Strap in and bite down - you're in for a ride! 
 With the perfect balance of action and downtime, the plot pace plunges you forward with eyes locked. Be sure to start your reading with snacks and beverages on hand because Fortune's Pawn hooks you in with a kickass, take names heroine, that might as well be her own walking hazard zone. It felt rather like reading Urban Fantasy in space with its multiple races, popup action, and almost magic like abilities for a handful of the characters. 
 Read my interview with the author, Rachel Bach. 
 She's a bad girl, She's a bad bad girl! 
 Devi is more than just an adrenaline junkie and shameless glory hog, she is a top notch mercenary who knows how to get the job done. She's wanted to be a Devastator her whole life, because they are the best of the best. So when she finds out that a year of service on Cpt. Brian Caldswell's ship the Glorious Fool is almost a surefire ticket to being a Devastator...or death - she signs on immediately. Cpt. Caldswell's ship has a reputation for being cursed as well as running through hired security personnel like water. From the sounds of it you're more likely to die working for this guy than anything else, but it could be her ticket to the big leagues. While Devi does her job well she also has quite the rebellious streak. Our gal is no stranger to breaking the rules when she feels necessary and on top of that is as curious as a cat. Trouble, trouble. Mix those things together and you'd think this gal had nine lives with as often as she sees the inside of the infirmary bay. 
 Birds, Lizards, Jellyfish, and phantom Bug!? 
 Seriously one of my favorite aspects of Fortune's Pawn were the varying sentient alien races. There are 4 supposedly known alien races in the universe, Humans, Aeon (bossy birdies), Xith'Cal (scaly scary as hell lizards), and Leglis (mysterious jellyfish?). The Xith'Cal seem to be some of the big nasties in the universe, and Devi's has come up firing against them frequently...they are meat eaters and hey just about everyone qualifies as meat right!? So you ask, where do the bugs come in? Oh you'll see my dears, you'll see - or maybe no one sees and that's the problem? *cackles madly* It was great having the crew of the Glorious Fool made up several races. Because of that I found the crew interaction to be so much more engaging and unique - especially considering that almost the entirety of the book takes place in space or on the ship - this definitely served to keep things interesting. 
 Sizzle, Sizzle, Pop and Burn! 
 This is one romance that any science fiction fan and heck any romance fan for that matter, would enjoy. Rachel Bach knocks it out of the park by making this book a package deal of action, suspense, mystery, science fiction and broiling romance. Devi has a roving eye and a healthy sexual appetite. In her defense, when you live the fast and furious lifestyle of a mercenary you have to take your pleasure and kicks where they come. Frequently thats in the arms of one blustery fling after another. But the romantic interest, Rupert, puts up some resistance when Devi sets her sights on making him her next conquest. It's not a wonder that she develops deeper feelings for this deliciously mysterious, downright beautiful and deadly graceful ship's cook who is absolutely more than he seems to be. Too many descriptors? Deal with it! - I have a jones on for Rupert like you wouldn't believe! What can I say I adore just his sort. Good looking without being egotistical, polite, compassionate, with a peekaboo inner sadness that makes you want to reach inside and soothe away that frown he never lets you see, and deadly, oh so deadly. *makes moony calf eyes* Think about it this way...those blockbuster SFF movies you watch - don't they almost always feature romance as an integral part of the story!? That's damn right they do. All of folks I know gave this book high marks. Are they closet romance lovers the lot of them? Nah - I just think when done well everyone will enjoy it. 
 I kid you not! 
 Literally seconds after finishing Fortune's Pawn I got online and purchased the second book as well as audio version to go alone with it so that way if I'm not able to read I can listen. I don't like when I say I do not do that often. That's just how crack brain hooked I got for this story. Tough tippies if you miss out. 
 Favorite Quote: 
 "Never shame your comrades by letting their death get you killed "