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Lords of Arr'Carthian #1
Kidnapping Keela
Keela had never dreamt that she might one day be abducted by aliens and sold at an intergalactic slave market. When she is rescued by a tall, attractive alien and taken to his planet, her only wish is to return home. After all, she cannot possibly tie herself to a barbaric alien whose race thinks that a man can simply throw a woman over his shoulder and claim her for himself – even if this ‘Neanderthal’ does arouse feelings in her that she would never have believed possible.
When Marruk, the Prince of the Arr’Carthian, rescues his daughter from slave dealers, the last thing that he expected was to find a woman who makes his laboriously controlled heart beat again. However, his honour forbids him from leaving a defenseless woman in the hands of ruthless slave dealers, so, for better or for worse, he does have to take her with him, but he will definitely not touch her. After the death of his mate he had sworn that he would never give his heart away again. But the petite woman with the unusually fair hair puts his self-imposed abstinence fully to the test.
When Marruk, the Prince of the Arr’Carthian, rescues his daughter from slave dealers, the last thing that he expected was to find a woman who makes his laboriously controlled heart beat again. However, his honour forbids him from leaving a defenseless woman in the hands of ruthless slave dealers, so, for better or for worse, he does have to take her with him, but he will definitely not touch her. After the death of his mate he had sworn that he would never give his heart away again. But the petite woman with the unusually fair hair puts his self-imposed abstinence fully to the test.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
22 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Cathy McAllister
51 books67 followersI was born in the beautiful Harz Mountains (Germany). I grew up in a small town in the north, where all was still good with the world and where everyone knew one another. Even at primary school the library was my favourite place and I didn’t miss out a single book – on the contrary – I read some books up to twenty times!
At secondary school I began to write little stories and poems myself. I have always had far too much imagination. I produced my first book myself in 2005. Soon after that I found my first publisher and before long published several of my books with publishing companies such as C.Bertelsmann and Ullstein. However, that was under a different pseudonym.
At the beginning of 2009 I went to West Africa for nearly two years with my family. There, after a long break from writing, my thriller ‘Angst im Paradies’ was written. When we returned to Europe (the UK), at the end of 2010, I took the risk of trying to sell my books as an Indie author in the Amazon Kindle Store, and it took off very quickly. Since publishing my first short story, ‘Fessel mein Herz’, as a Kindle ebook, there have been a further eight German ebooks and two English translations (as of October 2012). There will soon been a further English title.
At secondary school I began to write little stories and poems myself. I have always had far too much imagination. I produced my first book myself in 2005. Soon after that I found my first publisher and before long published several of my books with publishing companies such as C.Bertelsmann and Ullstein. However, that was under a different pseudonym.
At the beginning of 2009 I went to West Africa for nearly two years with my family. There, after a long break from writing, my thriller ‘Angst im Paradies’ was written. When we returned to Europe (the UK), at the end of 2010, I took the risk of trying to sell my books as an Indie author in the Amazon Kindle Store, and it took off very quickly. Since publishing my first short story, ‘Fessel mein Herz’, as a Kindle ebook, there have been a further eight German ebooks and two English translations (as of October 2012). There will soon been a further English title.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 17, 2014
Ugh don't do it.
Full disclosure: I only read 45% of this book, according to my Kindle, so keep that in mind. I doubt it gets any better toward the end.
I was drawn in by the synopsis, only to be immediately turned off by the awkward prose, grammatical and spelling mistakes. I have read terribly written fan fiction that was easier to get into than this book. What I read of the story was all over the place, and the unfortunate word and phrase choices just take you back out of the tropey sci-fi decoupage world set up in the book.
I have learned my lesson and will read the sample before compulsively buying wacky looking sci-fi romance.
This book did make me feel better about my work as an author. So there's one positive.
Full disclosure: I only read 45% of this book, according to my Kindle, so keep that in mind. I doubt it gets any better toward the end.
I was drawn in by the synopsis, only to be immediately turned off by the awkward prose, grammatical and spelling mistakes. I have read terribly written fan fiction that was easier to get into than this book. What I read of the story was all over the place, and the unfortunate word and phrase choices just take you back out of the tropey sci-fi decoupage world set up in the book.
I have learned my lesson and will read the sample before compulsively buying wacky looking sci-fi romance.
This book did make me feel better about my work as an author. So there's one positive.
October 13, 2014
Keela was abducted by aliens and taken to an auction on another planet. Along the way she met a 10 year old girl who was certain her father was going to rescue her. When her father did show up to rescue her she asked him to take Keela with them.
Marruk couldn't ignore the attraction to Keela the moment he saw her. He also wanted nothing to do with the feelings that were stirring him every time he thought of Keela.
This kept me interested through the whole story, but when I was done reading it just felt like an ok book. Nothing really special, but not bad either. It was the typical alien book. I'm noticing a lot of them are just so-so with the same sort of story. Nothing really sets this book apart from the many others like this one.
Marruk couldn't ignore the attraction to Keela the moment he saw her. He also wanted nothing to do with the feelings that were stirring him every time he thought of Keela.
This kept me interested through the whole story, but when I was done reading it just felt like an ok book. Nothing really special, but not bad either. It was the typical alien book. I'm noticing a lot of them are just so-so with the same sort of story. Nothing really sets this book apart from the many others like this one.
July 12, 2014
Good Little Quickie
I enjoyed the set-up to further the series. The way the story flows, you can easily predict one and who the couples will be... I find myself still wanting to read their journey. On the flip side, there wasn't much opposition developed. The characters went from bad situation to problem solved and exquisite ever after without much hardship at all. Quite a bit like no muss no fuss beam me up too if it's that easy of a trial. I wouldn't mind a tall muscular courteous sexy beyond measure alpha male that gives me everything I want and is rich to boot. No matter that those personality traits are contradictory.
I enjoyed the set-up to further the series. The way the story flows, you can easily predict one and who the couples will be... I find myself still wanting to read their journey. On the flip side, there wasn't much opposition developed. The characters went from bad situation to problem solved and exquisite ever after without much hardship at all. Quite a bit like no muss no fuss beam me up too if it's that easy of a trial. I wouldn't mind a tall muscular courteous sexy beyond measure alpha male that gives me everything I want and is rich to boot. No matter that those personality traits are contradictory.
September 20, 2014
I enjoyed Kidnapping Keela. I found the story slow to get into but once rescued by Merruck and taken back to his world the story picks up, weaving the stories of the other 3 women who were kidnapped from Earth and setting up plots for McAllister's next 3 books in the series (although this could be read as a stand alone book). McAllister's Lords of Arr'Cathian series reminds me a little of SE Smith's Dragon Lords of Valdier series. While I enjoyed this story, I found it to be a little disjointed at times but that could be because it was originally written in German and I read the English version.
July 19, 2014
Likable romance - a kidnapped from Earth by space aliens to be delivered to a slave market plot - then rescued by a hunky shape-shifter prince before anything bad really happens.
Not sure why shapeshifters were in this as they had little-to-nothing to do with the story. If you can get this one cheap, it's worth a few hours if you want to read a HEA book. A few typos, but not a huge amount as with some I have read.
Not sure why shapeshifters were in this as they had little-to-nothing to do with the story. If you can get this one cheap, it's worth a few hours if you want to read a HEA book. A few typos, but not a huge amount as with some I have read.
August 13, 2016
The writing of the blurb is better than the writing of the book. The "American FBI" agent uses British English. Tell instead of show. Choppy writing. No emotional connection. Skimmed a lot in hopes of adorable child hijinks but... nope. Good basic ideas though.
January 5, 2015
Interesting Sci-Fi romance but it reminded me too much of SE Smith's work.
August 31, 2014
I was looking for a good alien abduction romance. This one was just okay. Nothing to terribly special. The story was okay, it was steamy. Other than that just not overly excited by it.
August 13, 2018
Good except the beginning. that Marruk is damn stubborn & I don't know why Keela don't push his buttons to make him act quicker since she knows he is into her as well
September 5, 2013
Inhalt:
Keela und einige andere Frauen werden von Aliens entführt, um auf einem galaktischen Sklavenmarkt verkauft zu werden. Zum Glück ist unter den Ersteigerten auch einer außerirdische Prinzessin, die zusammen mit Keela von ihrer Familie gerettet wird. So landet Keela also bei testosterongesteuerten Aliens, beginnt sich in ihren Retter Marruk zu verlieben und vergisst dabei, an ihre Rückkehr zu denken.
Setting und Stil:
Schön, dass es im Weltraum nicht viel anders zugeht, als bei uns. Keela verschlägt es auf einen Planeten, auf dem die Männer eher einfach gestrickt sind. Neandertaler im mittelalterlichen Ambiente und ziemlich große Geparden treten in den Mittelpunkt. Ist man auf dem Planeten angekommen hat sich dank Universalübersetzer der Science Fiction Anteil ziemlich erledigt. Die Handlung hätte also auch leicht in einer Parallel-Fantasywelt spielen können.
Die Personen-, Stichwort-, Völker und Ortsliste am Anfang ist sehr umfangreich und lässt ebenfalls viel mehr von dem Buch erwarten. Im Endeffekt kann man sie aber ignorieren und kommt trotzdem sehr gut durch die Geschichte.
Stilistisch ist das Buch ziemlich einfach gestrickt. Überraschungen halten sich in Grenzen, die Sprache stellt keine großen Herausforderungen und die reichlich vorhandenen Erotikszenen lesen sich ganz gut. Insgesamt trägt das alles dazu bei, dass es sich um leichte Lektüre handelt, bei der man nicht zu viel nachdenken muss, sondern sich eher treiben lassen und entspannen kann.
Charaktere:
Keela ist eine emanzipierte Schönheit, die dank der Haudraufmentalität der Aliens ziemlich gefordert wird. Ihr Verlieben geht etwas schnell, ihre fehlenden Gedanken an die Erde sind verwunderlich und auch ansonsten scheinen die Hormone ziemlich mit ihr durchzugehen.
Marruk hat auch außer seinem testosterongesteuerten Auftreten, den spezifisch männlichen Vorzügen und dem seltsamen Verhalten, sich in eine Erdenbewohnerin zu vergucken nicht viel Bezugspunkte.
Da die Personenliste und die Erklärungen am Anfang des Buches äußerst lang sind, gibt es natürlich noch viel mehr Charaktere, deren Tiefe aber auch überschaubar ist.
Geschichte:
Geradlinig und mit Erotik gespickt. Schön früh ist klar, in welche Richtung es geht, ein paar Hindernisse sind eingebaut, aber im Endeffekt geht es nur um das Eine.
Fazit:
Auch wenn sie vieles, was ich bisher geschrieben habe, gar nicht so gut anhört, hat mir Kidnapping Keela gefallen. Es ist anders, als ich erwartete, erfüllt aber trotzdem seinen Zweck. Eine Alien-Liebesgeschichte mit einen gehörigen Portion Erotik, bei der man nicht viel nachdenken muss. Leichte Lektüre für zwischendurch und um den Kopf freizukriegen. Ein "Heftroman" für Frauen, die Stories verschlingen und sich gerne in fremde Welten entführen lassen, um dort von schönen Männer, schneller Liebe und klaren Rollenverteilungen zu träumen. Erwachsene Lektüre zum Abschalten und sich treiben lassen.
Keela und einige andere Frauen werden von Aliens entführt, um auf einem galaktischen Sklavenmarkt verkauft zu werden. Zum Glück ist unter den Ersteigerten auch einer außerirdische Prinzessin, die zusammen mit Keela von ihrer Familie gerettet wird. So landet Keela also bei testosterongesteuerten Aliens, beginnt sich in ihren Retter Marruk zu verlieben und vergisst dabei, an ihre Rückkehr zu denken.
Setting und Stil:
Schön, dass es im Weltraum nicht viel anders zugeht, als bei uns. Keela verschlägt es auf einen Planeten, auf dem die Männer eher einfach gestrickt sind. Neandertaler im mittelalterlichen Ambiente und ziemlich große Geparden treten in den Mittelpunkt. Ist man auf dem Planeten angekommen hat sich dank Universalübersetzer der Science Fiction Anteil ziemlich erledigt. Die Handlung hätte also auch leicht in einer Parallel-Fantasywelt spielen können.
Die Personen-, Stichwort-, Völker und Ortsliste am Anfang ist sehr umfangreich und lässt ebenfalls viel mehr von dem Buch erwarten. Im Endeffekt kann man sie aber ignorieren und kommt trotzdem sehr gut durch die Geschichte.
Stilistisch ist das Buch ziemlich einfach gestrickt. Überraschungen halten sich in Grenzen, die Sprache stellt keine großen Herausforderungen und die reichlich vorhandenen Erotikszenen lesen sich ganz gut. Insgesamt trägt das alles dazu bei, dass es sich um leichte Lektüre handelt, bei der man nicht zu viel nachdenken muss, sondern sich eher treiben lassen und entspannen kann.
Charaktere:
Keela ist eine emanzipierte Schönheit, die dank der Haudraufmentalität der Aliens ziemlich gefordert wird. Ihr Verlieben geht etwas schnell, ihre fehlenden Gedanken an die Erde sind verwunderlich und auch ansonsten scheinen die Hormone ziemlich mit ihr durchzugehen.
Marruk hat auch außer seinem testosterongesteuerten Auftreten, den spezifisch männlichen Vorzügen und dem seltsamen Verhalten, sich in eine Erdenbewohnerin zu vergucken nicht viel Bezugspunkte.
Da die Personenliste und die Erklärungen am Anfang des Buches äußerst lang sind, gibt es natürlich noch viel mehr Charaktere, deren Tiefe aber auch überschaubar ist.
Geschichte:
Geradlinig und mit Erotik gespickt. Schön früh ist klar, in welche Richtung es geht, ein paar Hindernisse sind eingebaut, aber im Endeffekt geht es nur um das Eine.
Fazit:
Auch wenn sie vieles, was ich bisher geschrieben habe, gar nicht so gut anhört, hat mir Kidnapping Keela gefallen. Es ist anders, als ich erwartete, erfüllt aber trotzdem seinen Zweck. Eine Alien-Liebesgeschichte mit einen gehörigen Portion Erotik, bei der man nicht viel nachdenken muss. Leichte Lektüre für zwischendurch und um den Kopf freizukriegen. Ein "Heftroman" für Frauen, die Stories verschlingen und sich gerne in fremde Welten entführen lassen, um dort von schönen Männer, schneller Liebe und klaren Rollenverteilungen zu träumen. Erwachsene Lektüre zum Abschalten und sich treiben lassen.
August 13, 2014
Kidnapping Keela (Lords of Arr'Carthian #1)by Cathy McAllister (English edtion translated from german)
Keela had never dreamt that she might one day be abducted by aliens and sold at an intergalactic slave market. When she is rescued by a tall, attractive alien and taken to his planet, her only wish is to return home. After all, she cannot possibly tie herself to a barbaric alien whose race thinks that a man can simply throw a woman over his shoulder and claim her for himself – even if this ‘Neanderthal’ does arouse feelings in her that she would never have believed possible.
When Marruk, the Prince of the Arr’Carthian, rescues his daughter from slave dealers, the last thing that he expected was to find a woman who makes his laboriously controlled heart beat again. However, his honour forbids him from leaving a defenceless woman in the hands of ruthless slave dealers, so, for better or for worse, he does have to take her with him, but he will definitely not touch her. After the death of his mate he had sworn that he would never give his heart away again. But the petite woman with the unusually fair hair puts his self-imposed abstinence fully to the test.
Science Fiction Romance
The Lords of Arr'Carthian Series written for the German market. Now, the first book is also available in English.
Keela had never dreamt that she might one day be abducted by aliens and sold at an intergalactic slave market. When she is rescued by a tall, attractive alien and taken to his planet, her only wish is to return home. After all, she cannot possibly tie herself to a barbaric alien whose race thinks that a man can simply throw a woman over his shoulder and claim her for himself – even if this ‘Neanderthal’ does arouse feelings in her that she would never have believed possible.
When Marruk, the Prince of the Arr’Carthian, rescues his daughter from slave dealers, the last thing that he expected was to find a woman who makes his laboriously controlled heart beat again. However, his honour forbids him from leaving a defenceless woman in the hands of ruthless slave dealers, so, for better or for worse, he does have to take her with him, but he will definitely not touch her. After the death of his mate he had sworn that he would never give his heart away again. But the petite woman with the unusually fair hair puts his self-imposed abstinence fully to the test.
Science Fiction Romance
The Lords of Arr'Carthian Series written for the German market. Now, the first book is also available in English.
May 22, 2015
Well, I've just decided I need a shelf labeled ' complete crap, if I attempt any further reading I'll be forced to gouge out my eyes' :)
I'm no literarily genius here, but after reading less then 3-4 pages with my mind stuttering over every error... Nope. Can't do it.
The writing is so terrible that assuming this is the best story in the world.. ( doubt it, it's trash erotica...I think..,) .. You just CAN'T read it.
I'm deleting the rest in the series. Again, ASSUMING if the author were to learn how to write/correct/speak proper tenses... as each book is written, I'd still not be able to read this. The improbability of her becoming that much better.. Doubt it.
I've never been this negative about a review before, but then I've never seen such terrible writing.
I'm no literarily genius here, but after reading less then 3-4 pages with my mind stuttering over every error... Nope. Can't do it.
The writing is so terrible that assuming this is the best story in the world.. ( doubt it, it's trash erotica...I think..,) .. You just CAN'T read it.
I'm deleting the rest in the series. Again, ASSUMING if the author were to learn how to write/correct/speak proper tenses... as each book is written, I'd still not be able to read this. The improbability of her becoming that much better.. Doubt it.
I've never been this negative about a review before, but then I've never seen such terrible writing.
May 24, 2015
Skimmed at 48% DNF at 75%
I don't like the writing style of the author. There were too many exclamation points. The word usage was odd, and the dialogue didn't flow. Words like whilst were used. And one passage struck me as odd: "get everything out of this baby [ship] that you can. Aye my lord.l It was like throwing the 17th century together with the 21st. Lier used instead of liar. The females were supposed to he American, but the words that were used we not.
This book is frustrating. Barely any interaction between Marruk and Keela at 48%, none of it positive, and she's talking about having lost her hear to him. Both characters are annoying. Marruk is a jerk and Keela was condescending.
This plot line is a bit overdone, and the execution was poor.
I don't like the writing style of the author. There were too many exclamation points. The word usage was odd, and the dialogue didn't flow. Words like whilst were used. And one passage struck me as odd: "get everything out of this baby [ship] that you can. Aye my lord.l It was like throwing the 17th century together with the 21st. Lier used instead of liar. The females were supposed to he American, but the words that were used we not.
This book is frustrating. Barely any interaction between Marruk and Keela at 48%, none of it positive, and she's talking about having lost her hear to him. Both characters are annoying. Marruk is a jerk and Keela was condescending.
This plot line is a bit overdone, and the execution was poor.
September 20, 2014
Great alien read. The kidnapped women could've been a little more freaked out after finding out that they were on a space ship, but I read for fantasy, not reality, so I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The descriptions of the alien planets and people were creative, the men were hunky, and the sexy times were hot, need I say more? The series has been translated from German, so there are some errors but nothing that really messed up the story for me. The 2nd book is available in English but, sadly, the 3rd book is only out in German. I'll definitely be reading the next one and crossing my fingers that the 3rd one is coming soon.
August 8, 2015
The character list and terms at the beginning were daunting. The wolf attack was far-fetched-especially for it's location and time. Then she grins at the other woman's sarcasm after waking up in a cell?! The women are supposed to be from America but use British words. Where is this stuff coming from?? It gets even sillier.
I stopped to read low star reviews and I am glad I did. I won't waste my time on more inconsistencies and ridiculousness. Even if the author is European, it doesn't excuse poor characterization.
DNF 13%
I stopped to read low star reviews and I am glad I did. I won't waste my time on more inconsistencies and ridiculousness. Even if the author is European, it doesn't excuse poor characterization.
DNF 13%
July 10, 2014
A nice fast passed science fiction story that begins quite unfortunately with 4 women abduction from Earth followed by them being sold as slaves. But despite all the bad events, this all leaded Keela to her soul mate, who, even if he is too stubborn to acknowledge it, falls in love with her at first sight. A cute little girl playing matchmaker and a crazy royal family embellish the picture.
My only problem is that things go too fast and you finish the book too early!!
My only problem is that things go too fast and you finish the book too early!!
June 12, 2015
1.75 stars. Very FanFic'y, has quite a few typos. There was absolutely no depth to any these characters and Keela... Well, the name Mary Sue springs to mind...
A bunch of girls get abducted from Earth by evil space pirates. All of them just happen to be extraordinarily beautiful, and before you know it they all fall in love with hot, royal aliens beefcakes who cater to their every wish - sexual or otherwise. The end.
Fortunately, this was a quick read.
A bunch of girls get abducted from Earth by evil space pirates. All of them just happen to be extraordinarily beautiful, and before you know it they all fall in love with hot, royal aliens beefcakes who cater to their every wish - sexual or otherwise. The end.
Fortunately, this was a quick read.
May 1, 2016
I just found this one ok. Story line flowed, a little slow for me but it still flowed. This is translated from German, and the translation was fine. I didn't really connect with the characters all that well. Supposedly they are an alien race of shifters, but it's never really delved into as far as the shifter aspect goes. Not moving on to the next one in the series.
July 12, 2015
First of all WAY too many weird words, even for something that wasn't chiefly labeled as erotic. The whole super cheesy lines are there and the plot isn't very good or developed. The characters are all one dimensional. It's like watching a crappy porno
June 13, 2014
Good story. Liked all the characters and pleasantly surprised with the twist near the end. Nice epilogue.
Read
July 6, 2014sooooooooooo bad
July 9, 2014
short but sweet.
November 13, 2014
Read about 48% of this book and then gave up.
February 27, 2015
Not bad overall but I was a bit surprised in how predictable it was.
September 16, 2015
Thought it was a cute read.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews