Blaze

by Lili Zander

Fake dating my hot alien roommate? Yes please.When Fodor Throop, the man who murdered my mentor, becomes my new boss, and I discover that I’m going to be stuck with him on a weeklong work trip, I’m goaded into doing something very stupid.

I pretend that my Karven podmate Calder is my boyfriend, and even worse, I tell Throop that he’s is a deadly, dangerous bodyguard.

Dumb. So dumb. Yes, it’s true that the Karven are powerful, lethal warriors, feared all over the galaxy, but not Calder.

Calder is a great guy. He’s nice. Clean. Picks up after himself. Cooks for me.
But lethal? Judging from his wounds, my hapless podmate is the target of every bully on Harte.

Now Calder and I on our trip…
He’s pretending to be my boyfriend…
We’re sharing a room where there’s only one bed…
We’re practicing kissing…
Making everyone believe we’re crazy about each other…

And even though it’s fake, it’s all starting to feel very, very real.

Then I see Calder fight, and realize out that everything I knew about my Karven podmate was a lie.

Genres: Aliens, Science Fiction

143 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2024

About the author

Lili Zander is the sci-fi romance loving alter-ego of Tara Crescent. She lives in Toronto. She enjoys reading sci-fi and fantasy, and thinks a great romance makes every book better.

www.facebook.com/authorlilizander

lili@lilizander.com


Tara Crescent

Reviews

[➦Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calder Beyeran Haldi, has worked for Special Forces for the last six years, At the age of 34 he has worked as a spy and has done things that he is not proud of, he no longer wants to fight any longer all he wants is a normal life
He wanted to fulfill his dream of becoming a bounty hunter ….. He put in his request for his last mission in doing so his superiors had given him a long-term assignment.




Elodie Rinou is a mech who has worked at Onel Corp for four years. She’s smart, talented, and almost certainly not involved in anything nefarious. She heads up the Class E maintenance division, and just Calder’s luck , she is looking for a roommate


Calder has been Elodie ’s roommate for the last six months, and she thought the effects of all his muscled body would eventually fade by now. And it has. Mostly. But every once in a while, when she least expects it, the sheer physicality of his body punches her in the face.

Elodie was being sent on a long weekend with her nemesis / new boss who had murdered her mentor over a decade ago, her thought process wasn’t working properly and her first thought was to bring her sexy roommate along as her fake boyfriend

Calder has No problems going with Elodie for a business trip, It fits in perfect with his plans to be able to get closer to accomplishing his goals for his assignment. Only trouble is he doesn’t realize that he is going to have to share a bed with her for the next several days


So many secrets so many lies

[Hilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

fake dating + fake bodyguard + espionage = perfection

I love fake relationships and add a fake bodyguard and I’m there. Like so hard. I really liked this story. I didn’t love it though and that makes me very sad. I think the friends to lovers part got to me. Like that part was too tame. I’m not sure. It just seemed so tame. Like so many big things were happening and everything seemed so cool and collected. So easy. I’m actually not even sure what I’m saying.

Long story short. I liked it very much but didn’t love it.

I will still most definitely read anything by this author.

[Zuzu Apricot]

I’m disappointed☹️

I was really looking forward to reading this because the summary sounded so fun and cute. However, the way it’s written is just boring. Which is sad. I really wanted to like this.

There is smut in this. But, in my opinion, it’s not hot at all. It felt like the writer had specific points to hit.

There was no physical descriptions (ex: changes in breathing, temperature changes, physical descriptions like goosebumps, shivers, unfocused eyes, etc.) The main character instead would have an internal monologue of imagining him doing something sexual to her and then admitting to being so turned on. Well, the female lead may have been turned on but I certainly wasn’t.😭

When writing a smut scene, the goal isn’t to tell the reader that it’s supposed to be hot. A written scene is supposed to make the reader go “damn, that’s hot.”

As you can tell, I feel very strongly about this.😂

No rating due to dropping this.

[Melanie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake it till you make it

Calder is a super-secret Karven operative on a critical mission. Elodie doesn't know that. The human mech engineer thinks her hunky Karven room mate is a courier who gets beat up all the time. This fast-moving sexy romance features a lot of fake identities, fake relationships, and bad intentions, but Elodie and Calder want the REAL DEAL - true love. It's a good story with lots of suspense and near disasters, punctuated by smoking hot love scenes. In other words, everything the alien romance reader wants. This is my voluntary independent ARC review.

[JML · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 terrific🌟's for Blaze🔥🔥💖

Calder is a Karven special forces solider. He's been through a lot and now wants to lead a different life and retire from the military. His commanding officer has one more job for him to do one that will save hundreds of thousands of lives. He needs a way to find the Intel he needs without getting to involved with others around him. What could go wrong? Elodie is a top notch engineer she works for A great company but the previous owner has died and left the business to his son. A son that doesn't really know anything about spaceships and is hiring people that don't know what there doing. Thank god her new roommate Calder is there to make her life better. When someone horrible from Elodie's past shows up they end up being connected to Calder's mission. Can he save Elodie , complete his mission and make sure the only woman he's ever loved doesn't leave him for deceiving her? You've got to read it and find out. This is a fun 2 hour read with action, adventure a bit of Intrigue and of course love.💖🔥🌟🔥💖🌟🔥💖🌟💖🔥🔥💖🔥💖🌟💖🔥🌟

[Laure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elodie is not thinking straight when she finds out that her new boss is the man wo murdered her mento, that he will be going alon on the weeklong work event she is required to attend, and she tells him that her bodyguard boyfriend will be traveling with her. Calder is her podmate, he is a nice guy who picks up after himself, he is clean, and he even cooks for her, but a Karven warrior he is not. Calder is very much aware that Elodie does not think he can fight, and that is exactly what he wanted her to believe. His best hope is that by the end of this trip he will be free to tell her how he feels about her, and that he will be able to choose to live the life he wants.
Elodie and Calder are wonderfully well written characters, and I very much enjoyed their sometimes funny, but always engaging interactions. Some exciting action, unexpected twists, and a happily ever after are all this steamy alien romance. I loved this book and recommend it to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Elisa Llewellyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute first look at the Bounty Hunters of Karven series

Elodie’s new boss sucks. He killed her mentor ten years ago and now he’s her INCOMPETENT new boss. He’s got it out for Elodie, so she tells a teensy-weensie little fib that her bike courier roommate is actually her boyfriend and that he’s a professional bodyguard. Which works for Calder since he’s actually a Karven special forces spy on the hunt for an illegal weapons deal that would decimate his whole planet. The fact he’s got feelings for Elodie is a slight hiccup, or is it?

So, the ending was a wee bit predictable… but this was overall a fun caper. Looking forward to the next books in the series.

[Foodiegirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Lili Zander's books and this is a cute fun read, Elodie has a horrible boss that is terrible job. Then she gets Calder as a roommate he is a perfect, handsome hot roommate. Elodie beg's Calder to be her fake boyfriend and travel with her for business. Calder does she know that he is secret Karven operative on a mission and as they embarke on a fake romance each other, it starts to become real. Lots of suspense and twists, with some steamy hot scenes. Hopefully we'll visit this world again. I really enjoyed this book.

[Diane G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful New Series!

“Blaze: AnAlien Fake Dating Romance” is the first story in the series ‘Bounty Hunters of Karven’ by Lili Zander! From the beginning to the end, the story takes us on a journey filled with twists, turns, and the unexpected. Our emotions are rocked, sends chills down your spine and keeps you on edge throughout the story! Lili Zander is an amazing and accomplished writer to create this well written story with characters of depth and unique personalities. A page turner from page one!!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elodie was smitten with her pod mate. Calder was the best friend she could ever have. He was funny, strong, listened to her, shared his food with her, bought her chocolate. But he was a courier who came home bloodied all too often. But Calder wasn't who he appeared to be. Oh no. He was so much more. He had a secret a life and a plan that definitely included Elodie....Fabulous alien/fake dating romance by Lili Zander

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engine Grease Release

I actually bought this book because of the two main character’s names! Elodie has always been a favorite of mine and Calder just screams hunky hardness to my alien loving mind. The story moves along at a fast pace with humor and all sorts of action, both the sexy kind and brutal physical kind. There’s a slimy adversary and a dangerous plot to unveil. I was glued to the pages from beginning to end. I think I’m going to enjoy this series.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super fun take on sci-fi romance

I love fake dating. I love body guard romances and I love sci-fi so this was the perfect combo of them all.
I loved their easy banter and friendship. I wish there was more tension to the action but otherwise it was a quick read and good fun. Will definitely read from Lili Zander again

[Penny Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting!

Blaze is an entertaining read. Elodie is a smart competent heroine in a non-traditional job. Caulder is the warrior spy who charms her to accomplish his mission. Lots of heat, romance, and action. Hope there will be more books in the series.

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, it is filled with action and intrigue. The interaction between the characters is entertaining and I can't wait to read more from this author. I received this book as a Free ARC copy and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Jane Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

💜💜💜💜🔥

This is a wonderful story filled with plenty of intrigue, drama, deception, and danger. The characters were believable, and the background information given made it easy to follow.

[Elree Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Beth

First time reading Lili Zander. I gotta say I will be looking for more of her books.

You have intrigue, fights, bad guys, relationship growth and yes a happy ending.

I just wish the bonus was included in this book instead of it being emailed to me.

[Wendy K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to be honest here and say this wasn’t really my favorite. It was definitely a fast read and I really tried to like the characters but it felt a little rushed and like it was just missing something more.

The two main characters have been roommates for 6 months but Calder has been lying to Elodie the entire time because he is a spy. However, while living this lie, he has been gradually falling in love with her at the same time and she is oblivious. When she needs him to pose as a fake boyfriend, he jumps on the idea so he can be close to her. She gets whiplash by how fast he goes from being a friend, to kissing her and sticking his hand down her pants. (And that made me giggle.).

In all honesty, I did enjoy the read, but maybe it was just a little too short and when all of the closing action started happening, it just felt like it went from Step A to Step B to Step C really fast. And honestly, Elodie accepted his apology way too soon. She should’ve made him be on his knees and beg a little first. Just saying. I am happy that there was a HEA for these two.

I will give the next book a try when it comes out because I know there was a great set up for another.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it - recommend to all fans of smutty sci-fi romance

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more like a novella but I was truly hooked! I loved the tension between the characters as they elevated their relationship from roomates to more (kinda quickly lol). Absolutely looking forward to more in this series.