Attacked as a young adult, Jewel is left scarred and alone. She applies to the 1 Night Stand service, believing no one can see past her appearance to love her. But she doesn’t expect to be sent to a space station where her date could be any number of unusual alien species.
Flavia left everything behind to be one of five humans working for the Space Service space station. Extremely homesick, she is excited to learn she will be a guide to a woman from Earth visiting the station for a couple days. She is immediately drawn to the petite woman, seeing past her scars to her true inner beauty, stirring unforeseen desires.
Unfortunately, Jewel is there for a date which Flavia hasn’t been told about. Can she contain her lust and simply show her a good time? Or will she let her desire lead them into an unknown future?
Excerpt
She waved to get their attention, thankful her charges had arrived without incident. “Hi, I’m Flavia, but you can call me V. That’s what everyone here calls me.” Because no member of any other species on the station had been able to pronounce her name without it sounding vulgar in his or her language.
The Ginnunian stepped forward and surprised her by reaching out to shake her hand—not a custom for his people. “Hello, I’m Frey, and this is my wife, Carrie.”
She shook his hand and then his wife’s, trying to hold in her excitement at meeting someone from home.
Frey moved to the side, revealing the petite woman behind him. “And this is Jewel.”
V squealed. Unable to hide her exhilaration any longer, she wrapped her arms around Jewel. Not only was she from Earth, but she looked to be only a couple years younger than her. All the Terrans on-station were her parents’ age. For once, her unwavering loneliness would ebb, at least for a few days.
But her hug wasn’t returned, only met with a gasp. V stepped back. “I’m sorry, did I hurt you?”
Jewel shook her head, but wouldn’t make eye contact.
“I think she’s a little self-conscious about her scars,” Frey said.
V winced. Why did he have to mention them? Sure, she’d noticed, but she had friends with fins, feathers, and elephant ears. A few scars wouldn’t stop her from being social. Was that why she’d been asked to entertain Jewel during her stay?
Professional Reviews
Tracy Riva - Because Everyone Wants Someone Special
I really liked Unknown Futures by Jessica Subject. It was tasteful, yet highly erotic and it handled the relationship between two women wonderfully. I like the highly unusual characters in the story and there is one scene that had me laughing out loud, it was great.
Jewel has contacted Madame Evangeline for a one-night stand because she was left scarred after a horrible incident in high school. Since that time she has isolated herself, feeling that everyone is staring at her and that she is nothing but a freak. She's heard of Madame Evangeline's supposedly wonderful matchmaking abilities and after another terrible day marked by stares she applies for her service. Madame Eve has found the perfect mate for others maybe, just maybe, she can do it for Jewel too.
V, the other woman in our story has a most unusual occupation - she works at a space station/resort where different species come to get away from it all. She hasn't been back to Earth since she took her assignment - it's a lifetime placement - and she is taken with Jewel immediately. Not only is she a fellow Earthling, but she's also just a few years younger than V.
Jewel announces to V that she's on the station for some mysterious date the next night, so V tries to fight the attraction she feels for Jewel, but some things are too big to be overcome and bit-by-bit she finds herself falling for everything Jewel is. V arranges for a night of home cooked Earth food, clubbing and hopefully romance. All she knows is she wants to be with Jewel.
Two characters from another of Jessica's books, Celestial Seduction, make a cameo appearance on the space station which was a pleasant surprise in more ways than one. I enjoyed this brief but uplifting encounter with two characters I had previously come to care about.
The only thing I wished would have happened was that V and Jewel would have had a chance to discuss with each other exactly what they were feeling and thinking a little more. A lot of what happens concerning thoughts and feelings is internal dialogue rather than outward expression, and let's face, those outward expressions of emotions and vulnerabilities are part of what helps you get that "warm fuzzy feeling" when reading a romance. I loved the way the story ends, but that little extra bit of pillow talk sure would have been nice. Other than that I have to say I truly enjoyed Unknown Futures. I would definitely recommend it and I think everyone should read it because it also shows that everyone is looking for that one special person to spend their happily ever after with.
Captivating Romance with a Sci-Fi and same gender twist
When Jewel became the victim of a horrific attack in high school, her whole life changed for the worse. Ridiculed and outcast, she is convinced that there is noone left on this planet who can love her and accept her for who she now is. Scarred and withdrawn, she turns to Madam Eve's One Night Stand dating service and enters a totally blind date agreement. Not knowing where she is bound for, she heads off to meet her 1NS date, but is sent into space instead.
Flavia, or V as everyone knows her, works on a space station in a visitor relations position with no hope of returning to earth. Given the task of taking care of Jewel whilst on the station she is determined to crack open the hard shell Jewel has enclosed herself in. She see's the beauty beneath Jewels scars, but also has to deal with the fact that Jewel is there for a date, but you can't blame a girl for trying huh?
I loved this novel from start to finish. It dealt with a tough issue that most women have on accepting their own flaws, and seeing the inner beauty in themselves. The acceptance of Flavia toward Jewel also sent the clear message that there is a special someone for us all, which kept the feelgood vibes flowing throughout the story as Flavia deals with her own self doubts, while trying to push Jewel past her insecurities.
Jessica Subject has outdone herself with the setting of the novel. The details were enough to fire the imagination without dragging on endlessley, leaving you to fully enjoy the varied characters throughout the book.
She has managed to not only capture the hearts of her readers with this very tender and loving story, but also injected a dash of delicious humour which is a sure to please.
This story is tied in to provide an update on past characters as well which is fantastic for those of us who have been eagerly keeping up to date on Jessica's own 1NS series installments, and the ending to her book leaves you craving to read more.
Offbeat Vagabond
Jewel was attacked at the age of sixteen that left her permanently scarred. When not giving what some guy wanted, he threw acid in her face and now she feels like a monster. So to feel some kind of connection, she applies to Madam Evangeline's 1Night Stand service. But the service sends her to a station...in space. This of course doesn't make her feel better because she thinks it means no humans would want her. Flavia or V is one of only five humans lucky enough to be sent to space. But she wishes for more. That is until Jewel arrives and V will be her guide. V is disappointed that Jewel has a date and doesn't know if she can persuade her otherwise.
This is my very first GLBT story. So I want to thank Jessica (@Mark Of the Stars ) even more for making it such a beautiful and erotic experience, I fell head over heels for these characters especially Jewel. She has been through so much. I remember reading one of Jessica's guest post that she had of Jewel and her father. It is truly obvious that Jewel felt abandoned. I loved how things blossomed between V and Jewel even though Jewel didn't think she was worthy because of her scars. I love that V slowly but surely takes Jewel out of her comfort zone and shows her to enjoy life no matter what planet she is on. V had a real strong personality and confidence and seeing her help Jewel feel the same way was just beautiful.
The plot of this book isn't really revealed until the very end. It does take you by surprise and it put a big smile on my face. You are kept guessing where things will go and I am happy it had such a wonderful ending. I love how the story develops. Just the idea of being sent to space to work and live is very exciting. I love that even though this is a short story, the romance builds and isn't absolutely instant. I wish the characters scenes together were a little longer, but still, I can't complain.
Some complaints however. I wish they really revealed their feelings for each other. I just love it when they say it to each other and they didn't in this. You know they love each other, true, but still. I would have liked to have experienced the world that was built a little longer as well. This isn't so much of a complaint, but more that I wish it was longer. Jessica always comes up with amazing sci-fi worlds and I really loved what she gave us in this story. I wish I could have seen more of it. It was breathtaking.
Overall, I highly recommend this if you want a sexy, short read. Jessica has once again given us an original and beautiful love story that truly puts a smile on your face and sticks with you. It is a lovely read with Jessica amazing sci-fi attitude. Definitely worth reading.
When the powers-that-be make the decision to return a selfish party-girl, Zara, to Earth on three missions of redemption, can romance and mayhem be far behind? One hot and trendy gay nightclub, two bickering angels and three unlikely pairs add up to
