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“I wanted more. More of her blood. More of her thoughts. More of her touches that set me aflame. More of her flesh under my hands.”

KIER’AHN

I have never touched another being with desire, nor given in to the pleasures of the flesh. I am, Atavarian after all, and we cage such primal urges with logic, discipline. With one innocent brush of skin, I am overcome by a deadly rutting fever. Only Chloe can sate this burning hunger and save my life.

But when the fever passes I am not free. Instead, I am left with an insatiable craving for this fragile human and a telepathic bond that I am loathe to give up.

When a mission requires us to remain linked and pretend to be mates, our ever growing passion tempts me with something I never thought I would have: Love.

No Atavarian and Human mating has ever ended in anything but blood and tears. When the time comes to save her and sever our bond, will I be strong enough to give her up or will I selfishly risk everything and hold on?

Sinful Mate is a full length Sci-Fi Romance novel with an HEA and no cheating. It features a smart, sunny human FMC, a brooding, virginal alien MMC, biting, knotting, hand necklaces, size difference, space battles, and alien societies. If you ever yearned for "Star Trek but make it SPICY" this is the series for you. It can be read as a standalone. CW’s available on the authors website.

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2023

339 people are currently reading
513 people want to read

About the author

Trish Heinrich

34 books204 followers
Trish Heinrich’s steamy romance is fueled by caffeine and panic. When not daydreaming about the new book boyfriend she’s creating, Trish is geeking out with her two kids about superheroes, cuddling with her husband or bingeing Lucifer…again.
Devil’s Temptation is her first straight up romance and is the first book in her Celestial Superheroes Series. She writes Urban Fantasy under T.L. Heinrich because there are just too many stories in her brain for one pen name.
You can catch her on Instagram under @trishheinrich, or on Patreon as Trish Heinrich. She doesn’t promise to post every day, but she does promise weird, geeky fun with the occasion man chest thrown in for good measure.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
Profile Image for Poppy || Monster Lover.
1,799 reviews499 followers
January 3, 2024
Spock, but make it sexier

Kier was so freaking adorable I couldn’t even handle it. He was so emotionally repressed and focused on the “logic” of things, even when emotion was clearly driving many decisions. Chloe was almost too perfect, with her cool logic mixed with compassion. The worked well together because he was, usually, a safe place to land.
I loved the very clear nod to Star Trek and Spock.

Spice: 5/5

Triggers: violence, mild gore, murder, child abuse (off page), parent loss, pandemic
Profile Image for Diana Wolf.
192 reviews51 followers
October 2, 2023
Stars: 4.5
FMC: Chloe
MMC(s): Kier’Ahn
Tropes: Inexperienced MMC, Brooding MMC, Biting, Knotting, Size Difference, Space Battles, Sunshine/Grump, hand necklaces, alien societies, Friends to lovers
> Reviewer add: Mating/Marriage Rituals, Political machinations, Peril, Science, Nursing, Medical Science, all the Star Trek vibes, third act break up (not long, not do to miscommunication), Family strife, Alien Physiology, Telepathic bond
Perspective: Dual first
Plot or character driven: Both
Spicy scenes breakdown:
> Present? Yes
> Detailed? Yes
> Multiple, with only one character? No
> Multiple, with both/multiple characters? Yes
> Personal favorite? Their voyeur moment.
> State of the joystick? With nodes and a knot.
> Anything else to note?
Burn speed: Fast, before ~ 25%
Can this be read as a stand-alone: Yes, first in a series.
Re-Readability: High
Content/Trigger Warnings/Enticements:


I received an advanced reader copy of this book, and this is my voluntary, honest review.

And instead of being repulsed or frightened by the prospect, it had awakened something in me that I had thought long dormant – an ache for my body to be explored, and to explore another in turn. To be touched, and to touch, without fear or recrimination.

Chloe is a Nurse aboard the Intrepid, and Kier’Ahn is an Atavarian aboard the same vessel. They meet, start up a friendship, but when Kier’Ahn goes into rut, Chloe volunteers to help and chaos ensues.

I was hooked from page 1. Even the author’s note had me giggling so much I had to send a note to her to let her know. But then we get into Chloe and Kier’s relationship, and we’ve got gorgeous world building along with a heavy ST/sci-fi vibes that just made it delightful. Their relationship progressed very naturally, and none of Kier’s behavior felt contrived, it flowed beautifully. Trish Heinrich knows her craft and knows her genre and this book made me happy.

I can’t wait for more of this series.
Profile Image for Cas ✨.
800 reviews7 followers
September 25, 2023
I’m speechless — I have to let this marinate so I can do it justice, so RTC. But this is easily in my top 5 SFR reads of 2023. [Updated] I've decided after reading this I will never be the same, lol.

Sinful Mate was such an incredible story from cover to cover starting with the beautiful, vulnerable (yet fierce) author’s note. Any AFAB that finds themself even ankle deep in the waters of sci-fi will experience prejudice simply for daring to be AFAB in sci-fi spaces (online, at conventions, in any industry that supports scifi), but women especially face this non-stop questioning, goading, belittling, challenging, mocking… it’s exhausting. And it’s enough to drive some of us out of the water, some permanently, some like me temporarily. I’m glad I re-entered when I did; I’m glad that I’ve found brilliant authors like Trish Heinrich who are forging a path for those of us that like our sci-fi adventures with a healthy helping of “kissing” as she cutely puts it. 🥰

Sinful Mate was equal parts space adventure & filthy, nerdy smut and I greedily inhaled every second of it. The first part of that combo was reminiscent of watching the SyFy channel with my dad on lazy weekends as a kid, enjoying the time with him even when I didn’t really know what was going on in the show overall. It was nostalgic and comfortable — the setting, the aliens, the corp/federation that helped people, the combination of science and medicine and innovation — there were parts that were also entirely unique though and I envy Trish’s ability to share so clearly the beautiful workings of her mind. I was never bored reading this story; I didn’t skim, I didn’t find my mind wandering, and I caught myself thinking about the characters especially, even when I wasn’t reading. I also stayed up too late, getting lost in the story & my weak “just one more chapter” declarations to myself lol.

The filthy, nerdy smut part of the combination nearly took me out. 🥵 I've read a few of Trish's other works and they're amazing, but even they didn't prepare me for the level of heat she was able to accomplish while still sounding sophisticated and intelligent to match the overall tone of traditional sci-fi that Sinful Mate emulates. The scenes with telepathic & empathetic intimacy? I'm ruined for reading, I'll leave it at that. The consensual hand necklaces, the growling, rutting, biting (and feeding)... I wanted to be Chloe so badly lmao. I am a huge fan of when the MMC is a virgin too, and this was on a whole other level because of the mind connection they shared. There wasn't a ton of fumbling but there were honest, if not somewhat timid, questions and concerns about being able to meet her expectations but thankfully under her guidance he needn't have worried. 😏

On a less smutty note, Kier was incredible in so many ways. Even the ways he frustrated me! He was on the outside, cool and calculated; believing that logic and ritual must come above all else, otherwise, his Atavarian side would be dangerous and hurt someone. But then you have Chloe come in like a proverbial sunshine wrecking ball and her empathy, her candor, her joy and tenderness... she blew past his barriers and while he does scramble to keep them together (for longer than I wanted lol), he realizes that maybe... just maybe, feelings can co-exist with logic. Unfortunately, his upbringing, his personal traumas, and his relationship with his father puts a damper on the progress of their relationship for some time in the book — but fret not because this leads to my other favorite part of this story: apologies done right. Apologies almost always get glossed over in romance, so when an apology is done well I damn near combust from excitement. Not only do we get lovely, humble apologies from our MMC but we get them from another important man in their lives. Again, I won’t spoil the details but I loved it & I'm so glad Trish went there.

I loved that while there is kind of a big picture conflict there are multiple smaller, but still just as important conflicts that run throughout the story and get tied up with neat little bows as the relationship between Kier and Chloe grows into more than just the accidental bonding and "fake" relationship for the mission. There are also some really juicy plot twists that while I had a feeling something would be revealed it wasn't anything like I was expecting and I do so love when authors manage to surprise me! I could go on for days about all the things I loved in this story but I've already rambled on for longer than most will read so I'm going to wrap it up here.

Oh! Content notes. Currently, they're listed as: Blood, emotional abuse in the past, references to genocide, loss of a parent in the past

I would add to that: militant radicals & on-page violence, emotional abandonment (mended in the story), anxiety attacks, PTSD/trauma responses (both main & secondary characters), and a virus that could be compared to C19 (although very different, there are quarantine aspects & of course a mad dash to synthesize a vaccination and/or treatment that might bring up trauma for those severely affected by the ongoing pandemic)

Profile Image for Meredith  Mouselovesbooks.
70 reviews11 followers
October 9, 2023
I love this book! It is so much fun, but also gave so much depth and beauty. It was one part Star Trek-esque one part spicy romance, and one part love letter to anyone who grew up loving sci fi while never feeling accepted by the genre as a whole. And I loved it all!

Details
~GENRE Sci Fi Alien Romance
~ROMANCE alien+human mf
~SETTING starship with coalition of many alien species
~STORYTELLING dual 1st person POV; first in series, future books will have different MCs; HEA.
~SPICE open door, in depth, detailed, on page intimacy

This friends to lovers romance starts with a meet cute that leads to a close bond between Kier and Chloe. Kier is from a species of aliens that rely on emotional controls to restrict their more animalistic instincts. As a result he is a bit removed from most other people, and comes off as the grump to Chloe’s sunshine. Chloe is an empathetic nurse, dedicated scientist, and all around bubbly, friendly human.

The friendship is formed with mutual respect and shared interests. Plus a healthy dose of ‘everyone annoys me but you.’ The relationship is started under some alien biological imperatives that create an altogether fun, spicy time. And continues to grow much like their friendship did, but with some additions. They never lose the respect and shared interests; but they do add in some really fun new aspects!

I love the type of strength Chloe embodies; she is not a soldier, nor is she a damsel looking to be rescued (rescue is not bad! I love a good rescue story! It’s the implementation). But she is a strong woman, on a battleship, working as a nurse, not as a fighter. And her empathy is her greatest strength. Trish Heinrich writes strong women so well! They are always distinctive and never ‘not like the other girls.’

I also am a sucker for the emotionally walled off, touch starved, ostracized MCs that Kier falls into. Something about that combination just gets to me! And I love watching their walls slowly come down for that one person, then maybe a few others, with time. It’s such a beautiful thing.

Vibes
~Friends to Lovers
~Grumpy Sunshine
~Ruts and Knotting
~F*ck or Die
~Everyone Else is Annoying
~Talk Nerdy to Me
~Inexperienced MMC
~Alien Anatomy
~Mind Links

I had an Advance Copy of this book. All thoughts in this review are my own and are unbiased.

Content
~Rough, descriptive intimate scenes
~Parental death (historical)
~Ostracism
~Viral outbreak/medical situations
~Battle situations
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tally Patton.
342 reviews15 followers
September 24, 2023
*ARC Review*

This story had me hooked from Trish's dedication, let alone from the first chapter. As an AVID lover of sci-fi (Reylo forever), I've been on the receiving end of prejudice from other fans. For whatever reason, women who love sci-fi seem to have their interest challenged, especially if there is a romance element. In many ways, it feels like we're forced to choose between loving sci-fi or loving romance.


Trish also gave us some wonderful information regarding the different species of aliens we'd encounter in this universe. I LOVE when authors provide information before the book, because it allows us to jump into the story so much faster, instead of needing an entire history on Gex-Corps or the alien species.


The characters are absolutely delightful. Kier'Ahn is very reminiscent of Lt. Spock, as he is half human, and struggles to find balance between his logical alien side, and his emotional human side. The male also has the weight of years of grief, trauma, and guilt on his shoulders. This plays a huge role in his own sense of self-worth, but also how he approaches situations with high emotions (like sex, family gathering, and high stress situations). He has never had an interest in touching another person until he meets Chloe. On the delightful flip side, Kier gets delightfully dirty as Chloe helps him explore touch and sex. Chloe is a literal ray of sunshine. A Gex-Corps nurse, she is highly empathetic, and often acts and speaks without concern with how it may be perceived. My mother would have called her "transparent". I really resonated with Chloe. While I'm not a nurse, I have a massive interest in science and often get very excited about advancements and discoveries. I struggle with tempering my emotions, but like Chloe, see emotions as a tool for self-expression, and not a weakness. She balances Kier so well, and helps him find the logic in feeling. I absolutely adored her patience and vitality. 


The plot does not follow one central dilemma, but a few overlapping ones. It feels like the central plot to the story isn't the crisis, but the relationship itself. Since so many stories seem to revolve around some epic catastrophe or situation, this change was incredibly refreshing. This was a story about two people and their relationship; the struggles, achievements, and mistakes, and ultimately, their reconciliation. Nothing was miraculously solved, no one "saved the day", but instead a true bond was formed, and shouldn't that be the basis for anyone's love story?
Profile Image for kymagirl.
6,182 reviews90 followers
October 5, 2023
Chloe (h), a sunny and compassionate human nurse, forms an unlikely bond with Kier'Ahn (H), a brooding Atavarian struggling to balance his logical and emotional sides. When a chance touch triggers a feverish craving, their fates intertwine in a passionate telepathic bond. As they navigate the challenges of a fake relationship and dangerous missions, their friendship blossoms into a sizzling romance, defying the odds of Atavarian-Human relationships. Plenty of hot and steamy action with size differences, biting, knotting, and specialized alien anatomy. The story combines intimate moments and genuine emotional struggles, as Kier grapples with his logical Atavarian side to embracing emotions, especially in the bedroom, adding depth to his character. Chloe's exuberance and unwavering support make her a lovable counterpart. The action unfolds dynamically, offering surprising twists, political intrigue, and smaller conflicts that enrich the central love story. It delivers on its promise of "Star Trek with a spicy twist," blending adventure, science, and sizzling romance seamlessly.
Profile Image for Lyrik.
899 reviews72 followers
October 14, 2023
If you don't want a Star Trek vibe to your sci-fi romance, then this most likely won't work for you. I do like Star Trek and recently watched the first season of Strange New Worlds so this worked well for me. There is great communication between Chloe and Kier and both are forgiving and patient with each other while working through their cultural differences. Their mental bond elevated the sex scenes. I liked the plot but did want just a smidge more romance hence the 4 stars.
Profile Image for Laura (lady_h_reads).
826 reviews358 followers
October 10, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️½
If he wanted my life’s blood, it was his. If he wanted my body, it was his. If he wanted my mind, my thoughts, the depths of my soul, they were all his.

This is a great Sci-Fi romance! I loved it - Star Trek, but make it smutty! It recalled so many memories of watching Deep Space Nine and the Next Generation as a child (aging myself here?), only with much more steam.

It read like an episode, with humanitarian missions to help alien species, a mixed-species crew, life-or-death situations, and an overarching storyline of saving the universe.

There is excellent character development and world-building. I felt a true connection to the half-breed MMC, trying to fit into the demands of two worlds yet never feeling like he belonged to either, and the sweet human FMC who fell in love with him and broke through his emotional barriers.

I did picture the FMC closer to Starbuck from Battle Star Galactica than any of the established Star Trek characters. Only she was more emotionally secure and didn’t have a chip on her shoulder. Perhaps a softer version of one of my favorite sci-fi heroines.

Sinful Mate is fast-burn and spicy with a virgin MMC, ruts, and a very fancy peen (give me all the knots!).

Their story ends in a HEA, but the “save the universe” plot continues in the next book with a different couple.

Shoutout to the heartfelt author’s note and in-depth alien species guide!

Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Tropes/Features: Star Trek vibes, friends to lovers, forced proximity, fake relationship/marriage, human FMC, half-breed virgin MMC, soulmates, rutting fever, fancy peen w/knot
Narrator: Dual 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: MF, fast burn, spicy (fancy peen w/knot, rutting fever)
Book Type/Ending: Standalone with HEA, “save the universe” plot continues in next book
TW/CW: Available on Author’s website
Profile Image for Arielle.
39 reviews1 follower
September 23, 2023
**ARC REVIEW**

I am a sucker for anything that promises Star Trek vibes and not only delivers on that but also makes it sexy. Trish (and any other author forging this path) are absolutely correct that lovers of romance can also be lovers of sci-fi!!

I loved this story, the galaxy (world) building was great, there is a great species reference at the front of the book so the story doesn't get as bogged down with everyone we meet.
Our main characters Chloe and Kier are instantly loveable and I'm not usually super into friends to lovers but I really liked their relationship start to finish.
Chloe is super smart and her genuine excitement over her work and the advancements that could be made was very enjoyable. She is kind, caring, strong, and competent. Her personality is big and sunshine-y without being overbearing.
Kier is thoughtful, kind, and stoic. His internal struggle with the two sides of himself are both frustrating and endearing and like Chloe I just wanted to give him a big hug the whole time (and shake him a couple of times)
The smut was also top knotch (alien peen, need I say more?)

I'm so excited to learn more about this galaxy and the crew members of the Intrepid as the series progresses!




*CW*

-Emotional/physical abandonment (both in his childhood and in the relationship. It is addressed and resolved in both situations)
-Parental death
-Parental illness
-Species specific virus that leads to quarantine/lock down (for those that may have some PTSD from Covid)
-Anxiety/panic attacks
-Virginal MMC
-Explicit sex
-Primal rut and possessiveness
-Knotting
-Biting and blood drinking
-Hand necklaces (consensual)
-Accidental mate bonding
-PTSD (secondary character, POV in epilogue)
Profile Image for Poetry Drive.
500 reviews14 followers
October 31, 2023
Trekkies everywhere rejoice- there’s Star Trek smut out there for us ❤️ The Dedication and Author’s Note was truly sweet and spoke directly to the Trekkie in me. I love Strange New Worlds and the Spock-Chapel angst is next level. While I’m glad the show did them justice, it just needed more smut 😂 That’s where Sinful Mate comes in.

I loved the crew, the K’Tavi, the Intrepid, and the technical lingo- it was literally like reading an episode of Roddenberry Star Trek. The only downside: no matter how well Henrich described them and differentiated them from the show, I just couldn’t stop picturing Ethan Peck and Jess Bush 😅

I loved Chole and Kier’s relationship, even the passage of time that occurs that helps to solidify their friendship before it became something more. I wasn’t a fan of the marriage of convenience trope, but the spice and the MOUTH on Kier 🥵🥵 Kier is also so much more emotional, sensitive and open and I thoroughly enjoyed that about him. It definitely made progressing their relationship smoother and more romantic. The way they mess with each other telepathically was hilarious, spicy but also sweet. However, his stubbornness and the 3rd act breakup pissed me off something fierce.

Like any good Star Trek episode, there’s action and conspiracy and plots within plots. What a great universe!
Profile Image for Katy Hurley.
22 reviews1 follower
September 27, 2023
Trish has such an amazing ability to have you on the edge of your seat with action packed storytelling and swooning at the absolutely delicious spice! Everything about the dynamics between Chloe and Kier'Ahn feels like you're a part of it. I couldn't help but be fully invested. I'm so looking forward to the next installment of this series.
Profile Image for April Bruner.
80 reviews2 followers
September 26, 2023
Trish has done it again!

I thought Abandon was good, but Sinful Mate was so much better! This gave me Mass Effect vibes in the best way, and I'm so sad we have to wait til 2024 for the next one.

Keir and Chloe are so frustratingly cute together, you kind of want to bash their heads together sometimes. I love that it was both spicy and cavity inducing sweet at times.
Profile Image for Sarah.
91 reviews3 followers
October 17, 2023
ARC Review

This was my first experience with alien smut, and it did not disappoint. I was never left wanting. When I didn’t want to wait for the entire book to have a spicy scene, I didn’t need to. When I wanted an actual plot, I found one. It did justice to science fiction and also romance!
Profile Image for Racheal.
657 reviews11 followers
April 6, 2024
The short and sweet review: I loved the star trek vibes, the emotional exploration, the romance and connection... I honestly loved it all! Full review to come!

*Full Review Below*

I started this book with average expectations and anticipated it being a decent alien romance novel. To say that any part of this book is average just would be a huge discredit to the author. This book blew my expectations out of the water and I was not prepared to love this story as much as I did!
While I'm not super familiar with star trek, I've watched one or two of the newer movies that I picked up on some trekky vibes right off the bat. Right from that first party scene, I loved Kier'Ahn and Chloe. I loved getting to witness Kier's growth through the book and seeing how much he really opened up. Kier's character really stood out to me, just for how much he's overcome in his life and how he presevere's through any challenges that come his way. His character was so loveable! I was rooting him on from the first page!
I also really liked Chloe's character and how much she helped Kier through things. The romance and spice in this book were off the charts when Kier was in his element! I loved the whole inner battle he dealt with and how it added so much to this book. I also love that he got the closure he needed to move onto the next chapter in his life.
Overall, this book was just so well written and so well thought out! This book was rich in worldbuilding with star trek vibes that made it completely unique and refreshing! Overall, I definitely recommend it!
Profile Image for Courtney.
374 reviews8 followers
July 12, 2024
✨ARC Review! I received an early copy of this book and this is my honest review.✨

“I want whatever you give me. I want you, Kier. Show me all the things you’re afraid of, and trust me to be your anchor when things get scary. Trust me to ground you, to keep you in touch with the man I know you are. The man I trust with my life.”

I don’t even know where to start with this review… I’ve read *checks Goodreads* 389 books this year, and this book is my FAVORITE of the year. This book was phenomenal, stunning, captivating, amazing… every compliment I could give goes to this book. Sinful Mate deserves more than ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

Kier and Chloe met two years ago at a welcoming party for the ship they’re stationed on. Since then they’ve been best friends. Kier works on the bridge while Chloe is a virologist and nurse. Together they enjoy their meals together and quiet moments in an old observatory. They find peace with one another. Chloe has feelings for Kier, but he’s very emotionally closed off, so she keeps it to herself.

Kier goes into his first rut and there’s a chance it’ll kill him, so Chloe decides to risk their friendship to help him, knowing she’s the only one he’d trust. Their night together complicates their friendship when Kier accidentally bonds to Chloe, marking her as his soulmate.

When a deadly virus starts to take out civilians on Kier’s home planet, he volunteers to be Chloe’s mate in order to provide her access to their labs so she can find a cure. This “pretend” mating opens up all wounds and emotions that they’ve kept bottled up since their night together. Both Kier and Chloe will have to navigate their feelings while fighting off a virus and assassination attempts from someone close to them.

I feel like I could write an essay on everything I loved about this book. Trish went DEEP with the world building and it helped make Kier into such a complicated person. Being half human half Atavarian has caused Kier most of his suffering in life. He’s had to try so hard to suppress his human emotions, while also trying to live up to impossibly high expectations of Atavarian culture. In the end, he ends up defying his family and accepts a position on a ship off planet, to try and escape the feelings of never being good enough. Watching Kier fight his entire upbringing to become vulnerable and open up to Chloe is heartbreaking at times. He’s always been good enough, and it’s so sad that it takes Chloe to show him that.

Chloe is a QUEEN! A absolutely brilliant and well rounded person. She has no second thoughts when it comes to friends or patients, she will always put them first. She’s willing to sacrifice herself in the heat of the moment if it means saving others. She’s very open about her feelings to Kier once they get to that point and she’s not afraid to call him out on his behavior. She’s also not afraid to call out the Atavarians for being unrealistic with their views and being extremely xenophobic towards someone trying to save them. WE 👏🏻 STAN 👏🏻 CHLOE!

The spice in this book is DAMN GOOD! I loved the mix of feral and tender moments between these two. Kier being untouched and then getting to explore sex and what it could be is just amazing to read. Chloe is so patient and trusting. I loved that their chemistry was off the charts steamy, but also full of goofiness. Watching them struggle with communication made it so frustrating at times to read because it felt so real! However, I loved watching these two come together and bring out the best in one another.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for jennifer | offmyredcarpet.
553 reviews44 followers
October 6, 2023
4.5 // A sci-fi romance that delivers on the sci-fi featuring an overly logical alien MMC who looks alien and an intelligent, competent FMC who is not a damsel in distress. And hits all the sapiosexual vibes too.

You can see the authors love of sci-fi in her Spok inspired MMC and her Chapel inspired FMC. Kier—half human, unrelenting self control, wrestles with and is confounded and frustrated by his human emotions. Chloe—competent, direct, accepting and understanding.

They share an immediate connection when they first meet, one of comfortable acceptance as well as intellectually stimulating. Each feels an attraction but neither acknowledges it. A complication from an unintended rut has Chloe saving the life of her friend throwing their relationship into unfamiliar territory. A top secret request for Chloe’s expertise necessitates her visiting Kier’s home planet that is hostile to humans. And he insists he accompany her. Some forced proximity and one marriage of convenience later has Kier experiencing significant character growth as he learns how to navigate the emotions he keeps so tightly leashed.

I’m delighted to have a sci-fi romance series to look forward to that features such an intriguing plot, characters with depth and nuance, and romance with toe-curling spice. The epilogue teases the next book and I can’t wait.
Profile Image for Melinda.
687 reviews25 followers
March 7, 2024
I’ve never read an alien romance where you could feel the deep love the author has for the sci-fi genre as a whole. This gave me all the feels of watching Star Trek with my grandpa as kid, but also the deeply beautiful romance that I couldn’t get enough of. If it’s possible for a book I’m reading for the first time to feel nostalgic this definitely did it for me! I loved the adventure and overarching plot. Such a fun read!

Kier’Ahn is such a great hero, he harbors feelings for his best friend and goes through an unexpected rutting fever that only she can help him with. The spice! And the use of a mind connection for spicy times in this book was 🥵🥵! I loved Chloe too and seeing their relationship develop was a joy.

I’m so excited to start Corrupted Mate!
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.7k reviews359 followers
October 18, 2023
An Amazing, Emotional Experience . . .

Lieutenant Kier’Ahn was a very tall half human-Atavarian who had just arrived onboard. It made it difficult to blend in around others. His species had long ago pushed primal urges away and were known for their partitioning off emotions with discipline, logic, and meditation. So at the cocktail party on the Intrepid, he was not one of the crew bragging about their female conquests. He had gone to the Academy to study, not to count up his sexy experiences. He didn’t even like the physical brushes against him as he moved through this party crowd. His species had to be careful of touching because the telepathic bond they created would link them and reveal memories, so he wore gloves and avoided touch. Then a voice called his name and he was glad he stifled his annoyance when he turned and saw Captain Antony Drake welcoming him to the crew.

By now, the crowd was drinking heavily and getting very loud. Kier’Ahn needed some quiet, perhaps a chance to rest before going on-duty the next morning. He spun around and bumped into a human woman who spilled her drink on her dress. He almost tried to wipe the spill off her chest with a napkin when he stopped himself. She introduced herself as Chloe Carter, a civilian nurse. And he noticed she did not look at him with judgment or try to analyze him. Instead she teased him about his desperate look to get away from this party as soon as possible. Chloe explained that she tried to convince the captain to have a sit-down dinner, but the commander overruled her. Then she invited him to join her in a hiding place she recommended to him and she would never find him unless he wanted her to. The place she led him was huge. An antique telescope was there stellar cartography and computer equipment. The clear dome overhead was magnificent! He could practically touch the stars! And for the first time, he truly relaxed. He shared fond childhood memories of his human mother with her, and was amazed that she saw so much more than just the words he spoke. But he saw her compassion and acceptance, and he knew he could be vulnerable with her. Would they one day be in a position of falling for each other? Though so different, there was so much they shared and respected about each other. And their closeness may one day be important and become an advantage somehow that could save many lives.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The characters were remarkable and the feelings generated deeply touched the readers. This was more than a storyline – it was an experience and I am so glad to have been part of that.
Profile Image for Ketty.
206 reviews12 followers
April 6, 2024
- Human/Alien couple
- Vegan Space Vampire (sorta...lol)
- Star Trek Vibes
- Friends to lovers
- Virgin MMC
- Knotting
- Rutting/Mating Heat
- Dominant MMC
- Fake dating...sorta?

I would normally put a quick little summery of the book, but my mood tanked about a sentence into this review thanks to people I live with. So we are just gonna roll on through without that, it's not needed anyways.

I am going to continue to gush over the nostalgia this series gives while also satisfying the need for sexy Star Trek I didn't really realize I had until the last six months. Now, I will be the first person to say that the original series has never really been my favorite, but it's mostly because listening to William Shatner talk makes me want to drive a Q-tip into my ear drums. The Next Generation is where it's at (and also where I think Star Trek really found itself, but again my opinion). But Spock falling in love? Yes please. Kier for me was Zachary Quinto, but red with horns, I won't even lie. Best part of the new movies were him and Chris Pine, I will die on that hill. Thank you Trish for showing me I needed a Spock-inspired romance in my life.

The best part of this series I think is that if you know Star Trek you can see the inspiration in the races and how things work. You can find the Vulcan in the Atavarians. You can see the Klingon in the K'tavi. The Betazoid...and etc etc. But if you didn't grow up on Star Trek like I did (and clearly Trish as well), you can still enjoy it. Not knowing takes nothing away from the story, the characters, or the plot. Knowing only adds that nostalgia rush that we people of a certain age seem to get high on. I love it so much.

Kier and Chloe explore a relationship that a lot of people go through. Falling for your friend is scary. The what if's and potential to lose someone in your life is terrifying, and it's so well done. The anguish of not knowing what the other is thinking but adding in the mixed emotions through a telepathic and empathic bond makes it fun. And the fact that I was ugly crying through the last bit of this book means this book really has potential to be my favorite book of April and it's the first book I read. I would give it ten stars if I could.

Ready for more.
I don't want to wait until November for the next one.
Please tell me there's a book planned for Drake, because if he's not Riker-coded....I might be losing my mind.
Profile Image for Maaren.
1,446 reviews10 followers
October 8, 2023
I received an ARC for this book in exchange for a free, honest review.

**

Oh, this was so good! The story of Kier'Ahn and Chloe begins in a spaceship. They both work there and forge a strong friendship from the first night they meet. They both seem content with this friendship, even if Chloe secretly hopes for more. But Kier hasn't really thought about it, his Atavarian side is highly logical and he's not familiar with emotions or touch. But when Kier accidentally touches Chloe's bare skin and it brings on his rut, they will have to navigate growing emotions and a new, deep connection and a threat on his home planet. Oh, and to do that, they will have to do that while pretending to be mates.

I really liked Chloe. Headstrong and compassionate, I love how she respected Kier's limits all throughout the book, even when she wanted more. Yeah, she pushed when a little shove was needed but she was never too pushy or demanded too much. I also found her compassion shining throughout the book with all her patients and the world she was thrown into that seemed to hate her with gusto. And her own struggles with the connection and everything just worked, I found her really human in those moments.

Kier was adorable. Watching him navigate a world of emotions and desires so new to him was so much fun. Sure, he messed up with emotions quite a lot but that actually endeared me to him. I actually loved how realistic this one is because no one can know everything at once and seeing him rely too much on his logical side and not embrace his emotions feel very in character for him and the upbringing he's had. Also, Kier discovering the delights in the bedroom was an absolute wonder to experience, wink wink nudge nudge. Speaking of spice, there's a lot of it! But I didn't feel it got repetitive or too much, the chemistry between the couple was evident and I loved it. It was so good!

There's also a bunch of action and intrigue in this book and the plot is wonderfully lush. There are many twists and turns with their mission and I enjoyed discovering a new world with Chloe. I also really liked how it wasn't the easiest of worlds to navigate with a lot of bigotry and xenophobia, because it added yet another layer to the story and made us understand Kier and his history and pain better. It also sets up things nicely for a good series with plenty of intrigue, political scheming, and the threat of all-out war. A perfect sci-fi plot indeed.

Finally, I have to mention Trish's foreword in this book. As a female sci-fi fan, I too have experienced the downside of fandom (though I'm invisible enough online that I haven't gotten the brunt of things) and to see her words resonated deeply with me. It's something I know I will return to when I need a reminder that I can be a fan and belong in fandom space.
Profile Image for BatDuckie.
512 reviews6 followers
October 5, 2023
Alien x Human
Virgin Male
Friends to Lovers
Hand Necklaces
Biting
Knots
Size Difference
Mind Links
Sunshine x Grumpy
Space Exploration and Battles
Intergalactic War
Medical Knowledge and Uses
Science Knowledge and Uses
Family Strife
"Fake" Marriage and Marriage Rituals
3rd Act Breakup


As the author describes this book, 'Spicy Star Trek'; but add in some vampirc aspects and some very spicy yet slightly rough smut scenes.

Chloe is a human nurse on a spaceship. Her best friend Kier is half human half Atvarian. After being shunned by his family for his half human side, Kier has closed himself off to everyone. But an accidental touch with Chloe has him forming a bond with her he never expected. When an undercover mission to his home planet forces Chloe and Kier to fake marry, they find themselves exploring this newfound bond. At the same time, Kier is forced to face his past.


I loved this book. I laughed at Chloe's sass and cried during their time apart. I loved Star Trek growing up and seeing this author bring to life a book that not only shared those aspects but also my love for vampires and smutty scenes ending with an HEA? This was fantastically written 👏🏻 The way the author wrote the science and medical scenes made it easy to understand; I was glad she didn't try to science us to death like some other books.

I was rooting for this couple from the very first chapter. They had such chemistry. And once that bond was in place, it didn't leave room for miscommunication; just stubbornness and insecurities from the MMC.

That epilogue 😳 I can't wait to read the next book and see that pairing go through their relationship hardships and hope they get their HEA too!


Thank you to the author for a chance to ARC read this
Profile Image for Samantha (rain.books.and.tea).
697 reviews
October 10, 2023
4⭐️ 3🌶️
- MF
- Half-Alien/Human
- Friends to Lovers
- Spicy Spock
- Knotting
- Mating Heat
- Virgin MMC
- Fake relationship

Have you ever wished that Star Trek was a spicy romance book with a MMC like Spock but with grabbable horns and a knot? Then this is the book for you.

I really enjoyed this book! Alien romances aren’t usually my thing but I am so glad k gave this one a try. It was sweet, spicy, with some pretty complex world building without things being too overwhelming.

Kier’ahn is a half human/half Atavarian, a species of alien known for their strict adherence to logic and emotional control and the ability to detect another’s emotions with physical contact. As a half human Kier has struggled to meet the expectations of the Atavarians and has made a life for himself as a lieutenant on a Galatic Union of Planet ship.

There he meets and befriends Chloe, a nurse on the ship who is kind and compassionate and who is working on a way to cure a plague attacking the universe. The two of them strike up an unlikely friendship and all goes well until Kier experienced what is basically a mating frenzy that could be lethal without intervention. Chloe intervenes and two of them struggle to redefine their relationship. Add in a not so fake, fake marriage and the two of them are in for a wild ride.

I loved the friendship between the two of them. Kier was such a conscientious friend and to see him take care of Chloe was so sweet. I loved how accepting and supportive Chole was.

The spice was fantastic. I loved the teasing mental games they played with each other. And of course can’t forget Kier’s knot and nodes. 😉

I am so excited to read the next book in the series. I love Althea and am a sucker for enemies to lovers.
Profile Image for Shy_Bookworm_Reviews.
24 reviews1 follower
October 12, 2023
The world-building, or should I say galaxy-building, in this story is amazing. Heinrich draws on her strong interest in Sci-Fi to give us galactic conflicts, strong species visualizations and backstories, and a cast of remarkable characters.

The main characters are absolutely delightful. Kier'Ahn struggles to find a balance between his logical alien side and his emotional human side, while trying to deal with his grief and trauma of his past. Due to his species nature, he has never had the interest in touching another person until he meets Chloe. That's when things get dirty for Kier when Chloe starts to help him explore touch and sex. Chloe who is a ball of sunshine and highly empathetic to those around her. Not only is she extremely interested in science and medical advancement, Chloe shows us that emotions aren't a weakness but a strength. The bond these two obtain balances each other perfectly, both physically and mentally!

I was not prepared for the epicness that Heinrich served us in this book regarding the spice! This has the perfect mix of telepathic/empathetic intimacy that was just as sizzling as the physical intimacy. Both of them being honest and somewhat timid, while voicing their concerns about what's going on was adorably sweet. Not to mention all the sweet consent throughout it all will leave you in heaven!

While there is a big picture to the story, the multiple smaller skirmishes are just as important and tied up nicely once Kier and Chloe move from accidental bonding to fake relationship to happiness. This book will have you hooked from chapter one and you will wish you could sail the stars with this amazing team in space.

Can’t wait for what new adventures Heinrich will give us next. Highly recommended for lovers of sci-fi and romance, and those with a very strong imagination!
Profile Image for Kayla.
100 reviews13 followers
October 8, 2023
I’m OBSESSED! I loved this so so much. I was hooked from the author’s note until the very end. I love that Trish Heinrich is a sci-fi nerd and gave us a whole world for our smutty story!! The breakdown of alien species at the beginning was so helpful too.

Kier’Ahn is our Spock-inspired MMC. Nurse Chloe Carter is the nurse Chapel-inspired FMC. They meet aboard the Intrepid, 2 years prior to the main story, and become friends. They’re just friends until Kier has rutting fever and needs some……medical assistance 😏 from Chloe. But both MCs are so respectful of boundaries and although they have some things to work out (and make mistakes) I love the way they grow together and learn to communicate. And for being new to everything, Kier is the sweetest, most caring partner and I fell a little in love with him too. And for my unique peen loving friends, you definitely want to check this out 👀

The spice was spicin’ 🥵🔥 these two have some serious chemistry and things get 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 😮‍💨

While the relationship of our MCs is the main plot, there are multiple subplots that add to this story. It was absolutely amazing and I stayed up obscenely late to finish it. I couldn’t stop reading!

⚠️check CW
🌶️ 3/5
Profile Image for Moonburst.
416 reviews6 followers
October 15, 2023
Kier'ahn is a half-Atavarian lieutenant of the star ship Intrepid, a ship of the Galactic Union of Planets. Despite the melting pot aboard the ship, Kier'ahn has been raised excessively Atavarian, and led to believe his human side to be inferior in every way. He holds himself apart from his colleagues both mentally and physically, wearing gloves so as to not inadvertently engage in touch based telepathy. When a rutting fever is accidentally triggered, his friend, nurse Chloe agrees to help him through the deadly fever. This results in Kier creating a mating bond with her. Then a deadly virus attacks the Atavarian homeworld. To allow for Chloe to help develop a cure, Kier must deepen his bond with Chloe while returning home and addressing his past and the prejudices he grew up in.

Sinful Mates has a lot of Star Trek similarities. The GUP is similar to the federation (though it appears to not have the prime directive), and Kier is very similar to Spock. Atavarian culture, like Vulcan culture, has a bloody, violent past which has turned to pure logic as a result. Atavarians appear to be much more xenophobic and prejudiced than the Vulcans. Despite the similarities, Sinful Mates does have enough differences to be its own entity. Themes about addressing prejudice, learning to love yourself, and how connection can strengthen each other make for a compelling read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Kassybetweenpages.
554 reviews61 followers
October 1, 2023
I am not someone who has ever enjoyed sci-fi much, but I am someone who loves alien, monster and paranormal romance! Trish did an outstanding Job at introducing me to the world of sci-fi and weaving in the things that make me love romance.

While this felt like a very character driven story the universe created within this book was rich with details and depth that once I started reading, I could not get enough of life on a spaceship and then on Kier’ahn’s home planet.

Also the side characters!!!! gahhhh with each new character introduced I found myself wanting to know their story as well, there is not a single uninteresting character in this dang book!

On to the spice Kier and Chloe’s relationship was a slow burn until all of a sudden it wasn’t anymore and holy moly the chemistry between these two is smolderinggggg! A bit of fake dating/mating was thrown in there which is one of my absolute favorites!!!

This is definitely a series I will be waiting on the edge of my seat for the next book to drop…thank goodness I have the Monsters & Artifacts and the rest of the authors back list to hold me over until the next book in this series!!!!!!
Profile Image for Joni (livebythemoon7).
545 reviews10 followers
October 11, 2023
I have only read a few alien romances as it is a genre that is still fairly new to me. I read Abandon by Trish and absolutely loved it. When I saw her next book was an alien romance, I was like, "Sign me up!"

I am so glad I did.

I loved everything about Sinful Mate. This friends to lovers contained honest themes that often occur when pursuing a friend romantically, especially the aspect of not knowing where you fit in their life anymore and if your feelings are reciprocated. Trish portrayed situations believably and with ease of relatability.
The level of detail was perfect, and despite my personal general lack of interest in space themed movies and TV shows, I was able to envision as I was reading easily.

This book had me emotionally invested, and I fell in love with the characters and their blooming relationship. There were times I was frustrated right along with the characters, and once I even cried. I didn't spot any plot holes, and it had a satisfying ending.

I highly recommend Sinful Mate for those who love alien romance or to those who have been curious over the genre.

My heat rating is based on the amount of occurrence, length of scenes, and how filthy/unconventional the scenes are. This rates a 3/5 🌶 overall.
Profile Image for Ridim Buk.
416 reviews5 followers
October 6, 2023
At the beginning of this book there is a section from the author where they explain their connection to sci-fi culture and how they wanted to create something that fit into that world. I think they will be very happy with what they have created here.

There is plenty of plot, action and drama happening outside of the romance storyline. There’s spaceship battles, assassination attempts, medical mysteries and family drama. There is also a couple of friends who are finding out that maybe they want to be a bit more than friends.

It also had just what you want from an alien romance, angsty longing, weird rituals, mates, weird peens and uncontrollable rutting fevers. Yes please! The end also had a little sneak at the next book in the series which is always a great way to hook me in and I’ll definitely be tracking it down when it comes out next year.

Thank you to the author for access to an ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Genre: Romance/ sci-fi
Format: Digital
POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Age suggestion: 18+
Profile Image for Debbie.
730 reviews1 follower
January 3, 2025
Sinful Mate

The Atavarians are a lot like Vulcans so the MMC is good at being cold and remote. The MFC is super patient with him. It's interesting how fragile his species is when confronted with anything emotional, or different (because different is scary), and how rigidly traditional they are. They are so easily offended. It's almost like they've decided the only emotions allowable are hate, disdain, disgust, and contempt. They are a perfect example of just how wrong logic can be.

There's more world building in this book than relationship building, and I found the romance of the main characters to be frustrating but not because it was poorly written, just because I found the Atavarians to be childish in their approach to emotion. There are plenty of humans in RL just like them.

I liked this description of his love for her,

“Tears wet my lashes and hers and I knew what it was to be whole, bathed in sunlight after a lifetime in the dark.”
Profile Image for Lulu's Cosmic Reads.
45 reviews3 followers
August 4, 2024
Wow, talk about a cosmic breath of fresh air. I cannot stop thinking about this book. As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of sci-fi romance, this book checked ALL the boxes.
Tension? Check. Drama? Double check. A space opera plot spiced with a dash of interstellar chemistry? You betcha.
I LOVED Chloe and Kier's relationship, and the way they're able to navigate their past and present troubles together. We also stan a woman in STEM, and how awesome was the in-depth unpacking of the science-related elements of the story? So skilfully done.
It's very obvious that the author is a fellow sci-fi lover, with the way they skillfully crafted a world and characters that would slot right into an episode of Star Trek or a side plot in the Expanse.
Can't wait to get stuck into the next one! 😍
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