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Must Be Aliens! #1
Cyborgs Save Christmas
With time running out, can Tobias and Malik find a way to be together forever or are they destined for a lonely Christmas?
Tobias Prince was only in the park to help set for the town’s Winter holiday decorations. He didn’t mean to hide away in cedar hedges. He certainly didn’t expect to run into an alien cyborg.
But when Malik the cyborg followed him home, he accepted it. What else does one do when an alien follows them?
Malik Io’s only hope for returning to the stars is to find a resident of the planet and pray they’re willing to help. When he meets Tobias, he’s struck by the young man’s bravado and innate kindness. He wants to be a part of Tobias’s life and he hopes that he can do the same for Tobias.
With Christmas baking, Light Up nights and parades, Malik and Tobias slowly fall in love during the holiday season, even though they both know their time together is limited.
Can they find a way to be together or will this be one last holiday fling?
Tobias Prince was only in the park to help set for the town’s Winter holiday decorations. He didn’t mean to hide away in cedar hedges. He certainly didn’t expect to run into an alien cyborg.
But when Malik the cyborg followed him home, he accepted it. What else does one do when an alien follows them?
Malik Io’s only hope for returning to the stars is to find a resident of the planet and pray they’re willing to help. When he meets Tobias, he’s struck by the young man’s bravado and innate kindness. He wants to be a part of Tobias’s life and he hopes that he can do the same for Tobias.
With Christmas baking, Light Up nights and parades, Malik and Tobias slowly fall in love during the holiday season, even though they both know their time together is limited.
Can they find a way to be together or will this be one last holiday fling?
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2023
About the author
Toshi Drake
19 books41 followersA Canadian author exploring the world of books, Toshi Drake has been dabbling with the idea of writing since they were a young child. An avid fan of all things speculative fiction, they began their journey of creating worlds and books just this past year. While thoroughly loving writing high science fiction, they also dabble in the speculative romance side of queer fiction.
A rabid geek, they spend their weekends playing video games or watching any of the Stars and dreaming of creating a better world for all
A rabid geek, they spend their weekends playing video games or watching any of the Stars and dreaming of creating a better world for all
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Did Not Finish
February 10, 2024DNF at 15%
I started this on Nov 19 2023, thence I read 15% & since didn't really re-start this book. After this has been on my currently reading for 4 months, I think it's time to DNF as I'm in no mood to start this again, not right now at least. While the premise is interesting, one definitely has to suspend some belief to read & have fun with this, I guess I wasn't in the mindset for that. Maybe sometime later.
I started this on Nov 19 2023, thence I read 15% & since didn't really re-start this book. After this has been on my currently reading for 4 months, I think it's time to DNF as I'm in no mood to start this again, not right now at least. While the premise is interesting, one definitely has to suspend some belief to read & have fun with this, I guess I wasn't in the mindset for that. Maybe sometime later.
November 5, 2023
Tobias and his housemates love each other as family, but his actual family, his Mom, is a nightmare. While helping her with decorating the town for Christmas, he hears a noise in the bushes.
He discovers Malik in a robot suit, and is, of course, very afraid. But Malik needs help to repair his spaceship, and Toby can’t turn him away, so he stays with him at the rooming house.
Since it’s Christmas, Malik has the chance to participate in putting up the tree and watching Tobias bake with his friend Jack. He befriends Rory and Fox, the house owner and helper of strays.
As they spend time together, they decide to enjoy being together even if it’s to be short lived. Malik runs low on his own energy, so he can’t stay, but once he realizes he loves Toby, he asks him to travel space with him.
This is a cute, quirky Christmas story. Toby’s Mom is terrible, Fox is a great substitute parent, and Rory is a sweet friend. There are some odd bits in the story, and some loose ends, but it’s a good light read.
I received this ARC for free, and this is my honest review, which I’m giving as thanks.
He discovers Malik in a robot suit, and is, of course, very afraid. But Malik needs help to repair his spaceship, and Toby can’t turn him away, so he stays with him at the rooming house.
Since it’s Christmas, Malik has the chance to participate in putting up the tree and watching Tobias bake with his friend Jack. He befriends Rory and Fox, the house owner and helper of strays.
As they spend time together, they decide to enjoy being together even if it’s to be short lived. Malik runs low on his own energy, so he can’t stay, but once he realizes he loves Toby, he asks him to travel space with him.
This is a cute, quirky Christmas story. Toby’s Mom is terrible, Fox is a great substitute parent, and Rory is a sweet friend. There are some odd bits in the story, and some loose ends, but it’s a good light read.
I received this ARC for free, and this is my honest review, which I’m giving as thanks.
Did Not Finish
December 6, 2023DNF @20%, and wow, I am SO disappointed since another alien for Christmas book sounded fantastic, but ... yeah, no, this one isn't for me. This is a new-to-me author whose style just doesn't work for me at all. For one thing, assuming it's set in the modern/current/real world - which there's nothing within the first 20% to indicate otherwise - the absolutely blasé attitude of everyone to finding out that Malik is from outer space is just... offputting. I'm all for acceptance, but the total "meh" toward it? It's offputting to the point that it takes me out of the story. But I guess it's sort of correlated to my second complaint, and the one that finally had me DNF'ing. This author - or at least, the writing in *this* book - seems to have a really abnormal way of representing emotions. AS in, they don't seem to fit. We're told-not-shown a bunch of stuff from Tobias's POV that just doesn't seem to match the actual dialogue and on-page action at all. Case in point, his relationship with his roommate Callie. He describes her as being so combative and indicates that their relationship is super volatile, and yet their dialogue with each other reads as nothing more than minor banter. There's literally no indication whatsoever of this from her actual actions and responses to him. His internal narrative of what's happening just feels so out of sync with the descriptions of what's happening on page, but I think above and beyond that, I just don't like him? Like, he's not likeable, Malik is odd-poorly-written vs odd-interesting-alien (and Malik's whole understanding of the human/Earth world is way too thorough. If I'm reading an alien, I want them to be ALIEN... even the ones who have "studied earth" - which idk if that's the case here, since I'm peacing out before there's any explanation of how he speaks/understands perfect English and what, if any, his relationship to humans/Earth is - anyway, good writing irt aliens, IMHO, shows them at least stumbling over concepts, idioms, understanding the mundane day-to-day things about humanity that can never be fully covered by covert study...
Ugh, ok. I've already spent too many words on this review. This one just really doesn't work for me, and I'm super disappointed about that after getting a little excited over the concept/blurb, but tl;dr this is an author I think I'll avoid moving forward.
Ugh, ok. I've already spent too many words on this review. This one just really doesn't work for me, and I'm super disappointed about that after getting a little excited over the concept/blurb, but tl;dr this is an author I think I'll avoid moving forward.
November 20, 2023
A fun, magical Christmas romp.
Cyborgs Save Christmas
MUST BE ALIENS! BOOK ONE
TOSHI DRAKE
Tobias, our human main character, is a science fiction and gamer nerd, with a self centered narcissist for a mother. It's a toxic family environment, his mother Susan akin to a vampire sucking all hope from its victim.
As such, Toby lives in a shared house with a variety of tenants.
Malik, an augmented man from another planet, finds himself stuck on earth with a ship that needs repair, but an accidental meet-cute with Tobias, sees him embraced by the group of friends.
Though it's all strange to.him, he wants to experience a human Christmas and spend time with Tobias. He might miss the safety of the arcology he calls home, his own best friend and the safety net of familiarity, but he can't help himself and is drawn towards Tobias.
The chemistry between them obvious to everyone in the shared house.
However Malik is on a strict timeline. He needs to scavenge the parts for his ship’s power systems, get them connected and stop his body shutting down.
Fox, the landlord, is the beating heart of the house that the found family live in. He would be the equivalent of 'House Father/Mother' or Guncle, for this group of adorable and quirky people.
Rory, who goes by 'they', and is a little introverted, opens up more to bite back at new arrival Atlas. Jack, regular visitor and talented baker, loves concocting new recipes and filming them for his vlog. Callie is the sort of Grinch of the bunch.
They're a fantastic set of characters and all welcome the alien Malik without hesitation; a bit of a metaphor for the LGBTQIA+ community.
At around 45% I admit I was partly distracted from the eroticism of a particular scene by Drake's overuse of both characters' names throughout the action. Malik's name is used three times in a short sentence where the use of 'he' might've worked more effectively instead.
Apart from this repetition, the lovemaking scenes are hot, sweet and steamy.
Though I haven't read much of their work, the passion and enjoyment Drake must have with these stories shows through in the narrative.
We get a HFN and I admit I hope we see Atlas in action next.
Cyborgs Save Christmas
MUST BE ALIENS! BOOK ONE
TOSHI DRAKE
Tobias, our human main character, is a science fiction and gamer nerd, with a self centered narcissist for a mother. It's a toxic family environment, his mother Susan akin to a vampire sucking all hope from its victim.
As such, Toby lives in a shared house with a variety of tenants.
Malik, an augmented man from another planet, finds himself stuck on earth with a ship that needs repair, but an accidental meet-cute with Tobias, sees him embraced by the group of friends.
Though it's all strange to.him, he wants to experience a human Christmas and spend time with Tobias. He might miss the safety of the arcology he calls home, his own best friend and the safety net of familiarity, but he can't help himself and is drawn towards Tobias.
The chemistry between them obvious to everyone in the shared house.
However Malik is on a strict timeline. He needs to scavenge the parts for his ship’s power systems, get them connected and stop his body shutting down.
Fox, the landlord, is the beating heart of the house that the found family live in. He would be the equivalent of 'House Father/Mother' or Guncle, for this group of adorable and quirky people.
Rory, who goes by 'they', and is a little introverted, opens up more to bite back at new arrival Atlas. Jack, regular visitor and talented baker, loves concocting new recipes and filming them for his vlog. Callie is the sort of Grinch of the bunch.
They're a fantastic set of characters and all welcome the alien Malik without hesitation; a bit of a metaphor for the LGBTQIA+ community.
At around 45% I admit I was partly distracted from the eroticism of a particular scene by Drake's overuse of both characters' names throughout the action. Malik's name is used three times in a short sentence where the use of 'he' might've worked more effectively instead.
Apart from this repetition, the lovemaking scenes are hot, sweet and steamy.
Though I haven't read much of their work, the passion and enjoyment Drake must have with these stories shows through in the narrative.
We get a HFN and I admit I hope we see Atlas in action next.
November 17, 2023
Tobias Prince needs a break from the stress his family brings. Taking a walk leads him to a spacecraft that crashed in the park and with that spacecraft is Captain Malik Io. Malik looks like a robot until he takes off his powersuit. Then he looks like a very sexy man with enhancements. Tobias offers to help and Malik cannot resist. He knows he cannot stay on Earth and survive but he also cannot resist the allure that is Tobia. Will the magic of Christmas work for these two?
Tabias was a genuinely nice person. His mother was not and that caused him lots of problems. He lives in a house with others who have become his family. They all embrace Malik and vow to help. These guys were all incredible as well as some friends who live nearby. They made the story so much richer with their different personalities. One did make life harder, but they fixed that. Fantastic for the holidays and for those of us who love stories with aliens and love, Cyborgs Save Christmas is one for the keep shelf.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book and voluntarily reviewed it to my pleasure. The opinions are my own.
Tabias was a genuinely nice person. His mother was not and that caused him lots of problems. He lives in a house with others who have become his family. They all embrace Malik and vow to help. These guys were all incredible as well as some friends who live nearby. They made the story so much richer with their different personalities. One did make life harder, but they fixed that. Fantastic for the holidays and for those of us who love stories with aliens and love, Cyborgs Save Christmas is one for the keep shelf.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book and voluntarily reviewed it to my pleasure. The opinions are my own.
October 3, 2024
I wanted to DNF around 30% when I realized that everyone in the book is just going to pretend that a cyborg alien man couch-surfing at their boarding house is perfectly normal and cool. It’s too weird. There were too many characters and too many background relationships going on, and I get that it’s meant to create a relaxed, found-family atmosphere, but it ended up taking away a lot of time from the main romance plot. The cyborg alien MC has no real reason to stick around at their place, and seems to latch on to the earthling MC way too quickly and for no real reason; he isn’t even particularly kind or helpful to him.
The cyborg MC cannot stay in earth’s atmosphere because it’s somehow draining his batteries and killing him, which raises the question of what’s going to happen to the human MC when he’s breathing in the air on his spaceship—because it’s inevitable that he’ll be going off to space with his boyfriend, even though they both pretend that’s never going to happen and get all angsty about the upcoming separation until cyborg MC pops the question.
🤷🏻♀️ I just wasn’t feeling it.
The cyborg MC cannot stay in earth’s atmosphere because it’s somehow draining his batteries and killing him, which raises the question of what’s going to happen to the human MC when he’s breathing in the air on his spaceship—because it’s inevitable that he’ll be going off to space with his boyfriend, even though they both pretend that’s never going to happen and get all angsty about the upcoming separation until cyborg MC pops the question.
🤷🏻♀️ I just wasn’t feeling it.
November 6, 2023
Interesting story, and I loved the found family that Tobias had and how they protected each other. It was sweet, although a bit unbelievable that everyone just accepted Malik, too, with barely batting an eye. There were parts in the story that felt a bit disjointed and sudden, and the writing didn't flow smoothly to me. The story has Christmas and romantic themes, but it fell short in the relationship piece for me. I didn't really feel the love connection between Tobias and Malik, and it seemed strange how easily a neurotic guy like Tobias could just pick up and leave everything he knows behind. And what was the deal with Rory and Malik's friend? I wasn't sure if Rory was flirting or being sexually harassed. For as shy and reclusive as he seemed early on, Rory's behavior seemed out-of-character toward the end. I would have loved more backstory on all the characters. It all seemed rather superficial, and I didn't really feel any emotional connections beyond friendship (despite the sex).
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
November 13, 2023
Malik's space craft's engine is disabled and he's forced to land on a primitive planet in order to repair it. Not an easy task as Earth is a bit backwards. He meets Tobias, and finds shelter with him and his odd group of friends. Drawn to Tobias, Malik realizes nothing good could come out of a relationship. He needs to leave Earth and Tobias has too many ties to the world for Malik to ask him to join him in space.
High angst level. The clinging and denying of feelings. So much angst. Also, Tobias has an awful mother and a sister who is almost as bad. Throw in a bit of poor communication as they both are being stoic about Malik's pending departure.
An alien friend to lovers theme with bits of forbidden and impossible love. Well written good world building. Sexy bedroom themes. A not unexpected ending.
High angst level. The clinging and denying of feelings. So much angst. Also, Tobias has an awful mother and a sister who is almost as bad. Throw in a bit of poor communication as they both are being stoic about Malik's pending departure.
An alien friend to lovers theme with bits of forbidden and impossible love. Well written good world building. Sexy bedroom themes. A not unexpected ending.
December 5, 2023
Tobias is tired of being pushed around by his family. He finds himself forced to help with all the decorations in the park when he is cold and tired. His mother keeps wanting to pull him into the rivalry that she has with another lady in town. Tobias knows that he should be loyal to his mother but he likes the rival's ideas better. Tobias decides to go hide in the woods next to the park just to get out of the bad situation. However in the woods, he runs into a strange alien in armor. The alien Malik wants Tobias to help him get his ship fixed but Tobias runs away scared. Malik won't give up. He feels the connection between himself and Tobias and he refuses to back away.
December 5, 2023
An interesting twist on a holiday romance
Reviewed in Canada on November 16, 2023
If you are getting tired of the small town/meet cute/one bed at the inn standard holiday go-tos this is a nice change. It took a little while to warm up to the main MC Tobie but as you realize what has made him the way he is he becomes much more likeable. Malik is very interesting, I would have liked to know more about what his culture is like. There is an interesting cast of side characters and some mama-drama. This is a shorter story so some threads are not fully fleshed out or explained, it doesn’t impact the main story but would have added more color in a longer novel.
Reviewed in Canada on November 16, 2023
If you are getting tired of the small town/meet cute/one bed at the inn standard holiday go-tos this is a nice change. It took a little while to warm up to the main MC Tobie but as you realize what has made him the way he is he becomes much more likeable. Malik is very interesting, I would have liked to know more about what his culture is like. There is an interesting cast of side characters and some mama-drama. This is a shorter story so some threads are not fully fleshed out or explained, it doesn’t impact the main story but would have added more color in a longer novel.
Did Not Finish
November 17, 2023Dnf at 26%. This blurb sounded so cute and wanted to love this story. I very much feel like I started in the middle of a story and am very confused about...well, everything. Who are these characters? How old are they? Because they come across as teens yet they are found family in a boarding house? Malik starts off speaking in formal stilted robotic english and suddenly switches to english slang? I'm just so confused.
Maybe go into it suspending belief and enjoy being tossed in a crazy alien visiting world and you'll enjoy it.
Maybe go into it suspending belief and enjoy being tossed in a crazy alien visiting world and you'll enjoy it.
November 17, 2023
This is the first book that I have read by this author and it will not be my last. The book starts with Tobias helping with the Christmas decorations. He is overwhelmed as his mother and another lady are fighting as to how to do the decorations. As he leaves the square and goes in the forest, he meets, who he thinks is a robot. When Malik shows up at Toby’s apartment that is when the story really starts as Malik explains why he is there. Great world building, chemistry and heat. There are a few characters that I would to see them get their happy ever after.
November 22, 2023
Alien love
Tobias is tired of his family's crushing expectations and being pushed to be someone he's not.
During a particularly trying day at the park with his nasty mother and sister he runs off into the nearby woods to seek some peace and solitude.
What he finds is a strange, sexy alien named Malik.
Sorry, dial that back, a strange and sexy cyborg.
Malik's ship is damaged and he's in desperate need of assistance in order to get back home.
He also might just be the answer to Tobias's prayers.
A wonderfully sweet, sexy holiday romance destined for the stars.
Tobias is tired of his family's crushing expectations and being pushed to be someone he's not.
During a particularly trying day at the park with his nasty mother and sister he runs off into the nearby woods to seek some peace and solitude.
What he finds is a strange, sexy alien named Malik.
Sorry, dial that back, a strange and sexy cyborg.
Malik's ship is damaged and he's in desperate need of assistance in order to get back home.
He also might just be the answer to Tobias's prayers.
A wonderfully sweet, sexy holiday romance destined for the stars.
December 2, 2023
“Why, Callie? What was the point of that?”
“I am helping,” she insisted as she tidied up. “This is a dream moment for you, and you’re deliberately cockblocking yourself.”
I really enjoyed this book. It was such a fun, sweet holiday romance. Great world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Malik and Tobias. Their initial meeting wasn't exactly smooth, but I wouldn't change a thing. I loved the supporting characters [for the most part]. I read alien romance 95% of the time and this one felt unique. I really enjoyed it. 4 stars.
“I am helping,” she insisted as she tidied up. “This is a dream moment for you, and you’re deliberately cockblocking yourself.”
I really enjoyed this book. It was such a fun, sweet holiday romance. Great world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Malik and Tobias. Their initial meeting wasn't exactly smooth, but I wouldn't change a thing. I loved the supporting characters [for the most part]. I read alien romance 95% of the time and this one felt unique. I really enjoyed it. 4 stars.
November 18, 2023
I couldn't resist the title of this one and I'm so glad to have read it. Tobias and Malik are lovely together and I am a fan of stories where one person sees the things they take for granted through another's eyes. Can't get much different than an alien discovering Christmas. I also got a warm, fuzzy feeling from the way Tobias was willing to help Malik and that Malik picked up on Toby's innate goodness.
December 4, 2024
2 Stars
The reason this book got 2 Stars is because of all the errors within it. Spelling errors, grammatical errors, timeline errors, and a slew of others. It made it hard to finish at times. Also everything felt incredibly rushed and with little exposition it made it hard to get invested in these characters and their love. That being said cyborgs is a novel concept that I have never read about before and therefore is deserving of an extra star.
The reason this book got 2 Stars is because of all the errors within it. Spelling errors, grammatical errors, timeline errors, and a slew of others. It made it hard to finish at times. Also everything felt incredibly rushed and with little exposition it made it hard to get invested in these characters and their love. That being said cyborgs is a novel concept that I have never read about before and therefore is deserving of an extra star.
November 17, 2023
I usually love this author’s stories but this one just did not hit the mark for me, it felt disjointed and really just didn’t make sense overall. The idea of Tobias finding love with a cyborg when he is a sci fi geek is great and I love the idea of found family that this book puts out just the execution left a lot to be desired. I give it some points for the general idea but the characters and interactions along with the outlandish idea that everyone would accept a cyborg and he could walk around town without question just did not work.
November 16, 2023
Love From the Stars
This one started off a bit slow but quickly became worth getting through that period. I really enjoyed reading this story and I'm glad that Tobias and Malik got their happily ever after. I'm looking forward to more stories from this series.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
This one started off a bit slow but quickly became worth getting through that period. I really enjoyed reading this story and I'm glad that Tobias and Malik got their happily ever after. I'm looking forward to more stories from this series.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
September 8, 2024
This was ok. Story had promise but was oddly disjointed. So was the dialog. Not quite sure how the two MCs actually connected. The development of an emotional link was never really visible, nor the link itself. The MC’s say it’s there but that’s it. No real sense of Tobias’s personality or anyone else’s really. They’re mostly flat, except when there’re inconsistent.
November 14, 2023
I mean, obviously, suspend belief a bit when you read this book. Alien cyborg with enhancements… and everyone’s cool with it. Definitely a bit of insta-love vibes and a little bit of mayhem. But the story has a cute premise, some really amazing characters, and is a fun read for the season.
November 15, 2023
This is a fun instalove alien / human holiday themed fantasy story, Tobias and Malik are cute together and there is many great side characters in this short story, Tobias mum is just a really terrible person but his found family is great.
November 15, 2023
great
My first book by Toshi Drake, so glad I read it. Was a brilliant read I loved it. Tobias and Malik were great characters. I can’t wait to read more in the must be aliens series xx
My first book by Toshi Drake, so glad I read it. Was a brilliant read I loved it. Tobias and Malik were great characters. I can’t wait to read more in the must be aliens series xx
November 17, 2023
He was looking for anyone but he is about to meet an alien who may just be the one for them. It is not going to be easy for them and yet they hope for a brighter future. How will it all go? Will they have a happy Christmas? See how they get on
November 26, 2023
About 3.5
The story has Christmas and romantic themes, but it fell short in the relationship part for me, but if you’re looking for a quick holiday read with lots of found family and a cyborg who needs help, give this one a try.
The story has Christmas and romantic themes, but it fell short in the relationship part for me, but if you’re looking for a quick holiday read with lots of found family and a cyborg who needs help, give this one a try.
November 28, 2023
DNF 29%. Bad. Just...bad. I gave it a valiant effort, as I have loved some other books by this author, but this was just too corny. This didn't even feel like it was written by the same person, it was so bad.
December 20, 2023
Cyborgs Save Christmas is a cute Christmas story with Tobias and Malik. Malik feels a connection to Tobias and needs his help even though Tobias runs. Interesting secondary characters. Some family drama but overall a cute story.
November 11, 2023
This was fun and entertaining. I loved the alien Malik, he was extremely entertaining. The story was interesting and fun with a great atmosphere and great ending. Loved it . A good holiday read.
November 16, 2023
I thought this book was cute & had an interesting premise/storyline but parts felt like we needed more info & backstory. Overall sweet story.
November 18, 2023
love can conquer across space. we see these two build things together with their difference
December 20, 2024
Listen, the spice was kinda fun but the rest was a mess.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews