| Genre | Gay / Science Fiction / Escorts/Porn Stars/Strippers / Aliens / Outer Space / Age Gap / Interspecies / Erotic Romance |
| Reviewed by | Serena Yates on 16-February-2016 |
The Intergalactic Star Pilot Academy has accepted Thierry Leroux into the elite class of sky year 2231. But the academy comes with a hefty price tag, and there's no way he, a poor Sythe orphan, has the credits the academy requires. Thierry’s brother, Corbin, a high-class companion, suggests Thierry sell his virginity for the cost of tuition. It seems like a ridiculous idea, but it may be Thierry’s only shot, so Thierry asks Corbin to arrange a meeting on the pleasure planet of Wish.
On Wish, Thierry meets Corbin's boss, Monroe, and they agree to auction off Thierry’s virginity. Thierry is grateful to the masked buyer he knows only as “Dragonfly,” and Dragonfly is gentle, making Thierry’s first time a good memory. When Dragonfly requests to see him again, and pay for the pleasure, Thierry returns to Wish. But in this game, falling in love is dangerous for the heart, and Thierry might not like the man behind the mask.
‘To the Highest Bidder’ is a fascinating story set in the year 2231, and I liked it for many reasons. On the surface, it seems to be a simple case of a man deciding to sell his virginity to raise enough money to pay for his education and training as a pilot. It’s not the first time this has happened in history, and apparently, it is still happening in this version of the future. Digging a little deeper, the novel is also about appearances, deception, and how the main character/narrator, Thierry, deals with an unexpected twist around the identity of his benefactor. What made the story even better for me was the setting in outer space, the fact that both main characters are aliens and some excellent character growth. But I think, above all, I liked the sweet love story that only gradually unfolds as the story develops. All in all, this is a multi-layered novel with more than one surprise.
Thierry is driven by his ambition to become a pilot, and he even manages to pass the test for entry into the academy. But as a relatively poor Sythe orphan, he has little chance of finding the money – until his brother, Corbin, who works as a high-class companion, finds a solution. Thierry has difficulty dealing with the idea of becoming intimate with a total stranger, but ambition wins out, and he goes ahead. The man who hands in the winning bid in the auction is surprisingly gentle – but he also guards his identity by wearing a mask and not speaking at all.
Over the next few months Thierry and the mystery man stay in touch, get to know each other, and Thierry begins to fall for the man he calls ”Dragonfly”. Thierry believes he has fallen in love, but when he finds out who “Dragonfly” really is, he is shocked, disgusted, and wants to run. What follows is the intense and suspenseful process of Thierry dealing with his expectations, ambition, and dawning realization of what is really important in life and to him personally.
If you like stories about aliens with a couple of extra abilities but very human-like emotions, if you want to find out more about two men who are very different in their outlook on life yet uniquely suited to fit as a couple, and if you’re looking for a read that is as sweet and romantic as it is full of mystery and suspenseful, then you will probably like this novel.
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
| Format | ebook, print and audio |
| Length | Novel, 200 pages/60937 words |
| Heat Level | |
| Publication Date | 13-July-2015 |
| Price | $6.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $14.99 bundle, $19.95 audiobook |
| Buy Link | https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/to-the-highest-bidder-by-caitlin-ricci-996-b |
