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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
This is a 2.5 rounded up to 3. There were a lot of good ideas put into this story. It could have been really interesting. But the execution of the story was not good. There was a lot of telling, not showing, which resulted in caring for neither the hero or heroine. It also made for a lack of description. There were quite a few plot points that would have been amazing if they were fleshed out a little more. The telling vs showing also made the writing feel choppy. There's no sense of how much time has passed since Starr arrives and other things take place. One minute she's dying to go home, and then she's in love with Torg?
This could have been something quite good, but it just wasn't for me. And with how the story ends, it sort of takes away a bit of the alien planet vibe I think most alien romance readers are looking for. Can't say I'll be following the rest of this series.
This could have been something quite good, but it just wasn't for me. And with how the story ends, it sort of takes away a bit of the alien planet vibe I think most alien romance readers are looking for. Can't say I'll be following the rest of this series.
An epic start to what I hope is a new series! Cara Bristol does an amazing job of telling this alien romance story. Although the premise is very common right now in romance novels, the uniqueness of the alien appearance and their planet's story is really good. After a major asteroid/comet strike completely destroys their way of life, the Dakonians have learned to survive but their female population never recovered and they need mates! Earth is willing to trade since they need the completely useless to Dakonian rocks that can be used as power sources.
This test group of fifty women to arrive as 'mail-order brides' will hopefully be just the beginning. What they don't know is that these women a female Earth criminals given a chance to expunge their sentence for a life on a new planet. Starr Conner is among these women, sentenced falsely of second degree murder and shipping unwillingly with the carefully selected first group of women. She looks nothing like anyone else sent to Dakon, she's short and blonde when everyone else is tall, strong and brunette. Her appearance makes her the last pick as a mate for a Dakonian. Can she find happiness with her new mate when her very appearance is off-putting? Torg is so happy to have a mate but admittedly wouldn't have picked Starr is he'd been on time to the selection process. Torg and Starr must face new lives together, deal with jealous native Dakonian women and Starr's past, which follows her all the way to this new planet.
This novel was well written, entertaining and, with luck, the start to a new series. I really hope more stories are told about this world. Starr and the other women have a huge impact on this planet as they become settled into their lives and start to plot to protect Dakon from the future potential greed of Earth. As we all know, Earth doesn't have the best history of not crushing those perceived as lesser when they want something and their demand for this new power source will only increase.
This test group of fifty women to arrive as 'mail-order brides' will hopefully be just the beginning. What they don't know is that these women a female Earth criminals given a chance to expunge their sentence for a life on a new planet. Starr Conner is among these women, sentenced falsely of second degree murder and shipping unwillingly with the carefully selected first group of women. She looks nothing like anyone else sent to Dakon, she's short and blonde when everyone else is tall, strong and brunette. Her appearance makes her the last pick as a mate for a Dakonian. Can she find happiness with her new mate when her very appearance is off-putting? Torg is so happy to have a mate but admittedly wouldn't have picked Starr is he'd been on time to the selection process. Torg and Starr must face new lives together, deal with jealous native Dakonian women and Starr's past, which follows her all the way to this new planet.
This novel was well written, entertaining and, with luck, the start to a new series. I really hope more stories are told about this world. Starr and the other women have a huge impact on this planet as they become settled into their lives and start to plot to protect Dakon from the future potential greed of Earth. As we all know, Earth doesn't have the best history of not crushing those perceived as lesser when they want something and their demand for this new power source will only increase.
adventurous
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Kidnapping
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Slow start - picked up
Starr was quite the effed over woman: shipped to an alien planet after conviction for a murder she wasn’t guilty of to marry an alien. The lovely little ice world made me want to snuggle in some more blankets. Brrrrrr
I’m all about the big size difference situations, with 7 ft + guys who make the girls feel tiny. Torg took a min to like, but he grew on me.
I was annoyed with the misogyny that popped up in relation to the alien women. Why was the only woman we met a psycho? And why was she slut shamed? There were PLENTY of things that were more relevant. Even just one positive example would have been nice.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: captivity, murder, violence, gore
Starr was quite the effed over woman: shipped to an alien planet after conviction for a murder she wasn’t guilty of to marry an alien. The lovely little ice world made me want to snuggle in some more blankets. Brrrrrr
I’m all about the big size difference situations, with 7 ft + guys who make the girls feel tiny. Torg took a min to like, but he grew on me.
I was annoyed with the misogyny that popped up in relation to the alien women. Why was the only woman we met a psycho? And why was she slut shamed? There were PLENTY of things that were more relevant. Even just one positive example would have been nice.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: captivity, murder, violence, gore
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What an great sci fi concept. A planet that was decimated by an asteroid that sent them back to the stone age and kills off their female population. And advanced over populated plant makes contact and is willing to trade females for rocks that power their civilization. The world building and cultural learning was great along with throwing in some good old fashion drama. I enjoyed it.
Boring
Weird. The plot meanders, characters are unlivable, and the premise is boring. The synopsis made it sound great and the cover is beautiful but the story leaves much to be desired.
Weird. The plot meanders, characters are unlivable, and the premise is boring. The synopsis made it sound great and the cover is beautiful but the story leaves much to be desired.
Excellent read
I love the story and the men (yummy). I didn’t like the helplessness of the main character but I guess they all can’t be ex marines right? She was still quite likeable. Have already bought book #2 and can’t wait to get started.
I love the story and the men (yummy). I didn’t like the helplessness of the main character but I guess they all can’t be ex marines right? She was still quite likeable. Have already bought book #2 and can’t wait to get started.