REVIEW: Codename Summer by Aubrey Ross

Codename Summer

(Undercover Embassy #4)

by Aubry Ross

3 HEARTS

The Blurb

Undercover Embassy, Book Four 

Malik Wanatee is an unwilling servant of the Gathosians, aliens who have overtaken and enslaved Earth. When he’s ordered to investigate a series of suspicious incidents, he’s shocked to find a connection to his past. Back on his home world he and Saroji were to marry. That hope was killed when the Gathosians destroyed his world and interrupted his “claiming” ceremony. Could Saroji now be the agent known as Summer, part of Earth’s Resistance? 

Saroji is infuriated when she learns Malik has sent for her alter ego. If the traitor doesn’t realize she’s Summer, the Resistance can gain much from his knowledge. Malik is the only man who ever touched her body and tantalized her heart until she willingly surrendered control. She can’t afford to trust him, yet squandering the opportunity could extinguish Earth’s last hope. 

To save Earth, they must trust and submit to one another, body and soul. 

Publisher’s Note: This book was previously published elsewhere under the title Codename Courtesan: Summer and has been revised for Ellora’s Cave.

"You said you're mine to do with as I will. So prove it. I want you naked and on yours knees."

Hoo baby! Being requested to spend a week in a suite for the sole purpose of hot raunchy fun is always a plus in my book! Who doesn’t want to be continually ravaged by a hot gorgeous hunk of a man?

Saroji and Malik had that love-hate relationship down pretty well. When Malik was softening, Saroji was getting tough, and vice versa. They never seemed to be on the same page because of their ruined bonding ceremony. Saroji was mad at him for his past betrayals plus him joining with the bad guys, and Malik was mad at her for never bonding with him and becoming a courtesan. I understand being hurt in the past and how that damages a relationship in the future. I didn’t like how quickly Saroji went from “I’m mad at you” to “I’ll stand by you no matter what.” It happened in the blink of an eye and left me slightly confused. IF you want me to believe something like that happening, you need to flush it out more. I understand it’s a novella, but nobody ever gets over something that quickly when it’s bothered you for years.

The whole set up was very reminiscent of Firefly/Serenity—professional courtesans are paid for their services and it’s a business instead of something illegal. They take care of themselves. Keep themselves clean and properly looked after. They even have levels in which they can decide which clients they accept and not. I almost pictured Mal and Inara in place of Saroji and Malik. It was entertaining, but totally awkward.

I really like Autumn and Saroji’s brother, Ra’jen. They were interesting supporting characters and put a more realistic feel to the base storyline of mixed races all coming together to defeat a common enemy. Everyone's’ home worlds have been ravaged and destroyed and those that remained live together in different areas all under the control of the Gathosians.

The Gathosians! They are incorporeal beings that live in an alternate plane of existence and have created pathways that lead to ours. They need to find hosts that are compatible with them to take over. Without hosts, they can’t even exist in our worlds. They were threatening when they had a host, but otherwise they seemed like a very weak enemy. I found myself wondering why these people were so afraid of them and why they didn’t stand up to them sooner. Maybe it’s because I haven’t read the other books in this series, (which I plan to.) but I just felt they weren’t as threatening as they were supposed to be.

Saroji and Malik’s chemistry was overpowering. They were so right for each other in every way. They had a history of being great in bed together, and it still hung true. Some of those scenes were so convoluted by Saroji’s role as a courtesan and Malik’s dislike for pleasure ambassadors, and when they finally shed those roles, they came together in a storm of passion and love. They really connected with each other and became the lovers they should have been before their planet was destroyed. It was hot. It was passionate. And there were toys! Lovely fun toys!

It was an interesting visit into a futuristic world that really could have been turned into a novel series. I would really like to see this world flushed out more, and get hotter love scenes! Great premise. I’ll definitely check out the rest of them.

**A copy of this story was provided by Ellora's Cave in return for a fair review.**

Hotness Rating

4 out of 5