Tag Archive | sci fi romance

Cowboy Dragon (Texas Dragons Book 1) #dragonshifter #KU #romance

Cowboy Dragon (Texas Dragons Book 1) ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Synopsis

Marian West has nothing left to her name but her car (which is currently broken down), an old coin in her pocket, and the legend of a man named Harrison, who she’s currently looking for. But instead of finding the last person that can help her, she gets a pack of hungry coyotes instead. By either good or bad luck, she’s rescued by a tall, gorgeous stranger with eyes bluer than a Texas sky. He’s dominant and commanding and everything Marian hates about cowboys. He’s also irresistible, and her only hope.

Harrison didn’t expect to find the curvy, stubborn human woman so interesting. After saving her from coyotes and more, the experienced cowboy boss of Dragonclaw Ranch knows he owes Marian for a favor her father did for him a long time ago. But his dragon says “mate” every time he looks at her, and even though he’s going to help the determined woman, it will be difficult to keep the monster inside him from wanting to make her his own.

As Marian and Harrison grow closer, unexpected kisses lead quickly to scorching nights beneath the full Texas moon. Danger and secrets lurk around every corner, but anything that threatens a Texas dragon’s mate will quickly learn that everything is bigger in Texas. Even a dragon’s love.

Opinion

Harrison & Marian!!!!

It has been a while since I read a dragon shifter romance from Terry Bolryder, and I was feeling so sentimental!

In this story, Marian cashes a IOU type of dragon chip because she is down on her luck and needs a place to stay until she can get back on her feet. The dragon who gave this chip is Harrison.

Marian is spunky and looks for ways to be independent. The independence is a coping mechanism for a lifetime of having people let her down. This leads to the main reason why she is so hesitant about getting into a relationship.

Harrison is drawn to her but he’s trying to keep his distance so he doesn’t reveal his big secret that he is a dragon shifter. Meanwhile, there is trouble brewing with their shifter neighbors who seem to be around just to cause mischief.

The story centers around Marion and Harrison getting to know each other and learning how to trust one another. Plus, there are some monsters that Harrison knows could be an issue in the future and he is wary about getting into a relationship with someone because of it. Never fear! It all works out for the best.

I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?

Buy. Overall, it’s not as action packed as other dragon shifter romances, but it still was a fun, light read. Harrison and Marian were a cute couple.

Book details

Series: Texas Dragons Book 1
Heat Level: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

Print Length: 191 pages

Cyborg Shifters series #scifi #romance

Nov30

Wild Blood – Storm Surge – Shark Bite – Ashes and Metal

These books are about cyborg shifters. I did not include the synopsis for each, but you can click the link to read more about each one. Every book is a standalone novel but the last chapter leads into the next book by introducing the characters and conflict.

These men are NOT your typical shifters. They are 1/3 man, 1/3 machine, and 1/3 animal. They are basically human looking bodies that transform into robot animals. For the first in the series Wild Blood, Dommik’s animal is unconventional and borderline creepy (read for the full effect). In Storm Surge, Stryker is a snake that has to get his mouth covered at all time (how does that even work??). In Shark Bite, Netto is a shark (no surprise). In Ashes and Metal, Gunner is a jackal (almost normal shifter with freaky eyes though).

I get why then leading men had trouble getting women.

They were MONSTERS! Visualizing some of the scenes took some serious imagination since at times they would partially transform their heads or other appendages. Any normal woman would run screaming in the other direction when faced with those mechanical enhancements. I mean, Stryker can’t control his snake from venomously biting and Netto has rows of jagged teeth! How can that be sexy?

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Also, they had no social skills. I realize socialization was not top priority for scientists when they lab created them. As a result the heroes were big, intimidating, and generally unapproachable. I thought Dommik had the least approachable personality, but then I read Netto’s story. I still don’t understand how he attracted Rylie.

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While the overall stories were somewhat dark in the content, I thought the author’s description “contains horror elements” was exaggerated. It was action filled, weird, off-putting, and like nothing I have read before. However, I could tell that the underneath it all, the heroes were men who were just as afraid of rejection as the regular Joe Blow. They craved companionship but knew that was not likely to happen under normal conditions. It was necessary for the author to create dire circumstances that would require the hero and heroine to be together where the obvious differences would not create a barrier to the budding relationship.

TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
BORROW. Due to the fact that these books might be considered disturbing content for some, borrow and if you like it, you can always buy later.

This post is full of Amazon affiliate links. Support my blog by clicking those links if you are thinking about borrowing or ordering any of these books. Thanks!!!

Breeder #review #scifi #amreading #romance @carabristol

Jun15

Breeder by Cara Bristol

Synopsis
High Commander Dak is the ruling Alpha of planet Parseon. He purchases Omra as a breeder slave because in this world, females are mainly used to bear children. He wants a son and thinks after that duty is done, he will have no other need for her. By law, he is to use Omra to have his child and not for any sexual gratification.

Omra was raised knowing that one day she would be a breeder slave and her sire protected her virginity to increase her value. Her hope was that the male that chose her would not abuse her. When Dak purchased her, she was optimistic because he seemed like a strict but reasonable person.

The Parseon culture judges harshly anyone who takes pleasure carnal activity or attempts to treat females with more regard than dictated. As Dak begins to question the strict cultural norms, it seems that nefarious forces will try to exploit any perceived weakness to cause his downfall.

Opinion
I voluntarily read an advanced reader’s copy of this book.
I was hesitant about reading this book because I was worried that I would not like it. Mainly, because it is out of the range of what I would usually read. The author stated it was a dark romance and while I like suspense, I tend to stay away from the dark romance because it usually deals with issues that I do not find entertaining or like to read about in romance.

Saying all that to say, I love this book.

Yes it is dark. The world in which the author has created is a misogynistic place in the extreme. There is so much abuse towards females in general because it seems that the males hate that they need females to procreate.

Males in this world are divided into two categories: alphas and betas. The alphas run things. They are the ones that own property and are in charge. The betas are in a submissive position to the alpha. They live together after an “anointing” with the alpha as the breadwinner and the beta takes care of the domestic duties. The females are relegated to the role of breeder slaves and treated in some cases worse than a farm animal.

Why did I love this book?
One, I loved the world building. This world was so complex that I could not even think of another book that I’ve read to compare it to. As I was reading, I was on the edge of my seat trying to imagine how Dak and Omra would be able to have a relationship without him losing his position. Then I questioned what it would mean for him to lose his position. Plus the risk of the villain winning had me holding my breath because I could not guess how it was going to end.

Two, I appreciated the changes that Dak made to treat the Omra as more of an equal than society deemed her to be. While he was very strict at times, he was looking at the bigger picture and implications of his actions at all times. In that sense, he tried to be a decent alpha and protector.

Three, the ending of the book left me with hope that even though it is a dark, depressing society for women in general, the inklings of compassion indicate that change will come in time. Dak evolves in the book because he has a modicum of compassion and tenderness in his heart.

TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
Buy. If you like reading science fiction especially books with major alien civilization world building, this book is for you.

Book details
Series: Breeder trilogy
Heat Level: 🔥 🔥 🔥
Print Length: 283 pages

-Letter F – Barbarian #scifiromance #alienromance @AprilAtoZ #atozchallenge

Apr7

F is for Fox (Kim Fox)

Barbarian

Synopsis
Avery and her friend go to the movies. They get abducted by aliens. Knowing that they will most likely die in the near future, they hijack the spaceship and crash land on a planet called Zandipor.

Turic finds Avery in forest and is convinced that she is the answer from the gods to save his people from the dinosaurs that also inhabit the planet.

Opinion
This book was not for me, but the story was okay.

First of all, let me say that I am not a fan of first person POV. I will read it and if the story line and voice of the character is okay, I can deal. I need for the person speaking to be halfway logical enough for me to tolerate their voice. Otherwise, I get very irritated. It’s like hearing an annoying person speaking. The more they talk, the more I want them to shut it.

In Avery’s case, I thought she did not have much common sense. She knows what she should do, but does she do it? Nooooo. I was rooting for the dinosaur at one point. I needed something shut her up.

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Plus, I’m guessing that TinTom the robot was supposed add humor to the story. I wanted to drop kick that stupid robot across the terrain and hope a dinosaur stepped on him as he rolled in the river.

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With all of that negative emotion, I could not even focus on Turic and his barbaric ways. He was okay, if a little too frisky in my opinion.

To be fair, despite my obvious issues with their personalities, I repeat, the story was okay. For me, I could not focus on the plot because I had a dislike for some of the characters.

TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
I say BORROW but if you like alien abduction or corny humor in your sci-fi alien romance, you might want to BUY. Just be prepared to probably exclaim “OMG she is so annoying!”

Book details
Series: Alien Barbarians of Zandipor Book 1
Heat Level: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

Claimed by the Cyborg #excerpt #newrelease #scifiromance @carabristol

Jan25

Claimed by the Cyborg (Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance 5)
By Cara Bristol

Release date: January 10, 2017
Format: ebook and paperback

Taglines:
A cyborg never gives up.
He lost her once. He won’t let it happen again.
ISBN: 9780996839020

Claimed by the Cyborg Description

March Fellows assumed he had all the time in the galaxy to pursue a relationship with Jules, an alien exchange student from Xenia, until she vanished without a trace. After years of searching, he finds his lost love on the eve of her arranged marriage.

The daughter of the Xenian emperor, Julietta never meant to fall in love with a Terran man while visiting Earth. Leaving to fulfill her responsibilities on her home planet opened up a hole in her heart that could never be filled. When March, now a cyborg, unexpectedly shows up just before she is to be bonded, she struggles to find the courage to turn him away a second time and follow through with her duty. Before she can act, the lovers are thrust into a political conspiracy that threatens the Xenian empire and their lives.

Buy Links
Amazon: http://hyperurl.co/Claimed-Amz
iBooks: http://hyperurl.co/Claimed-iBooks
Kobo: http://hyperurl.co/Claimed-Kobo
Barnes & Noble: http://hyperurl.co/Claimed-BN

9b29b-red_excerpt

March gaped at the woman who’d entered the hall, her arm linked with a girl’s. Hair, long and curly, tumbled down her back. Her eyes were as he remembered, as black and enigmatic as space, but girlish features had matured into womanliness. Jules. My Jules. Her gaze collided with his, the darkness concealing her thoughts, but her mouth parted as if shocked. If he hadn’t been seated, the sight of her would have knocked him on his ass. His hands shook, and he clenched them into fists to quell the trembling.

He’d searched, questioned everyone who’d known her, revisited all their haunts. So much time, so much effort, and she just walked in. Of all the places, in all the years, she was here. He couldn’t believe it. A guest at the ceremony. The practiced words he’d imagined he’d say if he located her evaporated, and all he could do was drink her in.

She’d never looked more beautiful. Dignified, refined, polished. Not haughty, but self-contained. Intricate whorls adorned her face, enhancing her exotic allure. She wore the tunic and pantaloons common to Xenia, the design and tailoring of hers nonpareil, surpassing elegance, but in the same color as the garments of members of the imperial family. She must be one of the many attendants. A relative maybe? Cousin to the bride? Obviously, she knew the imperial family well, or she wouldn’t be at the banquet.

Which would begin at any moment. Damn it! He couldn’t talk to her now. Jules moved, almost as if to step in his direction, but the younger woman herded her to two open seats at the other end of the long banquet table.

At the next opportunity, he would approach her. His heart hammered. The twins probably knew her. He turned to Naimo to ask him, when Kur spoke.

“There’s your chosen! Princess Julietta is looking at you, Naimo.” He gestured in Jules’s direction. “She’s checking you out!”

March shifted his attention to the girl who’d accompanied Jules. She couldn’t be more than fifteen or sixteen. She was a little young to be bonded, wasn’t she?

Naimo took a deep, satisfied-sounding breath. “She is even lovelier with the bonding stain painted on her face. Her vids don’t do her justice.”

The younger woman’s face was clear, unmarked. His gaze zoomed to Jules, to the spiraling whorls gracing her temples, her cheeks.

No. No. No.

“The woman with the facial paint is your chosen?” His voice came out a whispered croak. “That’s Princess Julietta?” His Jules was Emperor Dusan’s daughter? No.

“The one and only.” Naimo beamed.

Cara Bristol Bio

USA Today bestselling author Cara Bristol has been the no. 1 best seller in science fiction romance, bdsm erotica, and holiday fiction on Amazon. She’s the author of two science fiction romance series featuring tough alpha heroes: the Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance cyborg series and the Breeder science fiction romance series, which emphasize character-driven stories written with a touch of humor and sizzling chemistry between the hero and heroine. Cara lives in Missouri with her own alpha hero, her husband.