The Syndicate<title>The Syndicate Volume 1

Sometime in the future…
Take one unhappy computer guru looking for a good reason to leave the job he despises Throw in a ship full of interesting and unusual quirky characters; some human, some AI, and you get the makings for a wild interstellar romp of a read. Thus begins volume I of The Syndicate, a collaborative effort by authors Jules Jones and Alex Woodgrave.

Allard hates his present job and those he works with. So he does a little job hunting, resulting in an offer from a syndicate ship. He signs on with the stipulation to be able to end his service whenever he gets tired of it or if he ever finds his living companions not to his taste. His shipmates are a story unto themselves, from a voyeur who constantly invades the others privacy, to a computer...no – make that AI (artificial intelligence), of alien origins. Then there is Vaughan, the unofficial ship captain, who wastes no time in showing Allard what the fringe benefits of joining the crew could be. If that's not enough to create a tale full of steamy fun and surprises, throw in a second AI who has a personality unto itself, not afraid to state it's own importance and more than just a bit obsessed with human sexuality. Allard may soon find he has found a place he belongs at last.

Note to readers: this book contains graphic depictions of sexual encounters involving male/male partners.

This book is a fast and furious trip into the world of the future, full of humor, computer intelligence, and lots and lots of hot sex. The characters in this story are so well formed and multi layered, that it is easy for the reader to picture each one in their mind. Allard is an arrogant son of a gun that you cannot help but like anyway. As for his lover Vaughan, he is a pure delight, from his unusual clothing choice, to his passion and his surprising tenderness. It is interesting to watch the relationship between the two develop, from hot 'just in it for the sex', to one with a deep level of caring. This quirky, fun-filled, highly erotic tale was an outside-the-norm book selection for me of which I am extremely glad I made. Now it is on to volume II, as soon as I can go!

Reviewed by: Johnna