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Haven #1
Ascend
Command Warship 1 is home to one of the most feared males in the multi-verse. Zha Quin Tha is Sire to his people, next in line to the throne. He rules his military with an iron hand. His people, the Cruestaci, are a warrior race who bow to no one and nothing. They’ve been deemed too violent to be an ally by the Unified Consortium Defense — the organization responsible for keeping peace between all peoples and worlds. Zha Quin didn’t care what their opinion was. He was only violent when necessary — like when provoked, or if his planet was threatened, or a weaker people overrun, or he was just irritated in general. Like now, slavers had crossed into the territory of Cruestace. He’d been called in to intercept and process the kidnapped women on board to the Consortium for return to their home worlds. Little did he know, his whole existence was about to be turned upside down. One little, human female was about to teach him a thing or two about survival, patience, and trust.
One large room — every wall, the entire floor, even the ceiling covered in mats. This is now Vivian’s home. Her world extends no further than the end of the chain that keeps her anchored in the center of the room. She’s learned how to use that chain as a weapon. She had to — her captors find great sport in taunting her, abusing her, hurting her. She’s exhausted, nearly starved, injured and if truth be told — not long for this world, whatever the hell world it is. All she’s got left is her pride, and she’ll be damned if she gives that up to any of her alien captors. They want to play — she’ll play — and she’ll make sure they pay for it in bruises and pain the next day. They may win, but they’ll think twice next time. Days run together, no hope of ever being freed. Survival seems pointless, until she finds herself face to face with the largest, scariest male she’s ever seen. So be it — she’s got nothing to lose — she’ll fight him, too. Maybe this time her misery will finally come to an end. She has no idea this male is different. This male is stronger than the rest. This male will be her Haven.
Warning: Intended for mature audiences. This book contains violence, abuse both real and inferred, and sexual situations that may be disturbing for some readers. If you are offended by these subjects, please do not buy this book.
One large room — every wall, the entire floor, even the ceiling covered in mats. This is now Vivian’s home. Her world extends no further than the end of the chain that keeps her anchored in the center of the room. She’s learned how to use that chain as a weapon. She had to — her captors find great sport in taunting her, abusing her, hurting her. She’s exhausted, nearly starved, injured and if truth be told — not long for this world, whatever the hell world it is. All she’s got left is her pride, and she’ll be damned if she gives that up to any of her alien captors. They want to play — she’ll play — and she’ll make sure they pay for it in bruises and pain the next day. They may win, but they’ll think twice next time. Days run together, no hope of ever being freed. Survival seems pointless, until she finds herself face to face with the largest, scariest male she’s ever seen. So be it — she’s got nothing to lose — she’ll fight him, too. Maybe this time her misery will finally come to an end. She has no idea this male is different. This male is stronger than the rest. This male will be her Haven.
Warning: Intended for mature audiences. This book contains violence, abuse both real and inferred, and sexual situations that may be disturbing for some readers. If you are offended by these subjects, please do not buy this book.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2018
754 people are currently reading
579 people want to read
About the author
Sandra R. Neeley
61 books884 followersI write Paranormal, SciFi and Fantasy Romance. Why, you may ask? Romance, because who doesn’t love a good romance, and the lack of reality in the story lines - because, well, normal is highly overrated. I’m 55, I have two kids, one 32 and one 12 (yes, God does have a sense of humor), one grandchild, one husband, and a menagerie of animals. Literally, too damn many things that eat wandering around our property. I love to cook, and I am a voracious reader, though since I started writing I don’t get as much time to read as I once did. I am a homebody and prefer my writing/reading time to a crowd. I have had stories and fictional characters wandering around in my head for as long as I can remember. I started letting them out into the real world and surprisingly, people have loved them. I am a Self-Published Author, and I like it that way because I can decide what and when to write. I am by no means a formal, polished, properly structured individual and neither are my stories. But people seem to love the easy emotion and passion that naturally flow from them. A bit of a warning though, there are some “triggers” in them that certain people should avoid. I’m a firm believer that you cannot have light without the dark. You cannot fully embrace the joy and elation that my people eventually find if you do not bear witness to their darkest hours as well. So please be sure to read the warnings supplied with each of the synopses about my books before you buy them. I've got three series published at this time, Avaleigh's Boys - PNR, Whispers From the Bayou - Fantasy PNR, Haven - a SciFi, and three more in process. I’m a bit sarcastic, scathing actually, and a smartass to boot, so if I offend you, it is most likely not intentional. But be prepared because it probably won’t be the last time. I’m always glad to hear from readers; those who have followed me from the beginning, and those who have just found my people. So feel free to look me up and say hello, or just follow along; either way, I’m glad to have you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
December 22, 2018
It was alright
First: do I recommend this book? Maybe. How forgiving are you? Ok, then. Go for it. Or don’t.
Second: what are you forgiving? THE POV. Omg. It was SSOOOOOOO hard to read because the POV jumps so much. Like, mid-paragraph POV shifting. It’s like the author wanted to do 3rd person omniscient, but didn’t know how and ended up with 3rd person limited from EVERYONE’s perspective. And it was so freaking annoying. So annoying.
I read another review that complained about the characterization, but I didn’t find that to be true. The characters weren’t under-developed, though I don’t think Vivian’s actual character development true to life. She was her quirks that were reflective of her past abuse, but her general extrovert personality I don’t think reflected her past, but I admit it’s hard to write an extrovert who can’t abide people. The Commander, Quin, didn’t have the same problem and I think that he was as developed as he could be under the circumstances of the world the author created. Did I like him? Meh. I was so worried about the POV problem, I don’t think he got a fair shake from me.
Will I read the next one? Nope. It’s clear that the author doesn’t have a firm grasp on POV and I just can’t take another book like this. I’ll keep an eye out on her samples, but unless she really puts in the effort to learn how to write seamless transitions in 3rd limited, like write one scene from her perspective and the next scene from his, and do not include the cat or the green guy or the random mom-in-law, I will be skipping her future publications as I am going to write off her previous ones. The only reason I am keeping an eye on her samples is because the story itself was fine and I like the idea of her warrior race more than the actual execution. All said, good luck.
First: do I recommend this book? Maybe. How forgiving are you? Ok, then. Go for it. Or don’t.
Second: what are you forgiving? THE POV. Omg. It was SSOOOOOOO hard to read because the POV jumps so much. Like, mid-paragraph POV shifting. It’s like the author wanted to do 3rd person omniscient, but didn’t know how and ended up with 3rd person limited from EVERYONE’s perspective. And it was so freaking annoying. So annoying.
I read another review that complained about the characterization, but I didn’t find that to be true. The characters weren’t under-developed, though I don’t think Vivian’s actual character development true to life. She was her quirks that were reflective of her past abuse, but her general extrovert personality I don’t think reflected her past, but I admit it’s hard to write an extrovert who can’t abide people. The Commander, Quin, didn’t have the same problem and I think that he was as developed as he could be under the circumstances of the world the author created. Did I like him? Meh. I was so worried about the POV problem, I don’t think he got a fair shake from me.
Will I read the next one? Nope. It’s clear that the author doesn’t have a firm grasp on POV and I just can’t take another book like this. I’ll keep an eye out on her samples, but unless she really puts in the effort to learn how to write seamless transitions in 3rd limited, like write one scene from her perspective and the next scene from his, and do not include the cat or the green guy or the random mom-in-law, I will be skipping her future publications as I am going to write off her previous ones. The only reason I am keeping an eye on her samples is because the story itself was fine and I like the idea of her warrior race more than the actual execution. All said, good luck.
January 3, 2019
Earther Vivian is about to die and welcomes it. Starved, abused, hurt, exhausted, and chained like a dog to a post, it's just a matter of time before she can't go on but she'll be damned if she surrenders to the alien sex slavers without hurting as many of them as she can before that happens.
Zha Quin Tha, military commander and Sire to the Cruestaci, does what he wants when he wants for benefit of his people and crew though his father wants to join the Unified Consortium Defense which is the ONLY reason Zha agrees to intercept a slaver ship that has infringed into Cruestace air space.
Freeing the females, killing the slaver crew, Zha prepares to hand over the females until a disturbance requires his personal attention. Apparently one of the newly freed females refuses to be freed using her chains to keep the Crustaci at bay. Not wanting to hurt the female further, Zha is able to disarm Vivian though in the process decides not to surrender her to the Unified Consortium. An action that will jeopardize his planet's future with the Consortium.
* * * *
New to me author and series that has the same flavor as Vi Voxley's " Brion Brides" series so if you like the alpha dominant male sort of lead character - this one will scratch that itch in a big way.
The romance between the main characters is initially one sided - Zha's. This is totally reasonable as Vivian has been abused and assaulted (potential trigger warning for those sensitive to assault and non-consent) on a regular basis which she has, to a degree, compartmentalized in retrograde amnesia. She needed to work through this before Zha & Vivian could progress.
What I did appreciate and get all fan girl about was the inner strength of Vivian's character. She was a fighter, something I gladly applaud. Bad things happen to good people. It's how they deal and proceed that counts.
Secondary characters. Kitty. Not going to say one more word about Kitty except: DAMN !!!!!!!!!
Other secondary characters all add to the world building and story development. Not going to delve into my favorites and dislikes as to reveal that WOULD be spoiler info. Just know the diversity and contrast of those characters elevate the overall story and have me putting an alert on this author for future releases.
New to me author who published an engaging new series of horny (reference to cover model and I'll stick to that reference hehehehe) warrior class aliens who are brought to their knees by Earth women.
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹😍🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Zha Quin Tha, military commander and Sire to the Cruestaci, does what he wants when he wants for benefit of his people and crew though his father wants to join the Unified Consortium Defense which is the ONLY reason Zha agrees to intercept a slaver ship that has infringed into Cruestace air space.
Freeing the females, killing the slaver crew, Zha prepares to hand over the females until a disturbance requires his personal attention. Apparently one of the newly freed females refuses to be freed using her chains to keep the Crustaci at bay. Not wanting to hurt the female further, Zha is able to disarm Vivian though in the process decides not to surrender her to the Unified Consortium. An action that will jeopardize his planet's future with the Consortium.
* * * *
New to me author and series that has the same flavor as Vi Voxley's " Brion Brides" series so if you like the alpha dominant male sort of lead character - this one will scratch that itch in a big way.
The romance between the main characters is initially one sided - Zha's. This is totally reasonable as Vivian has been abused and assaulted (potential trigger warning for those sensitive to assault and non-consent) on a regular basis which she has, to a degree, compartmentalized in retrograde amnesia. She needed to work through this before Zha & Vivian could progress.
What I did appreciate and get all fan girl about was the inner strength of Vivian's character. She was a fighter, something I gladly applaud. Bad things happen to good people. It's how they deal and proceed that counts.
Secondary characters. Kitty. Not going to say one more word about Kitty except: DAMN !!!!!!!!!
Other secondary characters all add to the world building and story development. Not going to delve into my favorites and dislikes as to reveal that WOULD be spoiler info. Just know the diversity and contrast of those characters elevate the overall story and have me putting an alert on this author for future releases.
New to me author who published an engaging new series of horny (reference to cover model and I'll stick to that reference hehehehe) warrior class aliens who are brought to their knees by Earth women.
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹😍🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
January 25, 2019
HORNS ARE THE NEW SEXY!!!
Title: Haven 1 (Ascend)
Series: Book 1 of new series??? (I don't know but I sure hope so!)
Author: Sandra R. McNeeley
Designation: Full-Length Novel, Can Be Read As Standalone, No Cliffhanger #sciencefiction #fantasy #romance #spaceopera
My Rating: Four Sexy Stars****
I'm somewhat confused about the actual title for this book, but I have to assume the title is either Ascend, Book 1 of the Haven Series, or Haven, Book 1 of the Ascend Series. Regardless of its actual designation, I just hope there's more! lol... I adore science fiction, love sexy aliens, completely addicted to action, adventure, suspense, and intrigue, and simply can't live without a daily infusion of romance, so when I can find it all in one great read, I'm in heaven! And that's exactly what Sandra Neeley delivered in Haven 1: Ascend. There's so much I truly enjoyed about this book. The concept was creative, the storyline and plot were extremely imaginative, the world building was extraordinary, exceptionally detailed and vivid, the technology and jargon were mind-blowingly and astonishingly inventive, but the element I loved most was the large cast of engaging and very endearing characters. Overall, I thought the book was well-crafted, but - yeah, yeah, there's always a but - the third-person omniscient narrative was, at times, a little problematic. Admittedly, a traditional third-person omniscient narrative with its all-knowing, all-seeing, 'god's-eye-view' narrator, who seems to know everyone's thoughts all the time, is my least favorite method of story-telling. It's an excellent device to build character development in stories/sagas with a large cast and can be an enjoyable experience, but when not executed skillfully and consistently, it can be confusing, distracting, disappointing, and quite disorienting for the reader. I much prefer third-person limited or multiple with the perspectives more discernible or clearly defined, preferably by scene or chapter, which was not the case in much of this story, hence the reason for four stars rather than five. Despite my omniscient induced reader whiplash, I felt compelled to turn every page. I was immediately smitten with the two protagonists, Warship Commander and future Sovereign of the planet Cruestace, Zha Quin Tha Mel Mo'Kok, and recently rescued human abductee, Vivian Bartholomew Stevenson. The Cruestaci were a warrior race and their Psi persona, a state into which they transform when angry or in battle, were feared throughout the galaxy, and Quin was the most alpha of them all. He was gruff, growly, grouchy, built like a tank, and had sexy horns! Oh my! Yet, all it took to give this fierce warrior an attitude adjustment was one small, fiery, rescued female prisoner from Earth, who outsmarted him and his men at every turn. Vivian was an absolute riot! I LOVED Vivi! She was beautiful, highly intelligent, snarky, sassy, spunky, brave, courageous, and such a little fighter. And she instantly melted Quin's cold, warrior's heart. Sigh... The interaction and dialogue between these two were beyond entertaining and their chemistry was so hot it sizzled. I had so much fun laughing at their antics as these two danced around each other, Quin constantly chasing Vivi, trying to woo and protect her, and Vivi always one step ahead of him and everyone else on the ship. But Quin turned out to be nothing but a big gooey marshmallow, at least when it came to Vivi, and Vivian was wickedly smart and had a heart of gold. So sweet! And Quin really had his work cut out for him because there were evil machinations on a galactic scale at play and heinous villains at every turn, determined to steal Vivi back.
So, did I like this book? Yes, I loved it! Will I read this author again? Absolutely! Would I recommend this book? You bet, and I am but only for adult readers since it does contain profanity, explicit sex, and violence. I became completely immersed in the first few pages and simply could not stop reading. There were some very dark elements included in the story but, in my humble opinion, were well balanced with a generous measure of laugh-out-loud humor. I giggled, snickered, snorted, sniffled, sobbed, fumed, and shook my fists in anger throughout the entire book. This is a full-length science fiction romance that I would definitely classify as a space opera, can be read as a standalone, and does NOT end with a cliffhanger. I so hope this is a new series and have my fingers crossed for a follow-up book soon in which we see more of Quin, Vivi, Missy (the ship's A.I.), and Kitty, Vivi's new alien pet! And finally, was I entertained? Completely! If you enjoy high-octane science fiction filled to the brim with action, adventure, danger, drama, intrigue, suspense, angst, passion, and steamy romance, then this book is screaming your name. Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!
Title: Haven 1 (Ascend)
Series: Book 1 of new series??? (I don't know but I sure hope so!)
Author: Sandra R. McNeeley
Designation: Full-Length Novel, Can Be Read As Standalone, No Cliffhanger #sciencefiction #fantasy #romance #spaceopera
My Rating: Four Sexy Stars****
I'm somewhat confused about the actual title for this book, but I have to assume the title is either Ascend, Book 1 of the Haven Series, or Haven, Book 1 of the Ascend Series. Regardless of its actual designation, I just hope there's more! lol... I adore science fiction, love sexy aliens, completely addicted to action, adventure, suspense, and intrigue, and simply can't live without a daily infusion of romance, so when I can find it all in one great read, I'm in heaven! And that's exactly what Sandra Neeley delivered in Haven 1: Ascend. There's so much I truly enjoyed about this book. The concept was creative, the storyline and plot were extremely imaginative, the world building was extraordinary, exceptionally detailed and vivid, the technology and jargon were mind-blowingly and astonishingly inventive, but the element I loved most was the large cast of engaging and very endearing characters. Overall, I thought the book was well-crafted, but - yeah, yeah, there's always a but - the third-person omniscient narrative was, at times, a little problematic. Admittedly, a traditional third-person omniscient narrative with its all-knowing, all-seeing, 'god's-eye-view' narrator, who seems to know everyone's thoughts all the time, is my least favorite method of story-telling. It's an excellent device to build character development in stories/sagas with a large cast and can be an enjoyable experience, but when not executed skillfully and consistently, it can be confusing, distracting, disappointing, and quite disorienting for the reader. I much prefer third-person limited or multiple with the perspectives more discernible or clearly defined, preferably by scene or chapter, which was not the case in much of this story, hence the reason for four stars rather than five. Despite my omniscient induced reader whiplash, I felt compelled to turn every page. I was immediately smitten with the two protagonists, Warship Commander and future Sovereign of the planet Cruestace, Zha Quin Tha Mel Mo'Kok, and recently rescued human abductee, Vivian Bartholomew Stevenson. The Cruestaci were a warrior race and their Psi persona, a state into which they transform when angry or in battle, were feared throughout the galaxy, and Quin was the most alpha of them all. He was gruff, growly, grouchy, built like a tank, and had sexy horns! Oh my! Yet, all it took to give this fierce warrior an attitude adjustment was one small, fiery, rescued female prisoner from Earth, who outsmarted him and his men at every turn. Vivian was an absolute riot! I LOVED Vivi! She was beautiful, highly intelligent, snarky, sassy, spunky, brave, courageous, and such a little fighter. And she instantly melted Quin's cold, warrior's heart. Sigh... The interaction and dialogue between these two were beyond entertaining and their chemistry was so hot it sizzled. I had so much fun laughing at their antics as these two danced around each other, Quin constantly chasing Vivi, trying to woo and protect her, and Vivi always one step ahead of him and everyone else on the ship. But Quin turned out to be nothing but a big gooey marshmallow, at least when it came to Vivi, and Vivian was wickedly smart and had a heart of gold. So sweet! And Quin really had his work cut out for him because there were evil machinations on a galactic scale at play and heinous villains at every turn, determined to steal Vivi back.
So, did I like this book? Yes, I loved it! Will I read this author again? Absolutely! Would I recommend this book? You bet, and I am but only for adult readers since it does contain profanity, explicit sex, and violence. I became completely immersed in the first few pages and simply could not stop reading. There were some very dark elements included in the story but, in my humble opinion, were well balanced with a generous measure of laugh-out-loud humor. I giggled, snickered, snorted, sniffled, sobbed, fumed, and shook my fists in anger throughout the entire book. This is a full-length science fiction romance that I would definitely classify as a space opera, can be read as a standalone, and does NOT end with a cliffhanger. I so hope this is a new series and have my fingers crossed for a follow-up book soon in which we see more of Quin, Vivi, Missy (the ship's A.I.), and Kitty, Vivi's new alien pet! And finally, was I entertained? Completely! If you enjoy high-octane science fiction filled to the brim with action, adventure, danger, drama, intrigue, suspense, angst, passion, and steamy romance, then this book is screaming your name. Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!
July 11, 2025
Genre: Sci-fi Romance
⭐️4/5
🌶 1.5/5
🧠 4/10 (The character names alone take some brain power 😂)
Noteworthy: Book 1 of an interconnected standalone series. There are triggers in this book that are not specified, including SA. Be careful if you are sensitive to this subject matter.
I came across this on KU, and it had a good amount of reviews and a high rating, so I downloaded it and jumped right in. I was immediately taken aback by the 3rd person omniscient pov. It's my least favorite style at the best of times, but this book, in particular, seemed all over the place with it and very clunky at first. It did feel more organized as the story progressed, or maybe I just acclimated to it. Either way, push through any initial issues you have with the style because this is a really good read. The world is very well built, and the characters are nicely developed. I was invested and in this world with them. For the first few chapters, I thought I had been bamboozled, but all it took was a little patience for a lot of reward with a great book.
PSA for my monster lovers out there. If you're looking for a lot of spice, you will not find it here. There is a bit, but it's very much a subplot. This book is much more about a healing journey, being stronger than you ever imagined you could be, and learning to trust again.
⭐️4/5
🌶 1.5/5
🧠 4/10 (The character names alone take some brain power 😂)
Noteworthy: Book 1 of an interconnected standalone series. There are triggers in this book that are not specified, including SA. Be careful if you are sensitive to this subject matter.
I came across this on KU, and it had a good amount of reviews and a high rating, so I downloaded it and jumped right in. I was immediately taken aback by the 3rd person omniscient pov. It's my least favorite style at the best of times, but this book, in particular, seemed all over the place with it and very clunky at first. It did feel more organized as the story progressed, or maybe I just acclimated to it. Either way, push through any initial issues you have with the style because this is a really good read. The world is very well built, and the characters are nicely developed. I was invested and in this world with them. For the first few chapters, I thought I had been bamboozled, but all it took was a little patience for a lot of reward with a great book.
PSA for my monster lovers out there. If you're looking for a lot of spice, you will not find it here. There is a bit, but it's very much a subplot. This book is much more about a healing journey, being stronger than you ever imagined you could be, and learning to trust again.
April 14, 2025
I loved this!! Trigger warnings. This girl has been USED when the hero finds her. She’s covered in cuts, bites, bruises, and male fluids (they don’t tiptoe around why the aliens had her). This book heavily references rape, but we don’t actually see any of it. The good guys arrive after the fact and even when they review video footage of the repeated rapes, the author doesn’t describe it, she simply describes how the men react upon seeing it. There is one attempted rape later in the book, but it’s brief and doesn’t get anywhere. But the topic is front and center through much of the book, since it heavily influences how she reacts to aliens, so take all that into consideration if you’re leery of the topic.
I really liked the heroine. She’s tough, but also wounded. In her captivity she knew she couldn’t win, but she never once went down without fighting (good girl!). Now she’s on her last few breaths and our hero and his warriors find her. When she fights them in her fevered state, even while wounded and chained, she wins the loyalty of the warriors and our hero who immediately senses that she is his fated mate. It takes a while for their translators to land on English and there’s a few days of her thinking he’s just another male who wants to use her, despite her surroundings having improved greatly when she wakes up.
He’s very patient and gentle with her as he tries to convince her that he’d never hurt her and tries to show her that he’s a male of worth, and as he helps her regain her wellbeing. But then the planetary alliance (or whatever they’re called) says they want her returned to earth and our hero has to stall them while wooing her. And someone wants her dead, which throws our hero’s protective nature into overdrive. They soon get the language thing sorted and romance ensues, between bits of danger and a few laughs. I like that while there was the fated mates thing and insta-lust, he still had to win her over.
Good book!! I’m anxious to read more.
Edit: I think I’ve read this book 5 times now. It’s a quick read that I seem to revisit once a year. There’s nothing particularly special about it though; it just ticks all my boxes and has a little of everything that I like.
I really liked the heroine. She’s tough, but also wounded. In her captivity she knew she couldn’t win, but she never once went down without fighting (good girl!). Now she’s on her last few breaths and our hero and his warriors find her. When she fights them in her fevered state, even while wounded and chained, she wins the loyalty of the warriors and our hero who immediately senses that she is his fated mate. It takes a while for their translators to land on English and there’s a few days of her thinking he’s just another male who wants to use her, despite her surroundings having improved greatly when she wakes up.
He’s very patient and gentle with her as he tries to convince her that he’d never hurt her and tries to show her that he’s a male of worth, and as he helps her regain her wellbeing. But then the planetary alliance (or whatever they’re called) says they want her returned to earth and our hero has to stall them while wooing her. And someone wants her dead, which throws our hero’s protective nature into overdrive. They soon get the language thing sorted and romance ensues, between bits of danger and a few laughs. I like that while there was the fated mates thing and insta-lust, he still had to win her over.
Good book!! I’m anxious to read more.
Edit: I think I’ve read this book 5 times now. It’s a quick read that I seem to revisit once a year. There’s nothing particularly special about it though; it just ticks all my boxes and has a little of everything that I like.
December 12, 2018
I have to say, and yes I am a book hoarder, don't judge me!
This story is one of my all time favorite scifi reads.....and that's saying a lot cause you know........bookwhore!
I can say Zha Quin Tha in my head but god help me if I ever have to say it out loud.....I'll stick with Quin, easier and better for all of us! He is intimidating, dominant and his word is ultimate law aboard his ship, Commander in name and attitude. He never expected his Ehlealah to be a damaged, tiny human with attitude to spare.
Vivian, man, she made me cry tears for her. Her strength and attitude had me on her side from the beginning. Couldn't have been that strong. Much less the way she handled a certain red skinned, awesome looking horned alien male!
This whole world is just, well.........perfect! And I hate to be one of "those" people but I have to say the dreaded words.......I need more, LOL.
But really, this is emotional, has some dark spots and some themes that made me tear up but you can't have light without some dark!
Even if you don't read scifi.....give it a chance!
This story is one of my all time favorite scifi reads.....and that's saying a lot cause you know........bookwhore!
I can say Zha Quin Tha in my head but god help me if I ever have to say it out loud.....I'll stick with Quin, easier and better for all of us! He is intimidating, dominant and his word is ultimate law aboard his ship, Commander in name and attitude. He never expected his Ehlealah to be a damaged, tiny human with attitude to spare.
Vivian, man, she made me cry tears for her. Her strength and attitude had me on her side from the beginning. Couldn't have been that strong. Much less the way she handled a certain red skinned, awesome looking horned alien male!
This whole world is just, well.........perfect! And I hate to be one of "those" people but I have to say the dreaded words.......I need more, LOL.
But really, this is emotional, has some dark spots and some themes that made me tear up but you can't have light without some dark!
Even if you don't read scifi.....give it a chance!
December 15, 2018
This is insta-mate, scifi fantasy with a great alien H, who rescues the human h from a terrible situation. She is brave, very sweet and I loved their connection. Some really sweet moments, showed how much she trusted him. Unfortunately we were 'told' endlessly about how he would wait for her to recover. The telling made the story very long winded, and tedious. Stronger editing would have made this a tighter and shorter story. I love the author's imagination, she's still a favourite.
June 20, 2020
Sorry, but this sucked. The “badass” hero was really just a sappy beta disguised as an alpha. It was boring. It dragged. The heroine was dumb. The misunderstandings were obnoxious. I feel stupid for getting to the 70% mark.
December 26, 2018
Triggers. Great start to what looks like a long series. And I'll be there until the end.
December 17, 2018
Is it checkmate when treachery stacks the deck against pawns in a galactic chess match?
Seriously? Again? Unbelievable! Seems the Cruestaci are fine as cannon fodder. But they’re sure as hell not enough for anything else! Zha Quin Tha Tel Mo’ Kok, Sire of Command Warship 1, is fed up. Leader of the Cruestaci military, why are he and his crew doing this again? But not even Quin knows how this mission will irrevocably change his life! Kidnapped from Earth, Vivian’s been a slave with females of every species across the multi-verse. Filth and disease surround them. Despite vicious beatings, abuse of every kind, and unrelenting horror, Vivi’s still a force to be reckoned with. Command Warship 1 makes quick work of the slaver ship. Dealing with the women aboard should be a piece of cake. So just how is it that one tiny human defeats Quin’s bravest warriors? Quin himself storms in and, a moment later, his soul is lost. But this isn’t possible! Dragged to Quin’s ship, Vivi screams, fights, and wields the one weapon available to her, but she’s no match for Quin. Determined to win the trust of the little human, Quin soon learns she’s so much more than she appears. But none of this makes sense. As Quin and the other Cruestaci probe for answers, they realize this is a maze of labyrinthian proportions. And Vivi’s at the center of that maze. The perpetrators also know all too well how to play Quin and the Cruestaci. When Vivi’s lured into mortal danger, Quin’s fury knows no bounds. She’s beyond his reach. The creature who first stole his Vivi now holds her life in his hands again! Even Command Warship 1 is helpless! Quin’s willing to pay any price for his Ehlealah. But Vivi may be gone forever! Can anything save her from the ultimate destruction awaiting her? Quin’s vengeance may just destroy everything, including Vivi! Can there be some celestial intervention powerful enough to save not just Vivi but the entire multi-verse?
Sandra Neeley’s taken another turn into the unknown and astounded me yet again! This new world is utterly breathtaking. It isn’t just a simple sci-fi tale of aliens versus humans. The deepest, darkest emotions and actions that can inhabit any soul abound. Xenophobia, duplicity, hatred, cruelty, the basest acts and desires, all put in an appearance. But the counterpoint also lights this book like a beacon. The ultimate heights of light, peace, joy, pleasure, and reconciliation are also woven into one of the most remarkable books I’ve read. Quin is an enigma wrapped in a riddle. For so long, he’s focused on one thing. He may be next in line for Cruestace’s throne. Destroying the Consortium would be a treat. His own heart dried up and died long ago. Nothing holds meaning except Command Warship 1 and its crew. Then, out of nowhere, there’s Vivian. But Vivi’s no typical heroine. Abuse, terror, a nightmarish existence have all but destroyed her. Despite those horrors, her spine is iron. She’s been tempered by the fires of hell and come out the other side a warrior. While these two dominate the story, it would be incomplete without Ba Re’, Kol, Xallen, Bart, and the rest of the supporting characters. Vennie is one of the most conflicted, funny, and unique characters I’ve ever encountered. (And to find out about Vennie, you’ll have to read the book!) Sandra Neeley has again created a singularly exceptional universe, and I adore it! Congratulations, Ms. Neeley! Saying I loved this book is a vast understatement!
A final note. This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language, sexual scenes, and some dark themes. If you don't enjoy this genre, this may not be the book for you. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and all booksellers' websites. Please use these resources. I urge you to leave a review, but with a proviso. Please don’t leave a negative review when you know you won’t enjoy the book. It's not fair to the author. She works hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you'll object to a book's subject matter before you buy it, you're doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!
Seriously? Again? Unbelievable! Seems the Cruestaci are fine as cannon fodder. But they’re sure as hell not enough for anything else! Zha Quin Tha Tel Mo’ Kok, Sire of Command Warship 1, is fed up. Leader of the Cruestaci military, why are he and his crew doing this again? But not even Quin knows how this mission will irrevocably change his life! Kidnapped from Earth, Vivian’s been a slave with females of every species across the multi-verse. Filth and disease surround them. Despite vicious beatings, abuse of every kind, and unrelenting horror, Vivi’s still a force to be reckoned with. Command Warship 1 makes quick work of the slaver ship. Dealing with the women aboard should be a piece of cake. So just how is it that one tiny human defeats Quin’s bravest warriors? Quin himself storms in and, a moment later, his soul is lost. But this isn’t possible! Dragged to Quin’s ship, Vivi screams, fights, and wields the one weapon available to her, but she’s no match for Quin. Determined to win the trust of the little human, Quin soon learns she’s so much more than she appears. But none of this makes sense. As Quin and the other Cruestaci probe for answers, they realize this is a maze of labyrinthian proportions. And Vivi’s at the center of that maze. The perpetrators also know all too well how to play Quin and the Cruestaci. When Vivi’s lured into mortal danger, Quin’s fury knows no bounds. She’s beyond his reach. The creature who first stole his Vivi now holds her life in his hands again! Even Command Warship 1 is helpless! Quin’s willing to pay any price for his Ehlealah. But Vivi may be gone forever! Can anything save her from the ultimate destruction awaiting her? Quin’s vengeance may just destroy everything, including Vivi! Can there be some celestial intervention powerful enough to save not just Vivi but the entire multi-verse?
Sandra Neeley’s taken another turn into the unknown and astounded me yet again! This new world is utterly breathtaking. It isn’t just a simple sci-fi tale of aliens versus humans. The deepest, darkest emotions and actions that can inhabit any soul abound. Xenophobia, duplicity, hatred, cruelty, the basest acts and desires, all put in an appearance. But the counterpoint also lights this book like a beacon. The ultimate heights of light, peace, joy, pleasure, and reconciliation are also woven into one of the most remarkable books I’ve read. Quin is an enigma wrapped in a riddle. For so long, he’s focused on one thing. He may be next in line for Cruestace’s throne. Destroying the Consortium would be a treat. His own heart dried up and died long ago. Nothing holds meaning except Command Warship 1 and its crew. Then, out of nowhere, there’s Vivian. But Vivi’s no typical heroine. Abuse, terror, a nightmarish existence have all but destroyed her. Despite those horrors, her spine is iron. She’s been tempered by the fires of hell and come out the other side a warrior. While these two dominate the story, it would be incomplete without Ba Re’, Kol, Xallen, Bart, and the rest of the supporting characters. Vennie is one of the most conflicted, funny, and unique characters I’ve ever encountered. (And to find out about Vennie, you’ll have to read the book!) Sandra Neeley has again created a singularly exceptional universe, and I adore it! Congratulations, Ms. Neeley! Saying I loved this book is a vast understatement!
A final note. This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language, sexual scenes, and some dark themes. If you don't enjoy this genre, this may not be the book for you. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and all booksellers' websites. Please use these resources. I urge you to leave a review, but with a proviso. Please don’t leave a negative review when you know you won’t enjoy the book. It's not fair to the author. She works hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you'll object to a book's subject matter before you buy it, you're doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!
December 16, 2018
I Really really liked this and I look forward to more....
I really really enjoyed his read....
Yes,y it dark and has triggers but it thankfully doesn’t go into detail and is very minor when it comes towards that...
Aaaaaaaaaaa,I’d say kinda like those old horror movies say from,what the 30’s-40’s or when ever they’d set the scene and give you just enough details to scare you... but all the violence would happen off camera 🎥 but you’d still jump when you heard the scream....
With that I mean,I never jumped here but the scene was set where you knew just how horrible things must have been but your blessed w/not having to see anything....
Which is honestly how I like I in situations like this.....
I really liked Vivian and Quin is just one of the best males ever...
Kind and loving and brave and fierce but also smart and knows when to pick his battles and more patient with his female than you could have ever guessed...
This is a well thought out and interesting story....
And almost clean despite the subject matter,if sex scenes aren’t your thing there is only one it’s at least 60% thru the book..
Now,clean is soooo NOT my thing but I wasn’t bothered here because I liked and respected the fact the writer took her time bringing Vivian to a place where her trust and healing made sense before she became intimate with Quin....
And two,weeeellllll, honestly ?
I just wasn’t feeling it between them...... Quin had to push aside his own feelings for soo long and Vivian was an odd mix of trusting Quin to keep her safe ( I guess her food had been drugged a lot in the past so she didn’t want to eat unless Quin took a bite first )( he was soo awesomely sweet and understanding about that) but at the time she was insanely naive, purposely losing her guards who even knowing they were there to protect her soo age could wander around a strange ship alone..
Honestly I wanted to strangle her, I mean WTF, you won’t eat unless Quin tastes it first to make sure it’s safe,you hide fact you who have that computer translating for you so you know what’s being said because your still learning to trust and yet you think it’s safe to wander alone on a strange ship ?
Seriously WTH?!?!?
That just didn’t make sense...... I love 💕 “Fated Mates” and Quin was just about as good as you could as for and was and Leslie patient and understanding, while he all but worshiped Vivian wanting to do all he could to love and comfort and heal her,even if it caused him great pains to do so ,Quin did what ever he had to ensure Vivian was once more whole and complete....
While Vivian ?
Vivian just seemed to fall in to things w/Quin and say ,”Ok.”
Vivian is tough and strong and rebounds beautifully but as a romance this was a fail for me...
Quin was deeply in love but for Vivian he just seemed a convenient part of the package that was her new life....
It felt like she trusted Quin because he rescued her and because he soo loving how could she not... but there wasn’t any true passion her side and most of the time what was going on was about everything but their relationship.....
I felt at times her feelings toward the new friends she was making or the pet she finds and makes her own were just a strong as your feelings towards him.....
It was like I love Quin because he loves me and this is my life now... that’s it...
Never felt as personal for her as it did him... I believed Quin loved her and could NOT live w/out her.... for Vivian I felt her pet “kitty” meant just as much to her if more at times...
She really wasn’t all that aware mentally or emotionally when it came to Quin...
Great story but romantically ? Felt one sided....
I would recommend and I would like to see where this series goes if there are more...
I really really enjoyed his read....
Yes,y it dark and has triggers but it thankfully doesn’t go into detail and is very minor when it comes towards that...
Aaaaaaaaaaa,I’d say kinda like those old horror movies say from,what the 30’s-40’s or when ever they’d set the scene and give you just enough details to scare you... but all the violence would happen off camera 🎥 but you’d still jump when you heard the scream....
With that I mean,I never jumped here but the scene was set where you knew just how horrible things must have been but your blessed w/not having to see anything....
Which is honestly how I like I in situations like this.....
I really liked Vivian and Quin is just one of the best males ever...
Kind and loving and brave and fierce but also smart and knows when to pick his battles and more patient with his female than you could have ever guessed...
This is a well thought out and interesting story....
And almost clean despite the subject matter,if sex scenes aren’t your thing there is only one it’s at least 60% thru the book..
Now,clean is soooo NOT my thing but I wasn’t bothered here because I liked and respected the fact the writer took her time bringing Vivian to a place where her trust and healing made sense before she became intimate with Quin....
And two,weeeellllll, honestly ?
I just wasn’t feeling it between them...... Quin had to push aside his own feelings for soo long and Vivian was an odd mix of trusting Quin to keep her safe ( I guess her food had been drugged a lot in the past so she didn’t want to eat unless Quin took a bite first )( he was soo awesomely sweet and understanding about that) but at the time she was insanely naive, purposely losing her guards who even knowing they were there to protect her soo age could wander around a strange ship alone..
Honestly I wanted to strangle her, I mean WTF, you won’t eat unless Quin tastes it first to make sure it’s safe,you hide fact you who have that computer translating for you so you know what’s being said because your still learning to trust and yet you think it’s safe to wander alone on a strange ship ?
Seriously WTH?!?!?
That just didn’t make sense...... I love 💕 “Fated Mates” and Quin was just about as good as you could as for and was and Leslie patient and understanding, while he all but worshiped Vivian wanting to do all he could to love and comfort and heal her,even if it caused him great pains to do so ,Quin did what ever he had to ensure Vivian was once more whole and complete....
While Vivian ?
Vivian just seemed to fall in to things w/Quin and say ,”Ok.”
Vivian is tough and strong and rebounds beautifully but as a romance this was a fail for me...
Quin was deeply in love but for Vivian he just seemed a convenient part of the package that was her new life....
It felt like she trusted Quin because he rescued her and because he soo loving how could she not... but there wasn’t any true passion her side and most of the time what was going on was about everything but their relationship.....
I felt at times her feelings toward the new friends she was making or the pet she finds and makes her own were just a strong as your feelings towards him.....
It was like I love Quin because he loves me and this is my life now... that’s it...
Never felt as personal for her as it did him... I believed Quin loved her and could NOT live w/out her.... for Vivian I felt her pet “kitty” meant just as much to her if more at times...
She really wasn’t all that aware mentally or emotionally when it came to Quin...
Great story but romantically ? Felt one sided....
I would recommend and I would like to see where this series goes if there are more...
December 24, 2018
Fear and Loathing in Space💫
Zha Quinn👺🔪🔫 and his warship full of warriors, come across a slaver ship in their territory of space💫. They rescue a number of human women on board. Among the women is Vivian💃, a young woman who was horribly treated and chained. She is nearly dead from infection and ill treatment.
Quinn👺 realizes Vivian is his fated mate, but Vivian💃 sees only a huge, ripped💪, red warrior👺 with horns, who is likely to keep abusing her.
The book gets too wrapped up in Vivian's woes and doesn't have enough space adventure💫🌠 in it. It goes on and on about her fear and mistrust of Quinn👺 and his men. It got old. Vivian💃 was also continually deceitful towards Quinn👺, which I didn't like.
Zha Quinn👺🔪🔫 and his warship full of warriors, come across a slaver ship in their territory of space💫. They rescue a number of human women on board. Among the women is Vivian💃, a young woman who was horribly treated and chained. She is nearly dead from infection and ill treatment.
Quinn👺 realizes Vivian is his fated mate, but Vivian💃 sees only a huge, ripped💪, red warrior👺 with horns, who is likely to keep abusing her.
The book gets too wrapped up in Vivian's woes and doesn't have enough space adventure💫🌠 in it. It goes on and on about her fear and mistrust of Quinn👺 and his men. It got old. Vivian💃 was also continually deceitful towards Quinn👺, which I didn't like.
December 20, 2022
i hate it when something bad happens to the girls who abducted by aliens...i just wish all of them can be happily saved by alien dudes and married with babies easily 🤝🏼
this girl suffered A LOT like 80 years??? are you kidding me😡
i don't remember any of the names because they were long and confusing but the characters were good 🤌🏼 i loved heroine's dynamic with side characters and their respect for her
this has so many trigger points that i skipped some parts(i mean 80years of abduction what did i expected) 😶🌫️
this girl suffered A LOT like 80 years??? are you kidding me😡
i don't remember any of the names because they were long and confusing but the characters were good 🤌🏼 i loved heroine's dynamic with side characters and their respect for her
this has so many trigger points that i skipped some parts(i mean 80years of abduction what did i expected) 😶🌫️
January 15, 2019
I've read a lot of books like this- interesting, but nothing really new. I did however like the fact that Quin was not an obnoxious overbearing alpha male type. He had controlling tendencies, but actually took the time to listen to Viviane. Also, beware of the heavy emotional aspects about kidnapping, rape and revenge.
On kindle unlimited, so if your in the mood for a quick sci-fi alien romance would suggest you pick it up.
On kindle unlimited, so if your in the mood for a quick sci-fi alien romance would suggest you pick it up.
March 18, 2019
It's been a long time since i can say i thoroughly enjoyed an alien/ human love story! Vivian was a great heroine, her past experiences were dealt with in a believable way and I thought she held her own till the end. I was a little worried about Quin, however once he saw Viv he became smitten and his approach to her was so patient, respectful and thoughtful. Side characters were interesting and i hope this series continues on!
December 21, 2018
Disliked Vivian. She was too childlike and simple. She was not attracted to Quinn. There was no relationship development so the sudden drastic change at 68% was unbelievable. The plot dragged with Vivian's juvenile escapades and the warriors' inept bumbling attempts to keep up with her.
December 24, 2018
Great story
Loved this book. Vivian and Quinn were awesome. Kitty was a nice addition. Male was a hiss worthy villain. I highly recommend this book
Loved this book. Vivian and Quinn were awesome. Kitty was a nice addition. Male was a hiss worthy villain. I highly recommend this book
December 26, 2018
AI, alien pets and hot aliens... yep.
April 12, 2019
If you like SFR, ignore the negative reviews on this book and give it a try. I kept seeing this book pop up when I was cruising for new reads, but I kept ignoring it first because of it’s cover since it was bold, but still some how bland. One day I read the description and it sounded like it was full of anxiety inducing abuse towards to heroine. So I thought I wonder if it’s another one of those abuse by mate captive anxiety Stockholm vibes that for whatever reason are so popular in SFR now…. Well it’s NOT!
Someone recommended it in a group I’m in on FB and there were positive comments. I checked the reviews on Amazon and I typically check over the negative reviews first. I found that they didn’t have much depth in explaining truly why they disliked it, so I decided ehh I’ll just give it a try anyways. And wow, am I glad I did!
There is a popular negative review on this book and it is so wrong. Apparently that person has trouble realizing what is happening and can’t analyze situations unless it’s plainly and bluntly spelled out for them in their reads.
So here’s why I liked this book and warning, there’s gonna be some spoiler-ish parts.
Most importantly, it is mentioned and obvious the heroine suffered drastic abuse by her captors. It is mentioned from time to time in the book, even a part where the H watches a video of his h’s captivity so he can understand what she went through. What she endured is not ‘play out’ so you don’t have to read through her experience. It’s portrayed in a way that you clearly get the point, without feeling the anxiety or becoming overwhelmed. Very tastefully done by this author to relay the message without dampening the book.
The H / Quin / Commander: He’s alien in appearance, large, sexy sounding, very military blunt and demanding personality for most parts of the book when he’s dealing with his warriors. BUT there are parts when he’s with his friends and he laughs and has a good time. This shines through and is a pleasant side to him. But most importantly, he is intelligent! And he picks up on things with the heroine, he SEES her. Truly sees her for who she is and what she’s been through. Even when at first he might be confused the author wrote him intelligently that he quickly processes her needs and figures it out. He tends to her, he’s patient, he gives her the behavior and treatment she needs to learn to trust him and feel safe again. He tastes all of her food for her before she will eat it. It started as a way for her to know he wasn’t trying to sedate her when he rescued her. Then he continued without complaint even when she knew she could trust him, because it was important that she continue to feel secure and safe. It also helped create a bond between them.
The h / Vivian / Ehlealah: I don’t know why any of the reviews said she had no personality or anything negative. She was STRONG. She never allowed her abusers to destroy her pride and her strength even after so long of suffering. I respected her tremendously for this. I also respected the H leaps and bounds when he recognized this and saw that while she suffered horrendous experiences, she never lost her strength and was a fighter. She endured terrible things, but still held on to her will to fight and kindness. Someone said in a review that she didn’t act like she was abused. And I had to question if they even read the book or knew what they were talking about. I have a graduate degree in Psych. and I can tell you that everyone processes trauma in his or her own way. Some crumble while others gain power.
This heroine remained strong, but she was smart! If you can read between the lines and process what you’re reading you’ll see that. She watched, she learned, she moved her game pieces to protect herself after she was rescued. She didn’t fall right into her rescuers arms. She made him gain her trust. They built their foundation of trust together, then a friendship and then the love was returned to him from her. She still carried the dagger and chain and she always will. This is part of her processing and recovery to feel safe no matter where she is.
The way they bonded together and there were no forced situations between the H and h was lovely. It made it an enjoyable read to see how a strong h will continue to grow and learn to trust again.
There are scenes of violence in the book, some just briefly described and others in more detail when Vivian takes her revenge out on two that tried to kidnap and hurt her. And then again when she injects her original captor with poison. This might be too graphic for some people, but the author does mention in the description there is some darker content. I found the h’s actions empowering for her. And I was glad she had the strength to do it. I was cheering her on!
The addition of the secondary characters was great. Loved her great nephew tie in story line.
The addition of her bonding with the cat / shraler was awesome. Loved that it took to her when others were scared of the species and that it protected and fought beside her.
The mother in law was great. I loved that she was impressed and respected Vivian. She saw the strength in her enduring even though shed been tortured. And the MIL had a good personality too! It was nice there was no tension there.
The friend of the Commander’s, Kol, he was delightful! His fascination and tenderness towards humans was a nice touch. He was very thoughtful with Vivian.
I adored that she showed kindness and made a difference in the tentacle alien, Vennie’s, life. It showed that she would always rule kindly and want others to have respect. She was kind to him when others weren’t because of his species. And it showed how that kindness could pay off.
I REALLY, really enjoyed this book and I am glad I ignored the bad reviews finally and read it to develop my own opinion.
Someone recommended it in a group I’m in on FB and there were positive comments. I checked the reviews on Amazon and I typically check over the negative reviews first. I found that they didn’t have much depth in explaining truly why they disliked it, so I decided ehh I’ll just give it a try anyways. And wow, am I glad I did!
There is a popular negative review on this book and it is so wrong. Apparently that person has trouble realizing what is happening and can’t analyze situations unless it’s plainly and bluntly spelled out for them in their reads.
So here’s why I liked this book and warning, there’s gonna be some spoiler-ish parts.
Most importantly, it is mentioned and obvious the heroine suffered drastic abuse by her captors. It is mentioned from time to time in the book, even a part where the H watches a video of his h’s captivity so he can understand what she went through. What she endured is not ‘play out’ so you don’t have to read through her experience. It’s portrayed in a way that you clearly get the point, without feeling the anxiety or becoming overwhelmed. Very tastefully done by this author to relay the message without dampening the book.
The H / Quin / Commander: He’s alien in appearance, large, sexy sounding, very military blunt and demanding personality for most parts of the book when he’s dealing with his warriors. BUT there are parts when he’s with his friends and he laughs and has a good time. This shines through and is a pleasant side to him. But most importantly, he is intelligent! And he picks up on things with the heroine, he SEES her. Truly sees her for who she is and what she’s been through. Even when at first he might be confused the author wrote him intelligently that he quickly processes her needs and figures it out. He tends to her, he’s patient, he gives her the behavior and treatment she needs to learn to trust him and feel safe again. He tastes all of her food for her before she will eat it. It started as a way for her to know he wasn’t trying to sedate her when he rescued her. Then he continued without complaint even when she knew she could trust him, because it was important that she continue to feel secure and safe. It also helped create a bond between them.
The h / Vivian / Ehlealah: I don’t know why any of the reviews said she had no personality or anything negative. She was STRONG. She never allowed her abusers to destroy her pride and her strength even after so long of suffering. I respected her tremendously for this. I also respected the H leaps and bounds when he recognized this and saw that while she suffered horrendous experiences, she never lost her strength and was a fighter. She endured terrible things, but still held on to her will to fight and kindness. Someone said in a review that she didn’t act like she was abused. And I had to question if they even read the book or knew what they were talking about. I have a graduate degree in Psych. and I can tell you that everyone processes trauma in his or her own way. Some crumble while others gain power.
This heroine remained strong, but she was smart! If you can read between the lines and process what you’re reading you’ll see that. She watched, she learned, she moved her game pieces to protect herself after she was rescued. She didn’t fall right into her rescuers arms. She made him gain her trust. They built their foundation of trust together, then a friendship and then the love was returned to him from her. She still carried the dagger and chain and she always will. This is part of her processing and recovery to feel safe no matter where she is.
The way they bonded together and there were no forced situations between the H and h was lovely. It made it an enjoyable read to see how a strong h will continue to grow and learn to trust again.
There are scenes of violence in the book, some just briefly described and others in more detail when Vivian takes her revenge out on two that tried to kidnap and hurt her. And then again when she injects her original captor with poison. This might be too graphic for some people, but the author does mention in the description there is some darker content. I found the h’s actions empowering for her. And I was glad she had the strength to do it. I was cheering her on!
The addition of the secondary characters was great. Loved her great nephew tie in story line.
The addition of her bonding with the cat / shraler was awesome. Loved that it took to her when others were scared of the species and that it protected and fought beside her.
The mother in law was great. I loved that she was impressed and respected Vivian. She saw the strength in her enduring even though shed been tortured. And the MIL had a good personality too! It was nice there was no tension there.
The friend of the Commander’s, Kol, he was delightful! His fascination and tenderness towards humans was a nice touch. He was very thoughtful with Vivian.
I adored that she showed kindness and made a difference in the tentacle alien, Vennie’s, life. It showed that she would always rule kindly and want others to have respect. She was kind to him when others weren’t because of his species. And it showed how that kindness could pay off.
I REALLY, really enjoyed this book and I am glad I ignored the bad reviews finally and read it to develop my own opinion.
February 13, 2019
This wasn't a bad read, though it did make me feel emotional, which in a way is a good thing (I think). I can't imagine the horrors Vivian must have went through and was still able to come out sane if not more broken than she let on.
I hate RAPIST! they are sadistic creatures; there is nothing humane about what they enjoy doing. They should be wiped out of existence.
*inhale* *exhale*
Calming down now. I hope Neeley is planning on making this story a series. I'd like to read Kol's story.
I hate RAPIST! they are sadistic creatures; there is nothing humane about what they enjoy doing. They should be wiped out of existence.
*inhale* *exhale*
Calming down now. I hope Neeley is planning on making this story a series. I'd like to read Kol's story.
January 21, 2019
Take it or leave it.
Well this was not what I expected, to be honest I had high hopes for this story as I've read this authors 'Whispers from the bayou' series which I like. Sadly I was left feeling dissapointed as the story dragged on a bit for me as it mainly centered on Vivian and what was done to her. Because of that reason Quin didnt really stand out, he wasnt a very memorable character and definitely not very alpha male. He was very sweet and supportive but he was just missing that manly man vibe, the all consuming desire and passion for his mate. It was nice that he was considerate of her needs after what she'd been through but damn sometimes nice is too nice you know what I mean. He was just missing that fire and intensity that is present when a male finds his mate. Patience is all well and good but after all the time he spent watching her naked, having her walk around in his clothes and sleeping in the same bed as him he should have been suffering from a major case of blue balls and would have had to take care of business. A morning RISE would have definitely been unavoidable given the circumstances. But all we get from him is a constant whiney chatter; complaining to his friends about him not being sure if she likes him or if she'll stay with him which made him look needy and oh so lame. Also all the alien male characters had really long unpronounceable names which annoyed me to no end. Just because their aliens doesn't mean they have to have sentence long names for example Zha Quin Tha Tel Mo’ Kok was the name of our leading male. Imagine every single male character with a name that LONG it was frustrating to read. Thank god Vivian gave them all nicknames like her love interest was dubbed Quin and his friends Kol, Ba'Rae and Jhan. Though Vivian had the tendency to call Kol 'Blue Dude' which was so annoying I mean was she a surfer? I guess the reason she might have used it was because she was abducted at 17. Even she was given the nauseating name of Vivi by Quin, goodness it was such an immature term I couldn't help but roll my eyes everytime he called her that so I substituted it to Viv instead. He was also constantly calling her Ehlealah (soul mate in his language) which got old really fast. The fact that she was just 17 when this happened to her was just to young for my liking even if she was years in suspended animation in body and mind she was still just a teenager. The story is also told by many perspectives which gets confusing after a while as we have Vivian, Quin, Quin's mother, Kol, Vol, her guard, Malm and even her pet Kitty. It was just to many point of views and sometimes I would have to read back as I'd get confused on who was talking as narrators would suddenly change within the same scene. To me the male character that stole the show was Kol with his love of everything human and I'm glad that the next book in the series will be his, now fingers crossed I'll like it more than this one.
Well this was not what I expected, to be honest I had high hopes for this story as I've read this authors 'Whispers from the bayou' series which I like. Sadly I was left feeling dissapointed as the story dragged on a bit for me as it mainly centered on Vivian and what was done to her. Because of that reason Quin didnt really stand out, he wasnt a very memorable character and definitely not very alpha male. He was very sweet and supportive but he was just missing that manly man vibe, the all consuming desire and passion for his mate. It was nice that he was considerate of her needs after what she'd been through but damn sometimes nice is too nice you know what I mean. He was just missing that fire and intensity that is present when a male finds his mate. Patience is all well and good but after all the time he spent watching her naked, having her walk around in his clothes and sleeping in the same bed as him he should have been suffering from a major case of blue balls and would have had to take care of business. A morning RISE would have definitely been unavoidable given the circumstances. But all we get from him is a constant whiney chatter; complaining to his friends about him not being sure if she likes him or if she'll stay with him which made him look needy and oh so lame. Also all the alien male characters had really long unpronounceable names which annoyed me to no end. Just because their aliens doesn't mean they have to have sentence long names for example Zha Quin Tha Tel Mo’ Kok was the name of our leading male. Imagine every single male character with a name that LONG it was frustrating to read. Thank god Vivian gave them all nicknames like her love interest was dubbed Quin and his friends Kol, Ba'Rae and Jhan. Though Vivian had the tendency to call Kol 'Blue Dude' which was so annoying I mean was she a surfer? I guess the reason she might have used it was because she was abducted at 17. Even she was given the nauseating name of Vivi by Quin, goodness it was such an immature term I couldn't help but roll my eyes everytime he called her that so I substituted it to Viv instead. He was also constantly calling her Ehlealah (soul mate in his language) which got old really fast. The fact that she was just 17 when this happened to her was just to young for my liking even if she was years in suspended animation in body and mind she was still just a teenager. The story is also told by many perspectives which gets confusing after a while as we have Vivian, Quin, Quin's mother, Kol, Vol, her guard, Malm and even her pet Kitty. It was just to many point of views and sometimes I would have to read back as I'd get confused on who was talking as narrators would suddenly change within the same scene. To me the male character that stole the show was Kol with his love of everything human and I'm glad that the next book in the series will be his, now fingers crossed I'll like it more than this one.
February 13, 2020
Re-read on Feb 13, 2020, because I’m going through an alien phase and forgot I’d already read this one!
One thing I must note: This is 100% a guilty pleasure book. Everything is exaggerated and over the top and nobody would honestly react how the Hero does (or many of the other characters...). He’s very alpha male/possessive, but it’s in the form of a 13 year old’s fanfiction writing where he’s just screaming all the time and you’re supposed to acknowledge that as him caring for the heroine...ooookay. He yells. A lot. He’s 1300 years old (I think?) but has the emotional intelligence and actions of a child. I don’t care how much of an asshole you are, if you’re that old than you’ve lived through so much more than any of us can imagine.... There wasn’t any depth to the Hero, but sometimes it’s just fun to read a book where the guy is so obviously obsessed and amazed and in love with his girl. (If you just ignore the keeping her captive / stalkery / asshole parts of it.)
The heroine is a Mary Sue who had unimaginably horrible things happen to her, but then she ends up being absolutely perfect and everyone adores her and there’s no need for therapy, no lasting damage...whatever, it’s fine. Sometimes I love to read a book where the heroine impresses everyone and endears herself to them, so it was definitely a guilty pleasure that hits the spot if you’re in the mood for it.
But the POVs...oh my GOOOOD, the POVs! Is this an actual legitimate way to write? The POV was all over the place without warning you when it switched (sometimes mid-paragraph), and that was so freaking annoying. At first I thought maybe the author did it on accident a few times, but it was too consistent during the book to be an accident. I almost didn’t finish the book because of that.
I think the book could’ve been proofread a few more times. Simple spelling mistakes.
Edit: I looooved Kitty!!
One thing I must note: This is 100% a guilty pleasure book. Everything is exaggerated and over the top and nobody would honestly react how the Hero does (or many of the other characters...). He’s very alpha male/possessive, but it’s in the form of a 13 year old’s fanfiction writing where he’s just screaming all the time and you’re supposed to acknowledge that as him caring for the heroine...ooookay. He yells. A lot. He’s 1300 years old (I think?) but has the emotional intelligence and actions of a child. I don’t care how much of an asshole you are, if you’re that old than you’ve lived through so much more than any of us can imagine.... There wasn’t any depth to the Hero, but sometimes it’s just fun to read a book where the guy is so obviously obsessed and amazed and in love with his girl. (If you just ignore the keeping her captive / stalkery / asshole parts of it.)
The heroine is a Mary Sue who had unimaginably horrible things happen to her, but then she ends up being absolutely perfect and everyone adores her and there’s no need for therapy, no lasting damage...whatever, it’s fine. Sometimes I love to read a book where the heroine impresses everyone and endears herself to them, so it was definitely a guilty pleasure that hits the spot if you’re in the mood for it.
But the POVs...oh my GOOOOD, the POVs! Is this an actual legitimate way to write? The POV was all over the place without warning you when it switched (sometimes mid-paragraph), and that was so freaking annoying. At first I thought maybe the author did it on accident a few times, but it was too consistent during the book to be an accident. I almost didn’t finish the book because of that.
I think the book could’ve been proofread a few more times. Simple spelling mistakes.
Edit: I looooved Kitty!!
February 19, 2019
I was completely taken in by the dynamics between Quin and Vivi. They have a relationship that is akin to soulmates except only he as a Cruestaci can tell she is his Ehlealah which is a title for holder of his heart. She is pretty much in the dark both literally and figuratively because she doesn't understand their language (she is human and speaks English) and she has no idea about the whole Ehlealah concept. As a matter of fact for the first third of the book she thinks Quin has mistaken her for a woman called Ehlealah.
Quin is on a mission to take down a slaver ship and finds it was operating as a brothel. Enter his rescue of Vivi. She has a very hard time trusting anyone given her experiences on the alien brothel ship. She shows clear signs of all types abuse but Quin proves to be a trustworthy male and she begins to develop an attachment to him. As the story develops we see the couple go through a learning curve in their relationship starting off very slow as mere roommates and ending up as lovers. Along the way she meets other Cruestaci warriors who are important in Quin's life. She learns that Quin is not just any Cruestaci but the next in line to rule the planet and that there is a political organization of planets where the Cruestaci contribute their warrior skills. However something is not right. There is much interest in recovering Vivi, specially by a specific person of power.
I was completely invested in knowing how Quin and Vivi fared. I liked their fated mates story and their bond as soulmates. I wish there had been more development of how Vivi deals with the emotions of being Quin's Ehlealah and see more of how she develops her feelings for Quin. I am looking forward to reading Kol's story.
Quin is on a mission to take down a slaver ship and finds it was operating as a brothel. Enter his rescue of Vivi. She has a very hard time trusting anyone given her experiences on the alien brothel ship. She shows clear signs of all types abuse but Quin proves to be a trustworthy male and she begins to develop an attachment to him. As the story develops we see the couple go through a learning curve in their relationship starting off very slow as mere roommates and ending up as lovers. Along the way she meets other Cruestaci warriors who are important in Quin's life. She learns that Quin is not just any Cruestaci but the next in line to rule the planet and that there is a political organization of planets where the Cruestaci contribute their warrior skills. However something is not right. There is much interest in recovering Vivi, specially by a specific person of power.
I was completely invested in knowing how Quin and Vivi fared. I liked their fated mates story and their bond as soulmates. I wish there had been more development of how Vivi deals with the emotions of being Quin's Ehlealah and see more of how she develops her feelings for Quin. I am looking forward to reading Kol's story.
December 12, 2018
This book contains violence and sexual content.
I loved this story. Vivian must have lived through a literal hell in that room and even close to death she fights. The author did a great job painting a disgustingly descriptive picture of the room Vivian is found in, and describing her appearance. Any reader wouldn't be able to NOT feel empathy for what Vivian must have lived through.
Zha Quin is the commander of the Cruestaci warship and next in line for the throne. Zha Quin didn't want to rule, he preferred space. Zha Quin board the ship that Vivian is on because of a command from the Unified Consortium Defense saying there were kidnapped women in board that needed to be returned to their home planets. The Consortium had an odd heightened interest in a female slave on the ship.
This shows the strength of willpower for one little human female. It tells us that just because someone looks scary doesn't always mean they are. I liked the way Zha Quin's approach to Vivian was written. I think it was an original idea to have Vivi find a cat like pet while in space with nothing but stars around. I had a nice chuckle when reading the scene of Zha Quin's mothers unexpected visit.
There are so many great things about this book from the characters to the plot and storyline that you can't regret reading it. I will be eagerly awaiting book 2.
I loved this story. Vivian must have lived through a literal hell in that room and even close to death she fights. The author did a great job painting a disgustingly descriptive picture of the room Vivian is found in, and describing her appearance. Any reader wouldn't be able to NOT feel empathy for what Vivian must have lived through.
Zha Quin is the commander of the Cruestaci warship and next in line for the throne. Zha Quin didn't want to rule, he preferred space. Zha Quin board the ship that Vivian is on because of a command from the Unified Consortium Defense saying there were kidnapped women in board that needed to be returned to their home planets. The Consortium had an odd heightened interest in a female slave on the ship.
This shows the strength of willpower for one little human female. It tells us that just because someone looks scary doesn't always mean they are. I liked the way Zha Quin's approach to Vivian was written. I think it was an original idea to have Vivi find a cat like pet while in space with nothing but stars around. I had a nice chuckle when reading the scene of Zha Quin's mothers unexpected visit.
There are so many great things about this book from the characters to the plot and storyline that you can't regret reading it. I will be eagerly awaiting book 2.
February 2, 2019
What a repellent cover.
Every creature can be made interesting and mysterious looking. But that cover right here? Nope, it doesn’t win you any readers. Quite the opposite.
Anyway, the book on the other hand was quite enjoyable. Surprise, surprise!! By the looks of the cover one wouldn’t have thought.
It is an average book, professional-wise.
The author has talent and with some professional help, a good editor and definitely a way better designer for the cover those books could be great.
The story and the characters fascinated me and I did read it in one go.
But the devil is in the details.
There are so many unanswered questions, the author apparently didn’t deem important. Yet, to deliver a great book you can’t simply do that.
For example, our hero is already 130 years old. How old does he get? Our heroine on the other hand is human, how does that work?
Another example are the differences in the anatomy. One should have thought of that when it comes to sex.
I loved Kitty. Yet, how did he get on the ship, we never learn who hid her? As a commander of a ship, that would interest me a lot. As well as the little detail about the previous owner, apparently never to be heard of or seen again, not even kitty sought him out.
Those are only a few things which made the book only average.
Every creature can be made interesting and mysterious looking. But that cover right here? Nope, it doesn’t win you any readers. Quite the opposite.
Anyway, the book on the other hand was quite enjoyable. Surprise, surprise!! By the looks of the cover one wouldn’t have thought.
It is an average book, professional-wise.
The author has talent and with some professional help, a good editor and definitely a way better designer for the cover those books could be great.
The story and the characters fascinated me and I did read it in one go.
But the devil is in the details.
There are so many unanswered questions, the author apparently didn’t deem important. Yet, to deliver a great book you can’t simply do that.
For example, our hero is already 130 years old. How old does he get? Our heroine on the other hand is human, how does that work?
Another example are the differences in the anatomy. One should have thought of that when it comes to sex.
I loved Kitty. Yet, how did he get on the ship, we never learn who hid her? As a commander of a ship, that would interest me a lot. As well as the little detail about the previous owner, apparently never to be heard of or seen again, not even kitty sought him out.
Those are only a few things which made the book only average.
December 31, 2018
first in new series for this author.
Take note of those trigger warnings folks because this is a true story of the human spirit triumphing over thw trauma of abuse.
I adore sci fi romance, especially when the focus is on human spirit overcoming obstacles and in spite of the hurts. This is a great example of that... without being gratuitous about abuse. The focus is on protection, healing and respecting the women who have suffered at the hands of others. Enabling them to overcome the hurts with support from others.
Despite his gruff and intimidating exterior.. Quin was a perfectly constructed and believable love for Vivian. I really enjoyed their (mis)communication and the interaction between the two of them.
There is a lot of potential and scope for this series and I’m looking forward to seeing it continue.
Take note of those trigger warnings folks because this is a true story of the human spirit triumphing over thw trauma of abuse.
I adore sci fi romance, especially when the focus is on human spirit overcoming obstacles and in spite of the hurts. This is a great example of that... without being gratuitous about abuse. The focus is on protection, healing and respecting the women who have suffered at the hands of others. Enabling them to overcome the hurts with support from others.
Despite his gruff and intimidating exterior.. Quin was a perfectly constructed and believable love for Vivian. I really enjoyed their (mis)communication and the interaction between the two of them.
There is a lot of potential and scope for this series and I’m looking forward to seeing it continue.
July 23, 2019
OMG I didn't thought I would enjoy this book so much but I did. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down.
I love human/alien romances, but most of the time the story is fast paced and resolved to quickly, other times the stories are just undeveloped, and most of the time it's all about sex.
But this book is different, it is sweet yet heartpounding at the same time. Quin was so patient and caring, and it was beautiful to see Vivian evolves into this kind yet brave woman.
The world building is amazing, I love the characters , the writing and let's not forget Kitty ! Damn I love that "cat" haha. This book made me smile, cry, and laugh. It was perfect and I will surely read it again.
I really hope this becomes a series because I want to read about Kol and his human mate !! So please make it happen, I would love to read about the other characters finding their soulmate ♡
I love human/alien romances, but most of the time the story is fast paced and resolved to quickly, other times the stories are just undeveloped, and most of the time it's all about sex.
But this book is different, it is sweet yet heartpounding at the same time. Quin was so patient and caring, and it was beautiful to see Vivian evolves into this kind yet brave woman.
The world building is amazing, I love the characters , the writing and let's not forget Kitty ! Damn I love that "cat" haha. This book made me smile, cry, and laugh. It was perfect and I will surely read it again.
I really hope this becomes a series because I want to read about Kol and his human mate !! So please make it happen, I would love to read about the other characters finding their soulmate ♡
December 21, 2018
Brilliant start to a new series
Sandra is definitely my favourite paranormal author.
This is the first book in a new series. Vivian has been abducted from earth, tortured, raped and beaten. She is saved by a warrior Zha Quin. He has to gently persuade Vivian that she is his life mate and she slowly comes to realise that he will not hurt her. Her captor, Main tries to kidnap her again and when his plot fails they breach his shop to find more abducted women.
There are hopefully more books to follow, each with their own warrior. I want to read the next book about Kol and Ada, and I look forward to finding out more about each warrior.
This book does mention some disturbing issues but they are not over graphic and Sandra writes with sensitivity.
Sandra is definitely my favourite paranormal author.
This is the first book in a new series. Vivian has been abducted from earth, tortured, raped and beaten. She is saved by a warrior Zha Quin. He has to gently persuade Vivian that she is his life mate and she slowly comes to realise that he will not hurt her. Her captor, Main tries to kidnap her again and when his plot fails they breach his shop to find more abducted women.
There are hopefully more books to follow, each with their own warrior. I want to read the next book about Kol and Ada, and I look forward to finding out more about each warrior.
This book does mention some disturbing issues but they are not over graphic and Sandra writes with sensitivity.
December 27, 2018
i was pleasantly surprised by this one! the heroine-vivian-is a badly abused young woman who isn't going to let any male abuse her with out getting a beating from her first, the only power she has is the chain she is attached to. but a male comes along and breaks her chain, gives her a robe, a dagger, and food she won't eat unless he tries it first. what she doesn't know is that he knows she is his 'ehleala', the holder of his heart and soul. communication is a problem, but she really needs her life saved. when the computer finally figures out her language she tells it to hide that fact and uses it to figure out what is happening around her.
family reunion, falling in love, ascending! vivian is a survivor, an avenger, a warrior princess!
i can't wait for the next book!
family reunion, falling in love, ascending! vivian is a survivor, an avenger, a warrior princess!
i can't wait for the next book!
December 21, 2018
I'm a little impressed
This author is relatively new to me, but I have to say, I like her books a lot. Now, there are still minor issues that are a bit annoying, like how repetitious she can get. Meaning, something from one chapter is basically repeated inn the next. I find that unnecessary. However, she is really good at world building, explaining things without them coming across as just facts thrown in. The characters are very likeable. This book does have a lot of ugly physical abuse so just be aware of that. I truly do hope there is a second book, I look forward to reading it.
This author is relatively new to me, but I have to say, I like her books a lot. Now, there are still minor issues that are a bit annoying, like how repetitious she can get. Meaning, something from one chapter is basically repeated inn the next. I find that unnecessary. However, she is really good at world building, explaining things without them coming across as just facts thrown in. The characters are very likeable. This book does have a lot of ugly physical abuse so just be aware of that. I truly do hope there is a second book, I look forward to reading it.
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