Dark

Colony: Nyx #7

by Demelza Carlton

Alone and pregnant in a space colony far from home, Linnaea didn’t think her life could get worse…until she gets stuck in hospital.
After Tariq lost his family in the attacks on Tito, he buried himself in his medical studies. Now as Dr Dark, he has a new saving lives. Even if he’s resigned to spending the rest of his life alone.
Until a chance encounter throws Tariq and Linnaea together. Dare they hope for a brighter future?

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2023

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author Demelza Carlton has always loved the ocean, but on her first snorkelling trip she found she was afraid of fish.
She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray-drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below.
Sensationalist spin? No - Demelza tends to take a camera with her so she can capture and share the moment later; shipwrecks, sharks and all.
Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world.
The Ocean's Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by the Nightmares trilogy. She swears the Mel Goes to Hell series ambushed her on a crowded train and wouldn't leave her alone.

Reviews

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tariq (Dr Dark), the male alien poltergeist cardiologist lead, is wondering what is left to keep him corporeal now that he’s nearly finished the self-assigned tasks he had. When he borrows a baby from the hospital crèche to run some necessary tests, he shocked to find that the night nanny is absolutely inspiring for him.

Linnaea, the female human lead, is pregnant with triplets to a dead alien shifter. When she meets Tariq, she’s immediately attracted and then ashamed of herself because she mistakes him for a friend’s husband. Finding out that he’s single, she’s comfortable opening up to a potential sexual relationship but nothing more - after all, who would want a readymade family with triplets?

But Tariq, as a poltergeist can’t sire children, and these children are his cousin’s, he later realises, and he really is attracted to Linnaea…can they make a relationship work?

This short story is dual POV, well written, and a fun, steamy, lovers to more romance. I enjoyed Linnaea’s independence and her determination to provide more for her children than she received as a foster child. I enjoyed Tariq’s self-sacrifice and his willingness to do everything for others. I appreciated that he narrowed his focus and was first to push for a relationship with Linnaea. I enjoyed the characters and relationship development, and the intimate moments. I also enjoyed the supportive secondary characters.

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

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the latest Colony story about Linnaea and Tariq. Tariq is a Poltergeist and since he seems to glow in the dark he is referred to as Dr. Dark. Tariq is also a Cardiologist who manages to hold on to a semblance of a body because he is needed. Those who were injured by the robot uprising often had to have organ replacements, usually their hearts. These could be grown in a lab, but it took time and the patient's genetic material for a successful transplant. Tariq's friend Falcon waited to long to be diagnosed and now he will never get to see the child he was expecting.

Linnaea was impregnated at one of the first IDA's speed dating events. She has tried to forget the actual sexual act, and is so not sad that the sperm donor is dead. She meets a hunky man while working the nursery at the hospital and is immediately smitten. Their clandestine hookups are enough to keep her going as her pregnancy advances. When she goes out on pregnancy leave she misses their time together, but is resigned to being a single parent to three hybrid babies.

Will these two manage to get on the same page and have their HEA? I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

🤰Can Linnaea keep Tariq in the here and now?🤔

I found Demelza Carlton's Dark an entertaining and somewhat steamy romance. I particularly liked the idea of a doctor with Tariq aka Dr. Dark's unusual dilemma of losing the ability to touch things: he makes his ghost side a plus, though, to help some of his cardiac patients and finds a workaround for the rest. Imaginative stuff.

Linnaea, the pregnant female lead, had a good storyline, a bit of rags to riches, and the misunderstanding when she and Tariq first meet lent a nice touch. The steamy stuff did not dominate the plot: it fit in nicely, though.😉 The HEA was just what I'd hoped for.

I have not read the whole sci-fi romance series but that did not hinder my enjoyment. This story did make me a bit curious about Linnaea's new found friend Maia and her alien guy Ghost, though, so I may go back to read their story.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the story; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Cheryl Drake johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

They call him Dr. Dark but his name was Tariq an alien doctor from the planet Tito when his family was killed on the planet he has tirelessly continues to help those who need him even during the long flight to the Colony he works at the hospital all the time. He does a favor for a friend Maia that gets him in some interesting circumstances with an employee. Linnaea who just found out some shocking information and though the Maia the head midwife at the hospital assures her she will do all she can to help, Linnaea wants to return to Star Farms but Maia informs her that she cannot at the time she offers her a place to stay and a job. Linnaea finds her boss threatening her job. Romantic, and entertaining heartwarming alien love story. I read a copy without obligation. I volunteered an honest review.

[Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this story Linnaea and Tariq face situations that are different and intriguing. Pregnant and without a clear future, Linnaea was practically convinced that she should not dream of what she could not have. Tariq's life had totally changed and now his skills were what kept him going. He was still plagued by guilt for not being able to do anything for his loved ones, but he was presented with a second chance and although he had doubts about himself, he found that he was open to what he could be. Interesting how the attraction between Linnaea and Dr. Dark was growing and filling their needs. I liked the intriguing descriptions of how Dr. Dark was developing and the interest that LInnaea took in working with her new situation. The girls of the farm have shown they have character. Voluntarily reviewed this copy which I liked.

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, two-hour science fiction & fantasy short read. When Linnea wakes up in the hospital, she meets the midwife and learns perhaps life can be better. Tariq, who lost his family during the robot uprising on Tito, is a cardiac surgeon at the hospital. When Linnea and Tariq meet over the midwife's child, the attraction is instantaneously volcanic.

This story contains plenty of powerful scenes. Most of the strife comes from the lack of communication between characters. The end is satisfying.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Happily Ever After. Romantic. Steamy. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.

I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tariq, known as Dr. Dark, is a cardiac surgeon in the Colony Hospital. He is also a poltergeist, killed along with the rest of his family in the Robot Rebellion on Tito. It seems as long as he has a purpose, he has corporeal form. There are times though when he, or part of him, goes through surfaces. Linnea is from Star Farm and is pregnant by Falcon, who has died. They meet in the hospital nursery where she worked. The attraction is instant and hot. Before long, they are in love. Dark needs a purpose to stay with her. Will Linnea and her children give him that purpose? This is another fun and entertaining Colony romance with interesting characters. Dark and Linnea are great, and Maia and Ghost make an appearance.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tariq is worried that he is going to fade away, he needs tasks to keep him attached to the living, otherwise this alien poltergeist cardiologist will disappear. Lucky for him he comes into contact with Linnaea a human woman who is pregnant, and she is attracted to him and he is to her too. Will this end in heartache? I enjoyed this pair, who seemed to be very much fated, the challenges they faced and their steamy interactions.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received, and giving my thoughts and opinions on it.

[Stan Hutchings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 7; many of the characters were the subjects of previous books in the series. They are all Human-Alien ‘fated mates’ stories with lots of hot, explicit sex and an eventual HEA ending. This is an enjoyable story of how Linnaea and Dark AKA Tariq meet and find their ideal mate in each other. They both appeared in previous books as background characters, but here they experience their own HEA story.

[Elspeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than insta-love, this race through a story was still entertaining. Linnea, a former foster child, is pregnant with triplets. She gets a job caring for the kids of hospital workers while she is still pregnant, and meets "Dr. Dark". They have a fling, but also fall in love.

She has her babies and they end up together. Oh, and he is not only some sort of shifter but he's also a ghost ....

[Stephanie Villere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark: Colony: Nyx #7 (Intergalactic Dating Agency) written by Demelza Carlton. You will just love this one. Linnaea is alone and pregnant with an alien baby when she meets Dr Tariq, also known as Dr Dark. They have some serious friction, but other circumstances are blocking the path. Sometimes you meet the right person, at just the wrong time. Let's see if we can get this straightened out!

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Return to the Colony and watch as Linnaea and Dark meet and the mayhem that happens next. Both have issues and a past that influences their present. It made me laugh and enjoyed the characters and story.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Doctor who died during an attack on his colony becomes a Poltergeist and just keeps on working to save colonists until he meets a woman who gives him a whole set of new reasons to live.
A sweet and somewhat steamy romance from an alien colony.

[Amanda Bhear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! As soon as I finished it, I found the others that go with it & ordered them. I just have to know what will be happening with the other girls in the different places! I am sure I wilreread the whole series many times.

[LeNita V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

Interesting series. The first three were more intriguing than the rest. The rest of the books seemed to be telling an overarching story but it felt like there were still unanswered questions after reading them.

[Sarah Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was thinking Falcon was Talon for some reason. There is a colony Holiday book that goes before this. The numbering on GoodReads is wrong and well as Amazon. It was okay. It felt a bit rushed and the characters act like they deserve to have nothing.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steamy, heartwarming and adorable.. Absolutely loved it! Tariq is such a sweetie..

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another quick read, its filled with action and adventure. I can't wait to read more from this author. I received this book as a Free ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Rachael]

Insta-everything with lots of moving pieces that run seemingly parallel yet are actually connected.