Claw

Colony: Nyx #3

by Demelza Carlton

When Claw's friend calls in a favour, he can't refuse. Besides, how hard can it be? All he has to do is show up at the Intergalactic Dating Agency's speed dating event, take a look around, and he can be back at work in his bakery before midnight. Easy. Until he meets Frangipani. Expert pastry chef Frangipani (Franny to her friends) is everything Claw ever wished for. Beautiful, talented and downright magical when it comes to preparing baked goods, if fate had a mate in mind for him, it had to be her. Until the dark secrets behind the Intergalactic Dating Agency and Star Farm come to light...

240 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2022

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author Demelza Carlton has always loved the ocean, but on her first snorkelling trip she found she was afraid of fish.
She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray-drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below.
Sensationalist spin? No - Demelza tends to take a camera with her so she can capture and share the moment later; shipwrecks, sharks and all.
Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world.
The Ocean's Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by the Nightmares trilogy. She swears the Mel Goes to Hell series ambushed her on a crowded train and wouldn't leave her alone.

Reviews

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claw, the male alien lead, is a contract lawyer by qualification but is currently an untrained baker doing his best with the limited ingredients available since farms are still being established. Franny, the female human lead, is a baker currently acting as a farmer because that’s what the contract she signed said she would do, along with bearing four alien babies. When she has the opportunity to get off the farm for a dating event, she jumps at the chance. Meeting Claw, she’s excited to go to his bakery and help him improve his skills as well as have some intimate fun.

But Claw is there to investigate whether there’s any impropriety in the way the farm is being run because it’s registered as a school…

This novella is dual POV, well written, and a funny, sexy tale. I enjoyed the significant conclusion for most of the overarching plot, though it looks as though there’ll be at least one more in the series and I’m here for it! I enjoyed Franny’s assertiveness and her willingness to make her own opportunities. I enjoyed Claw’s wariness and his confusion regarding the situation. I enjoyed how he worked to balance his interest in Franny with his need to make sure she was protected. I enjoyed their intimate scenes and the relationship development, as well as the secondary character interactions. I would have liked it longer and a bit more detailed.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved book 3 inthe series. It fits right in with the first two books and answers a lot of questions at the end. Claw is the only baker for the Colony. Though he was a lawyer before he got there, he didn't want to examine contracts or write them any more he just wanted to bake bread and desserts and whatever else he could get the ingredients for. That was the main problem - some things weren't available and had to be synthesized, some things were scarce, and some things were available one day and not the next. It was always a challenge. When he is asked to check out a speed dating event to make sure it was above board, he reluctantly agrees and calls on his friends Fang and Talon to attend with him. He can't believe it when he meets Franny. She is not only beautiful and a trained baker, but his bear is crazy about her. When it becomes apparent that everything is not what it should be at Star Farm, Claw is afraid he might lose it all.

I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.

[Lisa Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as an ARC I am leaving my honest review. Claw, a bear titan and the colony’s only baker is in for a surprise when he accompanies his two best friends to the Pub for date night with the human girls from Star Farms. He is instantly attracted to Fanny and the sparks fly. Deciding to show her his bakery, they slip out unnoticed. Fanny shows him a thing or two about what she learned from her mom’s recipes and Claw shows her a thing or two about himself. Little do they know that they may be in danger as the plot to obtain human girls for a breeding program are revealed. Claw used to be a lawyer in his previous employment so he uses his skills to investigate. Will he lose Fanny in the process? The answers are in the detailed report. Be prepared for a late night reading to find out if they have a happy ending!

[Stan Hutchings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This heart-warming, HEA romance completes the series started with Talon and Fang. The stories are synchronous as Talon, Fang, and Claw experience the same few weeks, each from their own point of view. Claw, a bear-shifter Titan finds his perfect human mate through the Intergalactic Dating Agency’s speed dating event, but the course of true love does not proceed smoothly. Claw was supposed to investigate the Agency for shady business, but he got distracted by Franny. Then Franny offers to work in his bakery and they soon discover they are in love - a match made in heaven. Claw discovers the shady operation at Star Farm and finds a way to bring the guilty to justice and to make his and Franny’s wishes to be bakers together forever come true.

[Wendy Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baker Claw is asked to check out the Intergalactic Dating Agency's speed dating event. He asks Fang and Talon to accompany him without telling them why. The three Titan aliens end up enjoying themselves.

This is the third book of the Intergalactic Dating Agency series. It can be read as a stand-alone book, but it helps if you read Fang, then Talon before reading Claw.

This story is mainly about Claw and Franny. Claw is a lawyer turned untrained baker. He has the only bakery in the area. Frangipani (Franny) is an expert pastry chef. She can teach Claw how to bake things better but teaches him much more.

This is a steamy story which I loved.

I received this as an ARC and enjoyed reading it.

[Adena Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lawyer to the Rescue! I understand Claw's desire to stop practising law all too well - it is a very stressful occupation. It would be so much easier if he could just ignore all the demands that he do the lawyer thing instead of the baking thing, but that darn social conscience of his .... At least he got a truly wonderful consolation prize out of it (namely, Frannie). Sweet, sweet, steamy sweet - and I am not referring to the tarts!

I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Franny's story is fabulous. As a baker, she, of course, meets Claw, formerly a contract lawyer, now the only baker in the Colony. And they make beautiful pastries together. Beyond that, the issues surrounding the Star Farm Collective took center stage. Franny's story has a delightful ending however the book ends on another cliffhanger.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Happily Ever After. Romantic. Steamy. Tear-jerker. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.

I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.

[Joanne H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dating service supreme. With hot guys and girls trying to hook up. A lawyer turned baker went to the dating service because two of his buddies ask him. After checking out some girls Claw came across Franny. Franny was working at the Star Farm with a bunch of other girls brought from Earth. After findind out she knew how to bake they went to his bakery and sparks flew. An interesting steamy book with aliens.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Claw, baker and contract lawyer, goes along with Talon and Fang to the speed dating bar, he is actually on a fact-finding mission for the Mer Enforcer. Something is not quite right at Star Farms. The issues at the Farm need to be addressed. He meets Franny and discovers that she, too, is a baker. They move to his bakery and make pastries, and get to know each other very well. These two really are the perfect pair. This story is short and entertaining, has great characters, a steamy romance, and a mystery that leaves us with some questions. Great read!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Cheryl Drake johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claw aka Orson is asks by the Mer Enforcer to attend the Intergalactic Speed Dating Agency, he takes his two best friends and it seems that Claw is very taken with a young lady named Frangipani aka Franny who was so taken with him especially when she found out that he was a baker she has been longing to bake, Franny is in a contract with the Star Collective but something is serious wrong and Claw has to find out what it is and who is behind the scam that could cause a war between the humans and Titans. Everything is definitely not what it seems. A delightful short story. I read a copy via BookFunnel without obligation. I volunteered an honest review.

[Sally Line · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claw and Franny are great together

I loved how Claw and Franny found just what they needed in each other. The Star Farm mystery is getting exciting, though I do hate having to wait to see how it all unfolds. I like reading too about what the new colony has to do to make things work.

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claw finally gets his time to shine. This lawyer turned baker gets roped into dating and in this one get to learn the truth of the Farm. But it was a riot to see how Claw and Franny meet, bake and fall for each other. Just a quick, cute hot read with plenty of bake goods.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bakery Bopping

I loved Claw! I couldn’t wait for this book to go Live and I was not disappointed. The sparks that flew between Claw and Franny was obvious from the start and their bakery antics will have me blushing anytime I go into a Panera! I can’t wait to read Iva’s story.

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, the storyline is entertaining and filled with action and adventure. I can't wait to read more from this author. I received this book as a Free ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Kay Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

some great complexity

Claw (book 3) was a real pleasure to read, with some background complexity, interesting baking hints from Frannie to Claw, romance of course, and intergalactic legalese. This was my favourite of the the three. I hope book 4 is as exciting!

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great short, steamy read.

You have to love Franny and her sassy attitude. This one answers a lot of questions about the girls and the farm.
What has happened to Iva? Can't wait for the next book.

[Elspeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series finally. This one was clearly supposed to be the end because the mystery of Star Farm is solved very quickly at the end, but the characters were fun and I was engaged. Definitely a "guilty pleasure" series in a genre of "guilty pleasures".

[Chris Mckay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 of 3 in the Colony:Nyx series all three great reads that are stand alone but if you read one you will want to read them all. If you love hot alien romance this is definitely a series for you.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great sci-fi romance.. I liked it.. It's very steamy and fun-to-read, with quirky, interesting characters..

[Sarah Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baker and Lawer. Fills in more blanks and I’m not sure if there is supposed to be one after this or if the next one is by a different author. But it’s pretty good it is short but still good.

[RoseyLovesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

An undercover hero, an indentured heroine, and a story full of drama, intrigue and steam made for a fun and entertaining read!

[SEng · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Claw and Franny. I enjoyed this entertaining romance with some unexpected twists. I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alejandra Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good. I still want a closure for Rue and Talon, though. What I got here wasn't enough.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Nyx series that is part of the world from the Colony Series by Demelza Carlton. I have really enjoyed all three books in the Nyx series so far and am really looking forward to reading the next one whenever it becomes available. I also plan on backtracking to read some of the other Colony books since I haven't read any yet but feel they would add more depth to this series by providing an even greater background although I had no trouble with reading this series without having read those.

[Amanda Bhear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have finished it! I will no doubt reread them all again many times. There is a teaser at the end that makes it look like there could be more. I hope so, I liked them & would read it, but we'll have to see! happy reading everyone.