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When Dr. Robyn Saraven saved a new species of hybrid aliens in hidden, underwater labs, she gave them a safe home to call their own. Xenia, their own city, established in the center of Earth-Ground. The new beings have memories that rise to the surface, along with the unknown traits of their ancestors, traits that may scare the humans that surround their walls clamouring for a glimpse of the strange creatures.

When teenager Lily Xeno Sapien goes missing, head of security Jason Becker will stop at nothing to find his favourite charge. Not a single stone will be left unturned in his rage. In an underground bunker, another level is discovered, set up like a laboratory. In the centre of the laboratory is an unconscious green-haired girl. But what has been done to her? His sweet girl is not the same person she was before the kidnapping. In more ways than one.

Lily always knew Jason would rescue her. But new abilities are manifesting like water—including the ability to have him do her bidding. Now finally, she understands the meaning of Siren.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2018

79 people are currently reading
70 people want to read

About the author

Rena Marks

91 books265 followers
Join my fantasies! Get lost in worlds that twist and turn with plot and give you a feel-good, happy ending. Grow lovestruck by the heroes, each one unique. Find them perfectly matched by their heroine, strong women like you and I who know exactly what they want and how they want it—searing, sexy, and passionate.

Remember, true love is out there--beyond the mundane. Life is magical, come read about my mine!

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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️.
3,132 reviews2,737 followers
April 16, 2026
When Growing Up Happens Overnight



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💜💚
Heat/Steam: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😀😛😘😎

Character Information and Plot Dynamics

Lily Xeno Sapien is one of the teenagers living at the Xenia compound on Earth Ground, where the xeno sapiens have begun building a new life. Lily has always been precocious and drawn to attention. As a half human and half alien hybrid with a water-based lineage similar to a siren, she stands out in ways she cannot hide. Her thin green hair and lack of ears make her feel different from the humans around her, so she pierces her nose in an attempt to redirect their curiosity. She simply wants to blend in.

That small act becomes the catalyst for her greatest danger. Dr. Meade, the scientist who created the xeno sapiens and still seeks to continue his experiments, remains at large. He manages to obtain Lily’s DNA from the piercing needle and uses it to bypass Xenia’s security systems. His hired mercenaries break in, abduct her, and vanish. It takes more than a month before Jason, the former military leader and now head of Xenia’s security team and the man Lily has quietly adored, is able to track her down and rescue her.

During her captivity, Lily undergoes dramatic changes. Her body matures far beyond her years, her hair grows long, and her figure becomes strikingly adult. Jason, who once felt a protective fondness for her, now finds himself wrestling with an attraction he does not want to acknowledge. He keeps reminding himself that she is still the same girl, even if her appearance suggests otherwise. To keep her safe, he hides her in his private high rise apartment, complete with a rooftop pool where he can teach her to swim and help her understand her evolving abilities.

Strengths

• Lily’s shifting identity is one of the most compelling elements of the story. She moves between her teenage self and a more mature, sensual version of her new adult form, creating a fascinating internal conflict. During a swimming lesson, she even transforms into a frightening creature that resembles a predatory fish rather than the graceful sirens of her ancestry.
• The kidnapping plot and Lily’s sudden physical and psychological changes create immediate tension that drives the story forward.
• The blend of science fiction and romance works especially well here. Lily’s emerging siren traits complicate her long standing bond with Jason, forcing their relationship to evolve from guardian and dependent into something far more layered.
• The book shines in its exploration of identity, autonomy, and emotional growth. Lily’s struggle to reconcile her past with her altered body and new powers gives the story a strong emotional center.
• Jason’s storyline involving his malicious ex wife Sherry is another highlight. Without giving anything away, the resolution is incredibly satisfying.

Limitations

• The emotional and psychological consequences of Lily’s transformation are compelling, but they are not always explored with the depth they deserve. Some reactions feel rushed or simplified, which slightly weakens the impact of her internal struggle.
• The world building remains interesting, but it sometimes fades into the background in favor of the romance. The political and social tensions surrounding genetically altered humans offer rich potential that is only lightly touched on in this installment. Though I must admit I love some of the technological advancements.
• One recurring issue in the series is the early setup of future romantic pairings. Knowing who will end up together several books in advance removes some of the excitement of discovery. It is more enjoyable when a couple meets or begins to feel their first sparks within their own book.

Final Assessment

This installment delivers an engaging mix of sci fi tension, emotional transformation, and slow building romance. Lily’s evolution is both unsettling and captivating, and her dynamic with Jason gains new complexity as they navigate the blurred lines between past roles and present desires. Although some aspects of the world building and psychological depth could have been expanded, the story remains compelling and emotionally charged. It is a strong continuation of the series and an intriguing setup for what comes next.

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Profile Image for BlueBug.
896 reviews2 followers
July 12, 2018
When Jason Becker is "assigned" to watch over Xenosapien, Lily Xeno, he finds her to be exactly as any normal teenager would be. Sure, her hair is green and she has some other attributes that make it obvious she is a genetic hybrid. But, she is Earth-Ground's sweetheart, and the cameras and news love her. She loves fashion and shopping, gets excited when she received gifts and has a teenage crush on her "handler." It's all normal and pretty much expected until a trip to the mall leads to her being kidnapped.

Jason adores his young charge and protects her to the best of his ability. He's had some difficult times in his past, and he feels like he has a lot to prove to himself and to his family. It's not easy keeping track of a teenager, and he has to watch her close, but he loves his job, and he'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. When she's kidnapped, he leads the search for her, a search that leads them to an underground bunker and a lab where it's obvious experiments intended for the Xenosapiens have been planned. When the lovely green haired female is discovered in the lab, Jason realizes what he must do. But it's not easy when the sweet young girl he watched over before is not the same. And with her new abilities and the war he has with himself, everything is changing too quickly, and those changes aren't just with a bright eyed teenage girl.

I love how this series is unfolding. The characters are not only likeable, but they each have an attraction that is unexpected and abilities that are unique to their genetic makeup. They're an easy and exciting read, with a bit of steam and a lot of danger. And watching these Xenosapiens navigate the world they're thrown into and the feelings they develop is fraught with humor and naivete. But they're warm beings who just want to find a place for themselves and love along the way if it's possible. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Profile Image for Lilith.
26 reviews3 followers
June 30, 2022
Morally Grey, Still loved it

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‼️Possible Spoilers‼️

“Not unconscious. Dead.”

I can’t remember the last time I read a book in a day. But here we are. I think I have a thing for books that switch off main characters but keep the same story lines, worlds and groups of people. I love seeing new characters up close and personal while keeping that connection to the old characters through them. The ONLY reason I’m giving this a four instead of a five is because I felt like the beginning of the book gave me a strange sort of awkwardness. Lily was a teen only a month before. And having her flips between internal ages while writing in a romance has to be difficult for the author. It’s a line I think a lot of people would find grey, and though I truly believe Marks did this in a way that made it the least awkward is possible could be, in the end the subject in itself is still a little grey. HOWEVER. If that haven’t been a factor, this book would be my usual five star rating for Rena Marks. As always the plot, spice, world building and story telling was above and beyond. One book always seems to flow seamlessly into another, and it’s still holding my focus three books in.

My favorite Quotes:
- Her body changed, morphing into something primitive. Her claws extended, her breasts flattened. Her teeth sharpened and her jaw strengthened.
- Lily gasped. Hell, she looked like a goddess. She was breathtaking. She was a siren. A sexual goddess of the sea.
Profile Image for Jannie Cv.
1,092 reviews29 followers
June 22, 2018
I love Lily’s story!
Lily has been rescued, but in the month she was gone, she has changed - drastically! Jason doesn’t know what to do; how to treat her.
Their relationship begins to change, and boy, is it hot! We also discover new abilities Lily now has. It makes for a very exciting adventure!
Jason’s ex-wife is still making trouble for the Xeno Sapiens. Do you think she can outsmart this crew? I think not! This is definitely a not-to-be-missed novel, and the ending leaves me eagerly anticipating more!
Profile Image for Edith .
784 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2020
Excellent

Well written, this is Earth, a world set in our future. A well thought out creation described so clearly and cleverly that the reader can picture it. IAM enjoying this series immensely. In Siren there are some instances which can be triggers but are well written without being expounded upon. This book will make one cringe, gasp, tear up and even laugh.
Profile Image for JP.
1,875 reviews16 followers
May 18, 2022
EXCELLENT Again 😁

I Love this series and look forward to reading each book 😃. Fantastic characters, non-stop action, disgusting bad people, intense moments and a Wonderful storyline keep you turning pages 😊. Thanks again Rena, this series is Awesome and I can't wait to read more of it 🤓.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Leach.
190 reviews4 followers
January 28, 2020
Each book gets better

I loved this book. Each book gets better and better in this series. I'm flying through the books in this series. I will definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes to read alien romance
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews