REVIEW–The Gathering by Jacey Holbrand

Book Title - The Gathering
Author - Jacey Holbrand
Stars - 5
Buy Link – AMAZON

The year is 2112, and the world has changed…

Jake Landry is interested in having some fun. He’s in Las Vegas, newly single and just off his most recent tour of duty. In Vegas he has met up with his old friend Nicola Goodheart, a scientist and inventor who studies portals, other worlds, and strange beings. Jake has also met and become enamored with Alexander, a gorgeous man with violet eyes. Jake goes with Nic on a portal finding mission, and they all end up in Alexander’s alien world.

Recruiter Alexander Bloodworth is interested in Jake for himself and in Nicola for placement in a pleasure house on his home planet of Aurath. When he hears word one of his people’s enemies are after Nicola and Jake, he goes to save them both, even at the peril of losing his job.

Will they risk their hopes and dreams—Alexander and Jake for a chance at love and Nicola for her career—or will they falter and lose everything anyway?

This is a very fun, sexy, dystopian adventure. I couldn't get enough! I really loved the characters and the story. The book is set in the twenty second century, in 2112. Earth has been through a huge war, and countries are now keeping to themselves. It is more like a blend of future and old west. Fossil fuel is extremely hard to come by, so people use steam power and horse carriages. The land has changed a lot. With the melting polar caps and the ravages of war, places like Florida, Houston, New Orleans are gone. Las Vegas is now a wetter area, and it is one of the few places with power because of the Colorado River. The casinos are still there, and people still flock to gamble.

Nicola Goodheart is a scientist and explorer. She is always studying something, and now she has heard that there might be a portal to another planet. She is hoping to study it and write a scientific paper on her findings. She is wondering if there is a link between the portals and women going missing. She was raised with survivalist training, and her adventurous spirit cannot be quelled.

Captain Jake Landry isn't doing so hot. He has just gotten out of the military, and his boyfriend dumped him while he was stationed apart from him. He had made plans to spend time in Las Vegas with Shawn, but since the rat had taken his reservation even after dumping him, he needs some R & R. Turning the tables, he used Shawn's money to get another room. His day is brightened when he hears from his best friend Nicola that she is also in Las Vegas, and they plan to meet.

Alexander Bloodworth is an alien from Aurath. His job is to recruit women from other planets to come to his and work in the brothels. They do this because the bloodlines cannot be messed with by an out of wedlock child. As humans are very similar to his people, they work well because they cannot get pregnant from the aliens. They are treated very well, and they usually know what is going on because they are recruited from the assistance houses they have set up on Earth. Alex also likes his job because it keeps him away from his father, the Governor, who keeps trying to marry him off. Alex prefers men, and on his planet, it is illegal to be with a man.

Jake has settled at the bar, and after spotting his ex, he is ready to let loose. He meets the sexy Alex, and plans to see him soon, after he has met with Nicola. Nicola has found someone to take her to the portal, and Jake tags along to protect her, even though she does not need it. Trouble comes their way when the bad aliens decide they want the two for their own. When Alex intervenes, they get a huge wake up call when they escape to space. Alex and Jake are very attracted to each other, but Nicola wants nothing to do with working on a new planet. Trouble follows them across the galaxy, and the three of them have an amazing adventure. This book is super hot, and Jake and Alex burn up the pages. Nicola's feisty attitude adds to the adventure, and the ride is a blast. I could not put this book down and I have read it multiple times already. It is a fun story line set in a very interesting future. I can't wait to see what might come next in this series.

Heidi gives The Gathering