Bound to the Alien Orc

Alien Gambits #1

by Lara Roth

Framed. Banished. Bound. And falling for the enemy. What could possibly go wrong?

I'm one gig away from making it big as a Space Station Engineer. My final task? Pay attention long enough to fix an archaic orc spaceship whose problems are explained by the tall, muscular and sexy orc whose eyes scream danger, but also...temptation.

I'm all set to finish this job when bam! Some invisible enemy sabotages my work. When I'm framed for the crime, my dreams go up in smoke along with the ship.

The hot orc guard? He's gone from eye candy to jailer in a split second, making sure I serve my exile on some strange alien planet. How am I supposed to fight for my freedom when I'm also fighting my feelings for him?

I know I'm a pawn in something bigger, but between survival and romance, will my heart be my downfall or my secret weapon?

Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2024

About the author

Lara love's writing romance which is anything but contemporary! Her love of sci-fi, fantasy, and monsters doesn't just fuel her pastimes, it's the heartbeat behind every word she writes.

So if you want to escape to more interesting worlds of have love interests who are alien or downright monstrous, her books might just be for you! Keep up to date with her latest news by joining her newsletter.

Reviews

[Gleeful Goblin Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gleeful Goblin Review: I love how this book, especially Tasha, is written in such a conversational feeling way. I really felt like I was listening to the inner thoughts of a real person rather than hearing about the thoughts of a character. Especially early on in the book when we're being given Tasha's backstory this conversational tone is engaging: "I reached this place five rotations back. Right from day one, they painted this space station as the crown jewel of the Orion system. It’s not just a functional spaceport, it’s a planet in its own right, home to over four million residents from all over the Orion Galaxy. It’s where Stellar Togetherness dignitaries schmooze, sealing interplanetary deals and whatever else alien hotshots do. The Engineering Dock is the only part of this artificial planet to hold my interest, though. I’ve been itching to plunge into the different mechanical technologies available to me here. The Orion Space Station Engineering Program provided me with a way out of Venturis. Face it Tasha, they could have offered any old mechanical qualification scheme, and you would have jumped planet! All I want is to appreciate how junk fits together, fix problems or make new tech to help. Because junk is easier to fix than people. I shove that notion down with another clang of the metal strip. So far, I’ve only worked on boring earth cargo ships, a lifeline to Earth for the few hundred of us on the station. Seen one propulsion system, seen ‘em all! What I really want is to work on are some starforgers or even a nebula navigator. Hopefully, one day develop my own machines someone will marvel at!" This kind of fiery intensity and driven mentality is Tasha all the way down to her toes and I absolutely love her for it.

Droilin is intense as well but in more of a still waters run deep kind of way. He's struggling to deal with family secrets and dishonor in a society where honor is one of the most important attributes one has. That family shame lays heavy on him and influences his choices heavily throughout the book. But from the very start he is fascinated by Tasha and her vivacious energy, tenacity, and intelligence. And if that's not a recipe for swooning I don't know what is. 5/5 Stars.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen Nastasio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was was a fantastic read and love everything about this book there was danger, conspiracy, drama, intrigue, sabotage, sacrifice are just a few things in this book that will have you on the edge of your seat. Tasha is an Engineer/ mechanic and is one step away from getting qualified and be the best and by working and fixing the Archaic Orc Spaceship that’s having issues is the key but the grumpy Orc Droilin watches her every move but when her work is sabotaged and she is wrongfully accused of the crime she is locked up by even Droilin doesn’t believe she is responsible and was set up and now they work together to find out who is responsible and clear her name but and the closer they get the stronger the bond grows. Droilin is a Orc Warrior and Bodyguard to his Chief and even at times he doesn’t agree with his plans for their planet at all that’s not his job. Now thee is a human female working on his ship and he doesn’t trust her and keeps a close eye on her as a potential threat and when the ship is sabotaged he takes her into custody and locks her up but he feels she is being set up and needs to find out who is doing it but he is having trouble focusing on find out when all he wants is to be closer to Tasha. How does it alll work out and do they find who conspiring and uncover the traitor before it’s to late.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Tasha, the female human mechanic/engineer lead, has been pursuing certification that would expand her career options exponentially but obstacles keep being placed in her way. When she sees an opportunity, she jumps for it, hoping that fixing an alien spaceship will be what she needs.

Droilin, the male orc warrior lead, is the personal bodyguard of his chief, though he’s not sure he supports what his chief is angling for regarding their planet and its development. But he’s made a commitment, regardless of how he feels about the human who was theoretically fixing their ship.

When it looks like Tasha is a threat, he’s obliged to secure her. But his instincts tell him there’s more to this situation…

This story is dual POV, well written, and an interesting, lengthy, sci fi romance. I enjoyed Tasha’s pursuit of and success in a male dominated career. I enjoyed that she was willing to pursue her goals, but also to care for Droilin. I empathised with Droilin’s past and his attempted reparations. I also enjoyed how he was willing to incorporate Tasha into his life. I enjoyed the non-romance plot and its resolution. I’m looking forward to more in this series.

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

[Hannah Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed multiple parts of this book. I loved the couple and the world. I'm so used to seeing humans be the most common species in sci Fi worlds so only having a few humans was fun. The reason why the rating isn't higher is because there were some problems. A small one is I think the romance was rushed. The two barely got to know each other then bam they start banging. A second one is some of the writing doesn't line up well. For example some dialogue doesn't line up with what is happening or they basically say the same thing over and over just worded slightly different. I also felt like parts of the mystery were forgotten near them end. I know it's probably going to be wrapped up in later books but they put so much attention to it only to never mention it again near the end. I also felt like the pacing was slightly off. We spent a lot of time before the conflict getting to know the characters and then the rest of the story felt rushed. Other then that it was a fun read and I can't wait to see where this story goes.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this author has a lot of potential. The worldbuilding was unique with good imagery and detail, and the plot kept me interested throughout, but it could have been so much more if it had passed through the hands of a proofreader and/or editor. There were many conflicting and repeated phrases, misspelt words and the blatant overuse of commas made me want to pull out my red pen and start circling 😅
Tasha’s character did have me grinding my teeth in frustration at times, ping-ponging between being a strong-willed independent woman in a man’s world to a wilting daisy caving at the slightest threat. Droilin had a much more consistent nature though he seemed remarkably blasé at times about the danger Tasha could be in at the hands of their enemies. As for the storyline itself, I quite enjoyed the build up of Droilin and Tasha's romance, their journey of vengeance and their determination to keep fighting for what they believed in.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Orion Galaxy, Tasha (h), a human engineer wrongfully accused of a crime, and Droilin, a disgraced orc warrior, are drawn together by fate amid a web of political intrigue and ancient customs. Together they navigate treacherous landscapes to uncover and dismantle a deeply rooted conspiracy that threatens the stability of the galaxy. At the heart of their story is a battle that Droilin must win to overturn the injustices that have plagued his life and to restore peace to Morcrest. Through sacrifice, cleverness, and the unbreakable bond between Tasha and Droilin, they seek to offer a new hope and reforms. Their love, which grew in adversity, offers a beacon of change for their people. Hot and steamy tale of adventure, romance, and heroism, underscoring the power of love and unity in the face of darkness.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set Up to Take the Blame . . .

Tasha is human and eager to prove she is ready to become a licensed space station engineer through repairing an old Orc ship for Ambassador Garrox of Morcrest. She gets the opportunity to work on the dignitary’s ship, only to have it sabotaged as she is blamed and sentenced to be executed. However the Ambassador’s personal guard, Droilin, who has been carefully watching Tasha as he protects the Ambassador, believes she was not the one responsible for this and arranges for her sentence to be commuted to lifetime exile on the luminore mining planet of Morcrest. In the meantime, will they work together to find out who set her up and is actually responsible for what happened? Will he let himself become attracted to her? Grab your copy of this fast-paced story and see if justice will be served against the guilty party!

[Lynn_G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tasha is a technician who specializes in older spacecraft repair. Droilin is an alien orc guard assigned to the ship Tasha’s been tasked with working on when she’s framed for its sabotage.

Droilin then becomes Tasha’s warden when his superior orders her imprisonment.

Wildly attracted to each other, will anything come of it? Will Tasha be exonerated?

I loved the world building in this book as well as the rich characters. My only criticism is that with a skilled editor, numerous typos and grammatical errors would be corrected, and this very hefty volume could probably be trimmed by at least one third while maintaining the thread and impact of the story arc.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author and bookfunnel, and I’m sharing my honest thoughts.

[Sandra Sanches · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story,Tasha is fierce and determined to be a good engineer and while trying to prove her value ,she's betrayed and framed for a crime she didn't commit.Droilin is the personnal guard for the Ambassador of Morcrest and at first sight there's a connection between them.
Their bond will grow while they run for their lifes while trying to uncover a major conspiration....
A romance ,not very spicy, the focus is their love story in a whirlwind of action and some suspense,secrets and intrigue.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Holly Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lara Roth has written an excellent alien romance. Tasha is a female human trying to achieve her dream of becoming a certified space station engineer, but her boss won’t give her a chance until the space craft of a dignitary is bombed after she fixes it. She is blamed and sentenced to execution without much defense, but Droilin, the dignitaries guard, gets her sentence commuted to life working with him on his planet, examining the mining system. Much intrigue and sexy times ensues until the mysteries are solved! A wonderful HEA follows!

[Rayne Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of Orc Romance, I was delighted to read this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book has intriguing worldbuilding and abundant detail to keep you hooked. Tasha and Droilin are likable but not always consistent in their behavior which confused me at times. The story-line of the growing romantic relationship between Tasha and Droilin was enjoyable. The way they worked together to do what was right and the satisfying HEA made it a worthwhile read.
My only complaint is the book could have done with some content editing due to repetitive sentences and spelling mistakes.

[Fay J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new author to me. I have only read one other of her books thus far and I loved it so much that I took a chance on this one too and was definitely not disappointed. Tasha is working towards being the best engineer which means working on an archaic Orc ship under the scowling eye of Droilin. I loved these two so much. The way that they interact with each other, how they navigate from one sort of relationship to another. The characters are so good that you can picture it all. There is action, steam, romance and intrigue. What more could you need or want?!

[Nina Diab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, fast-paced adventure with danger, intrigue, and mystery. Good world building. I liked both Tasha and Droilin. They had good chemistry. Tasha's work was sabotaged and I liked that when others turned their backs, Droilin felt something wasn't right and investigated what happened- trying to prove her innocence. Tasha has pretty much everything going against her and nearly no time for anything to be done to save her. I was riveted to the story and couldn't wait to see what would happen. 4 stars.

[Annie myluxeshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read!

Seeing Droilin and Tasha’s relationship grow and change was special, their dedication to each other was so sweet.

I enjoyed the mystery of this book as well, the different pieces of the puzzle that slowly came to light and how everything resolved at the end was very satisfying.

I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next from Lara!
I received an ARC copy from her and it was greatly appreciated :)

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Framed and Exiled

I loved the storyline in this book. Tasha and Droilin went through so much to be happy. After she was framed, he worked so hard to prove her innocence. They were attracted to each other from the start but had no clue they were pawns in a much larger game. There was so much going on, I was fascinated and ensnared from the beginning. It was such a good love story, the author did an excellent job and I can’t wait to read more about Morecrest.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Droilin and Tasha. Shes a mechanic/engineer and shes working on the Orc ship. Hes a bodyguard and is watching her every move. Someone has messed with her work and made it look like she wasnt fixing the ship so shes arrested but Droilin doesnt believe she sabatagged the ship. They are now working together to see who set her up. Theres danger, drama, intrigue, suspense, lies, passion. Loved it.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristine L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the storyline. Tasha has a male lead career. She treats Droilin well and cares for him when he needs it. Droilin is her bodyguard. They have an amazing love story of intrigue and betrayal. Has great action and some spice. I can't wait to read the next book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, it has a well written storyline, filled with action, adventure, and intrigue. I can't wait to read more from this author. I received this book as a Free copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story full of pulse pounding tension that will captivate you. It’s about love and trust no matter how hopeless the outcome seems. It’s also about betrayal to both the main characters. Will you be able to spot the villains? One is fairly obvious. The other was a surprise…. at least to me.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this monster novella over the past couple of days. It was surprisingly sweet, funny, sexy, and even had a moment at the end where I teared up.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written story and a great start to the series. It was a bit slow in the beginning, but I can blame that on world building. Once the action starts, it does not stop. Medium burn. Great story.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ladnamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story with lots of mystery and political intrigue. There are nail biting moments, spicy times and a satisfying ending.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sydnee Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tasha is in a male lead career. She fights for what she wants even when it isn’t where she wants to be. She treats Droilin well and cares for him when he needs it.
Droilin is a personal bodyguard. He may not believe in what his assignment does but he does his job.

[Sandra Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Framed Tasha, a human, is on an orc spaceship and Droilin an alien is her watch guard. Will they find out who set her up? The plot follows their journey. A great read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Avid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic sci-fi adventure romance. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story from beginning to end and definitely looking forward to see what comes next in the series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sara Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book 1 in The Alien Gambits Book Series has an entertaining, short, paranormal, Alien romance. This book has a well-crafted world, unique characters and interesting story. This is a must read story, I cannot wait to read the next book.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome sci-fi romance! Really enjoyed it! Unique and fun-to-read.. Steamy and sweet.. Fantastic characters!

[Cambree McNeiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful sci-fi romance

I love when an alien romance has a plot to go with all the spice!

This was a great book and kept me turning the pages to find out what was next.

[Danii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interplanetary conspiracy, corruption, sabotage and betrayal are setting up high stakes for the HEA of Tasha and Droilin.

[Summer Steelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book! I loved it and couldn't put it down! Enjoyed every word and will totally check out more by Roth.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.