The Pawn by Kate Sherwood

Title: The Pawn

Series: Against the Odds 01

Author: Kate Sherwood

Genre: Science Fiction, Futuristic

Length: Novel (216pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (1^st March 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating:   ♥♥♥♥3½ – 4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Adam Challoner was born a member of the wealthy elite, but he can’t forget that his power and comfort come from the suffering of the vast underclass—people oppressed by the very regime that keeps him safe. Living with that knowledge is uncomfortable to say the least. When Adam meets Remy Stone, his discomfort becomes intolerable.

Get in, seduce his target, give him all he could ever dream of, and then get out—that’s Remy’s assignment. No man has ever been able to resist Remy before, but Adam Challoner is unlike any of Remy’s previous clients. In a world where Big Brother is always watching, Remy needs to perform his assigned duties in order to survive, but Adam seems to be as oblivious to that as he is to Remy’s charms.

Luckily, Remy’s determination to accomplish his mission piques Adam’s interest. But just when Remy’s hard work starts to pay off, a rebel bomb attack interrupts their would-be tryst. Unforeseen circumstances force them apart, and then throw them back together. And just as they discover new reasons to live, they realize some things are worth dying for.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3609

Review: Remy is a sex worker.  But, his contract means he is more like a slave.  Told to seduce a target and get whatever information he can on the man, Remy thinks it will be a piece of cake, but, finds that Adam Challoner is a more complex man than he ever thought. Adam is mightily tempted to sample Remy’s charms, but he has qualms about using someone who will report all his actions.  When a rebel bomb interrupts them they are forced to go separate ways, but Adam has to see Remy again and before long Remy’s eyes are opened and there is no turning back.

This is a very interesting futuristic/science fiction story. Where the North American government is Big Brother and you had better do what they want and stay in your place. Remy was sold when he was only nine. His family had been on a colony planet that rebelled against the Government and was completely wiped out. Remy is now a sex worker doing as he is told, but meeting Adam shakes the very foundation of his being and sets him on a path that there is no turning back from. Adam hates the way North America is.  He lived in Europe for many years and is disgusted by his own government. But, complaining will get him killed.  Any sign of discontent will have a boot heel on his neck and being dragged in for interrogation. Meeting Remy is hard for Adam as he fights his attraction. He will not take advantage of someone who has no choice in his life, but there is something about Remy that keeps drawing him back.

This is far from your typical romance. In fact, there is very little in the way of romance and much more in the way of plot and storyline. Remy and Adam are brilliant characters and although there is something between them, especially more notably with Adam, this story is more focused on the iron gripped control of the government and the dismal treatment of anyone without money. I really would love to go in-depth with this story, but I really don’t want to give any of the storyline away because the blurb only reveals a small amount of what you can expect to enjoy.  All I can really say is that there’s secrets and intrigue that really pull you in and make this story enjoyable.

I would love to say that Remy and Adam fall madly in love and they live happily ever after, but they don’t. In fact Remy is so confused that he really doesn’t know what a normal reaction is.  He is so used to doing what he has to and anticipating what the client wants that Adam completely throws him. Adam won’t take advantage of Remy no matter how much Remy throws himself at him.  It doesn’t mean that Adam doesn’t struggle to keep his hands to himself, because he fights himself hard to keep things feeling right. After reading this book, I now want to know more and I really can’t wait for the next and final book The Knight.

I will recommend this story to those who love complicated relationships, damaged young men, feeling hope, secrets, intrigue and an ending that could be a new beginning.