discovers what Arcadio is up to, the drama between the two is pretty minimal, I’m happy to report.
And if you’re into action, there’s no shortage of it here! The plot is fast-paced and thrilling, the characters are in constant danger, and the author has lots of surprises in store for the reader. I loved the way she maneuvers the various factions on the planet around each other, which made for some interesting scenes. The planet itself has a big surprise, which I won’t spoil here, and Fay uses it to her advantage to create lots of tension and drama. One of my favorite scenes, which has a wonderful combination of humor and bloody action, takes place when Temper finds a borer (a machine used in mining) to get out of a sticky situation. I also enjoyed the tech used in the story. Most people from the higher echelon Families have “mods,” or modifications to their vision, appendages or even the way they process oxygen, but only the wealthy can afford them.
I was a little unclear on how the Families worked, though, and I suspect it’s because there just wasn’t time to explain everything. If you’re in one of the top Five Families, you have it made, but the author also mentions “top Ten” and “top Fifty” so it was a little confusing. I also wanted to get to know the side characters more. The little we learn about Itzel was fascinating, and I think she could be a fantastic character with a little more page time.
Fay cleverly ties up all her loose ends, including a running joke about how lame the crew thinks the name “Quest” is for a ship. We also meet a mysterious character who will end up being one half of the romantic paring in the sequel (yes, I’ve already read the synopsis for the second book, Fiasco!) The story has a typical “happily ever after” ending, but that’s what you expect when you read romance, right? Overall, this was such a great series opener, and I can’t wait to read the next book.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
September 29, 2025
4.5/5.0
So much FUN!! It isn’t technically deep science fiction and doesn’t explore the intricacies of the genre. But it absolutely does give the reader a rollicking and believable, action-packed ride through space while gifting us with a deliciously yummy romance at the same time. Yes, there are little glitches that may cause pause like never really getting a grasp on the FMC’s looks or what makes the MMC so drawn to her, etc.. But, I was enjoying the story enough that I just overlooked the little stuff, drank it up and loved every minute.
So much FUN!! It isn’t technically deep science fiction and doesn’t explore the intricacies of the genre. But it absolutely does give the reader a rollicking and believable, action-packed ride through space while gifting us with a deliciously yummy romance at the same time. Yes, there are little glitches that may cause pause like never really getting a grasp on the FMC’s looks or what makes the MMC so drawn to her, etc.. But, I was enjoying the story enough that I just overlooked the little stuff, drank it up and loved every minute.
February 26, 2024
3.5 rounded up because I love that guns in space are called blasters and we're all just okay with that.
November 18, 2024
2.5 stars. Meh- the FMC’s internal dialogue was so superficial, it sounded like a YA. I was expecting more sci-fi, less cheesy romance. The MMC was ok, but we hardly got to know anything about him/ his past. So overall, easy read, but might not be worth it.
September 30, 2025
High-octane, space-opera romance
The intrepid but impulsive female captain of a bankrupt, rattletrap spaceship and her found-family crew of fellow, banished outcasts accept a highly paid, impossible mission.
This entire story is told from the single POV of the FMC, Temper, and it is written in present tense. Arcadio is her male love interest (MLI). He does not rise to the level of an MMC because we are not offered his POV. We are never specifically told the age of either Temper or Arcadio, but I am guessing they are meant to be somewhere in their late 20s to early 30s. Arcadio is, as expected in the romance genre, gorgeous and ripped. Since this is action-adventure, he is also a highly trained fighter. Because we never experience Arcadio's thoughts about Temper, it is only toward the middle of the novel, when he is vocally complementary during sex, that it becomes apparent that he thinks she is beautiful. However, what exactly her supposedly stellar physical attributes consist of is never made clear, unlike the plethora of Temper's rave reviews of Arcadio's many manly perfections. In addition, though we experience every moment of Temper's evolution from distrust to trust to adoration of Arcadio in all its vivid permutations, we are never allowed to experience Arcadio's journey in that direction. For me, that meant that the point at which I actually enjoyed their relationship was not until toward the very end of the novel, when all of the chaos and bloodshed has finally been resolved.
The worldbuilding in this novel is rather simplistic. The political setup in this interplanetary system is primarily influenced by a pyramid of powerful Families. Arcadio's Family is in the top tier of Families. It consists of five Families and is called, naturally enough, the Five. The Family that Temper was formerly part of, before her sociopathic older brother Frederick banished her, is in the tier just below the Five which contains ten Families and is called the Ten. The bottom tier of the pyramid is the Fifteen. The only way to rise up the pyramid is to utterly wipe out a Family that is in the level just above and usurp their slot in a kind of macabre game of musical chairs. There is no mention of any local or federal governments in this world. It seems like some sort of space-operatic feudal system, with no explanation as to how agriculture or manufacturing or scientific innovation occur.
From my perspective, this world it is such a brutal reality, with no believable means for any sort of social revolution towards something besides constant death and destruction, I had very little desire to vicariously wander in it. Because of the incessant, tumultuous action scenes, by 45% of the novel, I just wanted all the violence to be over with.
Judging this novel as SF romance, I think I'm spoiled by authors like Michelle Diener and Jessie Mihalik, who set a very high bar, as to worldbuilding and the balancing of action with extremely appealing romance. Given that to me, personally, they are authors of 5-star novels, in comparison, this novel is 3 stars for me.
The intrepid but impulsive female captain of a bankrupt, rattletrap spaceship and her found-family crew of fellow, banished outcasts accept a highly paid, impossible mission.
This entire story is told from the single POV of the FMC, Temper, and it is written in present tense. Arcadio is her male love interest (MLI). He does not rise to the level of an MMC because we are not offered his POV. We are never specifically told the age of either Temper or Arcadio, but I am guessing they are meant to be somewhere in their late 20s to early 30s. Arcadio is, as expected in the romance genre, gorgeous and ripped. Since this is action-adventure, he is also a highly trained fighter. Because we never experience Arcadio's thoughts about Temper, it is only toward the middle of the novel, when he is vocally complementary during sex, that it becomes apparent that he thinks she is beautiful. However, what exactly her supposedly stellar physical attributes consist of is never made clear, unlike the plethora of Temper's rave reviews of Arcadio's many manly perfections. In addition, though we experience every moment of Temper's evolution from distrust to trust to adoration of Arcadio in all its vivid permutations, we are never allowed to experience Arcadio's journey in that direction. For me, that meant that the point at which I actually enjoyed their relationship was not until toward the very end of the novel, when all of the chaos and bloodshed has finally been resolved.
The worldbuilding in this novel is rather simplistic. The political setup in this interplanetary system is primarily influenced by a pyramid of powerful Families. Arcadio's Family is in the top tier of Families. It consists of five Families and is called, naturally enough, the Five. The Family that Temper was formerly part of, before her sociopathic older brother Frederick banished her, is in the tier just below the Five which contains ten Families and is called the Ten. The bottom tier of the pyramid is the Fifteen. The only way to rise up the pyramid is to utterly wipe out a Family that is in the level just above and usurp their slot in a kind of macabre game of musical chairs. There is no mention of any local or federal governments in this world. It seems like some sort of space-operatic feudal system, with no explanation as to how agriculture or manufacturing or scientific innovation occur.
From my perspective, this world it is such a brutal reality, with no believable means for any sort of social revolution towards something besides constant death and destruction, I had very little desire to vicariously wander in it. Because of the incessant, tumultuous action scenes, by 45% of the novel, I just wanted all the violence to be over with.
Judging this novel as SF romance, I think I'm spoiled by authors like Michelle Diener and Jessie Mihalik, who set a very high bar, as to worldbuilding and the balancing of action with extremely appealing romance. Given that to me, personally, they are authors of 5-star novels, in comparison, this novel is 3 stars for me.
May 6, 2024
3.25! Spicy little space story!
August 23, 2023
3.5 stars. It was decent: I gave it a little more for its humor. Light sci-fi, fun and full of action, though there were a couple of gross bits (gore). Lots going on: a cult, a volcano, bad guys plotting domination, race for resources, and a scrappy heroine with a tragic past. It very much reminds me of Jesse Mihalik's starlight shadow series (especially if Hunt the Stars because it focuses on the captain of a spaceship with her found family of a crew), and it also has the concept of powerful families like Ilona Andrew's Kinsmen universe. So I get the Ilona Andrews and Firefly comparison at the back of the book. That was why I picked it up! But they are big shoes to fill! I felt like this was like a fun action movie but it was missing something: maybe I needed it to be more character driven than it was - it mostly was action driven and the romance bits had more telling than showing. I felt underwhelmed over Temperance and Arcadio's relationship: yes he was a good guy and looked good, but that's it, I wasn't shown how they actually fell in love, only how they were in lust.
May 27, 2024
Looks like I've found another one of my favorite books for the year!! I binge-read the majority of this book in one day and had one serious book hangover after finishing!
This was a fresh and funny scifi romance! I was especially happy to find that this was a true scifi book- I've seen several attempts at scifi/romance lately that were just fantasy in space and not actual scifi so this was a very happy surprise. This reminded me a lot of the feel of Firefly and the Expanse. Lots of humor that made me laugh out loud, great found family vibes, and lively characters that jumped off the page. Loved the romance which was a great mix of sweet and spicy. I NEED BOOK 2 NOWWWW
ALL OF THE FEELS. Incredible debut!! 👏👏 #bookhangover
This was a fresh and funny scifi romance! I was especially happy to find that this was a true scifi book- I've seen several attempts at scifi/romance lately that were just fantasy in space and not actual scifi so this was a very happy surprise. This reminded me a lot of the feel of Firefly and the Expanse. Lots of humor that made me laugh out loud, great found family vibes, and lively characters that jumped off the page. Loved the romance which was a great mix of sweet and spicy. I NEED BOOK 2 NOWWWW
ALL OF THE FEELS. Incredible debut!! 👏👏 #bookhangover
May 16, 2024
I liked this a lot. Space adventure AND romance. I especially enjoyed being in the head of the female protagonist. We only get her perspective, but her male counterpart still seemed well developed to me. I also adored the crew. I love it when my expectations and hopes are met so well. I am always looking for Space books with great crews and engrossing adventures - but sometimes they do not work for me, even though all the ingredients are there. This was happily not at all the case here. This story (on audio) worked for me from the get go. There are some similarities to Polaris Rising, although with less high drama. Temper has her own tragic backstory, but her way of dealing is through humor.
September 15, 2023
Calamity is fun, fast paced, steamy space adventure! Romance is fast burn but they do have chemistry
The plot is chaotic but it has enough space and political intrigue while still being a good entry point to the genre.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The plot is chaotic but it has enough space and political intrigue while still being a good entry point to the genre.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2024
DNF @ 14%/ 3 chapters
I'm just not a fan of the writing. Some seemed awkward and I had to reread lines and the characters just didn't feel real to me. Dialogue and that whole negotiation scene were so... off and I can't really explain why.
I'm just not a fan of the writing. Some seemed awkward and I had to reread lines and the characters just didn't feel real to me. Dialogue and that whole negotiation scene were so... off and I can't really explain why.
March 1, 2024
This book was an absolute blast.
There’s a lot of *Firefly* in this. The main character is Temperance Reed, exiled daughter of one of the wealthy, powerful capital-f Families that control everything. She’s in command of the rather battered scout ship *Quest* after the captain/her lover runs off with the intern, deeply in dept, and desperate to keep her ship and crew together. She gets an offer for a job that pays *very* well from another of the Families, though there’s a catch. The head of the family is sending his son Arcadio along to oversee security on the mission, and to protect their investment.
Of course there is more to the mission than they were expecting. They were looking for a very rare, very valuable mineral that initial scans suggested *might* be on a remote nigh-uninhabited planet. They did not expect to run into religious cultists, or forces from another of the Families up to something nefarious.
Temperance - and the reader - certainly *did* expect trouble to come from just how attractive she found the boss’s son.
This is, as I said, an absolute blast of a book. It’s fun and exciting, with lots of action. The banter is spectacular. Temperance herself is a mix of cynical, snarky, and sarcastic that fits my sense of humor perfectly. And this book is, in a word, scorching. Every single scene between Arcadio and Temperance simply crackles.
There’s a sequel coming out soon - I read this specifically because I got an ARC of the sequel - and I’m greatly looking forward to it. From the blurb, it centers on a few of the side characters from this book, which means I am comfortable saying this book works just fine as a standalone.
Strongly recommended.
My blog
There’s a lot of *Firefly* in this. The main character is Temperance Reed, exiled daughter of one of the wealthy, powerful capital-f Families that control everything. She’s in command of the rather battered scout ship *Quest* after the captain/her lover runs off with the intern, deeply in dept, and desperate to keep her ship and crew together. She gets an offer for a job that pays *very* well from another of the Families, though there’s a catch. The head of the family is sending his son Arcadio along to oversee security on the mission, and to protect their investment.
Of course there is more to the mission than they were expecting. They were looking for a very rare, very valuable mineral that initial scans suggested *might* be on a remote nigh-uninhabited planet. They did not expect to run into religious cultists, or forces from another of the Families up to something nefarious.
Temperance - and the reader - certainly *did* expect trouble to come from just how attractive she found the boss’s son.
This is, as I said, an absolute blast of a book. It’s fun and exciting, with lots of action. The banter is spectacular. Temperance herself is a mix of cynical, snarky, and sarcastic that fits my sense of humor perfectly. And this book is, in a word, scorching. Every single scene between Arcadio and Temperance simply crackles.
There’s a sequel coming out soon - I read this specifically because I got an ARC of the sequel - and I’m greatly looking forward to it. From the blurb, it centers on a few of the side characters from this book, which means I am comfortable saying this book works just fine as a standalone.
Strongly recommended.
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