Break Out

Croft’s first Dark Desires adventure, a rambunctious space opera, is a lighthearted whimsical tale with a motley cast of renegade characters on a mission impossible. Skylar Rossaria, a no-nonsense soldier in the elite army of the Collective, disguises herself and offers both erotic and financial rewards to vampire Ricardo “Rico” Sanchez, roguish owner of the pirate space cruiser El Cazador, if he agrees to break her brother out of prison. Once he accepts, Skylar tries to hold off Rico’s advances, afraid that her identity and true mission will be revealed, but her stoic armor begins to crack. Their tantalizing mutual attraction highlights the rigidity of her military life and makes her long for something more. Mystified and suspicious, Rico plays along until he can get a taste of Skylar’s blood and learn what she’s hiding. While Skylar lacks in personality, the secondary characters entice readers with camaraderie and secrecy. The blend of action, treachery, romance, and startling revelation will leave the reader anxious for the next entertaining adventure. (Oct.)