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The Tau Cetus Chronicles #1
Programmed To Please
**HOLT Medallion merit award-winner** Very human Tau Cetus police agent Jai Turner goes undercover as a Beautiful Dolls sex robot in order to bring down the planet's most notorious arms dealer, Marque Callex. The police have never been able to get close to Callex, and Jai’s assignment is to coax information out of Marque on his illicit dealings – information that will lead to his conviction. Reclusive arms dealer Marque Callex only accepted an invitation from Beautiful Dolls because with his deadly line of work – and the dangerous secrets he’s keeping – he can't afford to let a real woman into his life. But neither Jai nor Marque are what they seem, and their week together has consequences neither expect. EDITORIAL REVIEWS I enjoyed reading this quirky, interesting and fast-paced futuristic romance. With all of the twists and turns, I couldn’t help turning the pages and desperately wanting to know how things would pan out. I thoroughly enjoyed Programmed To Please and wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this book. --- 4.5 stars, Just Erotic Romance Reviews Quirky, fun, and action-packed. It was DEFINITELY worth the read! --- Smitten By Reading Jenna Ives brings a fun and sexy read to the table when she introduces readers to Jai Turner and Marque Callex. --- Stella Riley, Houston Books Examiner I loved this book - everything about it! ...an interesting read and well deserves its five star review. ---Kitties Like Books Too "...if you like an erotic fantasy set in the future this one is for you." --- The Good, The Bad and The Unread
152 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2013
113 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Ives
11 books17 followersJenna Ives lives in Southern California, and has the typical problem that affects a lot of modern authors — multiple personality disorder. She writes for several publishers under a variety of names, but mostly the reason is to keep her poor sainted mother (who used to read Barbara Cartland and Georgette Heyer) from having a heart attack over how sexy modern romances have become!
And Jenna certainly DOES write sexy…
And Jenna certainly DOES write sexy…
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
December 10, 2016
If you can check reality at the door, this story was pretty hot and well written. I liked the main characters as well as Jai's partner, Wyatt. This is a futuristic story where Jai is a police woman who has to go undercover to become a sexbot to get close to an arms dealer.
I found it hard to get past the idea that the police captain wanted Jai to pretend to be a sexbot. This would put her at the mercy of a known criminal to appease his sexual appetite for one hour ever day for 5 days just to get Intel, all the while being filmed having sex for police evidence. This was a hang up for me on this story.
I thought it would also be a hard sell for Jai to pass as a robot, but I will say the author did a good job of explaining her transformation to make her believable. Overall a good story and I'm very interested in reading Wyatts story. ARC provided by NetGalley.
I found it hard to get past the idea that the police captain wanted Jai to pretend to be a sexbot. This would put her at the mercy of a known criminal to appease his sexual appetite for one hour ever day for 5 days just to get Intel, all the while being filmed having sex for police evidence. This was a hang up for me on this story.
I thought it would also be a hard sell for Jai to pass as a robot, but I will say the author did a good job of explaining her transformation to make her believable. Overall a good story and I'm very interested in reading Wyatts story. ARC provided by NetGalley.
September 4, 2020
Surprised by Smut!
I don't have an objection to erotica, but this book started out crude and dull... at first. The scenario was contrived and it didn't have any thing going for it. Then they hit the first sex scene and... Bam! This story took off! The characters came alive, the quasi sci-fi setting became fascinating, and I got invested in the romance. So if you can make it past page 20, this is amazing writing! Worth a read!
I don't have an objection to erotica, but this book started out crude and dull... at first. The scenario was contrived and it didn't have any thing going for it. Then they hit the first sex scene and... Bam! This story took off! The characters came alive, the quasi sci-fi setting became fascinating, and I got invested in the romance. So if you can make it past page 20, this is amazing writing! Worth a read!
February 11, 2014
Police agent Jai Turner (a human) is sent undercover posing as “sexbot” to bring down arms dealer Marque Callex, who is responsible for the death of a fellow agent. When Marque, a man with some secrets of his own, meets Jai, he can’t believe how lifelike the Beautiful Doll robot is and how she manages to tug at his heartstrings. Nor can Jai understand why she’s drawn to the handsome but notorious criminal. With every encounter, both become more deeply drawn to the other but fear revealing their secrets.
This novel is everything a science fiction romance should be: it has just enough sci-fi to keep it interesting while of focusing on the erotic romance of two engaging characters. I read this book in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. Loved. Loved. Loved it. It has wonderful characters, great writing, creative sci-fi details and a solid story. I can’t wait to read the next book!
This novel is everything a science fiction romance should be: it has just enough sci-fi to keep it interesting while of focusing on the erotic romance of two engaging characters. I read this book in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. Loved. Loved. Loved it. It has wonderful characters, great writing, creative sci-fi details and a solid story. I can’t wait to read the next book!
August 10, 2025
What... did I just read?
Alright, first off, I only stumbled upon this book by accident. I looked for a book similar to Detroit become human or something, and got this recommended...she's not even a robot...huh?
Anyway, let's break this down thoroughly.
1. The core part/idea of the story (even if odd) isn't bad at all. Her being a police agent that has to go undercover and seduce a client for incriminating information? Doesn't sound like anything that hasnt been done before. But putting her in the position that she literally HAS to sleep with him was a choice.
2. The writing was good in some parts and then lacked again in others. It was extremely hard to get into the story since it felt like a few pages were missing when you started to read the first pages. I like when authors start out directly in the action and all, but this just felt like it started off at the wrong time. Some parts felt written by AI (and if I didn't know that this book came out somewhere 2013 of 2017, I would have guessed ChatGPT was behind it). It was mainly the way some sentences were written that made me believe that. ( An example of that would be the fact that they sat at the foot of the bed, but he had to carry her to the bed? What was that about?)
Also, it felt like 80% of the book was just about the two main characters doing it and the actual plot lacking behind.
3. World building was lacking heavily. We know that Jai and Marque live in a post-apocalyptic world? Basically, the future, but we aren't getting intel on how futuristic it is. Cleary, the cars aren't flying. There are no fancy technological locks or even plasma like weapons. But for some reason, they are able to build robots that are extremely human like? And the hospital is able to treat heart injuries so well you can go home after 5 days? Uh, huh. Alright. Given the fact that apparently the medicine is advanced enough to create artificial hearts that the body cannot reject, I would assume that the world around would be heavily advanced too but it really just seemed to be advanced when it needed for the story...a bit disappointing.
Also. The only room we ever really got described in detail was Jai's room at the Beautiful Dolls company. Maybe because that was where 90% of the book happened, but still. There could have been more.
Oh, but we do know that they have a government that is called the High Council and consist off about 5 councilors. That is it. Not what they do most of the time or where they are located or anything more. The councilor that is introduced to us felt more like a quick snap in for the plot rather than an actual living character.
4. The characters were unrealistic in many ways. Now, while every character seemed to have somewhat of a personality and goals and fears, not all of them were keeping up with them.
Jai's whole point of why she agreed to the operation was to not only catch Marque but also avenge a fallen college. (Spoiler, until Marque mentiones the college, she forgot all about it.) It was also mentioned in the beginning that Jai had a way of disassociating that made her seem like a robot at times and they planned for her to use that skill to deceive Marque. Spoiler: she never used it. It was mentioned without a point.
Marque was only described as a dangerous arms dealer, and while there was a build-up to get readers curious about him, it never felt like he was evil or scary in any way. And when we actually got to meet him, he just felt like a regular man and not like a feared criminal at all. Then again, parts of his personality or backstory made no sense either. He locked up his sister and didn't see her for about 9 years or smth in the hopes of protecting her? Uhm...buddy...what? And surprise surprise, she even forgave him in the blink of an eye for that. And the fact the book wants you to believe he is a highly intelligent man, but he never once doubted Jai not being a robot. And he never took two seconds or contemplated her behavior that was clearly not robo like at all (even if she was introduced as their most life like doll). It would have been nice to see him doubting her, maybe even be suspicious of her, but he wasn't.
The next part will involve spoilers, so if you do plan on reading the book, you might want to skip this part.
5. The Plot could have been so good of an actual editor would have taken 5 seconds to read over this.
The beginning for example, it could have started out with Jai at target practice. Maybe she is being called into her captains office not knowing why and maybe this as a forest chapter is where we would have gotten a bit more of the world building and story of the characters.
The part where it is revealed that she was chosen for that mission was fine but could have been written better. Maybe make her actually furious or scared of Marque. Maybe give him an aura of a notoriously dangerous criminal you just dont want to meet. (Then the whole first meeting of them at Beautiful Dolls would have hot even harder.)
One thing that bothered me heavily about the plot other than what was mentioned, is that the operation revolved around Marque getting an invite to test a new doll for 5 days but ONLY 1 hour per day. This made their whole romance plot VERY unrealistic. If he would've just become obsessed with Jai instead of in love, it might would have worked. even with him later on wanting to take her home and everything. But they did say they were in love. If the operation would have been that he got a 3 week trial to test the doll and that he could stay for as long as he wanted but as soon as he left the room yhe visit would be over for the day, this would have worked out. Maybe the first day he really didnt want to stay longer than 30 minutes because she creeped him out. Or maybe because he already had suspicions that the owner of Beautiful Dolls was trying to pull a weird scheme at him. Then he would be able to visit the company off work in the evening. We cohld get a few glimpses of Jai on her actual police job and there would have been a higher chance of their operation getting caught.
Let's say Marque always visited in the evening but one day is so stressed and pissed off from work that he storms in trying to get to his doll to blow off some steam. Only to find out his doll wasnt there. For Jai to need to be called in as quickly as possible, and get ready on a whim. Marque could have suspicions or at least got the bread crumb road laid out for the big reveal. This would have helped the plot but then again that is just my opinion.
If the missing missiles were already part of the plot, it could have worked out of the police got wind of an arms dealer they tried to stop and needed to investigate. It could have connected both Jais and Marques separate storylines. Maybe they would have meet on accident before hand. Maybe he caught a glimpse of a woman from afar and thought he'd seen his doll but not blond and blue eyed but with his actual preference. Maybe Jai wore a wig to her police job because she disliked the blond hair she had to have due to the Doll operation but this would have lead up to suspens and it would have helped the plot with the big reveal to him that she was intact not a doll at all.
Speaking of big reveal. While it wasn't horrible, it could have been better. Imagine that the police got his brother in law (who was responsible for the missing missiles) handed over and thanks to the Intel from Jais and Marques encounters they'd have enough to lift the incriminating evidence off him, than maybe Jai went to BD simply just to say good bye. or maybe to come clean.
Maybe Marque was in an exceptionally great mood thanks to his main issue of his company being solved, of having no blood on his hands, only to go to find that his Doll was gone. That there was a woman he saw from afar with the police slouching in the chair his doll used to sit. Of her coming clean about everything to him and taking the wig off to show him that she, in fact, was his doll.
OR maybe when he went to the oily owner and said he wanted to buy her he'd present Jai to her and introduced her as the real person the doll was designed after. Maybe she wouldn't have needed to come clean right away. Maybe this would have been a way for them to get an easier grand reveal or smth. Maybe he'd recognize her and connect the dots.
Something. Anything, actually would have worked.
Anyway, after all that yapping I think it would be great if I mentioned things I appreciated or liked about the story. (It's not a lot sadly.)
> The core idea (as mentioned earlier) could have been great. If only an editor looked over the book before it got released.
In all honesty I think that was most that I liked...Sorry.
Dont get me wrong, the 🌶 scenes weren't bad...just...after reading 3 of them one after the other with barely any content between them. They just felt forced and like they were the only purpose of the book.
I'd say this sums up the review. And while this wasnt the worst book I have ever read...it wasnt the best either.
Alright, first off, I only stumbled upon this book by accident. I looked for a book similar to Detroit become human or something, and got this recommended...she's not even a robot...huh?
Anyway, let's break this down thoroughly.
1. The core part/idea of the story (even if odd) isn't bad at all. Her being a police agent that has to go undercover and seduce a client for incriminating information? Doesn't sound like anything that hasnt been done before. But putting her in the position that she literally HAS to sleep with him was a choice.
2. The writing was good in some parts and then lacked again in others. It was extremely hard to get into the story since it felt like a few pages were missing when you started to read the first pages. I like when authors start out directly in the action and all, but this just felt like it started off at the wrong time. Some parts felt written by AI (and if I didn't know that this book came out somewhere 2013 of 2017, I would have guessed ChatGPT was behind it). It was mainly the way some sentences were written that made me believe that. ( An example of that would be the fact that they sat at the foot of the bed, but he had to carry her to the bed? What was that about?)
Also, it felt like 80% of the book was just about the two main characters doing it and the actual plot lacking behind.
3. World building was lacking heavily. We know that Jai and Marque live in a post-apocalyptic world? Basically, the future, but we aren't getting intel on how futuristic it is. Cleary, the cars aren't flying. There are no fancy technological locks or even plasma like weapons. But for some reason, they are able to build robots that are extremely human like? And the hospital is able to treat heart injuries so well you can go home after 5 days? Uh, huh. Alright. Given the fact that apparently the medicine is advanced enough to create artificial hearts that the body cannot reject, I would assume that the world around would be heavily advanced too but it really just seemed to be advanced when it needed for the story...a bit disappointing.
Also. The only room we ever really got described in detail was Jai's room at the Beautiful Dolls company. Maybe because that was where 90% of the book happened, but still. There could have been more.
Oh, but we do know that they have a government that is called the High Council and consist off about 5 councilors. That is it. Not what they do most of the time or where they are located or anything more. The councilor that is introduced to us felt more like a quick snap in for the plot rather than an actual living character.
4. The characters were unrealistic in many ways. Now, while every character seemed to have somewhat of a personality and goals and fears, not all of them were keeping up with them.
Jai's whole point of why she agreed to the operation was to not only catch Marque but also avenge a fallen college. (Spoiler, until Marque mentiones the college, she forgot all about it.) It was also mentioned in the beginning that Jai had a way of disassociating that made her seem like a robot at times and they planned for her to use that skill to deceive Marque. Spoiler: she never used it. It was mentioned without a point.
Marque was only described as a dangerous arms dealer, and while there was a build-up to get readers curious about him, it never felt like he was evil or scary in any way. And when we actually got to meet him, he just felt like a regular man and not like a feared criminal at all. Then again, parts of his personality or backstory made no sense either. He locked up his sister and didn't see her for about 9 years or smth in the hopes of protecting her? Uhm...buddy...what? And surprise surprise, she even forgave him in the blink of an eye for that. And the fact the book wants you to believe he is a highly intelligent man, but he never once doubted Jai not being a robot. And he never took two seconds or contemplated her behavior that was clearly not robo like at all (even if she was introduced as their most life like doll). It would have been nice to see him doubting her, maybe even be suspicious of her, but he wasn't.
The next part will involve spoilers, so if you do plan on reading the book, you might want to skip this part.
5. The Plot could have been so good of an actual editor would have taken 5 seconds to read over this.
The beginning for example, it could have started out with Jai at target practice. Maybe she is being called into her captains office not knowing why and maybe this as a forest chapter is where we would have gotten a bit more of the world building and story of the characters.
The part where it is revealed that she was chosen for that mission was fine but could have been written better. Maybe make her actually furious or scared of Marque. Maybe give him an aura of a notoriously dangerous criminal you just dont want to meet. (Then the whole first meeting of them at Beautiful Dolls would have hot even harder.)
One thing that bothered me heavily about the plot other than what was mentioned, is that the operation revolved around Marque getting an invite to test a new doll for 5 days but ONLY 1 hour per day. This made their whole romance plot VERY unrealistic. If he would've just become obsessed with Jai instead of in love, it might would have worked. even with him later on wanting to take her home and everything. But they did say they were in love. If the operation would have been that he got a 3 week trial to test the doll and that he could stay for as long as he wanted but as soon as he left the room yhe visit would be over for the day, this would have worked out. Maybe the first day he really didnt want to stay longer than 30 minutes because she creeped him out. Or maybe because he already had suspicions that the owner of Beautiful Dolls was trying to pull a weird scheme at him. Then he would be able to visit the company off work in the evening. We cohld get a few glimpses of Jai on her actual police job and there would have been a higher chance of their operation getting caught.
Let's say Marque always visited in the evening but one day is so stressed and pissed off from work that he storms in trying to get to his doll to blow off some steam. Only to find out his doll wasnt there. For Jai to need to be called in as quickly as possible, and get ready on a whim. Marque could have suspicions or at least got the bread crumb road laid out for the big reveal. This would have helped the plot but then again that is just my opinion.
If the missing missiles were already part of the plot, it could have worked out of the police got wind of an arms dealer they tried to stop and needed to investigate. It could have connected both Jais and Marques separate storylines. Maybe they would have meet on accident before hand. Maybe he caught a glimpse of a woman from afar and thought he'd seen his doll but not blond and blue eyed but with his actual preference. Maybe Jai wore a wig to her police job because she disliked the blond hair she had to have due to the Doll operation but this would have lead up to suspens and it would have helped the plot with the big reveal to him that she was intact not a doll at all.
Speaking of big reveal. While it wasn't horrible, it could have been better. Imagine that the police got his brother in law (who was responsible for the missing missiles) handed over and thanks to the Intel from Jais and Marques encounters they'd have enough to lift the incriminating evidence off him, than maybe Jai went to BD simply just to say good bye. or maybe to come clean.
Maybe Marque was in an exceptionally great mood thanks to his main issue of his company being solved, of having no blood on his hands, only to go to find that his Doll was gone. That there was a woman he saw from afar with the police slouching in the chair his doll used to sit. Of her coming clean about everything to him and taking the wig off to show him that she, in fact, was his doll.
OR maybe when he went to the oily owner and said he wanted to buy her he'd present Jai to her and introduced her as the real person the doll was designed after. Maybe she wouldn't have needed to come clean right away. Maybe this would have been a way for them to get an easier grand reveal or smth. Maybe he'd recognize her and connect the dots.
Something. Anything, actually would have worked.
Anyway, after all that yapping I think it would be great if I mentioned things I appreciated or liked about the story. (It's not a lot sadly.)
> The core idea (as mentioned earlier) could have been great. If only an editor looked over the book before it got released.
In all honesty I think that was most that I liked...Sorry.
Dont get me wrong, the 🌶 scenes weren't bad...just...after reading 3 of them one after the other with barely any content between them. They just felt forced and like they were the only purpose of the book.
I'd say this sums up the review. And while this wasnt the worst book I have ever read...it wasnt the best either.
September 24, 2016
I received this ebook from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jay is an agent that go undercover as a sex robot to bring dawn a supposed arms dealer. It was profoundly disturbing. Is it really suppose to be arousing? I was not.
Ah, but Jay and Marque falls in love. In five days. An hour per day. Which consist in sex and about 5 sentence max per sessions. Yeah, right.
My vote: 2 stars
Jay is an agent that go undercover as a sex robot to bring dawn a supposed arms dealer. It was profoundly disturbing. Is it really suppose to be arousing? I was not.
Ah, but Jay and Marque falls in love. In five days. An hour per day. Which consist in sex and about 5 sentence max per sessions. Yeah, right.
My vote: 2 stars
May 15, 2013
My Review:
This book had a really interesting premise. Obviously set in the future, it had a sci fi twist with the fact that Jai is a cop, who's requested to go undercover as a sex robot. Even in this future world, this is not something that Jai is comfortable with, but one of her fellow cops was murdered by this man, Marque Callex, and they haven't been able to get near him any other way to get evidence about him. It's the only way and though it makes Jai really uncomfortable, she's willing to give up that comfort to catch this man that she and the force knows needs to be taken off the streets. He has her services for an hour every day for a week at lunch. In that time, she's supposed to get him relaxed enough with her so that he talks to her. It works...and Jai discovers he's not the man she thought he was.
Like I said...interesting, right?? It was and I found myself really mesmerized by this situation that Jai and Marque find themselves in. Marque is under a LOT of stress in his job and knows he needs to let go some and that's why he agrees to the sex robot, but is shocked to find that he really likes her. He never suspects that she's not a robot, but is surprised by just how life-like and real she seems. He's also a bit disturbed by how distracting she is to him. He's fascinated and drawn to her in a way he never has been with other woman.
Jai's in a tougher spot. She has to continue to act robot-like in very un-robot-like situations. She also quickly discovers that Marque is nothing like she expected. She likes him and begins to feel really uncomfortable with what they are doing. And as things are revealed, the hopelessness of their situation hikes up. He will never forgive her for this deception.
I liked it. It's definitely hot....hello, sexbot, but there was also some emotion and story behind it all too. The love happened a little too quickly for my taste, but I could definitely see how the connection could evolve this quickly. Quirky, fun, and action-packed. It was DEFINITELY worth the read!
This book had a really interesting premise. Obviously set in the future, it had a sci fi twist with the fact that Jai is a cop, who's requested to go undercover as a sex robot. Even in this future world, this is not something that Jai is comfortable with, but one of her fellow cops was murdered by this man, Marque Callex, and they haven't been able to get near him any other way to get evidence about him. It's the only way and though it makes Jai really uncomfortable, she's willing to give up that comfort to catch this man that she and the force knows needs to be taken off the streets. He has her services for an hour every day for a week at lunch. In that time, she's supposed to get him relaxed enough with her so that he talks to her. It works...and Jai discovers he's not the man she thought he was.
Like I said...interesting, right?? It was and I found myself really mesmerized by this situation that Jai and Marque find themselves in. Marque is under a LOT of stress in his job and knows he needs to let go some and that's why he agrees to the sex robot, but is shocked to find that he really likes her. He never suspects that she's not a robot, but is surprised by just how life-like and real she seems. He's also a bit disturbed by how distracting she is to him. He's fascinated and drawn to her in a way he never has been with other woman.
Jai's in a tougher spot. She has to continue to act robot-like in very un-robot-like situations. She also quickly discovers that Marque is nothing like she expected. She likes him and begins to feel really uncomfortable with what they are doing. And as things are revealed, the hopelessness of their situation hikes up. He will never forgive her for this deception.
I liked it. It's definitely hot....hello, sexbot, but there was also some emotion and story behind it all too. The love happened a little too quickly for my taste, but I could definitely see how the connection could evolve this quickly. Quirky, fun, and action-packed. It was DEFINITELY worth the read!
June 6, 2013
Started off a little slow, robotic almost. The premise really drew me in. How can a person pretend to be a robot and reconcile/excuse all those very human things we do? The anticipation kept me reading! Could easily have seen this fleshed out into a full length story. I was eager to hear more of the emotional details this interaction between human and faux robot would have stimulated.
Quick and fun, you won't blush too hard during the sex scenes and you won't get dragged into the emotional mire of long dramatic relationships.
Quick and fun, you won't blush too hard during the sex scenes and you won't get dragged into the emotional mire of long dramatic relationships.
September 18, 2019
I know this got a lot of good reviews but I just couldn't get passed the captain telling her she had to go have sex with a most wanted, criminal gunrunner and more than likely the murderer of her now partners former partner. Yeah nope.
March 13, 2014
Surprised me! The premise initially made me gag a little... but I ended up enjoying this futuristic, steamy book a lot.
October 17, 2017
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.5 of 5
One of my blog readers recently asked me why I read/review erotica/porn on my blog.
First ... I'm trying to understand the genre. Second ... it's incredibly popular, though few ever actually admit to reading it.
Read almost any fiction book on the NY Times best-seller list and you're bound to come across some incredibly steamy sex scenes. Some described in vivid detail. But if you get a book like this, Programmed to Please, which has a story and a plot, but a lot of very explicit sex, it's erotica rather than a sci-fi or mystery novel.
So what's the difference?
In the bestseller books, story and plot come first and the steamy sex is usually incidental to the story. In a book like this one, the sex is integral to the plot and the plot usually is simply a way to get to the next sex scene. And while most people will publicly claim they don't read this sort of fiction, sales on the major book-sellers' sites say otherwise.
In Programmed to Please, Jai Turner is an agent with the Tau Cetus police. Tau Cetus? Don't know...doesn't matter. What matters is that she's ordered to go undercover (heh heh) to help the force get the low-down on a major arms dealer. He's the most-wanted criminal around and he doesn't trust anyone or anything. But he's been offered the opportunity to sample a brand new sexual robot - unlike any other sexual device, this one is so life-like he'll be amazed that it's a robot. He places an order for this new robot and except for the hair color and eye color, Jai is exactly what he's described. So...hair dyed, contact lenses in, a crash course in all the best sex techniques, and a thin layer of plastic to coat her entire body to make her look a little less human, and Jai is the master criminal's new sex robot!
Of course he can't believe that she's a robot...she's so lifelike in every way, except for the plastic-y feel and the strange eyes. This company really did create the ultimate pleasure robot! And despite the fact that he's a target and possibly the most wanted man alive, it never seems to occur to him that this might be a set-up. Sure...he's got a bodyguard outside the door, and someone checks the room before he enters, and they even wanted to scan Jai to make sure there was nothing harmful inside her (but they were talked out of it), but with every sexual encounter he can't believe how real she seems. What an amazing robot. He's even falling in love with it!
I think that what gets me a little furious with these erotica books is not that the story is intended to get from one sex scene to another, but that it seems there's hardly any effort to build a story. The story here all falls together so nicely. So nicely, in fact, that I laughed out loud (yes, a real LOL) on more than one occasion when everything just fell perfectly in place. For instance, while the criminal ordered a blue-eyed blonde, he doesn't really like blue-eyed blondes. He just didn't want to fall in love with his robot so he thought that might help. Of course his true perfect women is EXACTLY Jai, to a 't.' And of COURSE he's really a good guy, also deeply under-cover, so it's okay that Jai has fallen in love with him as well.
'Obvious' is the word I'm looking for, I think. Ives constantly takes the obvious path to get from one sexual encounter to the next and there's no surprise or mystery in what's going to happen next.
Looking for a good book? If what you are looking for is erotica with a wisp of a thread story connecting the sex scenes, and in a sci-fi vein, then Programmed to Please by Jenna Ives works pretty well. I'd like to find erotica in which the story actually matters and isn't pieced in for convenience sake.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
One of my blog readers recently asked me why I read/review erotica/porn on my blog.
First ... I'm trying to understand the genre. Second ... it's incredibly popular, though few ever actually admit to reading it.
Read almost any fiction book on the NY Times best-seller list and you're bound to come across some incredibly steamy sex scenes. Some described in vivid detail. But if you get a book like this, Programmed to Please, which has a story and a plot, but a lot of very explicit sex, it's erotica rather than a sci-fi or mystery novel.
So what's the difference?
In the bestseller books, story and plot come first and the steamy sex is usually incidental to the story. In a book like this one, the sex is integral to the plot and the plot usually is simply a way to get to the next sex scene. And while most people will publicly claim they don't read this sort of fiction, sales on the major book-sellers' sites say otherwise.
In Programmed to Please, Jai Turner is an agent with the Tau Cetus police. Tau Cetus? Don't know...doesn't matter. What matters is that she's ordered to go undercover (heh heh) to help the force get the low-down on a major arms dealer. He's the most-wanted criminal around and he doesn't trust anyone or anything. But he's been offered the opportunity to sample a brand new sexual robot - unlike any other sexual device, this one is so life-like he'll be amazed that it's a robot. He places an order for this new robot and except for the hair color and eye color, Jai is exactly what he's described. So...hair dyed, contact lenses in, a crash course in all the best sex techniques, and a thin layer of plastic to coat her entire body to make her look a little less human, and Jai is the master criminal's new sex robot!
Of course he can't believe that she's a robot...she's so lifelike in every way, except for the plastic-y feel and the strange eyes. This company really did create the ultimate pleasure robot! And despite the fact that he's a target and possibly the most wanted man alive, it never seems to occur to him that this might be a set-up. Sure...he's got a bodyguard outside the door, and someone checks the room before he enters, and they even wanted to scan Jai to make sure there was nothing harmful inside her (but they were talked out of it), but with every sexual encounter he can't believe how real she seems. What an amazing robot. He's even falling in love with it!
I think that what gets me a little furious with these erotica books is not that the story is intended to get from one sex scene to another, but that it seems there's hardly any effort to build a story. The story here all falls together so nicely. So nicely, in fact, that I laughed out loud (yes, a real LOL) on more than one occasion when everything just fell perfectly in place. For instance, while the criminal ordered a blue-eyed blonde, he doesn't really like blue-eyed blondes. He just didn't want to fall in love with his robot so he thought that might help. Of course his true perfect women is EXACTLY Jai, to a 't.' And of COURSE he's really a good guy, also deeply under-cover, so it's okay that Jai has fallen in love with him as well.
'Obvious' is the word I'm looking for, I think. Ives constantly takes the obvious path to get from one sexual encounter to the next and there's no surprise or mystery in what's going to happen next.
Looking for a good book? If what you are looking for is erotica with a wisp of a thread story connecting the sex scenes, and in a sci-fi vein, then Programmed to Please by Jenna Ives works pretty well. I'd like to find erotica in which the story actually matters and isn't pieced in for convenience sake.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2016
While this book started out a little slow, I really loved the concept. It is a little different to my usual reads, but I couldn’t wait to dive in. Jenna Ives is a new author to me, and Programmed to Please is the first book in the The Tau Cetus Chronicles. This is part of a 3 book series, with book 2, Programmed to Protect and book 3, Programmed for Power, completing the series.
Jai is a cop from the future, who goes undercover as a Beautiful Dolls pleasure toy, to bring charges against arms dealer, Marque Callex, for supposedly diverting arms to militant countries. Neither Marque nor Jai were prepared for their first meeting, with the attraction present from the moment their eyes met.
Jai’s undercover work was going along as could be expected. She was doing her duty as a Beautiful Doll, and Marque was keeping himself detached, because she is, after all, a doll, right? The sexual encounters gain in passion and intensity. That is great that Jai can act so great, but it works a little too well.
“That’s it then,” Marque breathed, holding her tighter. “At the end of the week, I’m going to buy you.”
Panic sets in, even though Jai tries to quell the emotion. She has made such an impression, Marque wants to keep her. Still believing Marque is involved with dealing on the wrong side of the law, she must decide how to get out of the situation she finds herself in. Even though this was the outcome they hoped for, she cannot help the feelings she is beginning to develop for him. No matter how many times she tells herself he is a dangerous man, her heart says otherwise.
Marque is innocent of any unlawful dealings. He is just as eager to find the culprit. Once Marque works out who stole the weapons, he goes about organising a life with Jai. He reveals all to Jai, still believing her to be a robot. He also reveals he doesn’t like blondes, preferring brown eyed and brown haired beauties.
Jai and Marque are in love. But Marque is in love with a lie and doesn’t know it. The guilt is crushing Jai, but until the case is closed, her priorities have to lay with completing her mission. But while still undercover, she gets her wild monkey, hot loving moments with Marque. Meanwhile, Marque figures out who is behind the missing missiles. He visits his sister, and they settle their differences, with both of them discovering surprise information had kept them away from each other. Marque kept his distance to protect Leora, and Leora thought Marque wanted to start another was, when in fact he was doing everything possible to stop that from happening.
The suspense is heightened when Jai tells Marque she is human. He takes it as expected, which was not well at all. Storming out, only to confront the person behind the disappearance of the missiles. With his bodyguard dead, Marque must defuse the situation before someone gets hurt. Jai has other ideas, unknowingly walking into a hostile situation. When she sees Marque in danger, she throws herself in front of him, to protect him. Marque thinks he has lost her, but the future is a wonderful thing, with lots of medical advances. Jai and Marque are reunited and decide to build a life together, as Jai can no longer be a police officer, and Marque has had enough of the high stress of role, so they choose to share a happy life together
What a fantastic book this turned out to be. While it began at a sedate pace, it certainly ramped up.There was nothing slow about the later parts of this book. The story had so many great elements, all coming together to produce a top quality read. Jai and Marque were totally lovable and the chemistry between them was sizzling, making their sexual encounters passionate and memorable. Also, creating that delectable shiver down your spine. I loved this book and really loved how the author told their story. Programmed to Please was, for me, a 4 star read.
Jai is a cop from the future, who goes undercover as a Beautiful Dolls pleasure toy, to bring charges against arms dealer, Marque Callex, for supposedly diverting arms to militant countries. Neither Marque nor Jai were prepared for their first meeting, with the attraction present from the moment their eyes met.
Jai’s undercover work was going along as could be expected. She was doing her duty as a Beautiful Doll, and Marque was keeping himself detached, because she is, after all, a doll, right? The sexual encounters gain in passion and intensity. That is great that Jai can act so great, but it works a little too well.
“That’s it then,” Marque breathed, holding her tighter. “At the end of the week, I’m going to buy you.”
Panic sets in, even though Jai tries to quell the emotion. She has made such an impression, Marque wants to keep her. Still believing Marque is involved with dealing on the wrong side of the law, she must decide how to get out of the situation she finds herself in. Even though this was the outcome they hoped for, she cannot help the feelings she is beginning to develop for him. No matter how many times she tells herself he is a dangerous man, her heart says otherwise.
Marque is innocent of any unlawful dealings. He is just as eager to find the culprit. Once Marque works out who stole the weapons, he goes about organising a life with Jai. He reveals all to Jai, still believing her to be a robot. He also reveals he doesn’t like blondes, preferring brown eyed and brown haired beauties.
Jai and Marque are in love. But Marque is in love with a lie and doesn’t know it. The guilt is crushing Jai, but until the case is closed, her priorities have to lay with completing her mission. But while still undercover, she gets her wild monkey, hot loving moments with Marque. Meanwhile, Marque figures out who is behind the missing missiles. He visits his sister, and they settle their differences, with both of them discovering surprise information had kept them away from each other. Marque kept his distance to protect Leora, and Leora thought Marque wanted to start another was, when in fact he was doing everything possible to stop that from happening.
The suspense is heightened when Jai tells Marque she is human. He takes it as expected, which was not well at all. Storming out, only to confront the person behind the disappearance of the missiles. With his bodyguard dead, Marque must defuse the situation before someone gets hurt. Jai has other ideas, unknowingly walking into a hostile situation. When she sees Marque in danger, she throws herself in front of him, to protect him. Marque thinks he has lost her, but the future is a wonderful thing, with lots of medical advances. Jai and Marque are reunited and decide to build a life together, as Jai can no longer be a police officer, and Marque has had enough of the high stress of role, so they choose to share a happy life together
What a fantastic book this turned out to be. While it began at a sedate pace, it certainly ramped up.There was nothing slow about the later parts of this book. The story had so many great elements, all coming together to produce a top quality read. Jai and Marque were totally lovable and the chemistry between them was sizzling, making their sexual encounters passionate and memorable. Also, creating that delectable shiver down your spine. I loved this book and really loved how the author told their story. Programmed to Please was, for me, a 4 star read.
October 14, 2016
Tau Cetus police agent Jai Turner is being sent undercover as a Beautiful Dolls sex robot in order to bring down the planet's most notorious arms dealer, Marque Callex. The police have never been able to get close to Callex, and Jai’s assignment is to use her sexual skills to satisfy Marque, and to coax information out of him on his illicit dealings – information that will lead to his conviction.
Notoriously reclusive arms dealer Marque Callex only accepted an invitation from Beautiful Dolls because he needs a little stress relief. With his deadly line of work – and the dangerous secrets he’s keeping – he rarely lets anyone into his life. That’s why a week of free, no-commitment, no-holds-barred sex – in return for giving Beautiful Dolls owner Anson Carron feedback on how his newest model of sexbot performs – is perfect for him. This book had a really interesting different premise. Completely set in the future, it had a sci fi twist with the fact that Jai is a cop, who's requested to go undercover as a sex robot. Even in this future world, this is not something that Jai is comfortable with, but one of her fellow cops was murdered by this man, Marque Callex, and they haven't been able to get near him any other way to get evidence about him. It's the only way and though it makes Jai really uncomfortable, she's willing to give up that comfort to catch this man that she and the force knows needs to be taken off the streets. He has her services for an hour every day for a week at lunch. In that time, she's supposed to get him relaxed enough with her so that he talks to her. It works...and Jai discovers he's not the man she thought he was.forgive her for this deception. I liked that there was some criminal mystery happening to change it up a bit.
I liked it. It's definitely hot.... plenty of sex!, But there was also some emotion and story behind it all too
It is definitely for 18 + readers but if you like sci fi, romance and super hot sex, this is the book for you.
Notoriously reclusive arms dealer Marque Callex only accepted an invitation from Beautiful Dolls because he needs a little stress relief. With his deadly line of work – and the dangerous secrets he’s keeping – he rarely lets anyone into his life. That’s why a week of free, no-commitment, no-holds-barred sex – in return for giving Beautiful Dolls owner Anson Carron feedback on how his newest model of sexbot performs – is perfect for him. This book had a really interesting different premise. Completely set in the future, it had a sci fi twist with the fact that Jai is a cop, who's requested to go undercover as a sex robot. Even in this future world, this is not something that Jai is comfortable with, but one of her fellow cops was murdered by this man, Marque Callex, and they haven't been able to get near him any other way to get evidence about him. It's the only way and though it makes Jai really uncomfortable, she's willing to give up that comfort to catch this man that she and the force knows needs to be taken off the streets. He has her services for an hour every day for a week at lunch. In that time, she's supposed to get him relaxed enough with her so that he talks to her. It works...and Jai discovers he's not the man she thought he was.forgive her for this deception. I liked that there was some criminal mystery happening to change it up a bit.
I liked it. It's definitely hot.... plenty of sex!, But there was also some emotion and story behind it all too
It is definitely for 18 + readers but if you like sci fi, romance and super hot sex, this is the book for you.
May 17, 2022
This is a true guilty pleasure! Tau Cetus police agent Jai Turner is being sent undercover as a Beautiful Dolls sex robot in order to bring down the planet's most notorious arms dealer, Marque Callex. So Jai is undercover one hour daily for one week in order to find out where theses weapons of mass destruction are going and who is stealing them. I won't give a single clue! It is a fun read if you do not mind learning all sorts of interesting sex techniques from an agent interogating a suspect using a latex skin and contact lenses. They both begin to fall for each other and things get a bit tight when she helps him deal with his sister and sister's husband and rounding up all the loose ends and other ends that are not so loose! I liked the way the characters are portrayed and the way they grown in depth of character. Enjoy!
November 12, 2016
I enjoyed this book as a casual read and it kept me interested from the start to the end. Without given away any spoilers the story follows a female cop who must seduce a dangerous arms dealer to learn his secretes and keep the world safe. Of course the only way to do this is by pretending to be a sex robot built for pleasure and to throw your inhibitions to the wind. This was an interesting way to bring these two characters together, but in a way it works if you look past the crazy idea. The book progress nicely with a mix of story line and sprinkled with a heavy mixed with some great sex scenes. The sex is straight forward and nothing that is going to make you blush or cringe. I would recommend this if you are looking for a fun steamy erotic book with a story worth reading.
August 6, 2019
This was an amusing, sizzling, futuristic, sci-fi mystery with terrific characters and an original, creative plot. Jai’s reaction to her new undercover (wink wink) assignment and how she dealt with getting ready to be introduced as a sexbot were so perfectly #metoo and made me laugh several times. The idea that 2 strangers could feel emotionally connected after a week of mindblowing sex seems potentially plausible to me, more so than that a futuristic society with advanced robotics would punish someone for having a mechanical heart. This was my first Jenna Ives book, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
September 25, 2019
★ Falling for her Marque ★
—>>> The Tau Cetus Police have been trying to take down an elusive arms dealer, and the may just have an in…modifying agent Jai to be an ideal Beautiful Dolls sexbot for Marque Callex. Jai is to to gain his trust with her body and find vital information about the murder of one of their agents. Going undercover and begin so intimate, however, reveals startling realities which shed a whole new light in the way they see each other. Intriguing storyline and great start to the series. Looking forward to seeing how the story progresses in the next books to come in the series!
—>>> The Tau Cetus Police have been trying to take down an elusive arms dealer, and the may just have an in…modifying agent Jai to be an ideal Beautiful Dolls sexbot for Marque Callex. Jai is to to gain his trust with her body and find vital information about the murder of one of their agents. Going undercover and begin so intimate, however, reveals startling realities which shed a whole new light in the way they see each other. Intriguing storyline and great start to the series. Looking forward to seeing how the story progresses in the next books to come in the series!
August 26, 2020
Another case of insta-love....
When it comes to these hooks, the ones with sex right at the beginning or instant love between the main characters I tend to think about real life and dating. How many times do people really have one-night-stands or sex on the first date? I suppose it’s pretty common, but it’s never insta-love. These “book people “ had sex once a day for 5 days and were in love at day 3. There was no communication, no date. Just sex and then “wham” they’re in love. It’s like a prostitute falling in love with a client on the third job. It just doesn’t ring true.
Also. She was roofied or on Ex the whole time.
When it comes to these hooks, the ones with sex right at the beginning or instant love between the main characters I tend to think about real life and dating. How many times do people really have one-night-stands or sex on the first date? I suppose it’s pretty common, but it’s never insta-love. These “book people “ had sex once a day for 5 days and were in love at day 3. There was no communication, no date. Just sex and then “wham” they’re in love. It’s like a prostitute falling in love with a client on the third job. It just doesn’t ring true.
Also. She was roofied or on Ex the whole time.
August 7, 2019
A twisted look at a very interesting future.
Are you looking for a futuristic story that is well-written than this is the one to pick up? This piece was interesting a human police going undercover as a robot. The story does not have any deep emotional content, but there is some heat with-in the story. I like how the author played Marque he is attracted to the robot (Jai) but does not understand why. This was a twisted look at a very interesting future. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Are you looking for a futuristic story that is well-written than this is the one to pick up? This piece was interesting a human police going undercover as a robot. The story does not have any deep emotional content, but there is some heat with-in the story. I like how the author played Marque he is attracted to the robot (Jai) but does not understand why. This was a twisted look at a very interesting future. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
March 10, 2020
You have to keep it in mind that this is a futuristic sex fantasy story, It was a pretty good read for me. It had thrills, chills and hot steamy sex with a side of ridiculousness (I mean seriously falling in love with someone in less than a week; not to mention taking on on an 'assignment' to purposely have sex with someone you hate for information; oh dear have I said too much LOL)
It is book one of a series that I know I will not continue; this book can stand alone and that's where I want to leave this series. Again, a good read and most likely good to continue onto the next one.
It is book one of a series that I know I will not continue; this book can stand alone and that's where I want to leave this series. Again, a good read and most likely good to continue onto the next one.
March 23, 2020
a Sexy well-written novel!
It's also nice concept of having intercourse with a robot (tho glad she's just a human in disguise, a woman that's able to fall in love too).
It's very comforting scenes when Marque decided to confide about himself and opened up to her after refraining himself (and the denial).
The intercourses are also steamy.
the time he pounded her so fas that he saw a tear on her eyes and felt the heart wrenching. it's so, aw.
And how dedicated he was going to buy her as his own (as to stress relief by either talking or doing the intercourses).
It's also nice concept of having intercourse with a robot (tho glad she's just a human in disguise, a woman that's able to fall in love too).
It's very comforting scenes when Marque decided to confide about himself and opened up to her after refraining himself (and the denial).
The intercourses are also steamy.
the time he pounded her so fas that he saw a tear on her eyes and felt the heart wrenching. it's so, aw.
And how dedicated he was going to buy her as his own (as to stress relief by either talking or doing the intercourses).
August 11, 2019
Jai is undercover as a sexbot. Marque is a supposed arms dealer that killed another undercover officer. The unthinkable happens when Jai falls in love with Marie and he with her. What will happen to the undercover sting? What will happen with their relationship? Are things really as they seem? What a fun and exciting story with interesting and strong characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 26, 2019
This is a new author to me, and she has produced a very interesting plot, one that I haven’t read before. The characters are very likable and have amazing chemistry together. There is a lot of deception in this story. It’s an enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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October 4, 2019Science-Friction, I say!
I have been a sci-fi aficionado for just about 50 years, and often lamented the lack of sensuality and eroticism in this genre... Well, this book has it all, dammit!
Keep it away from the kids, please: This is a fully fledged science-friction adventure capable of... hum... raising the Titanic.
Kudos to the author.
I have been a sci-fi aficionado for just about 50 years, and often lamented the lack of sensuality and eroticism in this genre... Well, this book has it all, dammit!
Keep it away from the kids, please: This is a fully fledged science-friction adventure capable of... hum... raising the Titanic.
Kudos to the author.
October 19, 2019
Much better than expected
Surprisingly sweet romance story with interesting background tensions and realistic problems. This was very touching and the couples affections are quite believable looking forward to the other books
Surprisingly sweet romance story with interesting background tensions and realistic problems. This was very touching and the couples affections are quite believable looking forward to the other books
March 17, 2020
Programmed To Please by
Jenna Ives.
This was a brilliant read. I loved the story and most of the characters except Anson. Didn't trust him. I loved Jai. Marque grew on me. I loved the cover too. 5*.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jenna Ives.
This was a brilliant read. I loved the story and most of the characters except Anson. Didn't trust him. I loved Jai. Marque grew on me. I loved the cover too. 5*.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 22, 2021
Fully Satisfying
This story held my attention from start to finish. The sex was 🔥hot
. The characters were well defined and had me fully invested in seeing how this would all turn out. Well Done.
This story held my attention from start to finish. The sex was 🔥hot
. The characters were well defined and had me fully invested in seeing how this would all turn out. Well Done.
May 12, 2022
A fast fun read.
I was surprised at the loving, soft hearted characters. Because the preview content involved with arms dealers, my thoughts went to rougher content. So I was pleasantly surprised by the loving relationships.
I was surprised at the loving, soft hearted characters. Because the preview content involved with arms dealers, my thoughts went to rougher content. So I was pleasantly surprised by the loving relationships.
March 14, 2017
This was a super hot and original twist on the human/robot love story.
February 16, 2018
Sexbots, oh my!
I enjoyed reading this unlikely story, but so very sweet. I love my happily ever afters and this one doesn't disappoint.
I enjoyed reading this unlikely story, but so very sweet. I love my happily ever afters and this one doesn't disappoint.
December 11, 2018
The story was not what I expected. I enjoyed the plot anyway. Who doesn’t like a well written erotic story. I will definitely look into the rest of the series.
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