Arrogant Alien

by Jove Chambers

He’s an alien turncoat
Ever since I joined the resistance, my life has meaning. I’ll sacrifice everything to further the cause.

Not just because I get a charge out of sticking it to my abusive father, but because I believe it’s the right thing to do. Toth totalitarianism has to end, and I’ll do anything it takes to make that happen.

Going undercover with a scantily-clad human at my side posing as my sex slave?

I mean… I’ve had worse assignments.

She’s a human spy
I seduce men for secrets. It’s my job.

This mission is just like any other. I’m posing as a leashed-and-collared Toth plaything, but it’s just an act.

Diirk Rorrn may hold my leash, but I don’t really answer to him. Actually, I hate him. Near as I can tell, all lip-service to the contrary, he’s still the same entitled and rich jerk he’s always been, no matter how loudly he pledges himself to the cause.

Lots of men have done all manner of things to this body.

I’ve never caught feelings.

I sure as deep space am not catching them for him.

Forced proximity, forced intimacy, sex is my job, and all the best spy tropes, including lipstick weapons.

P.S. You voted, and this book gives the results. Did readers want Caspe and Sienne to have a baby? What do you think?

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2023

About the author

Jove Chambers is the dark romance pen name for USA Today Bestselling author V.J. Chambers.

Under the name V.J. Chambers she writes mysteries, thrillers and horror.

Under the pen name Val St. Crowe she writes sci-fi and fantasy.

She lives outside Shepherdstown, WV with her husband, son, and their kitty cat.

Reviews

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dominikke, the human female lead, is an active member of the resistance, regularly taking on roles which involve sex to facilitate outcomes for the group. When another member is unable to complete a role, she steps in, even though it means working with Diirk, the male alien lead, who is actually a member of the noble class of oppressors but is theoretically also a resistance member - Dominikke doesn’t trust him. Diirk joined the resistance because he knows the way he was raised is wrong but he isn’t pleased to be working with Dominikke. Especially when he remembers that one of the reasons he only does one off encounters is because he tends to get emotionally attached. And Dominikke doesn’t…but he’d like her to. All whilst they’re pretending to be master and sex slave…

This story is dual POV, well written, and a great addition to the world the author has created. Trigger warnings are accurate and I genuinely empathised with both characters. I enjoyed Dirk’s hidden marshmallow feelings. I enjoyed Dominikke’s cultivated hardness. I enjoyed the overarching plot and the highly erotic interludes between the characters. I also really appreciated the careful negotiation of the final outcome.

I also adored the addendum connected with characters primarily from Tempted by Tentacles. It was highly erotic and great fun, if you’re interested in baby making interludes. Otherwise, feel free to skip - it’s certainly not core to the plot.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[kymagirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dominikke (h) works for the resistance, using her body to get close to her marks as she does whatever she has to to complete her missions. Dirrk (H), son of a wealthy and powerful Toth, also works for the resistance secretly fighting against his people’s regime. Dirrk and Dominikke end up on a mission together to a Toth sex club event where they need to blend in by portraying themselves in a D/s relationship. Initially the two don’t get along well together, but Dirrk will come to realize that he shares a past with Dominikke that affected the trajectory of both of their lives. Lots of ultra-hot and steamy action along with adventure and intrigue as they try to take down their targets. I struggled with Dominikke’s continued resistance role, even after she and Dirk professed feelings for on another – I get that was what she was trained for, but it was just hard for me to accept that if she cared for him that she wouldn’t find another responsibility which had been suggested to her even before she undertook her mission with Dirrk. I wanted Dirrk to be honest with Dominikke about his feelings for her role in the resistance and found it hard to take that they could be so accepting – yes, it’s her body, but it’s their love and I guess I just want my MCs to be the only ones for one another once they’ve come together. I enjoyed the Caspe and Sienne piece at the end, though it seems kind of like why is this here and not just a bonus scene for their own story.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have seen a bit of Diirk before in other books, though I don't think it's really necessary to have read others first. I could never figure out if I liked him or hated him so it was nice to get a chance to see more of his personality. And I thought it was really well written.

Diirk is a bit of a mess and all his history and the family junk and being Toth it's a lot. It still took me a bit to decide how I felt about him. Dominikke has been through a lot. And her work for the resistance is something a lot of women might shy away from. Together these two have such a crazy path. This author does not shy away from hard topics and even the HEA isn't always traditional. I like that the book felt like it had a bit of a dramatic climax and you thought there was the HEA (as unusual as it might be). But then it came back with a final chapter that really softened everything out and some of the things that the MCs had been sure about seem more up in the air, but their commitment is solid.

There is also a final little biscuit for lovers of Caspe and Sienne. It's sweet, though somehow they felt a bit stilted. I think maybe just the change from Diirk and Dominikke messed with my brain though.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Messed-Up Individuals

Dominikke and Diirk work for the resistance as undercover agents, but she hates him and he thinks she’s an ice queen. Plus, the mission they’re on is all sorts of messed up, so when they’re forced to rely on each other, airs get cleared and tensions turn to feelings. I enjoyed their story, as messed up as they were and as convoluted as the story became. There’s a lot of sticky and difficult feelings to be dealt with here, but Dominikke and Diirke find the most fallible way through. A thought provoking read.

[DemetraP · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hero is the adopted brother of the hero from book 3.

I liked how the hero did anything to make her happy once they fell in love.

There is a short story about 10 pages long with a "let's make a baby" story from the hero and heroine from book 3 (hero's adopted brother).

[Kirstine Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute enemies to lovers within a RESISTANCE. In SPACE. I actually liked it a lot, both the push and pull between Diirk and Dominikke, and how exciting and scary their missions were.