What do you think?
Rate this book
Iriduan Universe Love Stories #1
My Chameleon Mate
Vera
I accidentally launched an escape pod on my miserable honeymoon—with me on it—and crash-landed in the middle of an alien jungle on a forbidden “emerging civilization” planet, breaking about a hundred Cosmic Syndicate laws.
Oh, and I robbed a hot lizard guy with sexy black eyes, the most colorful scales I’ve ever seen, and a powerful prehensile tail that curls up like a cinnamon roll.
Even though I can’t understand anything he’s saying, my new reptilian friend turns out to be as sweet as honey and spicier than the seasoning he used on the meat I stole from his camp, and after he risks his own life to save mine, he decides he wants to keep me.
I’m perfectly okay with that, but I have a feeling my philandering husband will object.
Author’s Note:
This sweet story takes place in the Iriduan Test Subjects universe, but doesn’t feature any of the characters from that series. It is also a shorter (70K words), lighter read than the books in that series. You don’t need to have read that series to follow along with this story. See my website for content warnings.
I accidentally launched an escape pod on my miserable honeymoon—with me on it—and crash-landed in the middle of an alien jungle on a forbidden “emerging civilization” planet, breaking about a hundred Cosmic Syndicate laws.
Oh, and I robbed a hot lizard guy with sexy black eyes, the most colorful scales I’ve ever seen, and a powerful prehensile tail that curls up like a cinnamon roll.
Even though I can’t understand anything he’s saying, my new reptilian friend turns out to be as sweet as honey and spicier than the seasoning he used on the meat I stole from his camp, and after he risks his own life to save mine, he decides he wants to keep me.
I’m perfectly okay with that, but I have a feeling my philandering husband will object.
Author’s Note:
This sweet story takes place in the Iriduan Test Subjects universe, but doesn’t feature any of the characters from that series. It is also a shorter (70K words), lighter read than the books in that series. You don’t need to have read that series to follow along with this story. See my website for content warnings.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2022
319 people are currently reading
658 people want to read
About the author
Susan Trombley
32 books843 followersBorn a dragon, but forced to take human form to fit into those little baby carriers, Susan accepted that she'd have to live a mortal life. She just wasn't going to go around being all boring about it. As soon as she was old enough, she immediately applied for an alien abduction, but got wait-listed, so she made her lair in the desert to wait out the coming zombie apocalypse with a pair of magical cats (they can appear underfoot in an instant, usually at the steps) and the dog from Hades that has three heads (and now has three bodies to go with them).
When the white knight came to fight the dragon, Susan liked him so much she decided to marry him and they now have a beautiful little dragonlet. (Who looks just like a little girl unless you use a magic mirror)
Fortunately, despite being trapped in this dimension, Susan uses her dragon's vision to see all the most interesting goings-on in the multiverse. Figuring they made great stories, she decided to share them with the rest of the mortal world, by writing fantasy, science fiction and romance.
When the white knight came to fight the dragon, Susan liked him so much she decided to marry him and they now have a beautiful little dragonlet. (Who looks just like a little girl unless you use a magic mirror)
Fortunately, despite being trapped in this dimension, Susan uses her dragon's vision to see all the most interesting goings-on in the multiverse. Figuring they made great stories, she decided to share them with the rest of the mortal world, by writing fantasy, science fiction and romance.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
August 5, 2022
I LOVED this!!
So I finished this book....
but inside I was like...
I loved everything about it:
Crazy alien species....✔️
Language barrier.....✔️
One of the sweetest Hs of all time.....✔️
Weird Alien Junk.....✔️✔️
This was so good. I loved Vera and Khumai. Khumai was one of the yummiest Hs I've read in awhile. I cracked up at their antics and miscommunications. I loved Cupid's nudgings and fixings and I am beyond happy we will see more of these unlikely pairings in the future.
I am so fucking excited about this new series!!!
So I finished this book....
but inside I was like...
I loved everything about it:
Crazy alien species....✔️
Language barrier.....✔️
One of the sweetest Hs of all time.....✔️
Weird Alien Junk.....✔️✔️
This was so good. I loved Vera and Khumai. Khumai was one of the yummiest Hs I've read in awhile. I cracked up at their antics and miscommunications. I loved Cupid's nudgings and fixings and I am beyond happy we will see more of these unlikely pairings in the future.
I am so fucking excited about this new series!!!
August 10, 2022
This is a hard one for me to rate because what I didn't like as much, I think others might still enjoy, and there wasn't anything wrong with the story. The h ends up crashing on H's primitive planet after she accidentally enables an escape pod while running away from her cheating husband. Once there, h's pretty oblivious to danger, struggles to figure out survival, and I found her personality grating. I thought the alien world and the hero were interesting, but I found the heroine fairly unlikable. Her first interaction with the H, she thinks he's attacking her (he thinks he's saving her), but after he does save her from a life-threatening situation, she quickly comes to depend on him, they start a physical relationship, and then they're in love. The story is written in first person, dual POV except for the last chapter being from another POV. No ow drama, a bit of om drama from her husband, neither were virgins, and h has an implant for bc.
Most of the story is just the two of them and there are plenty of sweet moments, as well as funny ones. The H had been exiled from his village years prior so had been isolated and depressed. The arrival of the h does breathe new life into him, which was great. He really was a sweet male character. Both main characters struggle with a language barrier until almost the end of the book. They find some ways to communicate, but there's still a lot of confusion. This had a lot of alien steamy times (I felt this veered into the too much category) and he has two pieces of equipment as well as an adventurous tail. A couple of suspenseful scenes added bits of danger.
A twist close to the end was weird to me instead of being intriguing though. It provided some fixes for a couple of challenges, including the language barrier, but it was just an odd set-up imo. The book ends with an epilogue a few months into the future with the characters living their HEA before the final chapter setting up the potential for further stories. I don't know if I'll continue the series.
Most of the story is just the two of them and there are plenty of sweet moments, as well as funny ones. The H had been exiled from his village years prior so had been isolated and depressed. The arrival of the h does breathe new life into him, which was great. He really was a sweet male character. Both main characters struggle with a language barrier until almost the end of the book. They find some ways to communicate, but there's still a lot of confusion. This had a lot of alien steamy times (I felt this veered into the too much category) and he has two pieces of equipment as well as an adventurous tail. A couple of suspenseful scenes added bits of danger.
A twist close to the end was weird to me instead of being intriguing though. It provided some fixes for a couple of challenges, including the language barrier, but it was just an odd set-up imo. The book ends with an epilogue a few months into the future with the characters living their HEA before the final chapter setting up the potential for further stories. I don't know if I'll continue the series.
Read
August 23, 2022Susan Trombley writes great Sci-Fi romance. This is definitely a case of "it's me, not the book." I don't feel right rating this story because honestly it was sweet and steamy and a great plot line when I could understand what was happening. But I loathe language barrier tropes.
I spend so much time with my OCD brain trying to figure out what they're saying to each other and putting pieces together, I miss the point of why I'm reading...to enjoy a romance novel.
So by the end of this story...this was my mental state.
I spend so much time with my OCD brain trying to figure out what they're saying to each other and putting pieces together, I miss the point of why I'm reading...to enjoy a romance novel.
So by the end of this story...this was my mental state.
November 8, 2024
I enjoyed it very much. I love romances with very diffrent beings falling in love and getting to understand each other. This was an alien chameleon type of man and a human woman. Very quick and bit common story but found it to be cute and entertaining. For the majority of the story they dont understad ehat the other ones is saying but a romance (and a lot of lust) forms between them. Loved the scene when he tried to save her from the space shuttle.
August 24, 2022
This started out as such a fun romp, but then the "fun" got replaced by "silly".
I love the language barrier trope, but this story just took the cake:
The hero is a chameleon native of the planet the heroine is shipwrecked on. And they cannot communicate for the life of them.
Get this: the heroine is stranded on the alien planet for MONTHS and despite her efforts, she cannot make him understand and say even her *name*. She does the whole routine, patting her chest and pointing at herself and saying "Vera" again and again and then motioning to him and he can't figure it out. This creates a misunderstanding that could have been fun ... in the first quarter of the book.
Unfortunately, the hero and heroine cannot talk (or otherwise communicate outside of bed gymnastics) for the first 85% of the book. 85%!! That's several months in their timeline that neither of them made the effort to learn at least basic words in the language of the other! That's just crazy to me. Also, it really limits the interaction the two of them have.
At the end of the book, these two barely know each other and even though they're both fine with that, I'M NOT. When in Rome, learn the goddamn language.
Thanks.
I love the language barrier trope, but this story just took the cake:
The hero is a chameleon native of the planet the heroine is shipwrecked on. And they cannot communicate for the life of them.
Get this: the heroine is stranded on the alien planet for MONTHS and despite her efforts, she cannot make him understand and say even her *name*. She does the whole routine, patting her chest and pointing at herself and saying "Vera" again and again and then motioning to him and he can't figure it out. This creates a misunderstanding that could have been fun ... in the first quarter of the book.
Unfortunately, the hero and heroine cannot talk (or otherwise communicate outside of bed gymnastics) for the first 85% of the book. 85%!! That's several months in their timeline that neither of them made the effort to learn at least basic words in the language of the other! That's just crazy to me. Also, it really limits the interaction the two of them have.
At the end of the book, these two barely know each other and even though they're both fine with that, I'M NOT. When in Rome, learn the goddamn language.
Thanks.
July 15, 2025
A Survival Romance in the Stars
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜❤️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😟🙁🤓😍🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
Heroine – Vera
Vera begins as a seemingly passive figure: a nail artist from the impoverished side of the city and a product the system after her parents were both killed in the Menops invasion. Her decision to marry a wealthy suitor—despite numerous red flags—initially reinforces her vulnerability and lack of agency. However, this passivity is subverted as the narrative progresses. Her ill-fated honeymoon, marked by her husband’s frugality and emotional detachment, becomes the catalyst for a transformation that reveals her grit and independence.
Hero – Chamai
Chamai is exiled from a primitive tribal society for protecting his sister from a predatory chief. His isolation in a jungle world serves not only as a literal survival space but also as a symbol of emotional exile and introspection. Interestingly, while Chamai is culturally coded as “barbarian,” the care and detail he invests in building a treetop sanctuary challenge reductive stereotypes of uncivilized masculinity. His misinterpretation of Vera’s appearance is both humorous and poignant—a literal alien perspective that underscores their communication gap and sets the tone for their cross-cultural dynamic.
Plot & World-Building
The story pivots from domestic disillusionment to a classic survival romance when Vera, in a moment of impulsive flight, launches herself into a forbidden alien jungle. The plot structure mirrors a rebirth arc: her escape pod functions almost like a womb, ejecting her into an ecosystem that demands self-reliance and adaptability.
The narrative excels when exploring the misunderstandings between Vera and Chamai. His belief that the pod is a carnivorous creature and that Vera’s orange jumpsuit is sagging skin infuses the early interactions with levity while highlighting the core theme: the difficulty and eventual reward of cross-species communication. Vera’s resourcefulness—evident when she steals water or navigates unknown flora—is balanced by Chamai’s watchful pragmatism, who catalogues dangers without intervening, lest he frighten her further.
While the absence of a translator device adds realism and heightens the stakes of their cultural exchange, it also becomes a narrative bottleneck. The prolonged communication barrier slightly undercuts the emotional progression and delays deeper character interplay. That said, this slow burn allows for an earned intimacy once mutual understanding begins to blossom.
You would think that in a futuristic society like the one Vera lives, there would be translator devices, since she understood a grey alien that told her to go on the trip to find her destiny and she did, it seems like she probably would have one. Also, you would think that the translator devices would have some sort of linguistic AI that was able to learn new languages as well, so even though Chamai’s language is unknown in the galaxy, the AI could fairly easily learn it and translate so at least Vera could understand him and teach him English much easier.
Themes
Beyond survival, the story meditates on agency, trust, and the unfamiliarity of connection. Vera’s arc—from subdued compliance in a dysfunctional marriage to self-directed survivalist—feels earned. Her emotional growth contrasts with her earlier persona, reframing her not as a doormat, but as someone underestimated by others and by herself.
Narration
The audiobook features dual narration by Gabriel de Leon and Reagan West, whose performances enhance the listening experience. De Leon’s deep, resonant voice lends authenticity to Chamai’s stoic demeanor, while West’s expressive narration captures Vera’s vulnerability and resilience. Their vocal synergy effectively mirrors the emotional distance and eventual closeness between the characters.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜❤️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😟🙁🤓😍🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
Heroine – Vera
Vera begins as a seemingly passive figure: a nail artist from the impoverished side of the city and a product the system after her parents were both killed in the Menops invasion. Her decision to marry a wealthy suitor—despite numerous red flags—initially reinforces her vulnerability and lack of agency. However, this passivity is subverted as the narrative progresses. Her ill-fated honeymoon, marked by her husband’s frugality and emotional detachment, becomes the catalyst for a transformation that reveals her grit and independence.
Hero – Chamai
Chamai is exiled from a primitive tribal society for protecting his sister from a predatory chief. His isolation in a jungle world serves not only as a literal survival space but also as a symbol of emotional exile and introspection. Interestingly, while Chamai is culturally coded as “barbarian,” the care and detail he invests in building a treetop sanctuary challenge reductive stereotypes of uncivilized masculinity. His misinterpretation of Vera’s appearance is both humorous and poignant—a literal alien perspective that underscores their communication gap and sets the tone for their cross-cultural dynamic.
Plot & World-Building
The story pivots from domestic disillusionment to a classic survival romance when Vera, in a moment of impulsive flight, launches herself into a forbidden alien jungle. The plot structure mirrors a rebirth arc: her escape pod functions almost like a womb, ejecting her into an ecosystem that demands self-reliance and adaptability.
The narrative excels when exploring the misunderstandings between Vera and Chamai. His belief that the pod is a carnivorous creature and that Vera’s orange jumpsuit is sagging skin infuses the early interactions with levity while highlighting the core theme: the difficulty and eventual reward of cross-species communication. Vera’s resourcefulness—evident when she steals water or navigates unknown flora—is balanced by Chamai’s watchful pragmatism, who catalogues dangers without intervening, lest he frighten her further.
While the absence of a translator device adds realism and heightens the stakes of their cultural exchange, it also becomes a narrative bottleneck. The prolonged communication barrier slightly undercuts the emotional progression and delays deeper character interplay. That said, this slow burn allows for an earned intimacy once mutual understanding begins to blossom.
You would think that in a futuristic society like the one Vera lives, there would be translator devices, since she understood a grey alien that told her to go on the trip to find her destiny and she did, it seems like she probably would have one. Also, you would think that the translator devices would have some sort of linguistic AI that was able to learn new languages as well, so even though Chamai’s language is unknown in the galaxy, the AI could fairly easily learn it and translate so at least Vera could understand him and teach him English much easier.
Themes
Beyond survival, the story meditates on agency, trust, and the unfamiliarity of connection. Vera’s arc—from subdued compliance in a dysfunctional marriage to self-directed survivalist—feels earned. Her emotional growth contrasts with her earlier persona, reframing her not as a doormat, but as someone underestimated by others and by herself.
Narration
The audiobook features dual narration by Gabriel de Leon and Reagan West, whose performances enhance the listening experience. De Leon’s deep, resonant voice lends authenticity to Chamai’s stoic demeanor, while West’s expressive narration captures Vera’s vulnerability and resilience. Their vocal synergy effectively mirrors the emotional distance and eventual closeness between the characters.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
March 20, 2023
Much softer than the author’s usual books
I enjoyed this installment in the Iriduan universe. The couple were sweet with each other and faced challenges one would expect on a primitive world.
I thought the jump to sexy times was a bit fast, but perhaps not too unusual given the strain both MCs had been under.
Spice: 5/5
Triggers: emotional abuse, cheating (not MC), survival challenges
I enjoyed this installment in the Iriduan universe. The couple were sweet with each other and faced challenges one would expect on a primitive world.
I thought the jump to sexy times was a bit fast, but perhaps not too unusual given the strain both MCs had been under.
Spice: 5/5
Triggers: emotional abuse, cheating (not MC), survival challenges
June 21, 2023
(review after emoji synopsis)
🚀🌌🦹🏻♂️💔👰🏼♀️➡️🛸💥🪐🏞️👩🏼🚀👣😪🦎🏕️🍖🥤🛍️💁🏼♀️👣🛸👹🤺😱
💃🏼🏞️🌊🏊🏼♀️🆘⤵️😱💪🦸♂️🦎➡️🌳🏕️
🦸♂️🎁🍆🍆😲✌️🙆♀️👩❤️💋👨🍆🦋🍆🍑🥵
🪵 🔥👚💇🏼♀️😤😭🗯️🤷♂️💬🤷🏼♀️🥵🍆🦶🏻👅🦋👩❤️💋👨
Overall I really enjoyed this, but it was a mixed bag. Since the parts that annoyed me are sorta idiosyncratic, and not really about the writing quality, I'm rounding up.
♥ Khamai, the MMC. Exiled while protecting his sister, he's lonely and touch-starved. He rescues the FMC and thinks she might be a goddess (this is one of my favorite microtropes ngl). He's considerate, takes care of her, and basically never does anything wrong. I love how he always has to keep his tail wrapped around her! He and his POV are great!
♥ Their differences cause funny misunderstandings - eg when Vera takes her clothes off, he thinks she's shedding. Lots of cute moments like that.
♥ Almost no push-pull. Both of them were all-in fairly early on. 🥰
♥ No (spoiler)
♥ Creative anatomy and 🥵 scenes. Like the emojis show, he's got two "prods" and a tail, and knows how to use them. Some breeding kink and also the rarely-seen foot play.
⛒ The "Snarky" AI 🙄
⛒ On her honeymoon, Vera catches her hub snogging some rando, then runs away and crashes on Khamai's planet. Within 2 days they're dancing the naked Lambada. I love insta, but I'm not a big fan of insta-rebound, partly because...
⛒ FMC spends so much time thinking about her ex and comparing him to MMC. Even during sex, which is a big N🛇 for me.
⛒ There's a dramatic hair-cutting scene that is supposed to be empowering but I found it troubling. (YMMV!)
⚠ spoilers after this point
⛒ The author gives clues this is a
±3.5 ⭐ rounding up to 4 ⭐.
🚀🌌🦹🏻♂️💔👰🏼♀️➡️🛸💥🪐🏞️👩🏼🚀👣😪🦎🏕️🍖🥤🛍️💁🏼♀️👣🛸👹🤺😱
💃🏼🏞️🌊🏊🏼♀️🆘⤵️😱💪🦸♂️🦎➡️🌳🏕️
🦸♂️🎁🍆🍆😲✌️🙆♀️👩❤️💋👨🍆🦋🍆🍑🥵
🪵 🔥👚💇🏼♀️😤😭🗯️🤷♂️💬🤷🏼♀️🥵🍆🦶🏻👅🦋👩❤️💋👨
Overall I really enjoyed this, but it was a mixed bag. Since the parts that annoyed me are sorta idiosyncratic, and not really about the writing quality, I'm rounding up.
♥ Khamai, the MMC. Exiled while protecting his sister, he's lonely and touch-starved. He rescues the FMC and thinks she might be a goddess (this is one of my favorite microtropes ngl). He's considerate, takes care of her, and basically never does anything wrong. I love how he always has to keep his tail wrapped around her! He and his POV are great!
♥ Their differences cause funny misunderstandings - eg when Vera takes her clothes off, he thinks she's shedding. Lots of cute moments like that.
♥ Almost no push-pull. Both of them were all-in fairly early on. 🥰
♥ No (spoiler)
♥ Creative anatomy and 🥵 scenes. Like the emojis show, he's got two "prods" and a tail, and knows how to use them. Some breeding kink and also the rarely-seen foot play.
⛒ The "Snarky" AI 🙄
⛒ On her honeymoon, Vera catches her hub snogging some rando, then runs away and crashes on Khamai's planet. Within 2 days they're dancing the naked Lambada. I love insta, but I'm not a big fan of insta-rebound, partly because...
⛒ FMC spends so much time thinking about her ex and comparing him to MMC. Even during sex, which is a big N🛇 for me.
⛒ There's a dramatic hair-cutting scene that is supposed to be empowering but I found it troubling. (YMMV!)
⚠ spoilers after this point
⛒ The author gives clues this is a
±3.5 ⭐ rounding up to 4 ⭐.
September 8, 2023
This story and these characters are not to my taste but I will read more in the universe. I gleaned enough bits about the world to intrigue me.
April 12, 2023
Finished (barely)
TLDR: not worth it, will never read again, would never recommend (I don't get why the ratings/reviews are so positive, both here and on Amazon)
Vera: annoying, too stupid to live, whiny, special snowflake
H: simple, one dimensional
Insta-lust, insta-love, language barrier, culture barrier
World: super interesting, but never taken advantage of. Author put in just enough to keep the world engaging but not nearly enough to offset the godawful cast.
Smut: cringe; if I have to read about Happy and Slappy during what is supposedly a steamy scene, it's about as effective as a cold worm.
Plot: not much actually happens?
Angst/heavy themes: felt disingenuous, shallow; the foil comparison between the two males was there, but in a tell don't show manner; no detail or internal struggle or revelation deeper than a teaspoon.
TLDR: not worth it, will never read again, would never recommend (I don't get why the ratings/reviews are so positive, both here and on Amazon)
Vera: annoying, too stupid to live, whiny, special snowflake
H: simple, one dimensional
Insta-lust, insta-love, language barrier, culture barrier
World: super interesting, but never taken advantage of. Author put in just enough to keep the world engaging but not nearly enough to offset the godawful cast.
Smut: cringe; if I have to read about Happy and Slappy during what is supposedly a steamy scene, it's about as effective as a cold worm.
Plot: not much actually happens?
Angst/heavy themes: felt disingenuous, shallow; the foil comparison between the two males was there, but in a tell don't show manner; no detail or internal struggle or revelation deeper than a teaspoon.
September 21, 2022
Things might be rough back on earth (an alien invasion will do that, you know), but sometimes good things can come out of bad situations. For example, Vera is on the literal worst honeymoon in the known universe, but she ends up stranded with a hunky chameleon-like alien who REALLY likes a lot of things about her. Which is way more than her d-bag husband does. Hunky alien is a good thing. So good.
Sure, sure, Vera and Khamai have some communication issues to work through. Literal communication issues, mind you, since they don't speak each others' languages. So, yeah, that makes things a tiny bit tough, BUT...they both excel at the body language thing. Maybe excel is overstating things a bit. Let's just say they both let their body do the talking and it works out just fiiiiiine for them. And, yeah, they have a few communication stumbles, but in the best sort of way.
Sexy, protective aliens who are really into their human lady friends are my thing. And these two? They hit the spot. In fact, Khamai hit the spot a couple of times whenever they're together, if you know what I mean. *exaggerated wink*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Sure, sure, Vera and Khamai have some communication issues to work through. Literal communication issues, mind you, since they don't speak each others' languages. So, yeah, that makes things a tiny bit tough, BUT...they both excel at the body language thing. Maybe excel is overstating things a bit. Let's just say they both let their body do the talking and it works out just fiiiiiine for them. And, yeah, they have a few communication stumbles, but in the best sort of way.
Sexy, protective aliens who are really into their human lady friends are my thing. And these two? They hit the spot. In fact, Khamai hit the spot a couple of times whenever they're together, if you know what I mean. *exaggerated wink*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
October 19, 2025
DNF @54%
So I didn’t think there was such a thing as too alien but I discovered that lizard men are just not for me. I expected lizard features or traits but this felt too much lizardness for me which kinda got to me when the steam hit and I just couldn’t get past it. The world building, meet cute and plot outline was all on point so I believe that many monster romance lovers could enjoy the book. The language barrier is big in this book and the heroine is a little bit insufferable so expect Insta-lust. Fave quote:
“I will save you oh lumpy one”
So I didn’t think there was such a thing as too alien but I discovered that lizard men are just not for me. I expected lizard features or traits but this felt too much lizardness for me which kinda got to me when the steam hit and I just couldn’t get past it. The world building, meet cute and plot outline was all on point so I believe that many monster romance lovers could enjoy the book. The language barrier is big in this book and the heroine is a little bit insufferable so expect Insta-lust. Fave quote:
“I will save you oh lumpy one”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2022
This was pure fun! Cute, sweet, humorous, and creatively sexy.
September 26, 2025
I’m tired of reading these freak ass books lmao
July 8, 2025
First I have to say... that cover does NOT do this story justice. It looks like a human model wearing an alien face mask that a child made. It is awful and almost had me overlooking this whole book.
As for what I thought about this story..
Vera was NOT a likeable person. I did like the way she pretty much accepted her new reality without whining a lot or pining for what was. Her COMPLETE mental obsession with Nathan was annoying, repetitive, and almost had me DNFing this. Yes he was her husband, but he was trash and she KNEW that. Why is everything Nathan would never, Nathan said, Nathan blah blah BLAHHHH! Boring.
-Having no shared language until the last 10-15% was lame.
-why did they stay in his temporary camp for MONTHS when his plan was to take her home after a few days.
-there weren't any surprises which made the story drag a bit.. no dangerous animal or fauna attacks, no issues with the other natives, no pregnancy or birthing drama
-the blurb gave away the whole husband reunion "twist" so even that was boring
-there wasn't a look into the village or villagers, no culture now that we can speak to each other
In short it was an easy read, but not a great one. I didn't enjoy this enough to continue the series.
As for what I thought about this story..
Vera was NOT a likeable person. I did like the way she pretty much accepted her new reality without whining a lot or pining for what was. Her COMPLETE mental obsession with Nathan was annoying, repetitive, and almost had me DNFing this. Yes he was her husband, but he was trash and she KNEW that. Why is everything Nathan would never, Nathan said, Nathan blah blah BLAHHHH! Boring.
-Having no shared language until the last 10-15% was lame.
-why did they stay in his temporary camp for MONTHS when his plan was to take her home after a few days.
-there weren't any surprises which made the story drag a bit.. no dangerous animal or fauna attacks, no issues with the other natives, no pregnancy or birthing drama
-the blurb gave away the whole husband reunion "twist" so even that was boring
-there wasn't a look into the village or villagers, no culture now that we can speak to each other
In short it was an easy read, but not a great one. I didn't enjoy this enough to continue the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2023
CUTE, INSTA-LOVE AND SMUTTY. I'll keep it short, this wasn't the usual run of the mill Susan Trombley story...at least not for me because it didn't have the same intrigue, mystery and plot like the first Iriduan Book. Scorpion's mate will hands down be my favourite of all times.
This was a DNF because it was PREDICTABLE and I guess I wanted more depth to the story.
I don't have much of a problem as some other readers have, especially with the language barrier. I love those because it makes the characters work harder to understand each other, and trust better to earn. This story while not epic, is a great pick up if you don't have time to delve into complex world building and just in the mood for lovey dovey alien stuff.
This was a DNF because it was PREDICTABLE and I guess I wanted more depth to the story.
I don't have much of a problem as some other readers have, especially with the language barrier. I love those because it makes the characters work harder to understand each other, and trust better to earn. This story while not epic, is a great pick up if you don't have time to delve into complex world building and just in the mood for lovey dovey alien stuff.
December 26, 2024
Amazing new series
I loooove this book! Vera and Khamai are so sweet, so in-tune, that they fall for each other despite not speaking each others langage. This story is sweet and hot at the same time, and I can't wait to read more from this series!!!
I loooove this book! Vera and Khamai are so sweet, so in-tune, that they fall for each other despite not speaking each others langage. This story is sweet and hot at the same time, and I can't wait to read more from this series!!!
August 3, 2022
Quick, nice romance
Enjoyed this alien romance set in Trombley's Iriduan Test Subjects world.
I think she's done some great world building in her other books, and as a result I slid right into the setting here.
This is a short, sweet read. My only complaints are the insta-lust/love and just how pathetic the heroine comes off in the beginning. While I understand why she's like that, it is tough to read. As for the insta-L, well, also not surprising considering the length of the book. Although I argue that the first sex scene happened way too early. I'd definitely have some questions about compatibility, pregnancy, etc. I'd at least do some non-penetrative stuff first. It's like the romance equivalent of when, in scifi, they take off their helmets before checking if the atmosphere is breathable. But, it isn't a deal breaker, just like "oh OK, go for it girl, YOLO I guess."
The hero is sweet, kind, no alpha jerk. The heroine finally grows and comes into her own. I kinda wish their scenes after they learn to communicate were longer, that part seemed a bit rushed, but that may be just greedy of me.
The ending was interesting and leaves lots of juicy hints for a series. I will definitely read future installments!
Enjoyed this alien romance set in Trombley's Iriduan Test Subjects world.
I think she's done some great world building in her other books, and as a result I slid right into the setting here.
This is a short, sweet read. My only complaints are the insta-lust/love and just how pathetic the heroine comes off in the beginning. While I understand why she's like that, it is tough to read. As for the insta-L, well, also not surprising considering the length of the book. Although I argue that the first sex scene happened way too early. I'd definitely have some questions about compatibility, pregnancy, etc. I'd at least do some non-penetrative stuff first. It's like the romance equivalent of when, in scifi, they take off their helmets before checking if the atmosphere is breathable. But, it isn't a deal breaker, just like "oh OK, go for it girl, YOLO I guess."
The hero is sweet, kind, no alpha jerk. The heroine finally grows and comes into her own. I kinda wish their scenes after they learn to communicate were longer, that part seemed a bit rushed, but that may be just greedy of me.
The ending was interesting and leaves lots of juicy hints for a series. I will definitely read future installments!
December 27, 2022
Overall, a good little story! A little bit different, which is exactly what I was hoping for.
I enjoyed that they have no translator for easy communication for like 80% of the book (and about 2ish months of Vera's time on the planet) which is one of the big reasons I wanted to read this. I was curious how they would manage and it's definitely interesting and not without its issues but the fact that they DO manage is great.
I loved the plot overall, felt like the characters were decent, and the ending was a solid happy ending for everyone who deserved one. Very intrigued by Cupid and what's to come in the rest of the series.
For whatever reason, it took me awhile to get through this book. It was like, while I was reading, I would happily read away but once I put it down, it wasn't really garnering my interest enough to pick it back up over another book. It IS a light read and not very long so not sure what my deal was.
Trigger warning that there is a moment of dubious consent that quickly turns into strong consent and hot lizard guy is apparently really into feet lol
I enjoyed that they have no translator for easy communication for like 80% of the book (and about 2ish months of Vera's time on the planet) which is one of the big reasons I wanted to read this. I was curious how they would manage and it's definitely interesting and not without its issues but the fact that they DO manage is great.
I loved the plot overall, felt like the characters were decent, and the ending was a solid happy ending for everyone who deserved one. Very intrigued by Cupid and what's to come in the rest of the series.
For whatever reason, it took me awhile to get through this book. It was like, while I was reading, I would happily read away but once I put it down, it wasn't really garnering my interest enough to pick it back up over another book. It IS a light read and not very long so not sure what my deal was.
Trigger warning that there is a moment of dubious consent that quickly turns into strong consent and hot lizard guy is apparently really into feet lol
October 19, 2025
Vera crash lands on an alien planet after an argument with her cheating newlywed husband and is rescued by a chameleon alien (yes he uses his giant sucker tongue to eat insects).
Surprisingly cute for a story where they couldn’t understand each other for literally 80%+ of the book. I can see why people got annoyed at the FMC but I personally liked her.
🦎 Insta lust / insta attraction. Well, kind of. After he overcame his repulsion for her bulging globes of bouncy flesh
🦎 Language barrier. To the point where it’s most of the book.
🦎 He changes colours for her
Overall I enjoyed it and thought it was more lighthearted than some of the other books in the universe.
Surprisingly cute for a story where they couldn’t understand each other for literally 80%+ of the book. I can see why people got annoyed at the FMC but I personally liked her.
🦎 Insta lust / insta attraction. Well, kind of. After he overcame his repulsion for her bulging globes of bouncy flesh
🦎 Language barrier. To the point where it’s most of the book.
🦎 He changes colours for her
Overall I enjoyed it and thought it was more lighthearted than some of the other books in the universe.
August 9, 2022
A good start for Romance
I am a fan of this author and her world building. The couple is so cute Vera and Khamai. Vera is a human female that is on her honeymoon but with a cheater. She accidentally ejected the escape pod to a planet dense with forest. Khamai finds Vera and immediately wants to help her stay safe. My only issue was the language barrier went on for too long. I probably would have stopped if this book wasn’t by one of my favorite authors. I continued to read and finally Cupid came to my Rescue too. Read On to find out!
I am a fan of this author and her world building. The couple is so cute Vera and Khamai. Vera is a human female that is on her honeymoon but with a cheater. She accidentally ejected the escape pod to a planet dense with forest. Khamai finds Vera and immediately wants to help her stay safe. My only issue was the language barrier went on for too long. I probably would have stopped if this book wasn’t by one of my favorite authors. I continued to read and finally Cupid came to my Rescue too. Read On to find out!
August 19, 2022
I enjoyed the book. It's a "stuck in the woods with a hot alien" story and it was a fun read. They can't understand each other's language for most of the book so that language barrier caused all kinds of giggles.
Hero has two genitals.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
He and heroine have a son at the end of the book.
Hero has two genitals.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
He and heroine have a son at the end of the book.
December 31, 2022
The last part of the epilogue made this be 4 stars. Super cute and interesting plot concept that hasn’t been done before. (Not language barrier alien lol, but what leads to it) this was cute but okay for most of the story.
It’s like a silly/cutesy/cringy version of ensnared by Tiffany roberts.
It’s like a silly/cutesy/cringy version of ensnared by Tiffany roberts.
August 8, 2023
Sweet storyline
Very much enjoyed this story. Will view my pet chameleon a little differently from now. Not sure about the tongue thing having seen him eating but the sweet story was worth overlooking it.
Very much enjoyed this story. Will view my pet chameleon a little differently from now. Not sure about the tongue thing having seen him eating but the sweet story was worth overlooking it.
August 8, 2022
A crazy good sci-fi romance with a beautiful and satisfying HEA for two people who were betrayed and desperately seeking love and acceptance.
August 10, 2022
A very delightful sci-fi romance.
May 19, 2023
stopped at 88% because it went off the deep end
This book had me but at 88% it took a sharp left that actually ruined everything for me. So no thank you to any of that.
This book had me but at 88% it took a sharp left that actually ruined everything for me. So no thank you to any of that.
September 14, 2025
A respectable 3.5! Precisely what it claims to be, for my purposes could’ve been 80 pages shorter with less plot lmfao but there were some cackling moments
August 3, 2022
Made me realize how good a writer this author is.
I love this author. But this story made me realize how excellent her writing skills are, because I absolutely hated the heroine in this story. I caught myself five or six times commenting on how the heroine was too stupid to live.
But she did get better, she grew as a person through the story. Not by magic but by work, learning to survive. And by the end, I didn’t hate her anymore.
It made me realize and think about how I would act, that young, in that situation, from that background.
So not what I usually take away from HEAs but worthwhile in the end.
I love this author. But this story made me realize how excellent her writing skills are, because I absolutely hated the heroine in this story. I caught myself five or six times commenting on how the heroine was too stupid to live.
But she did get better, she grew as a person through the story. Not by magic but by work, learning to survive. And by the end, I didn’t hate her anymore.
It made me realize and think about how I would act, that young, in that situation, from that background.
So not what I usually take away from HEAs but worthwhile in the end.
July 1, 2023
Different in the sense that they really were from two different worlds and didn’t get “conveniently” translated until the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews