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Ruth & Gron #1

Ruth's Bonded

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When Ruth finds herself abducted and thrown into a cell with a big scary alien, naturally she's terrified. At first. But when she's forced to get along with her furry, tailed cellmate (and her clothes get stolen) things slowly start to change between them. After they escape onto an unknown alien planet, they're finally free to explore their feelings and each other, but can they survive with only each other to rely on and no way of communicating?

Gron is from a matriarchal society where the males obey their Queens, so when a beautiful but strange female is dropped into his cell, he doesn't know what to think. Is she a victim like him, or is she being used by his captors to control him? Either way, he knows he must control his instincts or he will end up inescapably Bonded to her. The delicate Queen needs his help to survive, and it is his duty to serve her, but can he do it without losing his heart?

187 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 9, 2015

175 people are currently reading
2489 people want to read

About the author

V.C. Lancaster

22 books510 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
Profile Image for Simply Sam.
949 reviews111 followers
June 21, 2016
This was nothing wildly new nor was it particularly creative. It's pretty typical sci-fi romance fare for the most part. A human female (Ruth aka "Gruth") gets kidnapped from her planet to be bred with alien male (Gron). And guess what happens? This will shock you. You ready for it? They fall in lurve....

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Of course I actually really dig the alien abduction trope, it's the whole reason why I picked this book up in the first place. That, and the fact that Gron was supposed to be a non-human alien. He was--ish. He's a rock solid (think power lifter build), furry, tailed sapient. His tail may have been the best part of his beefcake physique. It ain't just for grabbing tree branches, I'll tell you that ;)

That being said, though, this was not an over the top smutty read. Apparently Gron's people can't just do it whenever they want with whomever they want. They have to be Bonded for that to happen and once they Bond, they Bond for life. So basically what we have here is a big ole alien virgin.

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It's not until they spend enough time together, like touching and stuff, that a Bond forms. It's kind of funny because he wakes up freaked out the first time he gets a boner. Gruth? Ruth? Whatever. She was like, "It's about dang time!" and then proceeds to skill him on how to use his massive penile protrusion. Gron, though he is not as advanced as some species, has NO problem catching on when it comes to the fine art of banging. He's basically a natural.

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Actually, you know what this book really reminded me of? Transcendence. The primitive man (in this case primitive alien man), the inability to communicate beyond a single word, Gron's innate desire to keep Ruth safe and his naive sweetness. Gron just really reminded me of Ehd. Now, unlike Ehd, Gron does have a language, it just sounds like a series of grunts that are unable to be interpreted, even with fancy schmancy translators.

There's some humor, some survivalist action, some smexy times (minus the lakes of gooey body fluids), there's even a little twist at the end of the story. Overall not too bad. I may actually read the next one when I have some free time. Let's see how Ruth manages on a planet full of Gron's people with zero communication skills. Could be interesting.

Profile Image for Bex (Beckie Bookworm).
2,464 reviews1,587 followers
April 23, 2020
36414682._SY475_

This really was an interesting one.
Ruth is kidnapped while taking a shortcut on her way to the office.
Disorientated she is thrown into a barren steel cell with a strange alien cellmate.
Her new bunk buddy is Gron, he is from a planet where the females are queens and hold all of the power over there males.
Being much smaller in stature than some of the other males Gron is lower in the hierarchy, so though he serves a queen he does so as an unbonded male.
Appearance-wise he is humanoid but much larger at six and a half foot, he also has a tail and fur and sharp prominent teeth.
So not only do Ruth and Gron have a language barrier to cross they have a cultural one as well.
There’s also the little problem that Gron thinks Ruth is a queen who maybe wants to bond with him something he’s reluctant to do though he still desires to shield her.
He is all protective instinct and once they manage to escape from there captors very much an alien Tarzan type.
So this was strangely captivating and highly emotive.
Gron is not my usual type of book boyfriend and that’s not because he’s an alien I happen to adore aliens, due to the way his society functions he’s much less dominant for his size than you’d expect.
He defers a lot to Ruth wanting to please her.
His society values more submission in their males a custom that is ingrained deeply in Gron.
I loved the way these Gron and Ruth interacted and also the way the language thing was realistic and not glossed over.
These two had to work at there communication from both sides.
When these two do finally seal the deal it was worth the weight and was extremely sexy.
I also really adored the curveball thrown in at the end, it was pure genius.
This was such a great start to this series and I will definitely be picking up the next book in this which I believe is also Gron and Ruth.

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Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
Profile Image for Tink Magoo is bad at reviews.
1,287 reviews248 followers
March 21, 2017
4.5 stars

This is only the second book I've read by this author but both stories have had unique characters and worlds. Gron isn't the usual domineering alpha type that I enjoy, but he was growly, possessive and really endearing. I'm looking forward to more with these two on Gron's planet.
Profile Image for ⋆☆☽ Kriss ☾☆⋆.
625 reviews210 followers
March 22, 2020
This is a bit of an odd romance, not something I've seen a lot of or that I would normally be drawn to, though it clearly was interesting enough to get me to read it. I actually like this book a lot because the author focuses so heavily on the characters and their interactions with one another. It's not really a plot driven book, but an in-depth character study of two very different creatures who find themselves in strange circumstances and slowly but surely come together to survive and create a deep connection that, while odd, is nonetheless endearing and sweet and has some worthwhile erotic scenes.

Ruth is your average 28 year old human woman from Earth and Gron is an alien that's a mix of ape/monkey and humanoid features--a species we learn are called "the gandry." Both Ruth and Gron are abducted from their homes and thrown into a cell together by their unknown abductors, which is a situation that forces them to find a way to coexist as they try to overcome a clear language barrier, each finding a great deal of comfort in the other's company, since they are alone in an unknown world.

It's akin to Transcendence in that regard--two people with a language barrier who are alone together and have to make things work--and has an equally appealing connection based on mutual affection and a need for survival between the leads. Unlike Transcendence, however, in this story we are also privy to both Ruth's POV and Gron's, so the book is a bit more dimensional since it's apparent to the reader what each character thinks/feels despite the fact that Gron and Ruth cannot verbally communicate and therefore lots of the nuances of their connection go unvoiced--like, Gron can't explain the rules and customs of his people to Ruth nor can she tell him hers, so there are moments when they misinterpret each other severely and stumble around trying to make sense of everything, but since they can convey these things to the reader, we exercise a deeper understanding and aren't just trapped in either person's POV.

One thing I particularly enjoyed about this series is the world-building we're offered with Gron's society--how he's from a matriarchal world, how his people live in tribes, how there are all these different understandings of things. It's a lot different from most alien books that really push the patriarchal, dominant male archetype, and it makes for an interesting dynamic.

It's a short read at only around 130 pages, which is usually a length I'd turn my nose up at for being a money grubbing serial, but since this book isn't trying to fit in a complex plot or anything, it works well at that length--it feels like a nice read because it's just purely watching two intelligent creatures come together physically and emotionally. If you're not opposed to non-human aliens or books where the couple can't speak to each other, I definitely recommend! Plus, it has some good sequels that are a lot of fun too (I mean, I'm not a big fan of book #3, Moira kind of gets on my nerves, but it's worth reading once I think) and the whole series is available via Kindle Unlimited if you're not sure you want to commit to buying.

Currently, there are three books that focus specifically on Ruth and Gron, with two focusing on other characters (Moira and Naomi, I think, is the other) and I found the whole trilogy with Ruth and Gron to be very sweet. I just wish the author would release a single file for their story, since all three could be bundled into 1 file that's under 500 pages.

Profile Image for Rachel.
753 reviews124 followers
April 26, 2018
Sweet alien/human romp with an MC reminiscent of a large cat. Gron, the alien MC, is covered with fur, has a tail, and vocalizes with growls. Gron is sweet, submissive (with his mate), and eager to please Ruth, the human MC. I love big, strong MCs who are cinnamon rolls around their mates, and Gron fits that description perfectly.

Unfortunately, as charming as I found Gron, I wasn’t as enchanted by the overall story. “Ruth’s Bonded” is part one of a series, and can be read as a standalone, but ends on a HFN. At the conclusion of book one, Gron and Ruth have just begun a new adventure and are still exploring their new relationship. I think that each book in this series should be considered more of a serialization rather than a standalone; right now, I probably won’t be following their escapades any further.
Profile Image for Renegade ♥.
1,339 reviews
April 14, 2016
4 to 4 1/2 stars

A sweet, sometimes funny and interesting tale about a woman who finds herself abducted by aliens and imprisoned for reasons unknown.

She's not alone.

There's another prisoner trapped with her inside the odd, cold, metal box.

And he isn't human.

His name is Gron.

(He's huge, muscular and furry in places... plus he's got a tail. A very talented tail...)

And he's one of the sweetest heroes I've encountered in a while.

Gron stared at her with hungry eyes, then reached out to brush his knuckles against her cheekbone. He was murmuring something that she was sure was very sweet and complimentary. They seemed to be on the same page, and she smiled.

Not that that means anyone should underestimate him.

He's strong, intelligent, fiercely protective and more than willing to fight to the death for the heroine, Ruth.

He'd saved her life today. [...] He'd put himself between her and danger twice already. He'd gotten her through. Without him, she wouldn't have survived. She would have broken and suffered much worse than she had. And he didn't have a reason for doing any of it. They didn't even speak the same language.

This book includes both POV's which allowed me to understand where Gron and Ruth were coming from as they tried to make sense of their circumstances and each other. The dynamics between them were cute, funny and even intriguing at times because everything had to be conveyed through body language, touch and sounds. The fact that they couldn't communicate via speech was a definite barrier for this human woman and Gandry male, and led to some realistic (and sometimes humorous and/or somewhat heartbreaking) misunderstandings along the way. Still, when it came to the language of love (and sexy times) these two eventually figured out how to communicate just fine...

Gron remembered how she had pressed her lips to his face, and he copied her, pressing his lips to her shoulder. She looked at him then, and shifted her hips slightly so that her flank brushed into his lap, but then she moved away again, laying her head down and closing her eyes.

"Please be patient," he whispered to her as he brushed the hair from her face. "Please wait."


***

He stroked his fingers over her arm and face, and said something quietly that was probably romantic, given the circumstances. She considered the benefits of sleeping with a guy who couldn't say anything stupid about it afterwards. At least he was a cuddler.

This book could (arguably) be read as a standalone but there's definitely more to the story. I'm of the mind that the second book needs to be read to flesh out everything a reader would want to know about these two beyond the HFN (Happy For Now).

So, I'm planning to read Gron's Fated in the near future to see how things pan out for Ruth and Gron. For now, I'm glad I read this alien romance which made me smile!
Profile Image for Honey~psychopaths&stalkers.
81 reviews89 followers
July 22, 2017
what the hell is this book....how did I get in here? Did I seriously rooting for the unusual relationship of an alien and a human? Nevermind that, THERE'S ACTUALLY OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES AND I NEED TO READ IT ASAP??

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I'm confused, you're confused, Ruth's confused, T'lax.....fucking Alien, Gron.....nevermind him he can stay sweet and innocent as he like.

I don't normally read books like this, hell, I stay away from them. But when people rated it almost similar to Transcendence I can't help myself, bruh. That book got me hard!
Well, now I can safely say, I popped my cherry, btches!

Bonus : Rare picture of T'lax

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Profile Image for L. Jacobs.
Author 1 book117 followers
July 1, 2017
5 stars
This book was recommended to me with the promise of it feeling like Transcendence by Shay Savage and I wasn't disappointed. Thanks Zoey ;)

Ruth is abducted by aliens and thrown into a strange metal hold with Gron (our alien hero) she tries to make friends with him but they don't speak the same language and have to communicate by acting things out for each other. Gron is adorable, he's like a mix between caveman and gorilla with all the protective instincts that you would expect BUT in his tribe they worship their women (their Queens) rule and can have as many men as she chooses. They must obey their queen at all times-she eats first, she is always the one to initiate sex, she chooses who can father her children, basically it's a reverse of what we normally get with our harem books. I really loved it.
Profile Image for  ~*~Princess Nya Vasiliev~*~.
1,169 reviews7 followers
May 26, 2025
4.5/5 stars

I was worried how things would be explained here, since by the 80% mark of the book we still didn't know why Gron and Ruth were being held captive and what exactly they were leading us to.. I must say though, that in the 11th hour things are explained to us quite well.. Giving us all the information we'd need in order to understand the very complex and extremely frightening and uncertain circumstances Ruth has found herself to be in and why.. So I was extremely happy about this.

I did not however, like how abruptly this book ended.. It definitely ends on a quick HFN vibe, not an HEA one.. I was so shocked when I turned the page and found nothing but the page to rate this book! Hence the 4.5 star rating from me..

But then I saw immediately, that book 2 is a continuation for Gron and Ruth.. I think book 2 will be in mostly Gron's POV.. At least I hope so.. This book #1 gives us a dual POV setting yes, but Ruth is the driver here with more chapters and longer time in her chapters, than what we get with Gron's.. You still only get just enough time with Gron, that makes you want and crave more from him though..

BUT I LOVE this story! It was well written and entertaining.. You care about these characters and just want/need to know what the heck is going on and are they going to survive it... And I love Gron so much! I was scared, freaked out, turned on and just completely enthralled with their journey here..

~I can't wait to see how book #2 plays out for them... Please oh please do not disappoint me V.C. Lancaster. Book #2 better be EPIC, cause I am running there now to read it!

I would recommend this read for those who like this genre..
Clearly you will need to read books 1&2 in order, so please don't be upset with the way book one will end for you..

At the time of my review, books 1&2 were both on Kindle Unlimited or $3.49 per book.
These books are both quick reads. With book 1 being a total of 179 pgs, and book 2 is a total of 193 pgs.

#GronIsMyBaby
#BondedMates
Profile Image for Sky- A hopeless romantic girl :D.
353 reviews118 followers
July 5, 2017
4 "love needs no language" stars

First of all, i would like to thank my sweet friend Zoey ellis for recommending me this amazing book!

Thnks sweety 💗 :)

So, this review is going to be a little short not my usual unnecessarily long ones:/ as i've just reached home after my 3 days long vacation😧


NOW on the book! - Can i just say i loved that author used Matriarchal as a BG in this book!

I mean it was so unusual and cool. Infact this book was my first one where i read something like this❤

And because i am so much in my feminist mode right now that i noticed something and decided to change it instantly!!
So, as we all know feminism is all about equality
I noticed that i and many GR users use H for hero and h for heroine👀 i know its a little thing but still from now on i will be using hero-heroine or Hero-Heroine!!

So, yeah! back on the book now-
I really loved Hero and Heroine both! I loved how Gron was more sweet and thoughtful than agressive "just want sex"kinda alien.
Infact he was avoiding ruth because he thought ruth wanted to bond with him!
Ruth was both sweet and feisty in my opinion. She did'nt wait around and sobbed over the whole situation.

The introduction scene was so cute❤

The way their relation progressed and how Gron was presented was really amazing!

As we all know there was a communication problem and both hero and heroine could'nt understand each other most of the time so, i would just say if you loved Transcendence by Shay Savage then you would love this too❤😚

Tbh don't waste your time by judging this book by my homesick brain's review and go for it if you love some early man love!👅
Profile Image for Talltree.
2,081 reviews25 followers
August 13, 2015
4.25 stars!!

Well written sexy SFR about a human h kidnapped by alien slavers and a furry betailed alien H. For all that they don't understand a word of each others language they were very sweet together. Most of the time its only the h/H together in the book, except for parts where the little green aliens come in. For a large part of book H/h are stuck in a cell in a spaceship, later they are in the jungles of a distant planet - I enjoyed the simple world-building. There is a HFN at the end where the mated h/H are returned to H's planet.

I think there will also be a sequel which I am looking forward to.

Readers who enjoyed Louise Wise's Eden or Ruby Dixon's Ice Planet Barbarian will love this book!! The h is cute and brave and H is growly, adorably sweet and protective (and a virgin!!)

Note:

Profile Image for Hollie.
1,680 reviews
December 24, 2015
This was an enjoyable alien romance. I'm not a fan of cliffhanger endings but at least book.2 is already available. I guess the only reason I'm giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the cliffhanger and also the language barrier. It was offered as a kindleunlimited though. I'll be reading the book in this series.
Profile Image for Leigh.
1,383 reviews319 followers
December 29, 2021
3.5 stars

Ruth's Bonded was a cute book about a Human Female Ruth kidnapped from Earth and thrown in a cage with Gron an alien creature that resembles a man but is covered with fur and has a tail. Gron's people are ruled by an alpha female, so I loved his thoughts towards Ruth. I also loved how Gron needed to be bonded before he was primed to perform sexually. Overall, it was a quick read, but I do wish at some point they were able to communicate.
Profile Image for  B.E.Love.
1,375 reviews131 followers
January 29, 2016
4 1/2 stars, I really liked this book it was so different and the differences just made this book that much more awesome and made me unable to put this book down. I have tried to read books where the heroine is the "dominant" and they just don't work for me I want a possessive growly "mine" hero so I was a little worried that this would be the case int eh ebook but if definitely isn't. Yes Gron comes form a world with Alpha woman but Gron is possessive, and I loved him. The way this author wrote the world that Gron is from just worked and was very fascinating.

Ruth was thrown into a metal box even though the last thing she remembers is walking to work with her breakfast in hand. If that isn't enough Ruth quickly realizes that she isn't the only one in the box. Gron doesn't know how he got in the metal box but he has made his captors scared enough to leave him alone until a new creature is dropped in the box. Gron isn't sure what or why this creature is int he box and is on edge. Then Gron realizes that the creature is actually a queen. On Grons planet queens are prized and reveired and above all else obeyed and protected. Now Gron fears her men will come an attack.

Even though the queen is very different from his people he can't help but feel a pull, and though Gron worries about what will happen the more time they spend together the more he wants Ruth to be his queen. Ruth's world has been turned upside down first being kidnapped then finding out that there are aliens and that she is in the cell with one. At first he seems scared then interested and even thought they are different they soon draw on each other for strength, and Ruth stops thinking of Gron as an alien. When the chance comes Gron and Ruth try to escape but even if they make it they still will have to find safety and learn to survive.

I really liked this one. I have read a lot of books and I always love new ideas but the thing with trying something so new and different is that it doesn't always pay off or work and that was not the case with this book. I was so drawn to this book and the concept of it. V.C. Lancaster really pulled this off and then some. In fact the second I was done with Ruth's Bonded I stayed book two Gron's Bonded, and actually stopped before I was done to get book two.
Profile Image for Lady Tea.
1,717 reviews128 followers
February 11, 2022
Rating: 2.5 / 5

SPOILER ALERT: This review contains some rant spoilers.

So, um...some notes.

I know that this is a shorter read and all, and it's alien sci-fi romance/smut, so it's not like I should be expecting much, but, um...

I've read enough of that by now that I was expecting more.

Unfortunately, much like its cover, this story is rather lackluster.

Not to say that it's bad or anything though. Oh no, it's not bad but it's not good either.

Ahem, shall I explain?

________________

Basically, Ruth and Gron are both fine characters, and I like how they get along and don't have to go through a bunch of angsty stuff like in many other alien sci-fi romances nowadays. I also like the whole non-communication factor (apart from introducing themselves, of course) and how this does not miraculously get fixed in the story. For some reason, I just really like romances where the characters have to communicate non-verbally or maybe even teach each other languages, both of which require the use of more body language, so that was an interesting aspect of the story for me.

Unfortunately though, the sweetness and communication between them...is all I can say that I really liked. Oh, and maybe the fact that it's short, and therefore didn't annoy me for too long.

Now, on what I didn't like, hence my sarcastic notes and highlights, as well as my overall 2 star lukewarm rating.

The first thing that I didn't like is that this book is unbalanced. Again, I know that it's shorter, but maybe 75% of the chapters are dedicated to Ruth's point of view, and at times that's kind of boring to get through. Like, I already know or can easily guess what a human woman in her situation might be thinking. Seriously, it's not that hard. But for Gron, who comes from a totally different world and society that is matriarchal, and therefore he takes on a lot of submissive tendencies...yeah, I don't know about that, so why wouldn't you (the author) focus on that aspect more?! For other books that I've read like Broken Earth, Stolen by an Alien, Ensnared, and pretty much everything by Ruby Dixon, both the hero and heroine's perspectives are equally distributed in the chapters, giving the reader insight into how they both feel.

I need not tell you that when we have not only the language barrier, but the alien-human barrier going on as well, we need to get more insight into the male perspective in order to understand what's going on. Like...every chapter that Ruth's p.o.v. is prominent, I just kept checking ahead to see if the next chapter would be from Gron's p.o.v., especially when a lot of stuff happens in Ruth's chapters and I don't understand the reason for some of Gron's actions. In Gron's chapters, when we do get that exposition, it feels like the author is just catching us up, like pressing the rewind button over and over again on a movie and then playing that in slo-mo. It holds up the action and feels like it should've been done already.

In other words, I would've preferred almost an entirely different take on how this story was written.

Additionally, another thing that I didn't like was...not quite being able to pinpoint how the relationship really got started. Okay, for Gron, since for him it's instinctual to be "Bonded" just by being in close contact with a female for prolonged periods of time, and especially since we don't get much from his p.o.v., I'm willing to let it slide; but for Ruth, there's no excuse.

I mean, her chapters are already dominating the story as is, so you'd think that at least for her it's a gradual process for falling for Gron, right?

Um....WRONG.

Because, literally, she just jumps his bones and becomes horny all of a sudden one they're free from their captors, in what's 100% contrived plot convenience.

I'm not joking.

That's just it.

She literally knows Gron for maybe a week tops, and part of that when she's scared of him and there's minimal communication with him, but then afterwards she's all ready to touch, bit, and lick his...tail?!

Wut. ze. fuk.

I didn't get it. I just didn't get it. And since I read this fairly quickly, I know that I don't have to go back to make sure that I didn't miss something, some emotional scene or moment when she started to realize that, hey, he's not so bad and may even be attractive and oh gawd, I'm starting to get hot, oh no what's happening...?

Nope. No moments like that.

She just...*snaps fingers* switches.

________________

*sighs*

I guess I can see what the author was going for with this. They wanted to hop on and contribute to the sci-fi alien romances on Kindle Unlimited, and yet they put no effort into their cover and pretty much botched making this a believable romance. Instead, it just feels sloppily done and underdeveloped, like a first draft that they were too lazy to even meet a decent word count on.

Overall, I'm not impressed, and so I won't be continuing with this series. That's not to say that I might not give this author another try, but for my first read by them, I'm quite disinterestedly disappointed.
Profile Image for Leyla.
303 reviews41 followers
February 21, 2016
4 Furry stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FUCK YEAH!


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Yes! Yes! Yes!!!!!!!!
I totally loved this book despite some bothersome details! I was very happy to have chosen it and I read it like there was no tomorrow.


This is the story of...

Ruth
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&

Gron
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*GUSHING*

Their paths entwine when Ruth is abducted by small alien pirates on her way to work.
She's thrown into a dark hole with no clue as to why she's been taken. But she's not alone... She's not the only prisoner in this metalic odd shaped cell. Her way to cope with the dilema was simple. Socialize with her inmate in order to keep her sanity, survive and hopefully escape at some point.
Her cell companion's name is Gron and he doesn't speak the same language. He's huge, furry, has a tail and menacing fangs. And he isn't too fond of her presence... He constantly keeps avoiding her and talking in some guttural language she can't comprehend. And to make matters worse, he doesn't get a word she says either! No matter how hard she tries to get close... He always growls or moves away.


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Gron has been taken away from his tribe and his Queen. He's stuck in a cell for what seems a neverending nightmare. Until one day, a creature is thrown into his cell. A female... A Queen! And there is no way of avoiding her. Now he's caught between challenging the laws of his people or helping a Queen who doesn't belong to his kin.

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What will happen? Well let's just say that spooning innocently with an alien has more benefits than just warmth and comfort...
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The romance and sex, is slow, exciting and extremely sensual. And so cute! There's no insta love and the relationship is built piece by piece, making you gush and savor every moment!

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Sincerely, I wasn't expecting this story to be so good. The premise was fairly cliche, but it had elements of innocence and strong interaction build up. Allowing one to enjoy the story and not just the sex. To see the romance grow between to very different people. And it was well achieved!

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Bad stuff...
What kept it from being a 5 gushing stars were the following:
a) Odd POV switches... Sometimes confusing and frustrating, because at some point the POV seemed to change to the other character without warning. And not meaning to apparently...
b) Some parts of the narrations and thoughts were odd and poor. The book needs editing asap!
c) Repetitive terms and thoughts lead to momentary boredom.

But in the end, I couldn't rate it less than a 4, because the story was so good with interesting elements. The characters were adorable and it kept me hooked till the end. Proving to be worth my time and showing the writers talent, despite the flaws mentioned.
I recommend this read as a must in the alien abduction/romance/erotica genres. It was a great read people! I bid you farewell and may future reads be fab!!!

Profile Image for Celestine.
952 reviews130 followers
January 26, 2016
A very good alien-human pairing book, which is made infinitely more complicated and interesting by having a hero from a matriarchal society and virtually no way for the H/h to communicate. It should be noted that the book doesn't really feel complete unless paired with Gron's Fated. I believe this should have been noted in the book blurb by the author even though both are available on Kindle Unlimited.

There are already a lot of reviews available for this book, so I thought I would just add some thoughts and observations.

* Physical description of Gron is very interesting and detailed, so the cover art is unjust (even misleading) to his physique.
* Book suffers from overwhelming internal monologue that is repetitive and makes some scenes drag, particularly near the beginning.
* The cuddliness of Gron cannot be over-emphasized. Loved it.
* As a couple, these two worked really well together. There weren't TSTL moments or angst-filled plot devices. Their shared captivity brought them together emotionally as well.
* Definitely one of the better alien-human SFR books available.
Profile Image for Varied Books.
1,186 reviews55 followers
February 14, 2016
4.25 stars

This was an awesome read. Gron makes me remember that alpha does not equal asshole. Gron is a sweetie who is protective & caring towards Ruth. Her happiness means so much to him.

Ruth is an awesome h. She does the best she can to survive in the alien environment. I cared for her. She was a good match for Gron.

This is an interesting story b/c H/h do not speak the same language but are learning to slowly communicate w/ each other.

There were some twists in the story I didn't see coming which was nice.

There was some hot sexy times.

Book 2 starts immediately where book 1 ends. I do think the author could of combined the books. Combined would of been around 300 pages.
Profile Image for Chappy.
2,175 reviews109 followers
March 1, 2019
I loved this story. Reminded me a little of Transcendence (Transcendence, #1) by Shay Savage in that both Ruth and Gron couldn't communicate with each other but still developed a deep and loving bond.
Super sweet and I'm jumping right into book 2
Profile Image for Cogito_ergo_sum.
628 reviews17 followers
March 17, 2021
1.5 stars.

At first I was put off by the awkward, stiff narrative. The wording was clunky. It was obvious this writer was new. Here is some of the worst of it (and, yes, this is all one paragraph):

She kind of wanted to lie down, but she didn’t think that would make her feel better. It looked uncomfortable too. She would have liked something to eat or drink. She hoped they fed her. She groaned at the thought of what the next few hours might hold for her. She would get thirsty. She would get hungry. She might need to go, and there clearly wasn’t a toilet here. She looked at the hole in the floor with dread. She was starting to get cold, though she couldn’t feel a draft as if there was air conditioning. She was glad she still had her clothes, pretty-but-not-stylish office wear, slacks, a blouse, and a blazer. She still had her mid-heeled shoes. It was probably the adrenaline leaving her that was making her cold, and not having any breakfast calories or caffeine to burn. She’d probably get a headache without the coffee eventually from the withdrawal.

Notice how the author loves to start her sentences with she? Gets monotonous after a while, doesn’t it? The opening pages also contain some of the most awkward writing yet. You can see those for yourselves if you read free preview available on Amazon.

But you get used to it after a while. What I can say about the actual story... the characters were forgettable and the heroine was annoying. She was thinking things that I would find unbelievable for someone who should be entirely concerned with their survival.

I’ve got to say, the sex between the “lovers” felt awkward. The entire time, it felt like the heroine was taking advantage of the poor guy. I don’t know what about it... He was throwing himself at her feet to keep her fed and safe. And she just regarded him as her means to surviving and coping emotionally, initiating sex when she doesn’t know how his culture perceives it, etc... Even though the narrative implies that she thinks a lot, she came off pretty thoughtless. I seriously couldn’t believe “true” love was even possible between this pair. Had she the chance, she would have split up with him and gone back to Earth. Furthermore, these two never proceeded beyond crude sign language as their method of communication. I don’t know what kind of lasting relationship the reader can expect them to build at this point.

If the author made the heroine even a little bit interesting, like resourceful and somehow useful in her own survival, I would have been more interested. She could have been a raging, cold, calculating bitch who manipulated the guy, as long as she was somehow able to fend for herself, I would have liked her better. At least she would have been interesting.

As for the guy, boring as a rock, but I felt sorry for him for being the one stuck taking care of a smarter species who couldn’t do anything for herself. Good use of her well developed, advanced noggin there.


The plot, itself, was very simple and not entirely complete. For a while there I wondered if there was any kind of plot. If we define a plot in terms where the main character’s world gets upended, and, by the end of the story, the main character confronts the bad guys that instigated the story, then this book failed that test. If you’re looking for a well structured plot, following action, reaction, consequences, etc, well, you’ll find yourself missing those. The heroine in no way shapes this story. She was a convenient plot device. Heck, you could swap her with any other character, and the story would still end the same.

The one positive thing that I do have to say about this book is that the author has introduced, not explored, two species, one primitive and the other advanced (and I'm not alluding to the human species here--I'll keep who a secret for the sake of spoilers), somehow coexisting on the same planet. That would be interesting to look forward to in book 2. The blurb certainly hints at some kind of confrontation of the two. Or maybe I’m reading too much into that very short blurb.

So, while not the best writing, the book is short and does entertain to a degree. Can I recommend it? No. Let’s forget for a moment that we even care about some deep and meaningful insight or reaffirmation that we subconsciously crave when opening a book. This book lacks many of the things that mark a commercial book for success (e.g. compelling characters, well paced plot, strong narrative, good world-building, maybe even snappy dialogue?). But will some people really enjoy it? Yes. If you’ve never met a human-alien-interspecies romance book you did not like, then you’ll most definitely like this one.
Profile Image for Under the Covers Book Blog.
2,840 reviews1,342 followers
May 8, 2018
I wish I could remember where I picked up the recommendation for this series, because I loved it. So, whoever/wherever this was recommended to me clearly knows exactly what I love; really alien aliens. I lap it up! If my hero is coming has a different planet of origin than mine, then I want him to be undeniably alien. I know not everyone feels the same way, but apparently V.C. Lancaster does!

But, because Gron and our alien hero and his fellow alien friends have a pelt, tail and really really big sharp fangs, I know not everyone is going to appreciate this series like I do. Gron lives in a matriarchal and primitive society where the females are larger and more aggressive. The female, the Queen, rules over an all male tribe and she has a select few of those males as her mates. It's good to be Queen! But, Gron has been abducted from his tribe and locked in a metal box. Ruth, a human woman is thrown in with him...and this where the fun begins.

Not only do Ruth and Gron have massive cultural and societal difficulties to overcome, they also have to do this without being able to speak to one another. For reasons explained in the series they are unable to speak one another's language so they have to find other ways to communicate. I admit, this aspect of the story was strange at first they never have a typical verbal conversation through the whole series. But I found the way they came together with only basic communication and demonstrating their feelings through actions and body language...kind of sweet. It was all show and no tell. It is also easier to come to terms with this lack of verbal communication as the book switches between Ruth and Gron's POV. So, even though they might not be able to know what the other is thinking as the reader, we do.

But, Ruth and Gron aren't the only couple in this series the third book Unbonded gives a menage story between another human woman. Moira is abducted and ends up being saved by some familiar aliens from the previous books who help her try and adapt to this new world and bring her back to Ruth and Gron's tribe. I admit, I missed Ruth and Gron, our original couple, in this book and I didn't enjoy it as much as the first two in the series, however, it was still a good read with plenty of alien hotness.

I loved this series, beneath the strange looking aliens it was an adorable love story with plenty of heat. Who knew tails could be so sexy? As soon as the next book comes out I will be all over it! So, if you like a sweet alien love story I highly recommend giving this one a go.

Reviewed by Suzanne❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
Profile Image for JoAnn.
774 reviews32 followers
September 20, 2017
So I am totally on this alien smut kick right now... Its a beautiful thing lol... Thrown in a language barrier and a mates for life type theme and I am in love.

Gron is a.... well I still can't picture him honestly. I try to imagine something that's looks hot but has a pelt and tail... I just can't seem to manage it. But never had a tail sounded so hot! Anywho poor guy was taken from him planet as some sort of trophy. His people have specific mating rituals where women pretty much rule and the men are their puppets. So not only is he a big 'ol virgin but he is a little confused most of the time.

Ruth is a human that was abducted in an ally, before she got to finish her coffee.... how rude huh!? Anywho I loved being in her head in the beginning of the book. I felt like that would completely be me, she was great lol.

Anyways I won't say much else. It was a sweet quick read that kept me highly interested and I'm excited for the next book where they make it to Grons home planet. Some people said this book had a Shay Savage Transcendence feel to it, and I'd have to agree, minus the tears jerking.
Profile Image for Rhode PVD.
2,459 reviews33 followers
July 16, 2016
At first ever so slightly better than some of the other SF "romance" dreck being churned out these days. For example, the heroine briefly considers that other planets probably don't have 24 hour days, and that you should not ingest plants or water on a strange planet without prior tests (not that it stops her.)

Happily, the aliens, spaceships and planets she encounters on this brief adventure are freakishly compatible with earth human physiology. No problems with air, gravity, food or sex.

I can suspend disbelief in heroic measures except the sex must have good reason behind it. Anything from super-duper-horny to twu-luv will do depending on the story. Sadly the reason here is gross -- the heroine decides, despite opposing evidence, that she must bind her protector-companion's loyalty by seducing him.

So: sexist female manipulation.

What is this, the 1950s?
October 11, 2017
This was short and sweet and to the point. I know my rating system can be weird with my ratings of fluff higher than books with more substance, but I think I really like fluff more than I ever thought I would!

This was an alien abduction story about a girl who gets thrown in a metal room with an ultra furry humanoid looking creature. She spends a lot of the time trying to communicate with him but they don't understand each other. I don't want to say too much more so I don't spoil it, but it was pretty erotic a little later in the book.

I am going to read the next book in the series because this one ended a little abruptly with a little bit of a cliffy.
Profile Image for Rose Ann.
134 reviews29 followers
July 5, 2018
I was searching for something to tide me over until I could land on Not Hoth and this worked splendidly. I enjoyed it so much I immediately went in search of the others in the series.
Profile Image for Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog).
1,746 reviews565 followers
June 6, 2018
This is a combined review for - Ruth's Bonded, Gron's Fated, Unbonded and Ruth's Baby

I wish I could remember where I picked up the recommendation for this series, because I loved it. So, whoever/wherever this was recommended to me clearly knows exactly what I love; really alien aliens. I lap it up! If my hero is coming has a different planet of origin than mine, then I want him to be undeniably alien. I know not everyone feels the same way, but apparently V.C. Lancaster does!

But, because Gron and our alien hero and his fellow alien friends have a pelt, tail and really really big sharp fangs, I know not everyone is going to appreciate this series like I do. Gron lives in a matriarchal and primitive society where the females are larger and more aggressive. The female, the Queen, rules over an all male tribe and she has a select few of those males as her mates. It’s good to be Queen! But, Gron has been abducted from his tribe and locked in a metal box. Ruth, a human woman is thrown in with him…and this where the fun begins.

Not only do Ruth and Gron have massive cultural and societal difficulties to overcome, they also have to do this without being able to speak to one another. For reasons explained in the series they are unable to speak one another’s language so they have to find other ways to communicate. I admit, this aspect of the story was strange at first they never have a typical verbal conversation through the whole series. But I found the way they came together with only basic communication and demonstrating their feelings through actions and body language…kind of sweet. It was all show and no tell. It is also easier to come to terms with this lack of verbal communication as the book switches between Ruth and Gron’s POV. So, even though they might not be able to know what the other is thinking as the reader, we do.

But, Ruth and Gron aren’t the only couple in this series the third book Unbonded gives a menage story between another human woman. Moira is abducted and ends up being saved by some familiar aliens from the previous books who help her try and adapt to this new world and bring her back to Ruth and Gron’s tribe. I admit, I missed Ruth and Gron, our original couple, in this book and I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first two in the series, however, it was still a good read with plenty of alien hotness.

I loved this series, beneath the strange looking aliens it was an adorable love story with plenty of heat. Who knew tails could be so sexy? As soon as the next book comes out I will be all over it! So, if you like a sweet alien love story I highly recommend giving this one a go.


Profile Image for Cheesecake.
2,800 reviews505 followers
May 12, 2016
Ruth and Gron. Another 'Mars needs women' story but with some different twists. For one, Gron and Ruth have no way of communicating except by gestures. For another, Gron's people aren't the ones seeking women for them, but some somewhat benevolent aliens. Both Ruth and Gron wake to find themselves held captive by small green aliens. They are put into the same cage/cell and left there for days. The story is about them getting to know each other and escaping the little creeps. Gron and Ruth not only can't speak to each other but their cultural differences are vast. The POV switches between the two so you get a full view of how their communications become misconstrued, no matter how innocent to begin with.
It's bizarre but hard to put down. Despite Gron being so VERY alien, it was pretty sexy without seeming bestial. There was a lot of tenderness as they got to know each other better. The ending is more of an HFN than an HEA but not really a cliffhanger. I read the next one which was a nice continuation and equally unpredictable.
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