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A Planet Called Wish #1
To the Highest Bidder
The Intergalactic Star Pilot Academy has accepted Thierry Leroux into the elite class of sky year 2231. But the academy comes with a hefty price tag, and there's no way he, a poor Sythe orphan, has the credits the academy requires. Thierry’s brother, Corbin, a high-class companion, suggests Thierry sell his virginity for the cost of tuition. It seems like a ridiculous idea, but it may be Thierry’s only shot, so Thierry asks Corbin to arrange a meeting on the pleasure planet of Wish.
On Wish, Thierry meets Corbin's boss, Monroe, and they agree to auction off Thierry’s virginity. Thierry is grateful to the masked buyer he knows only as “Dragonfly,” and Dragonfly is gentle, making Thierry’s first time a good memory. When Dragonfly requests to see him again, and pay for the pleasure, Thierry returns to Wish. But in this game, falling in love is dangerous for the heart, and Thierry might not like the man behind the mask.
Please Note: This novel contains explicit scenes of gay romance with an age gap. This is also a re-release with no significant changes.
On Wish, Thierry meets Corbin's boss, Monroe, and they agree to auction off Thierry’s virginity. Thierry is grateful to the masked buyer he knows only as “Dragonfly,” and Dragonfly is gentle, making Thierry’s first time a good memory. When Dragonfly requests to see him again, and pay for the pleasure, Thierry returns to Wish. But in this game, falling in love is dangerous for the heart, and Thierry might not like the man behind the mask.
Please Note: This novel contains explicit scenes of gay romance with an age gap. This is also a re-release with no significant changes.
187 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 13, 2015
14 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin Ricci
289 books174 followersCaitlin was fortunate growing up to be surrounded by family and teachers that encouraged her love of reading. She has always been a voracious reader and that love of the written word easily morphed into a passion for writing. If she isn't writing, she can usually be found studying as she works toward her counseling degree. She comes from a military family and the men and women of the armed forces are close to her heart. She also enjoys gardening and horseback riding in the Colorado Rockies where she calls home with her wonderful fiance and their dog. Her belief that there is no one true path to happily ever after runs deeply through all of her stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 19, 2016
**Audiobook Review**
I’m a sucker for a good sci-fi love story and To the Highest Bidder ended up being a surprisingly sweet coming of age tale of intergalactic lust and love. This was my first time listening to Jean Samson narrating and I really loved his voice. His Thierry is perfect. Honestly, I could just listen to him say his name over and over again. . . .Jean Samson . . . .Jean Samson . . . .Jean Samson. The accent made me swoon.
Thierry has a dream to be a pilot with no means to make that dream happen. His brother, Corbin, works as an escort on Wish, the planet where all the sexy things happen. I liked listening to the relationship between Corbin and Thierry. They’ve been orphaned since Thierry was quite young and Corbin has been his caretaker since then and, as Thierry gets older and more independent throughout the book, their dynamic evolves and I enjoyed all of their exchanges.
The brothers are brainstorming on a way to come up with the credits to get Thierry into the academy when Corbin finds out he’s been accepted and they come up with the wacky, but thoroughly sexy idea to auction off Thierry’s virginity to the highest bidder and letting Corbin’s boss Monroe handle the marketing and transaction. Monroe runs the most successful brother on the planet and if anybody can get top dollar for Thierry’s cherry, it’ll be Monroe.
The world building had just the right level of detail and creativity to keep me engaged and not overwhelmed. The sci-fi aspect didn’t take over the character’s personalities, but added to the overall arc. One of the bestest things about Thierry and Corbin is their heritage. These boys are Sythe and apparently that makes them seriously hot commodities in Corbin’s profession, while also a little feared in the general public. There are not a lot of Sythe around, so the bit of mystery surrounding the particulars of their genetics makes them even more appealing. The Sythe are very sensitive to touch and attention. Meaning, when a Sythe individual opens themselves completely they feel and react to everything x 10. So basically, super hot.
Thierry can’t help but react to Monroe. Up until then Thierry had led a pretty sheltered life, the brothers didn’t have a lot of extra credits floating around to entertain themselves and Thierry’s only dream was to fly. So the interaction between the young and inexperienced Thierry with the more mature and jaded Monroe was tense and sexy at the same time. Not that they particularly get along, but that was part of then fun.
Thierry’s virginity gets auctioned off, he ends up making bank and the man who wins is a mystery from the beginning. He wears a mask and does not speak, and he has a dragonfly tattoo on his side that Thierry finds fascinating. The time they spent together was steamy and pretty sweet. Dragonfly has his good time, but he makes sure Thierry does too and because Thierry feels so intensely, the sex is smokin’.
While that was supposed to be their only encounter, Monroe ends up acting as an intermediary between the two with messages back and forth once Thierry heads off to the academy. Thierry keeps Dragonfly posted on how he’s doing, the two of them sort of get to know one another (Dragonfly is paying him for these letters too along with the additional meet-ups here and there) and the two of them fall into, what I like to call, “Pen Pal Love”.
Pen Pal Love is very romanticized, very sweet, but not very realistic. Dragonfly knows this, but Thierry is young, passionate and impulsive. This is why I referred to the story as a coming-of-age tale as well. Thierry has a lot of growing up to do and when he finds out about Dragonfly he reacts like an immature man would. The author and narrator did a great job of capturing the self-righteous, self-centeredness of youth. Thierry is the least malicious person in the galaxy, but he’s impulsive and has a lot of growing up to do.
I liked where the story went from here. A lot of time is covered and there was no convenient answer. The only solution was time and the author made sure her characters had it. I would have loved to have more of the MC’s together after it all, but what I got was completely satisfying, especially from Thierry’s perspective. The kid turns out all right and by the end I really liked and respected who he grew into.
**a copy of this audiobook was provided to BMBR for an honest review**
I’m a sucker for a good sci-fi love story and To the Highest Bidder ended up being a surprisingly sweet coming of age tale of intergalactic lust and love. This was my first time listening to Jean Samson narrating and I really loved his voice. His Thierry is perfect. Honestly, I could just listen to him say his name over and over again. . . .Jean Samson . . . .Jean Samson . . . .Jean Samson. The accent made me swoon.
Thierry has a dream to be a pilot with no means to make that dream happen. His brother, Corbin, works as an escort on Wish, the planet where all the sexy things happen. I liked listening to the relationship between Corbin and Thierry. They’ve been orphaned since Thierry was quite young and Corbin has been his caretaker since then and, as Thierry gets older and more independent throughout the book, their dynamic evolves and I enjoyed all of their exchanges.
The brothers are brainstorming on a way to come up with the credits to get Thierry into the academy when Corbin finds out he’s been accepted and they come up with the wacky, but thoroughly sexy idea to auction off Thierry’s virginity to the highest bidder and letting Corbin’s boss Monroe handle the marketing and transaction. Monroe runs the most successful brother on the planet and if anybody can get top dollar for Thierry’s cherry, it’ll be Monroe.
The world building had just the right level of detail and creativity to keep me engaged and not overwhelmed. The sci-fi aspect didn’t take over the character’s personalities, but added to the overall arc. One of the bestest things about Thierry and Corbin is their heritage. These boys are Sythe and apparently that makes them seriously hot commodities in Corbin’s profession, while also a little feared in the general public. There are not a lot of Sythe around, so the bit of mystery surrounding the particulars of their genetics makes them even more appealing. The Sythe are very sensitive to touch and attention. Meaning, when a Sythe individual opens themselves completely they feel and react to everything x 10. So basically, super hot.
Thierry can’t help but react to Monroe. Up until then Thierry had led a pretty sheltered life, the brothers didn’t have a lot of extra credits floating around to entertain themselves and Thierry’s only dream was to fly. So the interaction between the young and inexperienced Thierry with the more mature and jaded Monroe was tense and sexy at the same time. Not that they particularly get along, but that was part of then fun.
Thierry’s virginity gets auctioned off, he ends up making bank and the man who wins is a mystery from the beginning. He wears a mask and does not speak, and he has a dragonfly tattoo on his side that Thierry finds fascinating. The time they spent together was steamy and pretty sweet. Dragonfly has his good time, but he makes sure Thierry does too and because Thierry feels so intensely, the sex is smokin’.
While that was supposed to be their only encounter, Monroe ends up acting as an intermediary between the two with messages back and forth once Thierry heads off to the academy. Thierry keeps Dragonfly posted on how he’s doing, the two of them sort of get to know one another (Dragonfly is paying him for these letters too along with the additional meet-ups here and there) and the two of them fall into, what I like to call, “Pen Pal Love”.
Pen Pal Love is very romanticized, very sweet, but not very realistic. Dragonfly knows this, but Thierry is young, passionate and impulsive. This is why I referred to the story as a coming-of-age tale as well. Thierry has a lot of growing up to do and when he finds out about Dragonfly he reacts like an immature man would. The author and narrator did a great job of capturing the self-righteous, self-centeredness of youth. Thierry is the least malicious person in the galaxy, but he’s impulsive and has a lot of growing up to do.
I liked where the story went from here. A lot of time is covered and there was no convenient answer. The only solution was time and the author made sure her characters had it. I would have loved to have more of the MC’s together after it all, but what I got was completely satisfying, especially from Thierry’s perspective. The kid turns out all right and by the end I really liked and respected who he grew into.
**a copy of this audiobook was provided to BMBR for an honest review**
February 1, 2019
‘To the Highest Bidder’ is a fascinating story set in the year 2231, and I liked it for many reasons. On the surface, it seems to be a simple case of a man deciding to sell his virginity to raise enough money to pay for his education and training as a pilot. It’s not the first time this has happened in history, and apparently, it is still happening in this version of the future. Digging a little deeper, the novel is also about appearances, deception, and how the main character/narrator, Thierry, deals with an unexpected twist around the identity of his benefactor. What made the story even better for me was the setting in outer space, the fact that both main characters are aliens and some excellent character growth. But I think, above all, I liked the sweet love story that only gradually unfolds as the story develops. All in all, this is a multi-layered novel with more than one surprise.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
September 28, 2018
Rating: 2 stars
For the sake of transparency, I am going to say upfront that I skimmed a good portion of this book. Thierry was okay at first but then he got more and more annoying and acted more and more immature and I just couldn’t take it. I didn’t particularly like Dragonfly either. Not to mention that Dragonfly’s identity was so blatantly obvious.
What really took the cake was the ending.
So all I felt from this book was major disappointment. Now since I bought all three books in the series at the same time on sale, I’m going to hope that the other two in the series are better. I really liked Corbin in this book so hopefully, I’ll like his book better than I did this one.
For the sake of transparency, I am going to say upfront that I skimmed a good portion of this book. Thierry was okay at first but then he got more and more annoying and acted more and more immature and I just couldn’t take it. I didn’t particularly like Dragonfly either. Not to mention that Dragonfly’s identity was so blatantly obvious.
What really took the cake was the ending.
So all I felt from this book was major disappointment. Now since I bought all three books in the series at the same time on sale, I’m going to hope that the other two in the series are better. I really liked Corbin in this book so hopefully, I’ll like his book better than I did this one.
November 20, 2019
The story is pretty cool, a total 4/5 star, but that ridiculously stupid rushed ending completely spoils the book.
September 16, 2015
****Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance®****
2.5 Stars
I had high hopes for To the Highest Bidder. The selling of one’s virginity, set in space, a mysterious buyer – all a recipe for good times. However, I was disappointed with the execution and the outcome.
There were some good bits; Thierry and his brother’s interactions were sweet and I could feel the love there. The brothel on Wish, in fact the whole planet, was intriguing and I would have loved to see more of it.
I liked Thierry’s first interaction with Dragonfly; Theirry’s nervousness, Dragonfly’s mysteriousness both contributed to a sense of anticipation. However, when it came to it, I found the sex to be lackluster. For all that Thierry was supposed to be ultra-responsive due to his species; it just didn’t come through to me. Adding to that, Thierry’s “love” was unbelievable and made the rest of the book feel false, especially the ending. The author did not convince me that Thierry could have fallen in love with Dragonfly or the person Dragonfly turned out to be in the time they actually spent knowing each other. I did not buy the ending at all.
The writing was good and I found no editing mistakes, so that was a plus. I would love to see Corbin find love. I would have loved to see Thierry and Dragonfly have more time together as a couple to justify the love they claim.
2.5 Stars
I had high hopes for To the Highest Bidder. The selling of one’s virginity, set in space, a mysterious buyer – all a recipe for good times. However, I was disappointed with the execution and the outcome.
There were some good bits; Thierry and his brother’s interactions were sweet and I could feel the love there. The brothel on Wish, in fact the whole planet, was intriguing and I would have loved to see more of it.
I liked Thierry’s first interaction with Dragonfly; Theirry’s nervousness, Dragonfly’s mysteriousness both contributed to a sense of anticipation. However, when it came to it, I found the sex to be lackluster. For all that Thierry was supposed to be ultra-responsive due to his species; it just didn’t come through to me. Adding to that, Thierry’s “love” was unbelievable and made the rest of the book feel false, especially the ending. The author did not convince me that Thierry could have fallen in love with Dragonfly or the person Dragonfly turned out to be in the time they actually spent knowing each other. I did not buy the ending at all.
The writing was good and I found no editing mistakes, so that was a plus. I would love to see Corbin find love. I would have loved to see Thierry and Dragonfly have more time together as a couple to justify the love they claim.
April 5, 2016
Alright, I have a bit of mixed feelings about this book. Going in I thought it was going to be a bit of erotic fluff. And the first third of the book was exactly that. It was hot, erotic and sweet. If it had been left there, it would have gotten five stars.
But the author continued to try and built a relationship between an older man and a young guy who have nothing in common, but really want there to be. This happend through circular conversations that were really stilted and not going anywhere. In the end the author 'forced' the relationship through forced separation, forcing the young man to discover who he 'really' is. So in the end, despite the epilogue, nothing was really solved. In a way it was a story about building castles out of thin air.
Because the story was told through a first person narrative, we never get to know any of the characters except Thierry. Corbin, the brother was really interesting though and fun, but I already saw enough of the blurb for his book to know I don't want to ruin my view of him.
As a round up, I liked the fluff of the story. I saw what the author tried to do, but it never really reached its goal. All in all not really bad, but not good either.
But the author continued to try and built a relationship between an older man and a young guy who have nothing in common, but really want there to be. This happend through circular conversations that were really stilted and not going anywhere. In the end the author 'forced' the relationship through forced separation, forcing the young man to discover who he 'really' is. So in the end, despite the epilogue, nothing was really solved. In a way it was a story about building castles out of thin air.
Because the story was told through a first person narrative, we never get to know any of the characters except Thierry. Corbin, the brother was really interesting though and fun, but I already saw enough of the blurb for his book to know I don't want to ruin my view of him.
As a round up, I liked the fluff of the story. I saw what the author tried to do, but it never really reached its goal. All in all not really bad, but not good either.
August 18, 2015
I enjoyed the writing style and most of the story but I didn't like any of the characters. I assumed that would change as I got into the book but it didn't. Don't think that's ever happened before. Also, the ending was too rushed. I would have liked to read more about the different planets and Thierry's maturation. Instead, there was a 30 year gap.
Even though this book was a little disappointing, I'll buy more books by this author because I really did enjoy her writing.
Even though this book was a little disappointing, I'll buy more books by this author because I really did enjoy her writing.
April 12, 2016
Rounded up.
The first thing that surprised me about To the Highest Bidder is that there's a surprising amount of fluff and angst in it. It's...fluffangsty. Yeah, I just made up a word. Deal with it. The other thing that surprised me is just how invested I got in the story, the world building, and Thierry, Corbin and Monroe.
I listened to the first 60% with a huge smile on my face just really enjoying the story.
Corbin, Thierry’s older brother, is a high-class companion who suggests that Thierry sell the only thing he has of value - his virginity - in order to pay for the tuition to an elite Pilot Academy. Thierry has only ever wanted to pilot a spacecraft and agrees, reluctantly, that selling his virginity to the highest bidder is the only way he'll ever afford to do it.
Corbin approaches the owner of the brothel he works, Monroe, about auctioning his brother's virginity. A virgin is incentive enough, but because Thierry is also a Sythe, who are highly reactive to another's touch leaving their lovers fulfilled and pleased beyond measure, Monroe believes Thierry will bring in even more credits than he needs. Monroe agrees to the auction, taking a 25% cut of the profits.
The auction goes extremely well, with the winner bidder requiring complete anonymity. The winner wears a mask, with only his mouth uncovered, and doesn't speak during their encounter. Thierry calls the man "Dragonfly" based on a tattoo the man has on his torso. The night is very special, with Dragonfly being a perfect lover for Thierry.
Dragonfly requests through Monroe, after their encounter, to keep in touch via letters with Thierry for an additional $1,000 credits per month. Thierry goes off to school and he and Dragonfly communicate back and forth. Eventually Dragonfly asks to see Thierry again for an additional $5,000, and Thierry eagerly agrees, not because of the money, but because he's fallen in love with Dragonfly. Thierry's enormously happy when Dragonfly admits he too has fallen in love with Thierry.
So, yeah - super fluffy, romantic, and hot. I'm swimming right along, enjoying the story thoroughly, big smile on my face and then BAM!
Oh. My. God. I did not see that coming. I mean, part of it I did, I totally called part of it, but the other part?
Nope, I did not see it coming - and it BROKE MY FUCKING HEART. Though it all works out, I was devastated and never quite regained my equilibrium with the story. So, yeah...fluffangsty. Then the story goes on...and yes, I could see why it was necessary for what happens next what with the 23 years age difference between them. I could see why it was all necessary and it made a sort of sense - but my heart didn't want it. My heart wanted a different path.
It's my first audiobook with Jean Samson as the narrator, and, I think, his first as well. Though he brings emotion to the story, and I enjoyed the narration on the whole, he does have a few pacing issues and a couple of flubs, one memorable time even calling Dragonfly "Firefly". Though, for a first time narration attempt it wasn't bad and I'd certainly give him another go in the future.
All in all be prepared to be enjoying flufftastic sweetness followed by a huge shock and just go along for the ride. Don't worry, there's an HEA waiting in the end for you.
I know one other thing - I'm looking forward to checking out book two, Fantasy for a Gentleman!
Audio copy of To the Highest Bidder provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
The first thing that surprised me about To the Highest Bidder is that there's a surprising amount of fluff and angst in it. It's...fluffangsty. Yeah, I just made up a word. Deal with it. The other thing that surprised me is just how invested I got in the story, the world building, and Thierry, Corbin and Monroe.
I listened to the first 60% with a huge smile on my face just really enjoying the story.
Corbin, Thierry’s older brother, is a high-class companion who suggests that Thierry sell the only thing he has of value - his virginity - in order to pay for the tuition to an elite Pilot Academy. Thierry has only ever wanted to pilot a spacecraft and agrees, reluctantly, that selling his virginity to the highest bidder is the only way he'll ever afford to do it.
Corbin approaches the owner of the brothel he works, Monroe, about auctioning his brother's virginity. A virgin is incentive enough, but because Thierry is also a Sythe, who are highly reactive to another's touch leaving their lovers fulfilled and pleased beyond measure, Monroe believes Thierry will bring in even more credits than he needs. Monroe agrees to the auction, taking a 25% cut of the profits.
The auction goes extremely well, with the winner bidder requiring complete anonymity. The winner wears a mask, with only his mouth uncovered, and doesn't speak during their encounter. Thierry calls the man "Dragonfly" based on a tattoo the man has on his torso. The night is very special, with Dragonfly being a perfect lover for Thierry.
Dragonfly requests through Monroe, after their encounter, to keep in touch via letters with Thierry for an additional $1,000 credits per month. Thierry goes off to school and he and Dragonfly communicate back and forth. Eventually Dragonfly asks to see Thierry again for an additional $5,000, and Thierry eagerly agrees, not because of the money, but because he's fallen in love with Dragonfly. Thierry's enormously happy when Dragonfly admits he too has fallen in love with Thierry.
So, yeah - super fluffy, romantic, and hot. I'm swimming right along, enjoying the story thoroughly, big smile on my face and then BAM!
Oh. My. God. I did not see that coming. I mean, part of it I did, I totally called part of it, but the other part?
Nope, I did not see it coming - and it BROKE MY FUCKING HEART. Though it all works out, I was devastated and never quite regained my equilibrium with the story. So, yeah...fluffangsty. Then the story goes on...and yes, I could see why it was necessary for what happens next what with the 23 years age difference between them. I could see why it was all necessary and it made a sort of sense - but my heart didn't want it. My heart wanted a different path.
It's my first audiobook with Jean Samson as the narrator, and, I think, his first as well. Though he brings emotion to the story, and I enjoyed the narration on the whole, he does have a few pacing issues and a couple of flubs, one memorable time even calling Dragonfly "Firefly". Though, for a first time narration attempt it wasn't bad and I'd certainly give him another go in the future.
All in all be prepared to be enjoying flufftastic sweetness followed by a huge shock and just go along for the ride. Don't worry, there's an HEA waiting in the end for you.
I know one other thing - I'm looking forward to checking out book two, Fantasy for a Gentleman!
Audio copy of To the Highest Bidder provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
January 3, 2017
4.75 out of 5 stars
To the Highest Bidder didn’t pin on my radar when it was first published. The only reason I got to it is because I heard about Book #2 in the series, Fantasy for a Gentleman didn’t pin on my radar when it was first published. The only reason I got to it is because I heard about Book #2 in the series, Fantasy for a Gentleman, and I prefer to read books in order. I’m glad I got to read this book, actually this series. Mostly everything in them worked for me.
The conversation between Thierry and Corbin about how to get the money for the pilot academy was the only thing I didn’t like about the story. Being the first time we get to interact with them, I was concern about how this book will end, but I was pleasantly surprised by the turn of events. The more I learned about the characters, the easier it got to understand why selling Thierry’s virginity wasn’t such a big deal for the brothers to talk about. I was a little put off by the idea of Corbin being so relaxed about it until I understood Corbin’s views about sex.
The relationship between Thierry and Dragonfly was lovely. Perfect for a first love. They had good chemistry in bed, and Dragonfly took good care of Thierry, but their long distance relationship was swoon worthy. Thierry got to experience what first love should be all about-- getting to know each other, walking on cloud nine-- even when the immediate outcome was not what he expected.
I loved their relationship. It was dysfunctional at best but was theirs, unique like them two. I’m glad the author kept their independent spirits all through the book and didn’t have one of them submitting to the other wishes. Even with the age difference, which I normally not a fan, I think their love took them both by surprise, and they did the best they could to deal with it.
The world build is interesting, and we get to see many species interact without much trouble. All the characters involved had a purpose in the story, and we get to know enough of them to make a difference. The story has several plot points that moved the story forward at a good pace. Yes, some of the events are predictable, but the author did an excellent job incorporating them into the story.
I wish the author had ended the book without the epilogue. Don’t get me wrong, the epilogue works great with the story. I’m just greedy. I wanted another book showing the time between the ending and the epilogue, and perhaps a third one after the events in the epilogue. I guess I’ll need to wait and see how the rest of the series balances out.
Originally reviewed for Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.
ARC courtesy of Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
To the Highest Bidder didn’t pin on my radar when it was first published. The only reason I got to it is because I heard about Book #2 in the series, Fantasy for a Gentleman didn’t pin on my radar when it was first published. The only reason I got to it is because I heard about Book #2 in the series, Fantasy for a Gentleman, and I prefer to read books in order. I’m glad I got to read this book, actually this series. Mostly everything in them worked for me.
The conversation between Thierry and Corbin about how to get the money for the pilot academy was the only thing I didn’t like about the story. Being the first time we get to interact with them, I was concern about how this book will end, but I was pleasantly surprised by the turn of events. The more I learned about the characters, the easier it got to understand why selling Thierry’s virginity wasn’t such a big deal for the brothers to talk about. I was a little put off by the idea of Corbin being so relaxed about it until I understood Corbin’s views about sex.
The relationship between Thierry and Dragonfly was lovely. Perfect for a first love. They had good chemistry in bed, and Dragonfly took good care of Thierry, but their long distance relationship was swoon worthy. Thierry got to experience what first love should be all about-- getting to know each other, walking on cloud nine-- even when the immediate outcome was not what he expected.
I loved their relationship. It was dysfunctional at best but was theirs, unique like them two. I’m glad the author kept their independent spirits all through the book and didn’t have one of them submitting to the other wishes. Even with the age difference, which I normally not a fan, I think their love took them both by surprise, and they did the best they could to deal with it.
The world build is interesting, and we get to see many species interact without much trouble. All the characters involved had a purpose in the story, and we get to know enough of them to make a difference. The story has several plot points that moved the story forward at a good pace. Yes, some of the events are predictable, but the author did an excellent job incorporating them into the story.
I wish the author had ended the book without the epilogue. Don’t get me wrong, the epilogue works great with the story. I’m just greedy. I wanted another book showing the time between the ending and the epilogue, and perhaps a third one after the events in the epilogue. I guess I’ll need to wait and see how the rest of the series balances out.
Originally reviewed for Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.
ARC courtesy of Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Thierry is a Sythe orphan, which means he’s a humanoid being who happens to have very dark purple skin and is highly sensitive to touch, which makes Sythes extremely responsive sexually. They are a small race of beings and highly valued as consorts. Thierry’s older brother Corbin works as an aspacian, a trained prostitute, in an exclusive brothel on the pleasure planet of Wish. He spends tow weeks of every month as a companion and occasional sex partner where he makes sufficient money to keep their lives comfortable.
When Thierry is accepted to the Intergalactic Star Pilot Academy, the first Sythe to ever be accepted, he and Corbin are elated…and troubled. The entry is too expensive for Corbin’s earning potential. An idea comes to mind, however. Thierry—determined to be a pilot—has been a stalwart student and never dated, though he’s attracted to males. Corbin contacts the owner of his brothel, Monroe, to see if Thierry’s virginity can be auctioned—and if the price will cover the cost of school.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Thierry is a Sythe orphan, which means he’s a humanoid being who happens to have very dark purple skin and is highly sensitive to touch, which makes Sythes extremely responsive sexually. They are a small race of beings and highly valued as consorts. Thierry’s older brother Corbin works as an aspacian, a trained prostitute, in an exclusive brothel on the pleasure planet of Wish. He spends tow weeks of every month as a companion and occasional sex partner where he makes sufficient money to keep their lives comfortable.
When Thierry is accepted to the Intergalactic Star Pilot Academy, the first Sythe to ever be accepted, he and Corbin are elated…and troubled. The entry is too expensive for Corbin’s earning potential. An idea comes to mind, however. Thierry—determined to be a pilot—has been a stalwart student and never dated, though he’s attracted to males. Corbin contacts the owner of his brothel, Monroe, to see if Thierry’s virginity can be auctioned—and if the price will cover the cost of school.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
January 6, 2018
4 ⭐️
I’ve struggled the start of this year to get interested in reading anything, so I decided to tackle my reReads list.
This one is still surprising, as it holds up on the re read.
I still enjoyed Thierry and Corbin as characters and Monroe grew on me. It kept my interest still on the second read even though I knew who the buyer was.
I liked that Thierry had a definite plan for his future, and was prepared to do what he had to, to get it. I also enjoyed the letters between Thierry and his dragonfly as it gave them a chance to connect and get to know each other outside of the bedroom. Monroe’s influence while at times annoying was always in Thierry’s best interest and helped Thierry grow as a character.
Onto Corbin’s story
I’ve struggled the start of this year to get interested in reading anything, so I decided to tackle my reReads list.
This one is still surprising, as it holds up on the re read.
I still enjoyed Thierry and Corbin as characters and Monroe grew on me. It kept my interest still on the second read even though I knew who the buyer was.
I liked that Thierry had a definite plan for his future, and was prepared to do what he had to, to get it. I also enjoyed the letters between Thierry and his dragonfly as it gave them a chance to connect and get to know each other outside of the bedroom. Monroe’s influence while at times annoying was always in Thierry’s best interest and helped Thierry grow as a character.
Onto Corbin’s story
July 15, 2015
3.5 stars.
July 18, 2015
I enjoy this author's writing style, but this story wasn't for me. There were a couple of plot points which made no sense to me, and I didn't like Thierry.
March 31, 2016
Book – To The Highest Bidder (A Planet Called Wish #1)
Author – Caitlin Ricci
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages - 200
Movie Potential - ★★★★★
Ease of reading – very easy to read and follow
Would I read it again – Definitely!
I fell in love with this book right from the start. This is a high fantasy, truly beautiful May-Decemer love story. The cover is stunning and what's inside is even better.
To understand most of what I'm going to talk about, you'll have to know what the book is about. It's a little more complicated than the blurb entails, so stick with me:
Thierry is a 20 year old kid, who lives with his brother. He's just been accepted into a prestigious school, to become a pilot, which is his dream. To pay for it, his brother Corbin (a high end escort called an aspasian) sends him to his boss, Monroe, who helps arrange an auction, to sell Thierry's virginity. (Don't worry. I know it sounds weird on paper, but the way it's written, it actually makes perfect sense.) After the auction is won by the highest bidder (see where the title comes in?) they have their night together.
One night becomes letters, that his mystery man, only named Dragonfly (after a tattoo), requests and is willing to pay for. For each letter, Thierry gets money. But a bond forms, through those letters. With random visits (once a month) they see each other again, for dinner and sex. Dragonfly never talks or reveals himself, and finally Thierry loses patience. He whips off Dragonfly's mask during one visit and the reveal of his true identity is shocking!
PLOT
As a 1st person POV, I was apprehensive. This style and I do not always get alone. It takes a very special writer and a very special story for me to like a 1st person, but this one did it. I barely remembered that it was a 1st person, because the story took over.
I initially cringed at the very idea of Corbin encouraging his younger brother to sell his virginity, to pay for pilot school, but the way the story is written gives the choice more credence. The Planet of Wish is a pleasure planet, where all the best brothels are. On it is the brothel Asiq, where Corbin works for Monroe. Both are equally important characters to Thierry and Dragonfly. Though the story is all about Thierry and Dragonfly's relationship, Monroe and Corbin are very important, both in this book and towards the next.
I love how proud Corbin is of his job. Although he's naturally more included towards feeling emotions (see explanation below about Sythes) I like that it's not about how the job feels for him, but what he does. He helps people, in many ways, and that's what keeps him loyal to Asiq. But, at the same time, as well as being the best in Asiq because of this enjoyment of his work, you get this really strong sense that he'd do anything for Thierry. Especially to get him his dream job.
There is such brilliant detail and creativity in this story. Not only in the back story of each character, but in the development of the world, the imagery of the travel between planets, as well as the entire concept. In any other book, the ideas inside this story might seem fantastical, unbelievable or just plain weird. But here, they work. They work really, really well. Nothing is over-emphasised, over-done or too dramatic or fantastical. Everything is perfectly balanced.
I did have to admit that I got a very slight hint of a dom/sub relationship, whether it was meant or not. For me, it just came across as a possibility that never went anywhere, though that's not a bad thing. It started percolating when Dragonfly made Thierry sit at his feet while he ate, then pinged again when Dragonfly sent Thierry a bracelet (with a tracker, camera etc) that would keep him safe. It felt as though these were small things that might suggest Dragonfly was training Thierry to be more submissive, but, like I said, it never went anywhere. They were nice touches though.
When it came time for the big reveal of who Dragonfly really was, I'll admit, I hadn't really thought about who it might be. I was too wrapped up in the fact they were in love with each other and it was all so mysterious. But, when I found it, it was a total AHA! moment. Suddenly, certain moments that had preceded the reveal began to make sense. But, it was also really sad, because Thierry was so upset and things just went downhill after that.
~
CHARACTERS
I love Thierry, our MC. He's innocent, naive and completely unprepared for the world he's stepping into. Naturally, Thierry has some hesitations about the auction, which are nicely written, with real authenticity. Thierry is a Sythe, which means he's purple (think the cover) and feels emotions more highly than any other species. That makes him ideal to be an aspasian, but even more expensive as a one time experience, for selling his virginity. The constant doubt and confusion over what he's done and the brief moments of shame are understandable, especially in his situation – wanting desperately to afford pilot school, but not wanting anyone to know how he had to pay for it. He's a sheltered, very gentle soul and I fell in love with him right away.
As his brother, Corbin is a more open character. Emotionally closed off, he's happy to live his life as an aspasian and help anyone he can, with his work. Since it's not all about sex, we readers can see the side of it that he likes and it's written in a way that makes everything the aspasians do perfectly natural and okay. Even if it was all about sex, we know that Corbin is happy with that life. I love how strong his relationship with Thierry is, as well. There's nothing they wouldn't do for each other.
Monroe, the owner of a brothel (for want of a better word) is actually a wonderful character. He's gentle and kind, protective and quite the father figure to the men who work for him. He takes care of Thierry, as he enters into this unfamiliar world.
The last big character is Dragonfly. I loved him, even though he never said anything. And I mean that literally. He never spoke in the entire book. He wrote letters to Thierry which were heartfelt, sweet and encouraging. The chemistry they shared, both in person and in those letters, is beautiful. It made me smile every time they were together. The small smiles, the gentleness of their physical times together, were equally matched by the heat and the desperate need to be together.
~
OVERALL
For me, this was more of a love story than some I've read recently. The fantasy elements were perfect and the plotting was genius. There wasn't one thing I didn't like about it.
The ending was beautiful and perfect for the characters and the situation they were in. The Epilogue had me in tears with relief and joy. It's a very wonderful, innocent love story that wasn't at all what I was expecting. But I loved every minute of it. The best part is that the story is complete as it is, though I'll definitely be reading book 2, which focuses on Corbin's love life. I'm so excited to get started and I really hope there are more books in the series...like...about ten more!
I never want it to end.
~
FAVOURITE QUOTE
“A gentle hug between comrades turned into a kiss between friends. And then I knew I had found my way home as his skin touched mine, and I was once again his.”
Author – Caitlin Ricci
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages - 200
Movie Potential - ★★★★★
Ease of reading – very easy to read and follow
Would I read it again – Definitely!
I fell in love with this book right from the start. This is a high fantasy, truly beautiful May-Decemer love story. The cover is stunning and what's inside is even better.
To understand most of what I'm going to talk about, you'll have to know what the book is about. It's a little more complicated than the blurb entails, so stick with me:
Thierry is a 20 year old kid, who lives with his brother. He's just been accepted into a prestigious school, to become a pilot, which is his dream. To pay for it, his brother Corbin (a high end escort called an aspasian) sends him to his boss, Monroe, who helps arrange an auction, to sell Thierry's virginity. (Don't worry. I know it sounds weird on paper, but the way it's written, it actually makes perfect sense.) After the auction is won by the highest bidder (see where the title comes in?) they have their night together.
One night becomes letters, that his mystery man, only named Dragonfly (after a tattoo), requests and is willing to pay for. For each letter, Thierry gets money. But a bond forms, through those letters. With random visits (once a month) they see each other again, for dinner and sex. Dragonfly never talks or reveals himself, and finally Thierry loses patience. He whips off Dragonfly's mask during one visit and the reveal of his true identity is shocking!
PLOT
As a 1st person POV, I was apprehensive. This style and I do not always get alone. It takes a very special writer and a very special story for me to like a 1st person, but this one did it. I barely remembered that it was a 1st person, because the story took over.
I initially cringed at the very idea of Corbin encouraging his younger brother to sell his virginity, to pay for pilot school, but the way the story is written gives the choice more credence. The Planet of Wish is a pleasure planet, where all the best brothels are. On it is the brothel Asiq, where Corbin works for Monroe. Both are equally important characters to Thierry and Dragonfly. Though the story is all about Thierry and Dragonfly's relationship, Monroe and Corbin are very important, both in this book and towards the next.
I love how proud Corbin is of his job. Although he's naturally more included towards feeling emotions (see explanation below about Sythes) I like that it's not about how the job feels for him, but what he does. He helps people, in many ways, and that's what keeps him loyal to Asiq. But, at the same time, as well as being the best in Asiq because of this enjoyment of his work, you get this really strong sense that he'd do anything for Thierry. Especially to get him his dream job.
There is such brilliant detail and creativity in this story. Not only in the back story of each character, but in the development of the world, the imagery of the travel between planets, as well as the entire concept. In any other book, the ideas inside this story might seem fantastical, unbelievable or just plain weird. But here, they work. They work really, really well. Nothing is over-emphasised, over-done or too dramatic or fantastical. Everything is perfectly balanced.
I did have to admit that I got a very slight hint of a dom/sub relationship, whether it was meant or not. For me, it just came across as a possibility that never went anywhere, though that's not a bad thing. It started percolating when Dragonfly made Thierry sit at his feet while he ate, then pinged again when Dragonfly sent Thierry a bracelet (with a tracker, camera etc) that would keep him safe. It felt as though these were small things that might suggest Dragonfly was training Thierry to be more submissive, but, like I said, it never went anywhere. They were nice touches though.
When it came time for the big reveal of who Dragonfly really was, I'll admit, I hadn't really thought about who it might be. I was too wrapped up in the fact they were in love with each other and it was all so mysterious. But, when I found it, it was a total AHA! moment. Suddenly, certain moments that had preceded the reveal began to make sense. But, it was also really sad, because Thierry was so upset and things just went downhill after that.
~
CHARACTERS
I love Thierry, our MC. He's innocent, naive and completely unprepared for the world he's stepping into. Naturally, Thierry has some hesitations about the auction, which are nicely written, with real authenticity. Thierry is a Sythe, which means he's purple (think the cover) and feels emotions more highly than any other species. That makes him ideal to be an aspasian, but even more expensive as a one time experience, for selling his virginity. The constant doubt and confusion over what he's done and the brief moments of shame are understandable, especially in his situation – wanting desperately to afford pilot school, but not wanting anyone to know how he had to pay for it. He's a sheltered, very gentle soul and I fell in love with him right away.
As his brother, Corbin is a more open character. Emotionally closed off, he's happy to live his life as an aspasian and help anyone he can, with his work. Since it's not all about sex, we readers can see the side of it that he likes and it's written in a way that makes everything the aspasians do perfectly natural and okay. Even if it was all about sex, we know that Corbin is happy with that life. I love how strong his relationship with Thierry is, as well. There's nothing they wouldn't do for each other.
Monroe, the owner of a brothel (for want of a better word) is actually a wonderful character. He's gentle and kind, protective and quite the father figure to the men who work for him. He takes care of Thierry, as he enters into this unfamiliar world.
The last big character is Dragonfly. I loved him, even though he never said anything. And I mean that literally. He never spoke in the entire book. He wrote letters to Thierry which were heartfelt, sweet and encouraging. The chemistry they shared, both in person and in those letters, is beautiful. It made me smile every time they were together. The small smiles, the gentleness of their physical times together, were equally matched by the heat and the desperate need to be together.
~
OVERALL
For me, this was more of a love story than some I've read recently. The fantasy elements were perfect and the plotting was genius. There wasn't one thing I didn't like about it.
The ending was beautiful and perfect for the characters and the situation they were in. The Epilogue had me in tears with relief and joy. It's a very wonderful, innocent love story that wasn't at all what I was expecting. But I loved every minute of it. The best part is that the story is complete as it is, though I'll definitely be reading book 2, which focuses on Corbin's love life. I'm so excited to get started and I really hope there are more books in the series...like...about ten more!
I never want it to end.
~
FAVOURITE QUOTE
“A gentle hug between comrades turned into a kiss between friends. And then I knew I had found my way home as his skin touched mine, and I was once again his.”
October 29, 2021
I found this in a erotica list, so I was expecting a lot of explicit sex with no plot. What I got was a cute romance with some sex scenes, a quick read and an entertaining story. I really enjoyed the characters (specially Monroe and Corbin) and the worldbuilding, so I'll definitely read the second book about Corbin.
Spoilers for the ending:
Spoilers for the ending:
October 31, 2017
No, no no! OH How I hate those books that says "after almost 10 years"... I loved this book from the beginning to the end, just I hate the epiloge. How could Thierry bear being far from Monroe for almost 10 years? Did he love any body else? Did he had another relationship? Did he stay faithful? And Monroe? He had to wait for Thierry's return? No, no... too much time and what's the meaning of waiting?
I know, I know I am being bitchful and should not. I loved the novel, the environment, the growing of relationship that was kind of hot and I just did not like the end. But that's the author's choice and I have to accept it.
I know, I know I am being bitchful and should not. I loved the novel, the environment, the growing of relationship that was kind of hot and I just did not like the end. But that's the author's choice and I have to accept it.
March 15, 2019
I did enjoy this, but 4 stars because of the abrupt happy ending that could apparently only be pulled off via a time jump epilogue. Would have preferred to see the character relationship simply develop and work. There were definitely times when I wanted to smack Thierry, because he did seem more like a lovestruck, stubborn puppy more than anything else. I'm not a huge fan of insta-loves, especially when it seems almost a bit obsessive and "who else could I possibly be with in my entire life?! He's the first person I've ever kissed, of course I'm in uber love with him." But overall I enjoyed. Those are my only quick plot critiques.
July 16, 2017
I liked the world building in this one. The idea of a pleasure planet is fun and a species that shows pleasure at a touch is an interesting idea. I also liked Thierry's character who is determined to be a pilot and willing to do what it takes. It is also interesting to watch him get enamored of “Dragonfly" only to find out who he is. It also took a different approach towards the end with a HEA but this book took the long way around with it. I kind of wish there was another book that dealt with how Thierry and Monroe deal with their time apart.
April 19, 2023
Well. That sucked. The last quarter of the book was the two of them arguing in Monroe's office, repeating the same argument in a few different ways. The epilogue was copout bullshit. This was so far from my thing, and it looked so good, too!! I love alien romances, and auction stories, and two-person love triangles, and it was frustrating that I disliked it so much.
On the bright side, now I want a good alien romance and I might actually get around to some of the alien romances on my TBR.
On the bright side, now I want a good alien romance and I might actually get around to some of the alien romances on my TBR.
September 1, 2024
There really was no true feelings between the two main characters. Their “relationship “ fell completely flat and forced.
Also the style of writing felt like reading an IKEA manual.
Highly doubt I’ll read the rest in the series.
Also the style of writing felt like reading an IKEA manual.
Highly doubt I’ll read the rest in the series.
July 9, 2017
3.25 stars
April 21, 2019
2.5/5 stars
October 27, 2019
Conflicted on this one. I liked both main characters, but hated the fact most of their time together was actually when they were apart.
May 26, 2024
Very enjoyable
I enjoyed this book very much. I'm sad that I'm finished with it because I could have loved to have read more between these two.
I enjoyed this book very much. I'm sad that I'm finished with it because I could have loved to have read more between these two.
October 19, 2025
No. Just no.
October 19, 2016
3.5 stars
I enjoyed reading To the Highest Bidder. It was an entertaining, fun, and smexy read. It also started as an insta-love story but then developed into a greater romance.
First off, Thierry and Dragonfly fell in love instantly, which I thought was a bit weird. Making sure someone has a good first time does not mean you should fall in love with him. Everything just felt rushed and made Thierry seem immature (which he is) and Dragonfly a bit creepy at times (which he is). There are time skips that we don’t see, so their relationship could have been growing in that time, but it was just a little weird to me because it didn’t blend as well.
However, while it was insta-love between the characters at first, I liked how the author ended up resolving their relationship in a realistic and well-thought out way. First, the reveal of who Dragonfly was worked well for me. While I had some guesses, I was still surprised, and the ensuing aftermath set up the end half of the book and really forced Thierry to grow up and realize that relationships are not easy. One of the characters basically calls Thierry out on the fact that he was immature and how he said he was in love yet when that love was tested, he didn’t react well. Although, I do understand why he reacted the way he did, I thought it was great to see that things weren’t going to just wrap up in a neat bow.
This is also where the hot sex takes a backseat, the plot becomes much more prevalent, and most of the angst comes in. While there were still smexy times, I loved the new plot developments, as they all helped (forced) the characters to grow up and evolve. Like I said, Thierry had to mature and learn to work for his relationship while Dragonfly had to learn to be a bit less cynical and jaded (even if it takes practically the entire rest of the book for this to happen). And while there were times where the angst between Thierry and the revealed Dragonfly became a bit repetitive and dragged on, I think it still worked for the overall story.
My only other big issues with this novel were a few conflicting details I noticed, which were annoying, and the time skips. As I mentioned before, there are time skips throughout the novel, some only a few weeks or a month, others half a year to a decade. Time skips are iffy to me because while they can help drive the plot along, they can also hurt the character development in a story. And while a few of the time skips worked (i.e. the giant one between the final chapter and the epilogue), I didn’t like many of the time skips as I felt I missed out on a lot of relationship and character development. I also would have liked to see more of Thierry as a pilot, since that was the reason behind why he started all of this in the first place, but aside from seeing him do some homework and schoolwork, we didn’t get to see much flying.
Aside from those issues, I enjoyed this story. It was fun and entertaining and the plot ended up really surprising me at the end since I wasn’t expecting it to expand much beyond where I thought it was going. Also, Corbin was a fun older brother and a great secondary character, and I loved how supportive he was to Thierry. So overall, I recommend giving this story a shot.
I enjoyed reading To the Highest Bidder. It was an entertaining, fun, and smexy read. It also started as an insta-love story but then developed into a greater romance.
First off, Thierry and Dragonfly fell in love instantly, which I thought was a bit weird. Making sure someone has a good first time does not mean you should fall in love with him. Everything just felt rushed and made Thierry seem immature (which he is) and Dragonfly a bit creepy at times (which he is). There are time skips that we don’t see, so their relationship could have been growing in that time, but it was just a little weird to me because it didn’t blend as well.
However, while it was insta-love between the characters at first, I liked how the author ended up resolving their relationship in a realistic and well-thought out way. First, the reveal of who Dragonfly was worked well for me. While I had some guesses, I was still surprised, and the ensuing aftermath set up the end half of the book and really forced Thierry to grow up and realize that relationships are not easy. One of the characters basically calls Thierry out on the fact that he was immature and how he said he was in love yet when that love was tested, he didn’t react well. Although, I do understand why he reacted the way he did, I thought it was great to see that things weren’t going to just wrap up in a neat bow.
This is also where the hot sex takes a backseat, the plot becomes much more prevalent, and most of the angst comes in. While there were still smexy times, I loved the new plot developments, as they all helped (forced) the characters to grow up and evolve. Like I said, Thierry had to mature and learn to work for his relationship while Dragonfly had to learn to be a bit less cynical and jaded (even if it takes practically the entire rest of the book for this to happen). And while there were times where the angst between Thierry and the revealed Dragonfly became a bit repetitive and dragged on, I think it still worked for the overall story.
My only other big issues with this novel were a few conflicting details I noticed, which were annoying, and the time skips. As I mentioned before, there are time skips throughout the novel, some only a few weeks or a month, others half a year to a decade. Time skips are iffy to me because while they can help drive the plot along, they can also hurt the character development in a story. And while a few of the time skips worked (i.e. the giant one between the final chapter and the epilogue), I didn’t like many of the time skips as I felt I missed out on a lot of relationship and character development. I also would have liked to see more of Thierry as a pilot, since that was the reason behind why he started all of this in the first place, but aside from seeing him do some homework and schoolwork, we didn’t get to see much flying.
Aside from those issues, I enjoyed this story. It was fun and entertaining and the plot ended up really surprising me at the end since I wasn’t expecting it to expand much beyond where I thought it was going. Also, Corbin was a fun older brother and a great secondary character, and I loved how supportive he was to Thierry. So overall, I recommend giving this story a shot.
December 8, 2015
Thierry Leroux has been admitted to the Intergalactic Star Pilot Academy and his dreams are all about to come true. But the academy is expensive, and as a Sythe orphan, it's unlikely he will be able to come up with the tuition. His brother, Corbin, works as an escort and gives Thierry the suggestion of auctioning off his virginity to pay for his schooling. It's not something Thierry is very interested in at first, but as deadlines draw near, he gives Corbin the go ahead to set it up. Corbin's boss, Monroe, is more than willing to help arrange the transaction, and they are both pleased when they get a bidder who will more than cover what Thierry needs. The buyer, known only as "Dragonfly" and insistent on wearing a mask when they meet, goes out of his way to make Thierry's first time special, and Thierry is agreeable when the "Dragonfly" asks for them to meet again. After a few such meetings, Thierry realizes he might be developing feelings for his would-be suitor, though he has no idea who is hiding behind the mask. Will finding out ruin the magic and destroy everything?
This was my first Caitlin Ricci title, but I was not disappointed. The character of Thierry is so well-written. Seeing him go from where he is at the beginning of the book, to making his decision, to following through with it, and to living with everything that happens after is an interesting journey. There's subtlety to it, but the dynamic is clear. I certainly look forward to picking up more from this author.
This was my first Caitlin Ricci title, but I was not disappointed. The character of Thierry is so well-written. Seeing him go from where he is at the beginning of the book, to making his decision, to following through with it, and to living with everything that happens after is an interesting journey. There's subtlety to it, but the dynamic is clear. I certainly look forward to picking up more from this author.
June 20, 2016
3.5 Stars
This review is for the audiobook, read by Jean Samson.
To The Highest Bidder is intriguing, entertaining, and heartwarming. The narration is not bad, but I find it a bit awkward at times, which detracts from the story. If I was reviewing the text version I would rate it at 4 stars instead of 3.5.
This story is unique and immediately engaging. Thierry's infatuation with his mystery lover is endearing. But I'm glad things come back down to earth, or it could have become silly. As it is, the mystery romance becomes a tool that reveals interesting elements of their personalities.
The characters in this story are well developed, and the romance is a sexy and bitter-sweet journey.
Overall, I enjoyed this story, and I'm looking forward to the next one. I did feel, however, that some parts did drag a little, making the story feel a bit padded.
I recommend this book to someone looking for a unique Sci-Fi romance and coming of age story.
*I received a free copy of this audiobook to read for Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.*
This review is for the audiobook, read by Jean Samson.
To The Highest Bidder is intriguing, entertaining, and heartwarming. The narration is not bad, but I find it a bit awkward at times, which detracts from the story. If I was reviewing the text version I would rate it at 4 stars instead of 3.5.
This story is unique and immediately engaging. Thierry's infatuation with his mystery lover is endearing. But I'm glad things come back down to earth, or it could have become silly. As it is, the mystery romance becomes a tool that reveals interesting elements of their personalities.
The characters in this story are well developed, and the romance is a sexy and bitter-sweet journey.
Overall, I enjoyed this story, and I'm looking forward to the next one. I did feel, however, that some parts did drag a little, making the story feel a bit padded.
I recommend this book to someone looking for a unique Sci-Fi romance and coming of age story.
*I received a free copy of this audiobook to read for Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.*
December 22, 2023
Thierry wants to be a pilot with the Intergalactic Star Pilot Academy, but it's expensive, and as an orphan, there is no way to get the credits needed. Thierry's brother works on the pleasure planet Wish as a high-class companion. Thierry asks Corbin to set up a meeting between him and Corbin's boss, to see about auctioning off his virginity. Corbin's boss, Monroe, agrees to set up the auction and be the go between of the winner and Thierry. The masked buy "Dragonfly" wins, making the experience good for Thierry. The two continue to meet up on Wish.
Thierry and Dragonfly have some good chemistry and have started an interesting dynamic, and once Thierry finally figures out who the Dragonfly is, there is a bit of angst. I loved to see this fantasy world and the relationship between Thierry and Dragonfly start to emerge.
Thierry and Dragonfly have some good chemistry and have started an interesting dynamic, and once Thierry finally figures out who the Dragonfly is, there is a bit of angst. I loved to see this fantasy world and the relationship between Thierry and Dragonfly start to emerge.
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