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Unchained:

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One geeky neuroscientist sent to research the inmates of a prison asteroid.
Two cyborg criminals determined to free the inmates.
A forbidden romance among the stars.

Dr. Skylar Russo, a woman known for her research skills rather than her people skills, wants nothing more than to forget that her fiancé left her at the altar. She’s vowed to focus on her career instead of men, even when that career sends her to the most inhospitable place imaginable. An asteroid prison in the middle of nowhere.

Worse than the location are the inmates she’s been sent to study. Former cyborg soldiers who couldn’t readjust to civilian society after the war ended. These enhanced men are physically and emotionally scarred, and no sane woman would want anything to do with them.

But when former warship captain Diego and combat sergeant Jerick kidnap her as part of their plan to free the prisoners, Skylar is wrapped up in a deadly adventure she never envisioned with two fierce cyborgs who should terrify her. But she finds herself drawn to Diego’s poetic soul and Jerick's hot muscled ferocity. She grows sympathetic to their plight and wants to help them, but she can’t do so without risking her career—and her life.

With four government warships on the way, Skylar will have to choose between what’s best for her... and what she wants with all her heart.

Unchained features two hunky heroes, one geeky heroine, and a forbidden romance that will irrevocably change their lives forever. If you don’t like the idea of threesomes finding a happily ever after together, please pass on this novel.

255 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 19, 2018

78 people are currently reading
97 people want to read

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Ruby Lionsdrake

29 books513 followers

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5 stars
173 (40%)
4 stars
166 (38%)
3 stars
67 (15%)
2 stars
16 (3%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Jacob Proffitt.
3,318 reviews2,164 followers
February 9, 2019
Ruby Lionsdrake writes sci-fi/romance with neither genre really dominating. I'm not often in the right mood, but sometimes I get pulled in. This one caught my eye because of the three-way romance setup. Lionsdrake is good enough that I wanted to see how she'd handle that configuration. Answer: I don't think she really bothered, to be honest. Jerick and Diego had bonds from their shared military service. So they already had a kind of love for one another, including bisexual undertones. Skylar acted as kind of a catalyst for their relationship but her attachment wasn't much more than surface. Yeah, she liked Diego from his public persona and was drawn into his (noble) mission. And Jerick evoked her sympathy for his plight. But she went pretty fast from physical attraction to "hey, we're a thing, right?" and that felt more than a little forced.

The plot itself was engaging and everything I'd expect from a Lionsdrake story. High-stakes action and lots of adrenaline and desperate planning and improvisation that leads eventually to the good guys winning. So a success on that level, anyway.

I'm calling this three stars because I was fully engaged with the characters and action. I wish I bought the romance aspects of it, but not so much. The awful cover did not figure in my rating, but srsly?

A note about Steamy: There's a single explicit sex scene, putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance (because it was long and, uh, complicated). It was interesting enough, but kind of cemented my feeling that this was all about he physical and not so much the emotional.
Profile Image for Jess.
2,345 reviews78 followers
July 26, 2018
I can't tell if I want RL to do a whole series based on this triad or if I want a whole series based on all the sequelbait. Either way, I want more!

Don't let the cover art or blurb fool you, this is more story than sex. But also there are several making out and sex scenes. I thought it was a nice mix or science fiction and romance, but if you want more of one than the other, you might be disappointed.

The boys in the triad had a previous work relationship that never quite crossed into love/sex, but their circumstances in this story allowed them to begin exploring those possibilities, and the heroine .. wasn't exactly a catalyst, I think, as much as just the right person at the right time. This isn't one of those stories that had indistinguishable heroes, thank goodness; they're each their own person.

I enjoyed the worldbuilding quite a lot, and thought the story was very fun and fast-paced.

CW: violence, prison, sex (m/m/f)
1 review
July 24, 2018
Thank you.

As a partner in a triad, I appreciate that this is about the love. We mostly get the you’re perverts looks. Thank you.
Profile Image for Kelly.
5,701 reviews228 followers
August 12, 2018
MAN, I like Ruby Lionsdrake's books. They're sexy, a little over the top (in the best way!), and a lot fun.

This time around, we have an unsuspecting doctor who gets caught up in a rescue attempt and...well, she's not unsympathetic to Diego and Jerick's plight. I mean, she doesn't agree with how the cyborgs were treated as it is and she kinda has a thing for the two of them as things progress. A sexy, sexy thing. Rawr!

Anywho. It's not all sexy times and smoldering looks as the cyborgs work on taking over the prison. There's also a touch of danger, a few escape attempts (several of which succeed), and a plan that will take the cyborgs out of everyone's hair for good. You know, if everything falls into place and all conditions are met.

The sexy times in between were just a bonus for the guys. (And the doc. I mean, she was definitely into it.) I have to say, I'd be down with more shenanigans set in this world. Things are sticky, but Diego has a plan that could work out for everyone. I wouldn't mind seeing the background characters (I'm looking at you, Keiko) get a little action of the non-fighting variety.

Time will tell, I guess.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
121 reviews8 followers
September 5, 2018
Lionsdrake is one of my favorite authors, so I have read almost everything she has written. I was super excited when this book came out; cyborgs and space prisons are two of my favorite things to read about! This book is highly enjoyable and well written, but it wasn't perfect. It's the very little details that are keeping me from giving a 5-star rating. For example, there is no mention of time throughout the book, so I have no idea if the whole adventure took hours or days. And, with that lack of time reference, there is no point in which the characters eat, bathe, or have to use the bathroom. Attending to personal needs is one of the aspects that makes a story believable to me. Also, if I were the heroine, I would have wanted to discuss some sort of future relationship plans (that involved two men), before deciding to ditch my life and career and sailing off into the sunset with them (this is the rational realist in me coming out). Overall, I enjoyed this book and hope that the author plans to write more in this universe.
Profile Image for Heike.
662 reviews55 followers
February 7, 2019
I had this book for a while, Ruby Lionsdrake (the "hot" version of Lindsay Buroker) is a go-to author for me, always super entertaining and fast paced with kick-ass characters. I can do without the more detailed sex scenes (I prefer Lindsay Buroker's more damped approach to romance), but put up with them for the cool science fiction back ground.
This one, we were warned, includes a threesome romance which I find emotional disturbing, thus the long wait until I read it. I put it down only twice because I had to go out to do chores.
Ruby pulled it off, the one-and-a-half detailed scenes were well done and did not distract me from the main story. Sure, the whole story was very innuendo heavy, but good guys against bad guys, old friends rescuing their comrades from being unfairly treated after leaving the military, woman understanding their quest and helping them .... *sigh* - great fun to read. I even forgive them having their heads in their pants during battles ;)

I hope there will be a sequel, would love to read about their adventures out in space!!!
Profile Image for Lisa.
20 reviews1 follower
July 24, 2018
More Please!

Excellent! Definitely can see plenty there to write a series around and hoping like hell a series is written. Soon!
Profile Image for Ann.
64 reviews
February 9, 2019
Loved It. Highly recommend it.

I love Lynsey Buroker’s / Ruby Lionsdrake’s writing but I wasn’t sure if I would like this book because of the ménage mentioned in the synopsis. Most of the books I’ve read that have a high erotica component have ended up being all sex and no story or character development. As a result, I tend to avoid most books that go beyond moderate erotica because I find that the emphasis on sex makes for a very boring book. Luckily for me, this book was available as a free read through Kindle Unlimited, so I decided to give it a chance. I am extremely glad that I did because I loved the book and plan to buy it as soon as I finish this review.

This book is standard Buroker/Lionsdrake, which means it is well written, has likeable, sexy and sympathetic protagonists, entertaining plot, great action scenes, tender moments and lots of snarky humour, all of which keep the reader engaged and glued to the Kindle app. On top of all that, there are very tasteful sex scenes (no, that was not an intentional pun, but once I realized what I had written, I couldn’t resist leaving it in).

I don’t know where RL intends to take this series but the three main protagonists are written so well that they make the perfect threesome. Their personalities and experiences mesh and they have as much of an intellectual and emotional attraction as a sexual one. They have vulnerabilities and strengths that make a connection with the reader and these protagonists are definitely not clichéd characters.

An underlying theme that is carefully and successfully highlighted in this book is the way veterans are seen and treated once their service is no longer needed. Lionsdrake does not beat the reader over the head, but she still makes the point that veterans don’t get the support they need to be integrated back into peacetime society. As well, her comments call to mind Kipling’s poem that points out how many in civilian society treat veterans with benign neglect, indifference, suspicion and contempt. Society lauds returning veterans initially, but the parades, hagiographical articles and empty praises don’t translate into meaningful practical actions that actually help veterans to integrate into their new reality. My grandfather fought with the Canadian/British army in the trenches in France during WWI, my uncle flew Lancasters with the RAF during WWII, my husband was in the Canadian airforce and our youngest son is a retired career Marine who did two tours in Iraq, so the plight of veterans is a subject that interests me. Hopefully this theme of veterans’ reentry into civilian society in the story will cause readers to think about what happens after the parades and enthusiasm are over.

There was an excellent balance between humour, action, sexual activity and philosophizing. The balance between science fiction adventure story and romance story was also skillfully done. This was a fast, fun read that nevertheless tugged at the heartstrings at times. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Jo .
2,681 reviews68 followers
July 25, 2018
Sometimes what you see as punishment is really great opportunity. That is how it worked out for Dr. Skylar Russo. Who knew what she would find when sent to a prison asteroid. This was a fun story with two very interesting men and one ready for a change woman. Look for a surprise at the end.
Profile Image for The Mysterious Reader.
3,589 reviews66 followers
July 29, 2018
A formula: ADD 1 geeky neuroscientist sent to research the inmates of a prison asteroid PLUS 2 cyborg criminals determined to free the inmates EQUALS a great science fiction romance adventure. Sounds simple enough, but so, so easy to ruin in the wrong hands. Luckily, Ruby Lionsdrake has masterful hands when it comes to this kind of formula, and Unchained is perfect proof of that. I’ve known for quite a while that when Lindsay Buroker puts on her “Ruby Lionsdrake” pen name hat what will follow will be sci-fi romance at its best. No surprise that this talented author can handle reverse harm action as well as anything else. The story of Skylar and her totally yummy guys, Diego and Jerick is as hot as it is great, and it’s very (very) great indeed. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - the book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Denise.
7,521 reviews137 followers
October 16, 2018
When neuroscientist Dr. Skylar Russo is volunteered for a six month research assignment on the prison asteroid Antioch to study its cyborg inmates, she expects rather a lot of unpleasantness coming her way. She did not, however, anticipate to find herself in the middle of a prison break upon her arrival - and she most certainly didn't anticipate to attract and reciprocate the amorous attentions of both the prison break's mastermind and one of the soldiers he came to rescue.

Ruby Lionsdrake trying her hand on a triad sci-fi romance? Hell yeah, sign me up! As ever, her mixture of humour, adventure and sexy times worked perfectly for me, providing excellent entertainment from start to finish, and I loved the characters and their developing relationship. I really wish Cortez and Jerick had at least gotten around to kissing each other at some point, though. Sequel, pretty please? I need more of this.
Profile Image for Noodle The Naughty Night Owl.
2,334 reviews38 followers
August 31, 2018
8/10: Excellent read, well written, fell right into the fictional world created.

“Just so you know, I’m not sure what language you’re speaking, but I like listening to you talk, so feel free to carry on.”

Please write more. A whole series on the ship with new characters. Pretty please?

Loved the humour, the action, the setting, the story, and definitely the characters. Lots of fun and didn’t want it to end.

Please write more.
Profile Image for Lili.
841 reviews48 followers
August 5, 2018
I'm really excited by this new series - I hope the next books keep coming in close succession!
I love the snarky dialogue and the characters-and pretty much everything else.
To paraphrase, who can not love Ruby? For her price is above rubies!
Profile Image for Carol.
198 reviews
October 3, 2018
Just Plain Good

I liked this story with its decidedly different characters and their romance. We just got a peek at what was to be a and that was enough! I enjoyed all 3 main characters. The plot with their entry and exit from a space prison was intriguing!
Profile Image for Llaph .
1,066 reviews29 followers
October 7, 2018
I'm normally a big fan of everything this author writes, but this pen name has had some hits or misses with me. This was one of those misses.... Interesting concept for the most part, but I was too interested in the sci-fi stuff going on I got annoyed when the sexytimes showed up.
33 reviews
July 29, 2018
Very good book

The story is heart warming, as well as hitting close to home...vets are. Very important but often forgotten. Love the story
Profile Image for Kristina.
2,668 reviews79 followers
Read
January 2, 2019
The cover is THE WORST and it's not hardly sexy at all but Ruby does know her way around a space adventure I guess.
Profile Image for Kara Prem.
786 reviews7 followers
August 20, 2018
Unchained was a decent story with a rushed poly romance. Neuroscientist Skylar is headed on a transport ship to an asteroid prison where she is assigned to work for the next few years. Traveling with her is a professor, Dr. Cortez who is also a cyborg that successfully reintegrated into society after a war. Many of the cyborgs had trouble with this, and because of their super human strength, caused more damage in fights, etc. so they ended up in their prison, scheduled for execution. Dr. Cortez hijacks the flight and with some fellow cyborgs intends to free the wrongfully imprisoned cyborgs and escape to unknown territories. A prisoner Jerick is saved in the coup and starts a relationship with Skylar and Cortez. I liked all three characters but didn’t find the chemistry to be there. The story was fun, and I would like to see what happens to them now that they have escaped.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Donna McMaster.
25 reviews19 followers
July 3, 2020
The characters were interesting and well-drawn, and the action aspect of the book was excellent. Completely impossible that our heroes' mission could succeed, and as always Lionsdrake/Buroker had the imagination to make me believe that they pulled it off.

I would have enjoyed the book more without the sex. That's not so much because of the scenes themselves as the fact that they took place in the middle of the battles for the space station and ship, when time was of the essence. The characters should have been doing their jobs, not messing around! It made me lose respect for them. I would have thought them all mature enough to be able to acknowledge the attraction, maybe indulge in some pats on the fanny, then focus on the job until it was done. And THEN they could do whatever they want.

This story needs a sequel!
Profile Image for Cc.
2,087 reviews1 follower
July 29, 2018
Skylar and Diego and Jerick

Skylar is being sent to the prison astroid as disciplinary action because she questioned her boss. She arrives at the planet on the same flight as Diego who is here to save his former Sargent, Jerick, from his death sentence.

Both Diego and Jerick are attracted to Skylar but their main mission is to survive not kidnap a women. Skylar is sympathetic to the Cyborgs; they were enhanced to help fight the war and then discarded by society afterwards. Diego wants their old ship back and hopes to take all the cyborgs out the galaxy that doesn't want them.

Interesting Cyborg story line, I hope it's the beginning of a series where we get to see what the Cyborgs encounter as the escape.
180 reviews
February 26, 2022
Holy Crap!!!!

That was awesome!!!. I loved Cortez and Jarrik!!! This was like a Laurann Dhoner novel with Cyborgs on steroids but even better!!!! I bet if Ruby Lionsdrake and Laura Dhoner created a book together it would be something like this and with a few more added twists at the end. Wow I'm in love with this book and the 3 is company twist was awesome!!! Normally this author doesn't write about tri-couples. I hope there is more of this to come because this was just amazing and I want more. Even if it's single, couples, tri-couples or quad-couples!! I'm in tears of shock and awe!!! This is a must read book for fans of Cyborg romance. I just finished this book and hope she decides to make it a series. We love you Ruby Lionsdrake!!!!
Profile Image for Tracy.
1,184 reviews3 followers
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February 8, 2024
This didn't work for me as a romance -- the heroes were separated from the heroine for too much of the story, giving them little opportunity to get to know each other. It also ended too early for me -- I was surprised to see "epilogue" pop up. I think that's another sign it was more of a sci-fi adventure with romance than sci-fi romance: a romance would have given them a scene at the end as a triad to talk more with each other and commit to the relationship. The plot was rollicking with constant action, and there was some fun banter, so it was still an entertaining book. I appreciated that the heroine's skills were made good use of in the plot, though I'm not sure that a neuroscientist is necessarily a chemist / pharmacologist?
Profile Image for Annabelle.
372 reviews3 followers
April 10, 2019
I'm a huge fan of Ruby Lionsdrake's combination of sexy geeks, humour, space battles and romance. It's like everything I love in a book. This is a quick, occasionally quite steamy read that's more action of the guns and explosions kind than it is about the, ah, other kind of action. With so many sci-fi romances swaying very much the other way, this was enjoyably different, with plot and intrigue extending beyond the 'will they/won't they'. Not the kind of book that's going to stay with you for a long time, but exactly all my kinds of catnip. If you like your sci-fi romance steamy but with a decent helping of action/adventure, you'll love this.
2,205 reviews
September 13, 2018
Surprisingly, this book had more meat to it story-wise than the cover would suggest. Some humor, action, a righteous cause with a little romantic happenings in an armory - this book has it all. Not sure if this will be the beginning of a new series or not, but it is good as a stand alone or as a beginning.
112 reviews
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September 12, 2021
This adventure delves right into a crisis situation.

This adventure delves right into a crisis situation so the characters’ attention must be focused on choosing the correct options and fast actions. I wasn’t sure there would be time for romance, but love always finds a way. I’ve read all the Lionsdrake and Buroker books and am waiting for more.
50 reviews
July 29, 2018
A fun read with lots of action!

I liked the quirky and serious characters. I would have preferred - one guy with one girl instead of 2 guys with one girl but all in all the story was great and I laughed a lot. A fun read.
22 reviews
August 17, 2018
Loved loved loved

The book was a wonderful read. I loved the light heartedness of this book, a super easy read. Quite a few times I had a hard time putting book down to go back to work. Can't wait for more stories about the other sexy cyborgs!
8 reviews
September 2, 2018
As always.

Light, fun, and very entertaining. I always enjoy this author. Looking forward to another installment. Perhaps a certain female cyborg and civilian pilot could find a male 3rd. ;)
32 reviews
November 5, 2018
Well written action, fleshed out characters

More action than steam, but that’s what I was In the mood for anyway. The characters were well fleshed out, believable, and likeable. One star off the five, wishing for more heat in the sex scene.
Profile Image for Kathleen Reed.
926 reviews2 followers
September 6, 2020
Not really a romance

the story itself was exciting and interesting. Yet, there is not a love story per se, more like a threesome lust triangle. I guess I myself am a tad too prudish for this story. Sorry.
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