Earth Bound by Emma Barry and Genevieve Turner (Fly Me to the Moon #3)
Released: May 11, 2016
Historical Romance
Self Published

Reviewed by Mandi

I absolutely loved this book. It is very much a stand alone, although I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series set in the 1960’s. This book gives us two, very intelligent protagonists – a hero who falls in love with a heroine for her brain (and the fact she is wild in bed) and science. I love it.

Charlie is an extremely smart woman who decided to go into computers (instead of physics much to her parents dismay). She gets the job as the deputy director of computing at the America Space Department (aka nasa). She should have been the actual director, but she is a woman in the 1960’s in an absolutely male dominated field, so she accepts the deputy position. Her boss is not that great, so she basically ends up running the department. In the early 60’s the Americans were racing to get to the moon first, but first they have to get a man up in orbit. Our hero is Eugene Parsons, a growly, grumpy, work obsessed man who is the director of engineering and development. He works very closely with Charlie to bring the space program to where it needs to be, and to constantly be putting out fires in this very high-stress job.

Parsons quickly realizes how intelligent Charlie is. He falls in love with her brain. He loves that she is head-strong, stubborn, well-spoken and holds herself accountable. He knows it’s hard for a woman to work in this field filled with men, and while he supports her, he lets her face her critics head on. Parsons intimidates almost everyone he works with. He demands absolute perfection, and his social skills are very lacking. He never smiles, he has to be forced to not work on Christmas day. He has no social life outside of work.  As Charlies notices:

His expression was pained. Altogether, he looked damned uncomfortable. But he struck her as a man who hated comfort. He would think it common. And there was nothing pedestrian about him.

Charlie is successful in her professional life, but her parents still judge her and write-off her computing career since it’s not the path they wanted for her. She is confident but it’s still hard on a child when your parents don’t give you credit for what you have accomplished. There is a scene in the book where Parsons meets her parents and realizes they brush off their daughter and her accomplishments. The support Parsons gives her in this scene is swoon-worthy.

Which brings me to their chemistry. Their chemistry in this book is written so well I didn’t want to put the book down. Charlie makes the first move, which made me cheer. She walks into Parson’s office and is basically like – fuck it – let’s go do something dirty together.

This was terrifically ill thought out. He was the only man in the place who treated her decently – at least the only one with any power who did. He’d been flattering her, and she wanted to what? Get sweaty and naked with him?

Yes, to begin at least.

Their romance scenes are so intense. At work they have to be on all the time – there is so much at stake, human lives at stake, and such a rush to get it all done before the Soviets. When they meet at their seedy hotel at night – their intensity is almost too much to bear. They both like to be in charge, and that comes out in the bedroom. The sex is raw and dirty. There is something about their chemistry and emotional intimacy that just makes you say – damn.

He took in what he’d done. Yes, that was what he wanted, this face of her marred. He only ever saw her putting makeup on – he wanted to take it off. Deliberately.

He put his thumb back to her lip and smeared again. Her lips were gloriously messy now, almost completely undone.

The third time he did it, she parted her lips and took his thumb deep within her mouth.

He gasped even as he smiled. She always had to surprise him. She sucked on his thumb making his heart pound and his breathing go harsh.

Then she dropped to her knees and reached for his belt.

“You don’t have to – ”

“Shut up.”

So he did…..

Parsons is so supportive of her, and when there is that darn ending conflict that drags them apart, he is so devastated I couldn’t stand it. They have a great reunion though.

Charlie is an amazing heroine. Fighting to be heard, so confident and sure in her abilities at work (and in bed. Loved).  Very well done.

Grade: A

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