Veena’s review of Captivated (Phantom Corps, Book 3) by Lauren Dane
Erotic Romance published by Berkley Trade 1 May 12

Lauren Dane continues her Phantom Corps series with Captivated. As the threat of war escalates, three lonely people come together and discover a deep and abiding love. They work together with other members of the Phantom Corps to defeat the Imperialist plot and make the federated universes safe.

Vincenz Cuomo Fardelle was raised as the heir to the Supreme leader of the Imperialist Universe. For the past ten years he has worked with the Federation as a member of the Phantom Corps to bring an end to his father’s regime and free the people whom his father has persecuted in his quest for greater power.

Julian Marsters, his lover and partner in the Phantom Corps, is dealing with his own monsters. He burns to avenge his friend and partner Marame who was killed protecting Vincenz’s sister’s escape from the Imperialists.

Hannah Black is a brilliant scientist who has been held in isolation in an Imperialist Lab from where Vincenz rescues her during one of his missions. As she recovers her sanity and memories, she finds herself attracted to both Vincenz and Julian. Initially thinking they are gay, she fights this attraction until she finds that it’s reciprocated and she becomes a permanent third in their relationship. Their coming together and interactions are very erotic.

The erotic is very skillfully blended into an action-adventure story with a very strong emotional component.  As the Phantom Corps identify Ciro Fardelle’s diabolical plan and race toward finding and defusing his weapons of mass destruction, the relationship between the three deepens and they become a single unit.

While Vincenz and Julian are both dominant men as demonstrated by their sexual encounters with Hannah, they also show a deep level of tenderness and caring. It is very beautiful and touching to see these manly men bring Hannah little gifts to coax her out of her shell. I have read all the books in this series and while this book can be read as a stand-alone, Ms. Dane does touch upon the other characters from the series. I enjoyed this book very much. I found it fast paced with the right touch of romance, tenderness, and erotica blended into it.

Grade: A

Summary:

Vincenz Fardelle, exiled son of the Supreme Leader of the Imperialist Universe, has spent much of the last ten years working to stop the threat his father poses. But he’s not alone in his quest. Julian Marsters has lost his best friend and countless others in the war and has made vengeance his only goal. In each other, Julian and Vincenz find not only like minds, but kindred spirits.

However unexpected their relationship, everything changes for Vincenz and Julian when Hannah Black comes into their lives. Having been captured and held in near total isolation by imperialist troops, their immediate response is to protect her.

Emotionally shattered but resilient, Hannah rebuilds herself. Because of the warm safety she finds in the arms of Julian and Vincenz she becomes someone harder, stronger and bent on preventing the Imperialists from harming anyone else.

For the two men, wrestling with their passionate feelings for Hannah is only the beginning. War is about to send all three into harm’s way and an equally dangerous secret could tear them apart.

Read an excerpt. (click Excerpt link)

Other books in this series: