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Tallean Mercenaries #8

A Redemption for Ulrek

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Refuge in the Arms of a Monster This job on board the New Horizon is supposed to be my fresh start, a fail proof plan to escape my poor excuse for a husband and his dangerous friends. But my white horse quickly turns into a nightmare when I discover that my new boss is none other than Ulrek the Horrible, my sworn enemy. There’s no way I’ll work for the ruthless captain responsible for stealing me from Earth. So contract be damned, I quit! But there are dangers out there worse than a reformed Dominion captain, and with nowhere left to turn, I find myself back on his ship…and in his arms. There’s no denying the treacherous passion that burns between us. And now, the very monster who once captured my body threatens to capture my heart. This enemies-to-lovers alien romance features the villain from a previous book, and while he has switched sides, he is still morally gray. If this upsets you, please skip this book. As always, lots of action and steamy scenes ahead. HEA guaranteed!

Kindle Edition

Published November 9, 2023

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About the author

Lynnea Lee

61 books522 followers
Lynnea Lee is a recovered serial monogamist who now lives in her forever home with the man of her dreams. Still hopelessly addicted to the feeling of falling in love she now feeds her habit with a routine prescription of romance novels and rampant imagination. When she is not dreaming up fantastical stories of love, lust and romance, her hobbies includes talking to her plants, putting on a full face of makeup to stay home on Saturday nights and hugging her dog longer than is appreciated.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
Profile Image for GCR | Book Realm.
293 reviews70 followers
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June 17, 2026
I received the ALC from Dark Star Romance.

A Redemption for Ulrek was such a fun listen. This is book eight in the Tallean Mercenaries series, and while it can be read as a standalone, I definitely found myself wishing I had more context from the previous books because I loved this world and wanted to understand even more of it.

The story was fast-paced, entertaining, and easy to get pulled into. I’m really starting to enjoy alien sci-fi romance, and this gave me exactly the kind of mix I wanted: action, romance, worldbuilding, tension, and spice that actually fit the story instead of feeling thrown in just because someone remembered the genre required it.

Ulrek’s story was great, and the world itself was one of the strongest parts for me. By the end, I knew I needed to go back and read the previous seven books before I continue with the next books because I want more of the history, the characters, and the larger story happening around this one.

Troy Duran absolutely owned this narration. This was single narration, but I was so into the story that his switches into the female voices never pulled me out. Honestly, I barely even noticed the transitions, which says a lot because that is usually where single narration loses me. His performance carried the action, emotion, humor, and spice so naturally.

Overall, A Redemption for Ulrek was a fast, entertaining, and spicy alien romance that made me want to dive into the entire series. I’d recommend it to listeners who enjoy alien sci-fi romance, action, mercenaries, redemption arcs, strong worldbuilding, well-balanced spice, and single narration that actually works.
Profile Image for Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️.
3,321 reviews2,776 followers
June 19, 2026
From Villain to Hero: Ulrek’s Journey



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💚💛
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋😉😎🤯🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Solo Narration

Character Backgrounds and Plot Summary

Delaney is desperate for a fresh start. After escaping an emotionally abusive marriage and the dangerous circle surrounding her soon to be ex-husband, she accepts a position aboard the New Horizon as a greenroom technician. She has worked hard to build a new life after being abducted from Earth years earlier by the Dominion. What she does not expect is to discover that the captain of the ship is Ulrek the Horrible, the very Tallean responsible for her capture.

Ulrek has spent years trying to atone for the terrible things he did while serving the Dominion. He defected after learning the truth about the regime he once blindly obeyed, but redemption does not erase the pain he caused. Delaney has every reason to hate him, and her immediate reaction is to walk away from both the job and the male who shattered her life.

Circumstances force Delaney back onto the New Horizon, where she witnesses a version of Ulrek she never expected to see. He is still intimidating, possessive, and morally gray, but he is also fiercely protective of his crew and determined to become someone better than the monster he once was. As Delaney’s controlling ex-husband resurfaces and the bounty on Ulrek’s head brings danger to their doorstep, the two are pushed together. Their journey becomes less about forgetting the past and more about deciding whether forgiveness and redemption are truly possible.

Highlights and Limitations

The strongest aspect of this book is Ulrek’s redemption arc. Lynnea Lee does not pretend that a few heroic actions erase years of wrongdoing. Delaney’s anger and distrust feel justified throughout the story. She does not instantly forgive him simply because he is attractive or claims to have changed. Watching her challenge him repeatedly and force him to earn every ounce of trust made the romance much more satisfying.

I also appreciated that Delaney remained strong in her own right. Her knowledge of greenroom systems gave her a meaningful role aboard the ship, and her refusal to let either Ulrek or her ex dictate her future showed how much she had grown since her abduction.

The banter between Delaney and Ulrek added humor to an otherwise emotionally heavy story. Ulrek’s fascination with Delaney’s stubbornness was especially entertaining. He clearly expected obedience and instead found someone who questioned every decision he made.

The biggest limitation is that Delaney’s internal conflict occasionally becomes repetitive. She cycles through attraction, guilt, anger, and confusion multiple times before fully accepting her feelings. While understandable given Ulrek’s past, some readers may wish that progression moved a bit faster. Readers who never warmed to Ulrek in previous books may also struggle with the idea of forgiving him enough to embrace him as a romantic lead.

Narration

I am generally not a big fan of solo narration, but there are a few of my favorite narrators where I don’t mind the fact that there aren’t separate narrators for the male and female parts. Troy Duran is one of those favorite narrators of mine.

Troy Duran delivers a compelling performance that suits Ulrek perfectly. His deep, authoritative voice captures Ulrek’s intimidating presence while allowing quieter moments of vulnerability to come through. He especially excels during scenes where Ulrek’s protective instincts clash with his belief that he does not deserve happiness.

Duran also handles Delaney’s dialogue effectively, giving her determination and sharp wit without making her sound overly harsh. The emotional scenes carried weight, particularly during the moments when Delaney confronted the damage Ulrek had caused and when Ulrek acknowledged that redemption might never be enough.

The pacing remained steady throughout the audiobook, balancing action sequences, emotional conversations, and romantic tension without making any section feel rushed.

Final Opinion

I went into this book wondering whether Lynnea Lee could realistically redeem a character like Ulrek, and I was surprised by how invested I became in his journey. Rather than asking readers to forget his past, the story explores whether people can change and what earning forgiveness actually looks like.

Delaney and Ulrek’s relationship is messy, complicated, and often frustrating in the best way because neither character takes the easy path. Their chemistry is intense, but it is the emotional growth and hard-earned trust that make their romance memorable.

I have really enjoyed Lynnea Lee’s books in the past. I have read all her Xarc’n Warrior books, and I am a huge fan of sci-fi alien romance books as a whole because I love the escapism and the new and different worlds to explore. Lynnea is one of the best in this genre and my personal favorite writer of these books. One thing I really like about her books is the technology and advancement of alien space travelers is a big part of the books, where in a lot of alien romance, the heroine ends up living on a planet with barbarians and live like they were in medieval times. I like science fiction with some cool tech and enhancements in living.

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Pinterest|BookBub
Profile Image for Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️.
3,321 reviews2,776 followers
June 19, 2026
From Villain to Hero: Ulrek’s Journey



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💚💛
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋😉😎🤯🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Solo Narration

Character Backgrounds and Plot Summary

Delaney is desperate for a fresh start. After escaping an emotionally abusive marriage and the dangerous circle surrounding her soon to be ex-husband, she accepts a position aboard the New Horizon as a greenroom technician. She has worked hard to build a new life after being abducted from Earth years earlier by the Dominion. What she does not expect is to discover that the captain of the ship is Ulrek the Horrible, the very Tallean responsible for her capture.

Ulrek has spent years trying to atone for the terrible things he did while serving the Dominion. He defected after learning the truth about the regime he once blindly obeyed, but redemption does not erase the pain he caused. Delaney has every reason to hate him, and her immediate reaction is to walk away from both the job and the male who shattered her life.

Circumstances force Delaney back onto the New Horizon, where she witnesses a version of Ulrek she never expected to see. He is still intimidating, possessive, and morally gray, but he is also fiercely protective of his crew and determined to become someone better than the monster he once was. As Delaney’s controlling ex-husband resurfaces and the bounty on Ulrek’s head brings danger to their doorstep, the two are pushed together. Their journey becomes less about forgetting the past and more about deciding whether forgiveness and redemption are truly possible.

Highlights and Limitations

The strongest aspect of this book is Ulrek’s redemption arc. Lynnea Lee does not pretend that a few heroic actions erase years of wrongdoing. Delaney’s anger and distrust feel justified throughout the story. She does not instantly forgive him simply because he is attractive or claims to have changed. Watching her challenge him repeatedly and force him to earn every ounce of trust made the romance much more satisfying.

I also appreciated that Delaney remained strong in her own right. Her knowledge of greenroom systems gave her a meaningful role aboard the ship, and her refusal to let either Ulrek or her ex dictate her future showed how much she had grown since her abduction.

The banter between Delaney and Ulrek added humor to an otherwise emotionally heavy story. Ulrek’s fascination with Delaney’s stubbornness was especially entertaining. He clearly expected obedience and instead found someone who questioned every decision he made.

The biggest limitation is that Delaney’s internal conflict occasionally becomes repetitive. She cycles through attraction, guilt, anger, and confusion multiple times before fully accepting her feelings. While understandable given Ulrek’s past, some readers may wish that progression moved a bit faster. Readers who never warmed to Ulrek in previous books may also struggle with the idea of forgiving him enough to embrace him as a romantic lead.

Narration

I am generally not a big fan of solo narration, but there are a few of my favorite narrators where I don’t mind the fact that there aren’t separate narrators for the male and female parts. Troy Duran is one of those favorite narrators of mine.

Troy Duran delivers a compelling performance that suits Ulrek perfectly. His deep, authoritative voice captures Ulrek’s intimidating presence while allowing quieter moments of vulnerability to come through. He especially excels during scenes where Ulrek’s protective instincts clash with his belief that he does not deserve happiness.

Duran also handles Delaney’s dialogue effectively, giving her determination and sharp wit without making her sound overly harsh. The emotional scenes carried weight, particularly during the moments when Delaney confronted the damage Ulrek had caused and when Ulrek acknowledged that redemption might never be enough.

The pacing remained steady throughout the audiobook, balancing action sequences, emotional conversations, and romantic tension without making any section feel rushed.

Final Opinion

I went into this book wondering whether Lynnea Lee could realistically redeem a character like Ulrek, and I was surprised by how invested I became in his journey. Rather than asking readers to forget his past, the story explores whether people can change and what earning forgiveness actually looks like.

Delaney and Ulrek’s relationship is messy, complicated, and often frustrating in the best way because neither character takes the easy path. Their chemistry is intense, but it is the emotional growth and hard-earned trust that make their romance memorable.

I have really enjoyed Lynnea Lee’s books in the past. I have read all her Xarc’n Warrior books, and I am a huge fan of sci-fi alien romance books as a whole because I love the escapism and the new and different worlds to explore. Lynnea is one of the best in this genre and my personal favorite writer of these books. One thing I really like about her books is the technology and advancement of alien space travelers is a big part of the books, where in a lot of alien romance, the heroine ends up living on a planet with barbarians and live like they were in medieval times. I like science fiction with some cool tech and enhancements in living.

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Pinterest|BookBub
Profile Image for Jaimie.
393 reviews10 followers
June 15, 2026
This was a fun and easy listen that I really enjoyed! Even though this is the 8th book in the series, this was the first for me. I did not have any issues jumping into the story and following along. As always, Troy Duran did a fantastic job narrating this one! Sometimes single narration is a bit tough, but Troy did such a great job with all of the characters.

It seems that Ulrek is not very well liked at all, however, he has switched sides and he is trying to convince Delaney that he isn't all bad. She was not happy at all to find out that he was her new boss, but she also couldn't deny the attraction. The tension was definitely there and the attraction was instant.

If you want a good sci-fi alien romance that is quick, easy, has some great banter, great spice, and a huge redemption arc for the MMC, definitely check this one out. Huge thank you to Dark Star Romance and the author for the copy to listen to!
Profile Image for Erin A. {midnight_rosepetals} Thorne.
Author 2 books9 followers
June 19, 2026
Rating: ♡4⭐️♡5🎧♡5🌶️♡

I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone with this one. It was a quick read too!

That being said the smut vs story line was on point! 🥵

Troy Duran did a solo narration on this one and oh mylanta your female voice 😳😮‍💨 I mean your voice is very smooth but gritty at the same time… however I was not expecting the FMC!

This was definitely a happy surprise!
Profile Image for Teddie.
10 reviews
July 14, 2026
I have to say…

For my first alien romance, this was pretty good! I’m not saying Troy Duran had anything to do with it, but I’m not saying Troy did have anything to do with it.

It made me giggle that aliens can’t wear human shoes.

A tallean only gets one mate. listen to see if Ulrek and Delaney get theirs!

Thank you to Dark Star Romance for the ALC opportunity!
Profile Image for Lisa Reviews.
89 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2026
I really enjoyed this one! And I can definitely say I will be going back and starting this series from the Beginning! I think this one had an interesting story going in knowing the MMC Ulrek was actually a Villian in a previous book and now he is The main MMC working now on the good side and out for revenge for those he used to work for.. Oh and the FMC may have been someone that was taken and held on a ship that Ulrek was on when he was the Villian.. And now they are fated mates… That’s all I will say! Loved the Story and Although there was only 1 Narrator throughout, the Amazing Troy Duran did an amazing job with the different character voices and I had no trouble breezing right through the book and always knowing the characters speaking! Amazing Job!! Highly Recommend!!
Profile Image for Jaimie.
393 reviews10 followers
June 15, 2026
This was a fun and easy listen that I really enjoyed! Even though this is the 8th book in the series, this was the first for me. I did not have any issues jumping into the story and following along. As always, Troy Duran did a fantastic job narrating this one! Sometimes single narration is a bit tough, but Troy did such a great job with all of the characters.

It seems that Ulrek is not very well liked at all, however, he has switched sides and he is trying to convince Delaney that he isn't all bad. She was not happy at all to find out that he was her new boss, but she also couldn't deny the attraction. The tension was definitely there and the attraction was instant.

If you want a good sci-fi alien romance that is quick, easy, has some great banter, great spice, and a huge redemption arc for the MMC, definitely check this one out. Huge thank you to Dark Star Romance and the author for the copy to listen to!
Profile Image for Helen.
75 reviews1 follower
June 19, 2026
I'm so happy I got a chance to listen to this. The story was amazing. Enemies to lovers. The narrators did a great job bringing it back to life
Profile Image for kymagirl.
7,665 reviews87 followers
November 7, 2023
Delaney (h), a strong-willed human seeking to escape her abusive ex, finds herself on a spaceship, only to discover that her boss is none other than Ulrek (H), the Tallean who once abducted her from Earth. Ulrek, a former Dominion captain seeks redemption for his dark past and carries a bounty on his head, ignites sparks with Delaney, even as she grapples with her past trauma. The story balances electric chemistry with moments of tension as Delaney struggles with her feelings for the man she once despised. Ulrek's redemption arc is well-executed, where Ulrek's transformation from a former villain to a hero is complex and relatable. Delaney and Ulrek share a complex journey of action, danger, betrayal, and the power of forgiveness, all set in a futuristic, otherworldly backdrop. An engaging and passionate alien-human enemies-to-lovers romance that blends action, redemption, and the allure of newfound love.
Profile Image for JB Mojo.
27 reviews3 followers
June 25, 2026
A Redemption for Ulrek was such an enjoyable listen!

Even though this was my first experience with this series, I had no trouble following along or becoming invested in the characters and their journey.

Lynnea Lee did an excellent job crafting a redemption arc for Ulrek that felt believable and well earned. I feel like Delaney was a good FMC for this story. After everything she'd been through, it made complete sense that she struggled to trust him, and I appreciated that she didn't immediately overlook his past. Watching the dynamic between them gradually evolve made their connection feel authentic and satisfying. I also loved seeing Ulrek's softer side emerge without losing the qualities that made him such an intimidating character. His actions spoke louder than his words, and it was rewarding to watch his growth unfold.

As for the Narration:
Troy Duran delivered a fantastic narration. His deep voice suited Ulrek perfectly, and he brought so much emotion to both the action-packed scenes and the quieter, more vulnerable moments. His performance made it easy to become fully immersed in the story.


If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers romances, protective alien heroes, forced proximity, and redemption arcs, I definitely recommend giving this audiobook a listen!


Thank you to Darkstar Audio for providing me with an ALC. As always, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
Profile Image for Danielle Breese.
37 reviews
July 12, 2026
This is my first alien romance and it didn’t disappoint. A Redemption for Ulrek is book #8 is the series but was the first one I read and it was easy to jump into the story. Lynnea Lee did an amazing job at keeping it fast paced but not to the point where details got lost.

Delaney is looking for a new start after leaving her husband. That new start leads her into the arms of her enemy turned lover.
Ulrek is trying to make up for all the horrible things he did in his past and to prove he can change.
Their relationship is messy and complicated but the emotional growth and the chemistry is (chefs kiss)💋

This was a ALC I received from Dark Star Romance. This was a single narration but OMG did Troy Duran do an amazing job at both voices!!!
June 17, 2026
A Redemption For Ulrek
By Lynnea Lee
Performed by: Troy Duran
Tallean Mercenaries bk 8

✨ALC REVIEW ✨

Well. I’ll be damned. This is some sci fi fantasy alien book. And, it wasn’t bad at all! In fact, I liked it!
I saw the cover and just knew it wasn’t for me. Well, I was proven wrong. Don’t judge a book by its cover!
Thank you to DARKSTAR Audio for the ALC and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This story has it all, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, touch her and ☠️, he falls first. All brought together by THE Troy Duran who does a fabulous job with this mono narration.
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Narration: 🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️
Profile Image for Shaye.
371 reviews2 followers
June 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️
⭐️Enemies to Lovers
⭐️Sci-Fi Romance
⭐️He Calls Her ‘My Star’
⭐️He’s The Villain
⭐️’Run Little Delaney’
Short easy read. I enjoyed this as my first sci-fi romance. Watching Delaney slowly turn from hating Ulrek to respecting him to loving him was a delight. Ulrek’s redemption story was written so well and developed as a truly believable change. As always Troy Duran was a fantastic narrator and brought so much depth to the story. Thank you to Lynnea Lee and Dark Star Romance for the ALC.
Profile Image for Janelle Felt.
12 reviews1 follower
June 28, 2026

I received the ALC in exchange for my review, thank you so much for the opportunity!! I enjoyed this book and Troy did a great job narrating both pov’s. I was curious if it would all be from the male’s pov but it wasn’t, and I wasn’t upset that they didn’t have a female do the fmc’s pov. I’m not sure what order this book is in a series, but I didn’t have trouble understanding what was going on, because there were enough context clues. The romance was great! I also enjoyed the suspense and action. I would happily read more of this series.
Profile Image for Mayra.
207 reviews5 followers
June 26, 2026
My first alien romance and you know what? I was pleasantly surprised! It wasn’t what I expected, and I really enjoyed the story and characters. Delany was feisty, resilient, and easy to root for after everything she’d been through. Ulreck definitely had to earn his redemption, and watching him fight for it made the journey worth it.

Troy Duran’s solo narration was fantastic. Every character had a distinct voice, and it never felt like just one narrator. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the narration, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ overall
Profile Image for Kayla.
752 reviews
June 16, 2026
I listened to this one on audiobook and the narrator did a good job reading this one. I usually prefer to have two narrators, but Troy Duran did well with reading both POVs and I can understand why only one narrator was used with the length of this one.

This is the first book in the series that I've tried and the characters and story were interesting enough that I'd read more of them, especially if they're all quick reads like this one. The world is interesting and I liked that it was both familiar and new with is alien elements and creatures. The side characters make me want to know even more about them which is always a good sign. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
8 reviews
June 15, 2026
Was a cute fun read. I was lucky enough to receive a free copy and listened to it. LOVE Troy Duran, he always does a really fantastic job. I liked that is was part of a series but could be listened to on it own and you wouldn't be lost. I will be listening to the others.
Profile Image for Chantelle Kelly-Rae.
99 reviews4 followers
June 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️
🎧📖 A Redemption for ALREK
✍️ Lynnea Lee
🎙️ Troy Duran
✨ Dark Star Romance
🤓 I enjoyed via 🎧📖

Lynnea, it was so nice to meet you! You had me hooked from the moment I saw enemies to lovers. This was such a fun and entertaining listen!

Troy, I absolutely loved the unique timbre of your voice. You brought our unapologetically grumpy MMC to life perfectly. His attitude, charm, and vulnerability all came through so naturally.

I always find it fascinating when a male narrator portrays both the MMC and FMC. Troy did an incredible job bringing out our FMC’s playful, witty personality. She was full of sunshine, sass, and humor, making her an absolute delight to listen to.

This was my first book in the series, and it definitely won’t be my last! If you’re looking for hilarious banter, fast-burn chemistry, steamy romance, and a fantastic cast of clever, lovable friends, this one is for you.

Thank you, Lynnea Lee and Dark Star Romance, for this wonderful opportunity to listen, enjoy, and review!


✨✨✨BOOK BLURB✨✨✨

This job on board the New Horizon is supposed to be my fresh start, a fail proof plan to escape my poor excuse for a husband and his dangerous friends.

But my white horse quickly turns into a nightmare when I discover that my new boss is none other than Ulrek the Horrible, my sworn enemy.

There’s no way I’ll work for the ruthless captain responsible for stealing me from Earth. So contract be damned, I quit!

But there are dangers out there worse than a reformed Dominion captain, and with nowhere left to turn, I find myself back on his ship…and in his arms.

There’s no denying the treacherous passion that burns between us. And now, the very monster who once captured my body threatens to capture my heart.

This enemies-to-lovers alien romance features a morally gray hero who was the villain from a previous book. This book can be listened to as a standalone. As always, lots of action and steamy scenes ahead. HEA guaranteed!
Profile Image for Bobbie.
Author 17 books2 followers
June 22, 2026
So this was not my usual listens/reads. I dont usually listen or read sci-fi genre but being given an ALC copy i can definitely say this is a genre I would dive into again.

In this story Ulrek is an alien species who is trying to gain redemption for his horrible deeds of stealing humans from Earth. One human Delaney, becomes his greenroom (working with plants) technician she immediately goes on thw defensive and repeatedly admits she "hates" him but over the course of the story falls in love with him and when Ulrek gets severely injured when he jumps in front of Delaney and takes a blaster hit saving her, she admits that she is in love with him. They have their mating ceremony and then eventually have a little boy.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes/loves sci-fi genre.
Profile Image for Jo MA.
207 reviews1 follower
June 26, 2026
Narrated by @Troy Duran, Audiobook Narrator

I’m new to this universe, but it didn’t take long to have me hooked and drawn in to the story.

If you’re a romantacy fan, definitely check this out!

Troy Duran brought this to life with his talented single narration style.
Profile Image for Ariel Oliver.
401 reviews14 followers
June 21, 2026
I haven't done alien romance in a while but I wasn't disappointed! It was such a fun audiobook and Troy Duran nailed it with his single narration performance!

This is my first book by Lynnea Lee and I enjoyed it. The plot was good, the spice ratio was good as well, and the enemies to lovers that was sprinkled in made this book worth listening to!

Delaney and Ulrek's story was interesting. The humor and emotion was all captured wonderfully by Teoy Duran and the story itself had me curious about some of the other side characters mentioned, so I will probably read more of this series at some time in the future because my curiosity is real 😂

Overall, entertaining and fun!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Profile Image for Ebony.
71 reviews
June 17, 2026
This was my very first sci-fi alien romance novel and I found that I really enjoyed it. 3rd person isn’t truly my favorite POV but it worked for this story. This was a fast paced enemies to lovers and I found that I was craving to know more about the history between Delaney and Ulrek.

As I previously mentioned 3rd person isn’t truly my favorite POV but Troy made this story more interesting and I found myself wanting to keep listening. If this was duet it think it would pop even more.

I would like to thank Darkstar Romance for providing me with a Free ALC of A Redemption for Ulrek.
Profile Image for Jennifer Taylor.
99 reviews2 followers
June 20, 2026
This is the first book I have listened by this author and will be going back for the others in this series. The story is well written and perfectly paced. Troy did an amazing job narrating the story. The interactions between Delaney and Ulrek were very well written and narrated. It is always good to have a strong FMC.
Profile Image for Katie Taylor Reads.
45 reviews2 followers
June 17, 2026
I received an ALC from Darkstar Romance.

Narration 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall story 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Holy Alien Smut! This is book 8 in a series of interconnected standalones and does not need to be read in order, but it would be helpful. It’s exactly as advertised. It’s short and a good time if you’re looking for something relatively low stakes and fun. A little action and adventure and some good smut. Alien are hot!

Narrated by Troy Duran so it was amazing of course. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for K.reads.daily &#x1f4da;&#x1f940;.
44 reviews
June 16, 2026
I got the ALC for this audiobook.

Troy did a great job narrating this book on his own!

The story overall was interesting, but I did feel like there could have been more angst. Everything seemed too easy to fix.
496 reviews2 followers
November 11, 2023
I know this was a redemption story but this felt like Ulrek had a personality transplant. In Keans's book, it was mentioned that he was still a jerk, had a low opinion of humans and treated females very badly. I can appreciate the reasons he did the things he did but, to me, his behavior/personality seemed off from the start.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kimberlea Richardson.
673 reviews14 followers
November 9, 2023
Unexpected Refuge

Ok, so, I was one of the people who was on board for this book. That being said, I still went into this book being cautiously optimistic because let’s face it, we’re talking about Ulrek 😉😂 Why did I even doubt him a little bit 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ During the 1st moment he entered into the book, he had me hooked. Within just a few chapters I felt bad for him, and wanted to give him a hug, tell him things would get better, & that people would eventually judge him for who he was now, not who he was in the past 🤗 Let me tell you….Delaney only sees the past when she looks at him, but that doesn’t change the fact that she is the PERFECT balance for this man. He definitely needed to be with someone who wasn’t afraid to call him out when he would mess up, and didn’t back down in fear around him. I mean he definitely had his work cut out for him on sooooo many levels with her, for sure. As if it wasn’t bad enough that he was hated by everyone who knew his reputation as a Dominion officer, he was also the captain of the ship that abducted Delaney from earth 👀🤦🏻‍♀️🫣 When Delaney leaves her abusive ex on Reka 5 to work on a spaceship, she’s less than pleased to find out who the captain is 🙄😝 Too bad for her, her issues with Ulrek are the least of her problems, so like it or not, working on his ship was in her future, and a good thing too when those issues end up being a big problem. Once she’s on his ship (ok, he was fascinated from the moment he met her 😉😈) Ulrek sees for himself that this woman has worked hard to be strong, and he also finds himself bringing out her fire (in more ways than one 🤭🔥). Their back & forth banter is hilarious, and watching their personalities bounce off each other was just like watching a tennis match 😂 I LOVED watching him win her over, and showing her that a person’s past does not have to define their future. As usual, there is no shortage of humor, adventure, action, friendship, passion, and love worth fighting for in this series 🙌🏻 The epilogue was so perfect, and just the right glimpse into their future 😍 Bottom line…Ulrek DID redeem himself in his book, in so many ways, and I gotta say, I do believe he is now one of my favorite Tallean guys. Who knew 🤯 If you’ve read the books in this series, but were on the fence as to whether you wanted to read this, do yourself a favor…READ IT! Give him a chance to earn your forgiveness & respect 🥺 Delaney did (eventually 😏😝), and if she can forgive him & fall in love with him, I’m betting you will too 🥰❤️
46 reviews
August 2, 2026
While this book can be read as a standalone, I think knowing that Ulrek was actually one of the villains earlier in the series makes his story even more compelling.

Delaney has every reason to hate Ulrek. After all, he was a Dominion captain responsible for kidnapping her from Earth, so the last person she expects to find as her new boss aboard the New Horizon is the very man she considers her sworn enemy. She wants nothing to do with him, and honestly, I couldn't blame her. But despite all of her anger, Ulrek finds himself completely unable to leave her alone, and watching him slowly work to earn her trust was one of my favorite parts of the story.

What makes this romance so interesting is Ulrek himself. Since the beginning of the series, he's been one of the bad guys, but there have always been hints that he wasn't completely evil. As he learned more about the Dominion's manipulation, greed, and corruption, those shades of gray became impossible to ignore. Now he's fighting against the very people he once served, driven by revenge and a desire to make things right. Seeing a former villain become the hero of his own story made this book feel fresh and different from so many other alien romances.

The chemistry between Ulrek and Delaney is built on distrust, guilt, and undeniable attraction. Delaney pushes him away every chance she gets, but Ulrek never stops trying to prove he's no longer the monster she remembers. As their past catches up with them and danger closes in, their relationship grows stronger, forcing them both to confront old wounds and the possibility that they might actually be fated mates.

The action keeps the story moving, with plenty of twists, danger, and emotional moments that had me invested from beginning to end. I also listened to the audiobook, and Troy Duran absolutely knocked it out of the park. Even though there was only one narrator, he gave each character a distinct voice, making it incredibly easy to follow every conversation. I flew through the book without ever losing track of who was speaking, and his performance added so much to the overall experience.

A Redemption for Ulrek is an exciting enemies-to-lovers romance filled with redemption, forgiveness, action, and heart. Watching a former villain fight to become the man worthy of Delaney's love made this story unforgettable. If you enjoy morally gray heroes, emotional character growth, plenty of adventure, and a romance that's truly earned, I highly recommend picking this one up.
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26 reviews2 followers
June 26, 2026
My first venture into science fiction... and it definitely won't be my last.
I'll admit, I was a little intimidated jumping into book 8 of a series, but I had been told A Redemption for Ulrek could be enjoyed as a standalone. Thankfully, that turned out to be absolutely true. While it's obvious there's a rich world and history behind these characters, I never felt lost or like I was missing key pieces of the story.
Lynnea Lee does an incredible job of weaving enough background into the story without overwhelming new readers. Instead of spending the entire book trying to figure out what was happening, I was able to focus on the characters, their journey, and the emotional stakes.
What surprised me most was how character-driven this story is. Yes, there's action, danger, and an exciting sci-fi setting, but at its heart, it's a redemption story filled with growth, trust, and finding hope when it feels impossible. I found myself invested in Ulrek's journey far more quickly than I expected.
As someone who usually reaches for dark romance or contemporary romance, I was pleasantly surprised by how accessible this book was. It opened the door to a genre I'd been hesitant to try, and now I'm genuinely curious about the earlier books in the series.
If you've been nervous about trying science fiction or worried about starting later in a series, A Redemption for Ulrek is proof that you can still have a fantastic reading experience. It's emotional, engaging, and left me wanting to explore more of Lynnea Lee's universe. My first venture into science fiction... and it definitely won't be my last.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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