SCARDUST by Suzanne Van Rooyen
Publication Date: February 8, 2016
Genres: New Adult, Gay, LGBT, Science Fiction, Romance
SYNOPSIS: Dead Rock, Texas, 2037
Raleigh Williams made a promise to his brother before he died, that he’d scatter his ashes on Mars. Desperate to leave a life of bad memories behind and start over in the Martian colony, Raleigh fully intends to keep that promise. But his plans are thwarted when a meteor near-misses him in the desert, and Raleigh finds in its crater not debris or even a spacecraft, but a man covered in swirling scars and with no memory of who he is. At least he looks like a man—a man Raleigh can’t seem to keep his eyes off of—but whenever they touch it ignites a memory swap between them.
Raleigh agrees to help Meteor Man piece together his life through their cosmic connection. But the memory share goes both ways, and Raleigh becomes inexplicably entangled with a guy who is everything he needs—everything good that Raleigh is not—but might not even be human. As their minds and worlds collide, reality unravels and Raleigh must face a painful truth, one that could shatter his dreams of finding love, reaching Mars, and fulfilling his brother’s last wish.
Excerpt
If Crow knew what I'd done, knew what I planned on doing later tonight, he wouldn't want to be anywhere near me. I hope he never gets to see those memories.
Inhale. My heart slams juggernaut blows against my ribs. Exhale. I need to run, to clear my head, an endorphine rush. How do I stay in shape living on Dale's food? I run. One day, I might keep running right on down the Interstate and never come back. But not now, now I've got Crow trailing after me as I head up to the house.
“Wow, sweet.” Crow strides across my room to the aquarium. “I've never seen one like this before.” He traces the journey of a bloodfin tetra as it swims from bowl to bowl along the convoluted tubing. “Did you make all those?” He points at a cave structure replete with castle turrets.
“Took four jackrabbits to make that one.”
“Dude, you're an artist. Seriously.”
“It's fish tank decor.”
“Doesn't make it any less impressive.” He slides to the floor and leans against my bed, the glow from the aquarium casting MC Escher shadows across his face.
“I doubt it'll make me a billionaire.”
“Is that what you want?” He straightens his legs and folds his hands in his lap. I grab the tablet off my desk and connect it to my phone before settling opposite him with my back against the bookcase.
“I just need enough for MarsLife.”
“Hence the posters.” He looks around my room, gaze settling on the poster of Deshaun Brown, the fourth person to step foot on Mars. “What's so special about Brown?”
“There was tons of controversy when MarsLife announced he'd be one of the first astronauts going up. He came from the ghettos and no one thought he'd amount to much, but he worked hard and he did it. Highest scoring cadet in his class and he went to Mars.” And if he can do it, then maybe I can too.
“Why MarsLife? Why not college?” Crow asks.
“MarsLife doesn't care about your past. They're focused on the future, looking for the best and brightest to pave the way for the rest of humanity. They're holding open aptitude tests next month. If I can get the tuition together and pass the test, I might actually get to leave this dump.” If if if... too many variables. Too much riding on somebody else's opinion of me.
“You want to be an astronaut?” Crow raises a single eyebrow.
“Since I was six years old.”
“And you're set on Mars?”
“The Moon is boring.” An artificial paradise for the insanely rich. “Mars is the new frontier. The possibilities there are endless.” A new world, a new life, a new me.
PLAYLIST
If Crow knew what I'd done, knew what I planned on doing later tonight, he wouldn't want to be anywhere near me. I hope he never gets to see those memories.
Inhale. My heart slams juggernaut blows against my ribs. Exhale. I need to run, to clear my head, an endorphine rush. How do I stay in shape living on Dale's food? I run. One day, I might keep running right on down the Interstate and never come back. But not now, now I've got Crow trailing after me as I head up to the house.
“Wow, sweet.” Crow strides across my room to the aquarium. “I've never seen one like this before.” He traces the journey of a bloodfin tetra as it swims from bowl to bowl along the convoluted tubing. “Did you make all those?” He points at a cave structure replete with castle turrets.
“Took four jackrabbits to make that one.”
“Dude, you're an artist. Seriously.”
“It's fish tank decor.”
“Doesn't make it any less impressive.” He slides to the floor and leans against my bed, the glow from the aquarium casting MC Escher shadows across his face.
“I doubt it'll make me a billionaire.”
“Is that what you want?” He straightens his legs and folds his hands in his lap. I grab the tablet off my desk and connect it to my phone before settling opposite him with my back against the bookcase.
“I just need enough for MarsLife.”
“Hence the posters.” He looks around my room, gaze settling on the poster of Deshaun Brown, the fourth person to step foot on Mars. “What's so special about Brown?”
“There was tons of controversy when MarsLife announced he'd be one of the first astronauts going up. He came from the ghettos and no one thought he'd amount to much, but he worked hard and he did it. Highest scoring cadet in his class and he went to Mars.” And if he can do it, then maybe I can too.
“Why MarsLife? Why not college?” Crow asks.
“MarsLife doesn't care about your past. They're focused on the future, looking for the best and brightest to pave the way for the rest of humanity. They're holding open aptitude tests next month. If I can get the tuition together and pass the test, I might actually get to leave this dump.” If if if... too many variables. Too much riding on somebody else's opinion of me.
“You want to be an astronaut?” Crow raises a single eyebrow.
“Since I was six years old.”
“And you're set on Mars?”
“The Moon is boring.” An artificial paradise for the insanely rich. “Mars is the new frontier. The possibilities there are endless.” A new world, a new life, a new me.
PLAYLIST
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***
Raleigh has had a hard life and his only dream is traveling to Mars so he can scatter his brother's ashes there. The last thing he expected was to have a meteor nearly hit him or to find a man (Crow) covered in swirling scars and with no memory of who he is and to somehow have their memories connected.
This was such a fantastic read! Twist after twist after twist as the author shows us both Raleigh and Crow's memories, and their growing friendship and the sizzling attraction for each other. There was so much going on, and most of it took me by surprise as the plot starts to unravel.
All in all, a well-written, fast-paced book, with engaging characters and an intriguing, suspenseful plot that will keep you at the edge of your seat! Highly recommended!
Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!
ABOUT SUZANNE VAN ROOYEN
Suzanne is a tattooed storyteller from South Africa. She currently lives in Sweden and is busy making friends with the ghosts of her Viking ancestors. Although she has a Master’s degree in music, Suzanne prefers conjuring strange worlds and creating quirky characters. When she grows up, she wants to be an elf – until then, she spends her time (when not writing) wall climbing, buying far too many books, and entertaining her shiba inu, Lego.
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