I love Jess K Hardy's Gen X romance novels and was pumped to see something that looked totally different. In her author's note, she refers to her initial idea as something like "Love Boat but in space" and that is pretty much exactly the vibe here. Our female main character is Sunastara (Sunny), a hospitality specialist on an interstellar pleasure cruise ship (where things seem to get pretty spicy, pretty often). While on some sort of required professional development break, she meets and hooks up with the titular Venusian and has a pretty amazing time. Grieving the loss of her young son five years ago, Sunny has some pretty strict boundaries that basically amount to - never catch feelings and don't let anyone get too close. But when Freddie (the Venusian) shows up as her newest crew colleague, things get a little messy. Meanwhile, there's an important political figure on the ship and Sunny is assigned to keep her and her family happy and safe while she continues to try to do her own job AND avoid her feelings for Freddie. I found this funny and fast-paced and I liked the adventure elements as well as the sci-fi romance of it all. I would highly recommend for fellow fans of Jessie Mihalik's sci-fi romances. Content warning for past loss of a child and of a partner (separate characters) as well as kidnapping and threatened violence.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in return for my honest thoughts.
Content warning: off-page mention of child loss.
Sunastara Nex is an expert in hospitality management on a hedonistic space cruise that caters to its guests' most indulgent desires. During the annual Winter Revel, she crosses paths with Joshua, a charming Venusian who’s just looking for a fun-filled night. After an unforgettable evening together, they part ways. But fate intervenes—Joshua, who’s actually Freddie, soon joins her crew. Sunastara has a firm rule about not getting romantically involved with colleagues, but Freddie’s charm proves hard to resist.
Freddie, too, can’t stop thinking about the incredible night he shared with Sunastara. When he realizes she’s working on his new ship, he’s determined to reignite their spark, even if it means pulling out all the stops in his pursuit. However, it’s not all romance—when a real danger threatens the ship, they’ll have to figure out if they’re willing to fight for a future together.
The chemistry between Freddie and Sunastara is electric. Their intimate moments were scorching, and I adored the witty, playful exchanges between them, especially since they both share a unique sense of humor.
This was an entertaining read with some heavier themes woven in gracefully. Sunastara has experienced a significant loss in her past, which makes her hesitant to open up to anyone. To help her feel comfortable, Freddie comes up with a clever idea: they’ll interact using their alternate personas as he gradually wins her over. His patient and gentle approach was touching, and I loved seeing Sunastara slowly lower her defenses and trust him more with each passing moment.
The universe Ms. Hardy crafted was captivating. At first, I thought the unique terminology might be tricky to follow, but it was surprisingly easy to grasp. The book was packed with action, and the pacing felt just right. This was my first time reading a space-themed romance, and I found it to be an incredibly enjoyable and creative experience. Ms. Hardy’s imagination was on full display, especially in how she reimagined everyday things through a futuristic, space-age lens. One highlight was Squee, a dating app that pairs people based on their ability to climax—definitely an interesting and spicy twist!
This story was full of excitement and heartfelt moments. I truly hope Ms. Hardy decides to expand this into a series!

**Title:** *Sunastara & the Venusian*
**Author:** Jess K Hardy
**Rating:** 4/5

**Review:**

*Sunastara & the Venusian* by Jess K Hardy is a thrilling and steamy sci-fi romance that effortlessly blends interstellar adventure with electric chemistry. Set aboard a pleasure cruise through deep space, this novel delivers on its promise of a high-stakes romance amidst an imaginative and vividly depicted backdrop.

Sunastara "Sunny" Nex, the novel’s fiercely independent and rule-abiding protagonist, is instantly captivating. As the hospitality specialist on a notorious interstellar pleasure cruise, her strict no-pleasure-on-the-job rule keeps her grounded in a universe filled with debauchery and chaos. Her professionalism, however, is tested when Freddie, a dangerously handsome one-night stand from her past, unexpectedly joins the crew. Freddie, as charming and relentless as ever, sets the stage for a tantalizing game of push and pull that drives the romantic tension throughout the novel.

What sets *Sunastara & the Venusian* apart is its unique setting and world-building. Hardy’s interstellar pleasure cruise is not just a backdrop but a vibrant, living part of the story—filled with quirky alien species, indulgent luxury, and the looming threat of the unknown. It feels futuristic and fun, but also layered with enough danger to keep you on edge. The romance unfolds against this wild backdrop, creating a thrilling contrast between Sunny’s personal struggles and the larger intergalactic threat.

The chemistry between Sunny and Freddie is electric, and their secret romance is full of steamy moments that will have readers rooting for them. Freddie’s relentless pursuit of Sunny, combined with his strategic (and slightly ridiculous) seduction methods, adds humor and levity to the novel. Their banter and flirtation are both playful and emotional, making their connection feel genuine and deeply rooted in their shared past.

However, while the romance shines, the plot takes an exciting turn when a very real threat emerges, putting not only the ship but possibly the entire Known Universe in peril. Hardy expertly weaves together the romance and action, keeping the stakes high for both Sunny and Freddie’s relationship and the survival of their world. This balance of personal and cosmic stakes adds depth to the narrative, making the novel more than just a romance.

Sunny’s inner conflict—torn between her duty and her undeniable feelings for Freddie—is relatable, and her character growth is satisfying. Freddie, on the other hand, is the perfect match for her: confident, daring, and fully aware of the risks he’s taking to win her heart. Together, they’re a dynamic duo you can’t help but root for.

In summary, *Sunastara & the Venusian* is a fun, fast-paced sci-fi romance that delivers both heat and heart. Jess K Hardy’s world-building is rich with imagination, and her characters are full of chemistry and charm. Fans of romantic space operas with a blend of humor, adventure, and plenty of spice will thoroughly enjoy this novel. If you’re looking for a romance that’s out of this world—literally—this is the perfect read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

TW: loss of a child off page

Sunastara Nex is a hospitality specialist aboard a pleasure cruise known for its debauchery. While at a at the annual Winter Revel she meets Joshua, a sexy Venusian looking for a night of fun. After an amazing night they part ways, but not for long because as it turns out Joshua is really Freddie, and he’s the newest member of her crew. Sunastara has strict policy: dating coworkers is a no-no, but can she resist Freddy’s seduction?

Freddie can’t forget the amazing night he spent with Phoebe. He’s pleasantly surprised to discover she’s the hospitality specialist on his new ship. She’s set on separating business from pleasure, so he comes up with a wild seduction strategy she can’t resist. It’s not all fun and games. When a real threat puts their ship at risk, they’ll have to decide whether it’s worth fighting for their future.

Freddie and Sunastara’s chemistry was to the nth degree. The spicy scenes were off the charts. I loved their banter and that they shared the same quirky sense of humor.

This book was a lot of fun and the serious topics are handled with grace. Sunny experienced a great loss that had a profound effect on her. She’s scared to get close to anyone again, so Freddie comes up with the idea of using their alter egos while he woos her. He’s gentle with her, and it was lovely to watch as he proves to her she’s worthy of love. I enjoyed watching Sunny slowly bring down her guard as she began to trust Freddie more and more.

I loved the world that Ms. Hardy created. I thought it would be a little hard to follow the different jargon specific to this world, but she made it fairly easy to keep track of. It was action packed, and I felt the pacing of the novel was spot on. I’ve never read a romance novel that takes place in space before, and it was such a fun experience. Her creativity shined brightly in the way common things were heightened to add a space agey sheen to them. My absolute favorite was the dating app, Squee, that matched people based on their ability to reach an orgasm. Very spicy indeed!

This book was full of heart and action packed! I hope Ms. Hardy turns this into a series.

Sunastara & the Venusian by Jess K Hardy was a fun read and definitely not what I was expecting.

I'll admit that I expected this to have tons of crazy aliens and weird terms throughout and it wasn't like that at all - sure there were other species from other planets and different things, but it was written matter of factly and as such an ordinary thing and it all blended together so well that it just WAS and it was normal and perfect.

Sunny reluctantly has to go to a conference and while there decides to partake in a little space age version of Tinder and matches with the perfect person for at that exact moment. She meets 'Joshua' and she is 'Phoebe' and sparks fly between them immediately and it's not just the usual lust - after an amazing night together, Sunny can't quit thinking about him and sleeps with his tie under her pillow so that she has a piece of him with her.

She's still thinking about him when she goes to a meeting on her ship to meet the newest crew member, Freddie. Freddie turns out to be "Joshua" and oh boy, those sparks are still there, but she doesn't think that they should act upon them.

Thus entails a friendship that they both want to be more, intrigue with guests on the ship, and a possible volatile situation. Will they overcome all of this to actually find love as Sunastara and Freddie? I'm not spoiling this fun adventure.

Ms. Hardy's book had me not wanting to put this book down at all. I read it in one sitting and was left wanting more. Fun characters, interesting intergalactic species, and a ship that I want to go on? Check, check, and check!

This book was given to me as an ARC for my honest opinion by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

this was a wonderfully done romance novel with the scifi element with what I was hoping for. The plot worked overall and enjoyed how the characters worked in this universe. It uses the space atmosphere and that everything worked overall. It was a strong start to this series and was glad I got to read this. Jess K Hardy wrote a strong story and the characters had that element that I was looking for.