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From USA Today bestselling author Grace Goodwin comes a scorching Sci-fi alien romance with a strong, fiercely independent woman running from her past and a scarred, merciless enforcer determined to sacrifice himself to save her. ALL of Grace's novels can be read as stand-alone books with no cheating and always a 'happily ever after'.
Mercenary. Enforcer. Cursed. I am not a Coalition fighter. I have no honor. I follow no rules. I am Rogue 5. I am Mikos of Astra legion.
Fate has always been cruel to brutes like me. Exiled from Rogue 5, abandoned by my legion, on the run for a vicious crime, Fate made sure I was captured and tortured by the scourge known as the Hive.
I should have died on that Hive prison ship. Instead, a Coalition ReCon team stormed my ship and with them, a female human too beautiful, too fragile, to step near a damaged, unforgiving enforcer like me. Yet the fearless female not only came close, she touched me.
The moment I caught her scent, looked into her eyes, I knew she was mine, my mate. A female I could never keep, never burden, never claim for myself. I would have spared her. Walked away.
Until she did the unthinkable. She saved my life, then nearly died in my arms.
I had no choice but to bite her, inject her with my essence. Now I’m in her body, in her blood. The most primitive part of me knows she’s mine, and she’s dying, slowly, from my venom. My cursed, hybrid bite.
The antidote is on Rogue 5, where I will face the executioner’s blade.
So be it.
I will never tell my mate the price I pay, but I will save her. If I have to drag her, kicking and screaming, off Battleship Karter, I will. If I must eliminate every Prillon warrior, fighter and Atlan beast on this ship to take her with me, I will. Nothing will stop me.
There is nothing I will not do to save her life. The only thing I cannot do is resist. Resist the primal urge to touch her. Taste her. Make her whimper. Make her beg.
Make sure that long after I’m gone, she remembers screaming my name.
Mercenary. Enforcer. Cursed. I am not a Coalition fighter. I have no honor. I follow no rules. I am Rogue 5. I am Mikos of Astra legion.
Fate has always been cruel to brutes like me. Exiled from Rogue 5, abandoned by my legion, on the run for a vicious crime, Fate made sure I was captured and tortured by the scourge known as the Hive.
I should have died on that Hive prison ship. Instead, a Coalition ReCon team stormed my ship and with them, a female human too beautiful, too fragile, to step near a damaged, unforgiving enforcer like me. Yet the fearless female not only came close, she touched me.
The moment I caught her scent, looked into her eyes, I knew she was mine, my mate. A female I could never keep, never burden, never claim for myself. I would have spared her. Walked away.
Until she did the unthinkable. She saved my life, then nearly died in my arms.
I had no choice but to bite her, inject her with my essence. Now I’m in her body, in her blood. The most primitive part of me knows she’s mine, and she’s dying, slowly, from my venom. My cursed, hybrid bite.
The antidote is on Rogue 5, where I will face the executioner’s blade.
So be it.
I will never tell my mate the price I pay, but I will save her. If I have to drag her, kicking and screaming, off Battleship Karter, I will. If I must eliminate every Prillon warrior, fighter and Atlan beast on this ship to take her with me, I will. Nothing will stop me.
There is nothing I will not do to save her life. The only thing I cannot do is resist. Resist the primal urge to touch her. Taste her. Make her whimper. Make her beg.
Make sure that long after I’m gone, she remembers screaming my name.
250 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2024
235 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Grace Goodwin
90 books1,918 followersVisit Grace's Goodwin's website:
http://GraceGoodwin.com
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http://InterstellarBridesProgram.com
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All Series Books-Chronological Reading Order:
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http://GraceGoodwin.com
Take the Brides' Test!
http://InterstellarBridesProgram.com
Printable reading list:
https://bit.ly/2Am6rJx
All Series Books-Chronological Reading Order:
https://bit.ly/3bEQfAl
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 22, 2024
A disappointing follow up to first
I absolutely loved Heartless the first in this series. And looked forward to reading this one. But this book fell short. It was disappointing. Way too much talking and inner angst,getting in the way of the weak plot. And when things went south and professional Coalition soldier Breanna froze after so much previous strength, it didn't ring true.
Another reader said it best when she said the author's books are hit or miss. This one was a miss for me.
I absolutely loved Heartless the first in this series. And looked forward to reading this one. But this book fell short. It was disappointing. Way too much talking and inner angst,getting in the way of the weak plot. And when things went south and professional Coalition soldier Breanna froze after so much previous strength, it didn't ring true.
Another reader said it best when she said the author's books are hit or miss. This one was a miss for me.
November 17, 2024
I was all set to love Mikos and Breanna but the slog through constant inner thoughs and doubts made me flip through a good 50% or more of this book. They needed more time TALKING to each other, developing a relationship, and definitely this book needed much more action. Just a very bad one for her. As I quoted below reveiwer Theresa Brown summed up my thought very succinctly and didn't feel I needed to rewrite her words. Sad that this one didn't live up to it's potential.
"I absolutely loved Heartless the first in this series. And looked forward to reading this one. But this book fell short. It was disappointing. Way too much talking and inner angst,getting in the way of the weak plot. And when things went south and professional Coalition soldier Breanna froze after so much previous strength, it didn't ring true. Another reader said it best when she said the author's books are hit or miss. This one was a miss for me." Theresa Brown - fellow reviewer and reader
"I absolutely loved Heartless the first in this series. And looked forward to reading this one. But this book fell short. It was disappointing. Way too much talking and inner angst,getting in the way of the weak plot. And when things went south and professional Coalition soldier Breanna froze after so much previous strength, it didn't ring true. Another reader said it best when she said the author's books are hit or miss. This one was a miss for me." Theresa Brown - fellow reviewer and reader
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2024
Fearless doesn't nearly describe it.
Breanna Parks is a member of a Coalition recon team, seeking out and rescuing as many Hive prisoners as they can. They come upon a Hive Integration Unit ship, and after a brief battle they hear an unmistakable bellow. It's coming from another level on the ship, and when they find the source, it appears to be as huge as an Atlan beast, but not. He is actually a Hyperion-Forsian hybrid named Mike's, and he immediately recognizes Breanna as his mate.
This is a wonderfully constructed story, filled with engrossing drama, vicious physical action and hot, hot, hot romance. The heroes, both male and female, are heroic, and the nasty villains are grossly villainous. A real page-turner you won't want to put down until the very end.
Highly recommend.
Breanna Parks is a member of a Coalition recon team, seeking out and rescuing as many Hive prisoners as they can. They come upon a Hive Integration Unit ship, and after a brief battle they hear an unmistakable bellow. It's coming from another level on the ship, and when they find the source, it appears to be as huge as an Atlan beast, but not. He is actually a Hyperion-Forsian hybrid named Mike's, and he immediately recognizes Breanna as his mate.
This is a wonderfully constructed story, filled with engrossing drama, vicious physical action and hot, hot, hot romance. The heroes, both male and female, are heroic, and the nasty villains are grossly villainous. A real page-turner you won't want to put down until the very end.
Highly recommend.
April 17, 2025
I used to read Grace Godwin books years ago. I loved the mix of sci-fi and romance. This series isn't that. This series is about super tough, competent human women having painful sounding $ex with giant-sized aliens. And there's usually a damsel-in-distress type plot or some variation as the storyline.
In this story, almost all the characters have appeared in previous books. So, if this is your first GG read, you will definitely feel lost. You'll have to go back to the beginning of this series to catch up. The plot is pretty flimsy. The MMC is being pursued for the justified murder of an enemy. He accidentally gets captured by the Hive, then rescued by some human soldiers, one of which turns out to be his mate.
Cue up the super painful sounding $ex here. Mating fist? Big, big nope on that. Yes, I get that this is how the giant guys do it, but I reject that. Reading these encounters didn't at all trip any lurve triggers for me. It's all just being told. There's no showing of the emotions between the two leads. Other than an occasional gasp by the FMC, every $exual encounter sounds not just painful, with big, muscular fingers digging and squeezing into very sensitive places, but it sounds cold. The $exual acts sound really painful and emotionless. There's a lot stated that the MMC is possessive and super aggressive towards the FMC. But there's just no feeling of real emotion during these acts. I don't feel what's between these two people other than very hard-core $ex. There is impossibly large male equipment and very tiny female receiving vessels involved as well as humongous digits and bruising grips. I get the visual of a blanket size dude swallowing a small female who is literally unable to move as she gets poked hard in really sensitive places, whether she wants it or not. I don't want to yuck on anyone's yum! It just doesn't get my motor revving. It's a hollow read for me without some indications of emotion.
I was happy to see that GG never hesitates to make her mature characters take the lead. It's difficult to find characters over 30 in romance, but GG brings it on with characters in their 40s. Woohoo! Typically, if you find older characters, the story takes place in a small beachside town, and everyone mostly wears Eileen Fisher. And the $ex is horribly gentle and passionless and kinda fade-to-black or has some very purpley prose. Because we're old and don't feel passion anymore. Yuck.
GG has a very, very devoted fan base that loves her work. I'm not slamming that in any way. I do feel that when a series continues, there's a propensity to leave a lot of blanks because the expectation is that readers already know what's happening. I feel that's a mistake. It feels like there's a lot of expository storytelling that's missing. And that's what makes the story cold and emotionless for me. And that fisting stuff...nope nope nope.
In this story, almost all the characters have appeared in previous books. So, if this is your first GG read, you will definitely feel lost. You'll have to go back to the beginning of this series to catch up. The plot is pretty flimsy. The MMC is being pursued for the justified murder of an enemy. He accidentally gets captured by the Hive, then rescued by some human soldiers, one of which turns out to be his mate.
Cue up the super painful sounding $ex here. Mating fist? Big, big nope on that. Yes, I get that this is how the giant guys do it, but I reject that. Reading these encounters didn't at all trip any lurve triggers for me. It's all just being told. There's no showing of the emotions between the two leads. Other than an occasional gasp by the FMC, every $exual encounter sounds not just painful, with big, muscular fingers digging and squeezing into very sensitive places, but it sounds cold. The $exual acts sound really painful and emotionless. There's a lot stated that the MMC is possessive and super aggressive towards the FMC. But there's just no feeling of real emotion during these acts. I don't feel what's between these two people other than very hard-core $ex. There is impossibly large male equipment and very tiny female receiving vessels involved as well as humongous digits and bruising grips. I get the visual of a blanket size dude swallowing a small female who is literally unable to move as she gets poked hard in really sensitive places, whether she wants it or not. I don't want to yuck on anyone's yum! It just doesn't get my motor revving. It's a hollow read for me without some indications of emotion.
I was happy to see that GG never hesitates to make her mature characters take the lead. It's difficult to find characters over 30 in romance, but GG brings it on with characters in their 40s. Woohoo! Typically, if you find older characters, the story takes place in a small beachside town, and everyone mostly wears Eileen Fisher. And the $ex is horribly gentle and passionless and kinda fade-to-black or has some very purpley prose. Because we're old and don't feel passion anymore. Yuck.
GG has a very, very devoted fan base that loves her work. I'm not slamming that in any way. I do feel that when a series continues, there's a propensity to leave a lot of blanks because the expectation is that readers already know what's happening. I feel that's a mistake. It feels like there's a lot of expository storytelling that's missing. And that's what makes the story cold and emotionless for me. And that fisting stuff...nope nope nope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2024
Breanna and her counterpoint Henry were on a mission. Save the Prillion’s and kill the Hive. They certainly didn’t expect to find a big male that looked like an Atlan. Even more, there was something about him that was attracting Breanna to him. Mikos was a prisoner of the Hive but he was not going to go out without a fight. When he is rescued, he certainly didn’t expect the female to be much more. I love that we get to meet more of the Rogue 5 aliens. Forsian’s look like Atlans but have fangs. Think of a big, muscled vampire. And he is definitely turning Breanna on big time. Heck I was turned on by the description of him. Mikos has been away for eight years. He has kept the secret about Astra Legion. He just needs to finish this mission but with a mate, he can’t. I felt for him. He was so torn. With Breanna we learn about her past and what brought her to the Coalition. I was shocked about a part of her past. I can understand her trust issues. But with Mikos bite comes a race against the clock. We have a lot of friends back and some new. You want to hug them all. I wasn’t sure about Shade but he turned out ok. And during one scene I was concerned. Thank goodness it turned out well. Our fanged hottie now has his mate. And we have another bad ass female.
March 11, 2025
Fearless Action
Bree is a no nonsense ReCon woman who ran from a tragic filled past on earth to fight for the Coalition freeing warriors and warlords from the Hive. When her team is sent to a Hive ship they find only one prisoner, Mikos of Astra from Rogue 5. The action is fast paced with a love story thrown into the action. We learn more about the Forsian hybrids.
I loved this book, but I love everything she writes. My wish is for Shade to find his mate. I'm intrigued as to what his background is and why he needed the bounty he got for bringing Miko's in. I highly recommend you read this book. This book is a standalone but if you read the Interstellar Bride series, including The Colony and The Beast series you will have read the stories about a few of the people in this series, understand more about the Coalition, the Hive and the Integration Units. I'll wait impatiently for the next book in whatever series the amazing Grace Goodwin writes.
Bree is a no nonsense ReCon woman who ran from a tragic filled past on earth to fight for the Coalition freeing warriors and warlords from the Hive. When her team is sent to a Hive ship they find only one prisoner, Mikos of Astra from Rogue 5. The action is fast paced with a love story thrown into the action. We learn more about the Forsian hybrids.
I loved this book, but I love everything she writes. My wish is for Shade to find his mate. I'm intrigued as to what his background is and why he needed the bounty he got for bringing Miko's in. I highly recommend you read this book. This book is a standalone but if you read the Interstellar Bride series, including The Colony and The Beast series you will have read the stories about a few of the people in this series, understand more about the Coalition, the Hive and the Integration Units. I'll wait impatiently for the next book in whatever series the amazing Grace Goodwin writes.
September 14, 2024
Another Glorious Read From Goodwin
The long-awaited release from the wonderful Grace Goodwin has finally arrived - I'm sure any longer and I would have gone crazy from the anticipation. As usual, this author awards us with a great page-turner.
I'm excited we get to see more about the legions and other important characters - well, outside of the main pairing - from Rogue 5. I was unable to set this down.
Anyone who has enjoyed the other books from this series WILL NOT be disappointed.
The long-awaited release from the wonderful Grace Goodwin has finally arrived - I'm sure any longer and I would have gone crazy from the anticipation. As usual, this author awards us with a great page-turner.
I'm excited we get to see more about the legions and other important characters - well, outside of the main pairing - from Rogue 5. I was unable to set this down.
Anyone who has enjoyed the other books from this series WILL NOT be disappointed.
September 22, 2024
Wish
There was 75 percent less of the steamy scenes and more of the couple getting to know and live eachother.
I did not believe they did. Lust and biologically drive, addiction for each other, yes.
I love the premise and many if the characters, just wish it was more of the two people unlikely couple coming to love each other.
Also would have like epilogue of them a year later a d funny bit of her adapting to life on the moon.
There was 75 percent less of the steamy scenes and more of the couple getting to know and live eachother.
I did not believe they did. Lust and biologically drive, addiction for each other, yes.
I love the premise and many if the characters, just wish it was more of the two people unlikely couple coming to love each other.
Also would have like epilogue of them a year later a d funny bit of her adapting to life on the moon.
September 13, 2024
I loved reading this book! It was wonderful to have the main heroine be a fighter and the main hero be from Rogue 5, definitely an unexpected pair There were also some plot twists I didn’t expect and it was marvellous to meet beloved characters from other books again. These series keep building on each other as the various over arcing plots are added to in each book.
November 15, 2024
I've read most of Grace Goodwin's books but hadn't read one for a couple of years. While I enjoyed the story, it didn't feel much different from many of her other books. And, for those who haven't read her books, that's not a bad thing because the stories engage your imagination and have you rooting for the good guys.
February 23, 2025
Maybe my favorite.
I loved how she had an older man In this one. It was hot and sexy and protective and lawless. She always provides a variety and this new series is no disappointment. Whenever I need a good, lighter read, I always hope she has another book out. I like to buy them and save them for late at night or early in the morning. She makes reading delicious.
Yowza!
I loved how she had an older man In this one. It was hot and sexy and protective and lawless. She always provides a variety and this new series is no disappointment. Whenever I need a good, lighter read, I always hope she has another book out. I like to buy them and save them for late at night or early in the morning. She makes reading delicious.
Yowza!
September 14, 2024
Rogue 5 mate!
Excellent! Another human female takes on a warrior and wins. Being wanted is what Bree needed, having been abandoned by her soldier father and her human finance back on Earth.
Excellent! Another human female takes on a warrior and wins. Being wanted is what Bree needed, having been abandoned by her soldier father and her human finance back on Earth.
September 15, 2024
Wow!
Bigger than big, strong, loyal, fierce, ruggedly handsome, and all hers. Girl you won the lottery! This story may seem predictable but there are a lot of exciting twists and turns you don't see coming to keep the intensity up. I enjoyed it.
Bigger than big, strong, loyal, fierce, ruggedly handsome, and all hers. Girl you won the lottery! This story may seem predictable but there are a lot of exciting twists and turns you don't see coming to keep the intensity up. I enjoyed it.
September 18, 2024
Awesome
I love the story line , and the characters in the story Bree and Mike's are so good together and so totally different but worked well, I enjoyed seeing past characters and some new one definitely a good series and definitely worth the read.
I love the story line , and the characters in the story Bree and Mike's are so good together and so totally different but worked well, I enjoyed seeing past characters and some new one definitely a good series and definitely worth the read.
September 28, 2024
Loved It
I totally loved this. The older arc worked for me. Continuing the Brides series in this way is a refreshing take, and having previous characters included makes it all tied together.
Really like the author and her style of writing too
I totally loved this. The older arc worked for me. Continuing the Brides series in this way is a refreshing take, and having previous characters included makes it all tied together.
Really like the author and her style of writing too
October 6, 2024
This is a very steamy romance between a female Coalition fighter and a brutal Rogue 5 enforcer. There's danger around every corner, a plan coming to fruition, and a very happy ending. In the end, they both saved each other.
November 2, 2024
She did it again. Was not a fan of previous stories about the inhabitants of Rogue 5 but with this one, she changed my mind. Well done. The characters are believable. There are enough twists to keep you invested. Plot is well defined.
Read
November 26, 2024Great read
Really loved the storyline and characters but got a bit fed up with their repetitive monologue. It didn't need repeating. Still love this author and the whole series of books. There are a lot to read.
Really loved the storyline and characters but got a bit fed up with their repetitive monologue. It didn't need repeating. Still love this author and the whole series of books. There are a lot to read.
April 10, 2025
Such a good story!!! Sci Fi at its best.
It doesn't matter which category one looks at, storyline, characterization, planets, people/aliens, or somewhere else this story is good in all aspects!!!
So worthy of the fabulous four stars I am giving it here.
It doesn't matter which category one looks at, storyline, characterization, planets, people/aliens, or somewhere else this story is good in all aspects!!!
So worthy of the fabulous four stars I am giving it here.
June 8, 2025
Intense Love
Wow, I loved this episode of the Legion 5 hero and his mate. The intensity of Miko's love had no boundaries. This was an all consuming love with a Kick Ass heroine! I highly recommend this total escape from human cares. As always an HEA guarantee!
Wow, I loved this episode of the Legion 5 hero and his mate. The intensity of Miko's love had no boundaries. This was an all consuming love with a Kick Ass heroine! I highly recommend this total escape from human cares. As always an HEA guarantee!
September 18, 2024
Another great book
I love the characters in Grace’s books. We all need a good alien to love us like that! Don’t stop writing - please???
I love the characters in Grace’s books. We all need a good alien to love us like that! Don’t stop writing - please???
September 21, 2024
What a fantastic journey
I have read all of Grace's books. This is my favorite the action, passion, and sacrifices for love! Thank you for a really great story .
I have read all of Grace's books. This is my favorite the action, passion, and sacrifices for love! Thank you for a really great story .
October 1, 2024
This was a sexy sci-fi escape from reality. It was fast to read. I enjoy the whole series.
October 16, 2024
Enjoyed the fast-paced story.
Read
October 28, 2024I enjoyed this story. So many new characters I can't wait to read how you bring them together! But you left me with so many questions, all I can say start writing, ha ha!!
November 19, 2024
I really liked this story. The characters were perfect together.
December 1, 2024
Well done Grace!
Entertaining as usual, but can we cut back a bit on some of the silly insecurities of the heroines? This woman was a badass!
Entertaining as usual, but can we cut back a bit on some of the silly insecurities of the heroines? This woman was a badass!
December 4, 2024
Fearless
I think this one is my perfect make specimen pig Sam Allen, i felt he would totally burn down the world for her. I loved this one!
I think this one is my perfect make specimen pig Sam Allen, i felt he would totally burn down the world for her. I loved this one!
March 10, 2025
A fun quick read. It's always fun to read about mates that don't know but everyone else does.
November 28, 2024
”Interstellar Brides Program: Primal Mates (spinoff) ” Book 2: Fearless
4⭐-Stars
Grace Goodwin has mastered “sexy times” 🌶️ 🔥 🌶️ in space. If you dig sci-fi romance, you’ve likely come across either the Interstellar Bride series or one of the spin offs.
The ISB and spin offs are formulaic, earth woman falls for alien man, one of several species form a collection of worlds at war with the Hive. As a sci-fi romance lover, I’ve found the series as a whole deliver. After several ho-hum installments I’ve enjoyed the Primal Mates spin off, if feels closer to some of the stronger books earlier in the series.
Primal Mates Book 2 again features a female lead who is also no-nonsense coalition fighter. She falls for Mikos a Forsian (Atlan hybrid w/Fangs) from Rogue 5.
4⭐-Stars
Grace Goodwin has mastered “sexy times” 🌶️ 🔥 🌶️ in space. If you dig sci-fi romance, you’ve likely come across either the Interstellar Bride series or one of the spin offs.
The ISB and spin offs are formulaic, earth woman falls for alien man, one of several species form a collection of worlds at war with the Hive. As a sci-fi romance lover, I’ve found the series as a whole deliver. After several ho-hum installments I’ve enjoyed the Primal Mates spin off, if feels closer to some of the stronger books earlier in the series.
Primal Mates Book 2 again features a female lead who is also no-nonsense coalition fighter. She falls for Mikos a Forsian (Atlan hybrid w/Fangs) from Rogue 5.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews