Grade: D-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Sci-Fi
Reviewed by Kate
Aliens (who look like humans) have invited 10 of earth’s top scientists to a sit down, a meeting of the minds if you will. Ashley, a former child star (I kept thinking Lindsey Lohan), poses as a scientist in a publicity stunt to jump start her career again. When they land on the alien planet a probe is inserted into each of their brains, allowing the aliens complete access to the humans’ thoughts and knowledge. Ashley is sent to be executed when the aliens discover her deception. While awaiting execution, her probe links with the probe of ZXQ (all aliens have probes implanted at birth). Now Ashley and ZXQ, or Sam as she names him, can share thoughts and he agrees to help Ashley escape.
Sounds exciting, right? I thought so too. I really looked forward to reading this one. Then I read it. In my opinion Ashley would have been better off sticking to the path other have-been actors take to start a comeback…Dancing With the Stars or any of Fox’s celebrity reality shows.
Unfortunately, she chooses aliens and we embark on the slowest 200+ pages I’ve come across lately. Her character has a sense of entitlement that put a sour taste in my mouth. The entitlement switched to a need to prove herself back on earth. It wasn’t until the last fifth of the book that she showed and character growth at all. On the opposite side of things, Sam goes from alien to full blown human in the blink of an eye. Very little struggle for him to adapt to a new program.
The romance between Ashley and Sam isn’t worth writing home about. Ashley had been there, done that. And probably for all the wrong reasons. Sam is experiencing his first taste of sex. And, of course, he’s magically wonderful at it (eye roll).
The ending that took forever to get to sort of fizzled. A huge build up, then… nothing. Like a lit bottle rocket that never launches. A disappointing ending to a disappointing book.
Sci-fi/Fantasy
Rituals of Passion by Lacey Alexander
Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: High Kink
Genre: Futuristic
Series: Brides of Caralon #1
Reviewed by Kate
Taking place over 1500 years in the future, in a time when it is completely acceptable for the average citizen to have multiple casual encounters but royal daughters must remain pure until marriage, this story starts off with a bang (pun definitely intended). Maven, an aforementioned royal daughter, has finally reached marrying age. Her father gifts her to Dane of Rawley, a man who is known across the land for his brutal and aggressive nature.
Dane has worked hard to earn his reputation. However, he is determined to give this marriage a chance. He knows Maven is innocent and he is looking forward to introducing her to the joys of sex. But Maven is nothing like the shy, timid virgin he was expecting. Maven is very strong willed and though she knows it is the role of a wife to be submissive, she has no intention of submitting to Dane.
While there was a lot of talk of submitting this didn’t really qualify as a BDSM read for me. There is no Dom/sub relationship between the two. No whips or chains. However, don’t doubt the inferno rating I gave the book. There is enough exhibitionism, voyeurism, and multiple partners to satisfy even the highest of heat ratings.
Incredible. Lovely. Beautiful. Marvelous. Tremendous. Majestic (my personal fave). No, I am not describing a unicorn as my husband guessed. These are some of the adjectives used to describe Dane’s *clearing throat* (as a romance reader you know what I mean). By the end of the book, I was so in awe I almost broke into song. “Oh say can you see, Dane’s magnificent…” Well, you get the picture.
Demon Possession by Kiersten Fay
Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Sci Fi
Series: Shadow Quest #1
Reviewed by Kate
Analia has been a captive aboard the Extarga for centuries. Finally presented with a chance of escape, she stows away on the merchant ship the Marada. Sebastian, demon captain of the Marada, has just accepted a commission that includes a ward being placed on the ship. A ward that prevents anyone from entering or leaving the ship until the goods are delivered to a destination months away. When Sebastian discovers Analia, he has little choice but to let her remain aboard.
Sebastian is drawn to Analia as a demon can only be drawn to its mate. But Sebastian was deeply betrayed before by one who loved him and he’s determined to never love again. Analia remembers nothing of her life before the Extarga. She only knows she will do anything to maintain her freedom. Even if it means fighting her growing affections for the demon captain. But at the culmination of the Marada’s contract, something is discovered about Analia that will change the course of not only Sebastian and Analia’s lives, but the fate of the entire universe as well.
Wow. What an epic tale. Honestly, Iloved the first three quarters of the book. It centered around the developing relationship between Sebastian and Analia. The last part of the book I liked, but it was more focused on setting up the rest of the series. The villain-dastardly. The heroine-strong and spunky. The hero-delicious, right down to his little horns that change colors with his moods. What’s not to love. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Dirty Girls' Good Books 