Shay Leviticus loves blowing shit up; hence her job as a Retreat Mining Engineer for InterGalactic Mining Conglomerate. She also has a little side job that's hush-hush, but it's not supposed to initiate for a couple revolutions. Plenty of time to enjoy some well-deserved R&R on the fleet ship. Except the last shuttle off-planet is shot down ... while she's on it. And Mining Planet 13 is scheduled to operate at limited life-support while it enters its winter season when the entire planetoid will freeze solid under sheets of ice; it's no place for a human. Stranded and under seige by unknown enemies, Shay's side project is in jeopardy, not to mention her life. She's ready to fight for everything by herself, but an unexpected ally arrives just in time to need rescuing. Shay's up for the task, but her ally isn't exactly grateful. It turns out the Svai alien race takes life-saving pretty seriously, and now Drail is Shay's reluctant debt-mate. She takes her new role in stride because honestly, she could use this hunky reptilian male's help even if the conditions seem awfully strict. How bad could it be? There's plenty of danger to go around; Drail can just save her life, too, and then they'll be even. Life for a life, right? Certainly no need for all this mate talk. And MP-13 isn't exactly the place to find love, either. So it's not like her rock-hard heart is in peril of falling for the grumpy alien. Just because he follows her orders. Respects her wishes. Listens to her ideas. Compliments her intelligence. And is sexy as hell. Nope, no peril at all. It's fine. Everything's fine.
Shay Leviticus is the lead Retreat Mining Engineer for IGMC (InterGalactic Mining Conglomerate) on the resource-rich planetoid of MP-13. She shuts down operations for MP-13’s brutal winter and is the last to evacuate when her shuttle is suddenly shot down by unknown hostiles! Shay is not exactly helpless. She’s a demolitions expert and MP-13 is her home turf. But then, help arrives in the form of an extremely tall and fit alien who battles her attackers and in turn requires her assistance as well.
Drail is basically law enforcement for the Dam Svai, the alien race which guards and maintains the peace in this sector of the galaxy. When known space pirates attack a seemingly less advanced outpost during his patrols, it is his duty to provide aid and maintain order. He didn’t expect to be saved by the pretty little soft alien that he came to rescue. His people have an unbreakable Code of Debt that must be fulfilled. He must remain at Shay’s side as her debt-mate until his debt is paid.
This fabulous novella is an adventurous and smart sci-fi romance that is perfect for fans of Vicky Holt’s Predator Planet series, even though Mining Planet takes place in a different part of the galaxy. It’s also a perfect FREE sample for readers who need an introduction. I love the intelligence and research that Vicky invests into her writing. Her heroines are all role models in STEM who are self-sufficient and don’t require rescuing. But they can recognize a hot opportunity *ahem* - I mean, a valued ally - when they see one.
The writing is superb as usual. Even though it is a novella, I felt that I was getting a full story. My desire for more from Shay and Drail only stems from my love of these characters. I could easily read another book featuring this humourous and dedicated power couple!
Shay is the bomb. Literally. She knows her explosives. Brought as part of a mining team to this otherwise barren planet, she also is the creator of something new and powerful. Something someone else wants. Just as she's getting ready to leave the planet for the winter break her evacuation pod is shot down. Now aliens are here hunting her, 2 different kinds. One seems intent in killing her, the other she hopes is a rescue. But her rescue of him takes her entire life in a new direction.
Spoilers ahead. I love Holt's Predator Planet series. This is every bit as good. Shay is strong, smart and adaptable. Drail is brash, fierce and unexpectedly sweet under his superiority complex. This branch of humans has better translation devices so communication facilitates much faster. And as this is shorter events line up and fall in place much faster, too. I'd like to see it expanded on but even as a short story it's pretty good. No mysticism like the other series, just science and new contacts.
This is a fun story. Two beings trapped together in hazardous conditions find their commonalities. A pioneering technology is protected from pirates. The characters are well written and the plot twists lead you through to the end.
I’ve had so many freebies in this genre and despite the author, didn’t really expect much out of the ordinary.
However, I knew from the start it was going to be more. This wasn’t the usual alien hunk with a big peen story. Oh, there was sex, but that was just a bonus. The story itself was clever, tense, full of bad guys and hopeless situations, and I found I had to plow straight through it to the end… at which point I was bummed because it was over. Definitely a series to follow!
Shay Leviticus is a female miner. She is the final person left on a mined asteroid being shut down for the coming winter season. Her shuttle is shot down and the asteroid is invaded by aliens and protected by another species of alien. Shay's own boss is a traitor and is trying to sell off a secret planet propulsion system This turns into a love story betwnn Shay and the protector alien
The worldbuilding is great, the story is thrilling, and the romance is believable. There is some graphic violence. Shay and Drail are an interesting couple, and I really liked Drail's respect for Shay. The story is much more adventure than romance, although there is some graphic sex. Daphne is a great addition to the story. I'll enjoy rereading Stranded.
It was good, some action, some mystery, some romance... and short. The only thing is that they keep using words for measurement units (time, distance, I think) that never get defined. And the humans respond to the aliens using them as if they already know them, so they're never explained and some stuff is confusing because of that.
This is an awesome read! This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I was hooked from the start. It’s got excellent characters and storyline with incredible world building and detail. I highly recommend reading this book, it certainly won’t be the only book I read by this author.
This is a quick enjoyable reading book. The characters are well written and the storyline is filled with action and intrigue. I can't wait to read more from this author. I received this book as a Free copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.
3.5 stars That was much better than I was expecting. It had a proper story, with a plot, a smart & competent heroine, betrayal and plotting bad guys to go along with alien sexy time. And I adored the not quite independent (yet) AI Daphne.
The h is one not to be trifled with! She can literally take you down at your own game and come up smelling like a rose. I like how the H doesn't feel the need to "show his dominance" and let's her do what she does and likes her just how she is. It may be short but it's a good sci-fi read.
STRANDED ON A MINING PLANET prequel to the Predator, Space Opera series by Vicky Holt.
MY RATING GUIDE: 3.5-4 Stars (I rounded up). This was a fun, light-hearted Space Opera Adventure with a pleasing amount of technical content. 1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I ENJOYED THIS; 4= I LIKE THIS A LOT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
STRANDED ON A MINING PLANET begins with FMC Space Mining Engineer Shay Leviticus in the deep underground levels of an off-world mining operation beginning shut-down procedures. The last of her staff has just jettisoned from the desolate planet to return to base for the duration of the planet’s approaching deadly winter. Shay should be the last person to leave. But once the computer begins the count-down, disaster suddenly strikes and it looks like Shay may not leave the planet alive after all. Being caught alone on a lifeless planet with temperatures dropping by the minute would be bad enough but it appears someone, friend or foe, isn’t willing to wait. They want Shay dead now.
Comments ~ 1) SOAMP can be read as a Standalone story. I believe this is the prequel to the author’s Predator Planet series. The ending is satisfying and includes no cliffhangers. 2) This was a new author for me. SOAMP has a surprising amount of story and world building. I love Space Opera novels (Original Star Trek fan) yet many are merely bare settings for vast sexcapades (which is fine occasionally but I do enjoy a good story). So, yay! for a pleasant surprise. 3) Dual POV occurs in SOAMP - both from Drail, the alien warrior-rescuer, and also from human space mining engineer/scientist Shay Leviticus’s perspectives. I appreciated hearing both sides and enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek humor. 4) I found SOAMP a fun and entertaining read and feel the audio might be worth checking into (if there is one). Rather a refreshing change, SOMP has content and considerably less sex than most books in this genre. I will probably look for other books in this series, as well. 5) The cover art is fairly accurate except for Drail’s face. It is described differently in the book.
Quote ~ > “Shaking my head, I frowned to consider once more the astronomical odds that a weak-boned, thin-skinned, flat-toothed, clawless being dependent on frequent waterings had had the strength and wherewithal to save my life twice.” > Drail, the alien.
READER CAUTION ~ PROFANITY - Minimal, if any (I don’t recall any). SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. One intimacy scene between the FMC/human and the MMC/alien humanoid occurs (which may be offensive to readers of pure Clean fiction). VIOLENCE - PG. Not dark or graphic.