He’s a wounded warrior who no longer feels worthy of having a mate. She’s determined to prove him wrong.
When Stromm was injured by mercenaries, I nursed him back from the brink of death, refusing to leave his side. I fed him, bathed him, and whispered encouragement when he wanted to give up.
In return, he gave me everything. His trust. His smiles. His heart.
Once he recovers, we’re going to become mates and start a family. Except something is trying to tear us apart.
There must be a way to fix what’s broken between us. Stromm and I have something special, a relationship worth fighting for. And I won’t let anything stand in the way of our happiness.
Because we’re stronger together, and danger is coming to our primitive planet. We won’t go down without a fight.
Emily and Stromm’s story is an alien barbarian romance in the Rakui Warriors series. This human-alien love story features a wounded warrior, second changes, found family, alien babies, a bit of mystery, and sweet steam. Although this is a complete, standalone romance, there is a continuing story line that unfolds throughout the series.
About the Rakui Warrior On Earth, 12 female college students board a starship for A Year of Interstellar Education. Crashing on a primitive planet inhabited by barbarian aliens was not on their itinerary…
Stromm is a wounded Rakui warrior Emily has been nursing back to health for several months. Although he feels unworthy of a mate, Emily wants to be his mate as soon as he is well. She has a TEASE unit implanted in her wrist, which she discovered the Earth Gov lied to them about. Its true purpose is to put females into “Species Survival Mode” as test subjects where it heightens their libidos, encourages ovulation for pregnancy, and in general encourages reproduction with the Rakuis warriors… but no one knows exactly why. They probably didn’t need that since he is already aware her mating scent gets stronger every day. Hearing an animal screech as she walks back to the cave where the Terrans stay, she grabs the pendant on her neck and feels comforted. The stone is a powerful sentient energy source that bonds with the wearer. It will keep her safe.
Yola arrives early to check Stromm’s post-surgical wounds. He still has pain inside and will not be able to hunt, guard, and claim his mate. He will find other ways to contribute to the tribe, but that is not enough for him. He wants to be worthy of a mate. But now he will never be whole. Hearing he can never be a hunter or warrior again forces Stromm to push his mate away. She tells him who he is inside is what truly matters, but that is still not enough for him. What he has lost, he can never regain. As Emily walks away to cry and figure out how to fix this, Stromm goes to the Elders’ cave to find a task where he can help and is instead sent to Sartok who has lived this same experience as a former hunter and now cures meat for the tribe; but Stromm feels they have simply washed their hands of him. Sartok gives him some ideas, but encourages him to claim his mate before another takes her from him. Will he listen to Sartok and go back to Emily? Will they discover the danger heading their way as they find out an extraction team went to UD-195 to get a pregnant Terran and her pre-term baby and suffered 2 losses. But it wasn’t known until now whether it was from planetary predators or the people fighting back. Now the danger is coming to their UD-237 planet next and they need to create shields capable of stopping laser fire and weapons to protect themselves. Will they be able to protect themselves?
Emily has a box called TEASE that is a microcomputer wrist implant injected into her body by Earth Gov. This was suppose to be for her and the other college students needed for the chance to enhance surival and adaptability on alien planets. Yeah NOT! Stromm is a Rakui and wounded. He and his friends helped protect them from mercenaries months ago. Emily and her friends find out why they are on the primitive planet and what earth gov wants. But all she knows is she wants Stromm. The healer checks Stromm and tells him that if he's hurt again in any of the areas where he took his injuries he will die. He tells her he can still hunt and guard. She lets him know that his injuries could put his brothers in danger and will let the Elders know. He feels like he is less Rakui. How can he even lay a claim on Emily if he is less than. He has no way to protect her. When she comes to see him he pushes her away and tells her he is not worthy to have a mate. She is heartbroken. When she lets him know her stone will help protect her his face goes stoney. As he leaves she walks until she falls to her knees crying. Is the stone what's keeping them apart? When he goes to the Elders they send him to Sartok another male who is unable to hunt or guard. Even the elders have abandonned him. Is this is life now? To be shunned and to be lesser? Meanwhile what is Emily going to do? Will she put her life on the line to make him change his mind? A story dealing with self worth and the power of love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Stromm is a standalone novella by Lena Grey. It is part of a series (book 5 of the Rakui Warriors series) and there is an ongoing plot through the series, but I had no issues picking up on what was happening to the human women who found themselves on an alien planet surrounded by virile humanoid alien warriors. I have to say, my interest has been piqued and will look into the previous four books.
I enjoyed this book because it picks up at the rocky start of the relationship between the alien Stromm and human Emily. Their romance started off page (likely in previous books), likewise the incident that has changed everything also happened in a previous book.
Emily and Stromm have an emotional bond and a deep chemistry. However, an injury that ends Stromm's ability to be a warrior that hunts and protects the tribe has him questioning his ability to be a suitable mate for his human love interest. This is a very alpha-male centric story when it comes to Stromm and the culture of his people, but the Rakui have a history where technology was shunned, and so are more than they appeared on the surface.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
'Just like I want to wait until he’s healed and we have privacy before getting more physical, he wants to wait until he’s strong enough to hunt for the tribe and protect his mate before claiming her. Before claiming me.'
I really enjoyed this book. Good world building and characters. I liked both Emily and Stromm. She tended to him as he healed from a nearly life-threatening injury. Great chemistry between them and she couldn't wait until he was recovered so they could take their relationship further and become mates. But when he is given news that he can't hunt or fight anymore because an injury to the same place would kill him, he's devastated and angry. Without being able to provide and protect his people, let alone a mate, he doesn't believe he is worthy of one. So we walks away from her.
Emily is broken-hearted, but won't give up and wants him back. Stromm is lost and angry. His journey over the course of this book and finding his new place in the tribe was what interested me the most now that he needs to find a different path. I also liked the supporting characters. 4 stars.
Emily knows Stromm and what she'll be getting if he asks her to be his mate -- which everyone expects him to do. But sometimes we need time and space to accept the universe is charting a different path for us than the one we wanted to take.
Stromm is used to being an able-bodied warrior. Recovering from a serious injury was hard enough, but life has decided this injury will impact his role in the tribe. Can Stromm wrap his head around these changes, or will he let it get in his head and derail the happily ever after he was on course for?
This done in one kindle unlimited quick read moves the overarching arc forward while standing nicely on its own. These characters are part of a community, and one of the story's strengths is members of the community stepping up and showing Stromm not only that they care, but the thousand and one ways they can see for him to retain his position in the tribe as a provider. This story understands that when the body is seriously injured, sometimes the heart and mind need to heal as well.
Emily (h) never expected to crash-land on an alien planet, but she’s learned to survive. She has friends, a place in the tribe, and feelings for a brooding Rakui warrior who won’t let himself have her. Stromm (H) once lived for battle, but after a near-fatal injury, he’s lost everything—his strength, his status, and the right to claim a mate. He pushes Emily away, convinced she deserves more. But Emily isn’t walking away that easily. Determined to prove they belong together, she sets out to win him over, even as the threat of Earthly danger looms and an ancient alien energy begins interfering in their fate, Emily and Stromm must fight for their bind with one another, or lose everything. Sweet and steamy alien-human, fated mates, second chance romance, exploring love, connection, duty, identity, fate, free will, self-worth, adaptation, survival, found family, community, and rebellion against oppression.
I received a copy from Booksprout and I'm willingly leaving a review I was really confused by Emily's logic on the rock, which she thought was against Stromm; there was also nothing to explain her train of thoughts on this. Like Jade said "it's the dumbest thing I've ever heard". On another note, I couldn't remember if the other ladies' rock also talked to their symbiont in the other books - the last one was dated July 2024. I liked the story, not too much drama, a bit of fun with Charlotte (wow!), some news from earth, and an HFN for Emily and Stromm, but nothing outstanding, unfortunately.
This was another engaging addition to the series and I loved seeing Stromm and Emily find their way to a happy ending. Stromm had been wounded and is suffering insecurity about being a good mate for Emily, based on their warrior society. She's been nursing him back to health and know he's it for her, but she has her work cut out for her. These two had hot chemistry together so I was thrilled they sorted themselves out. Good fun!
The fifth story in the Rakui Warriors, Stromm is a Rakui Warrior who has been badly hurt , Emily a human stays by his side to nurse him. When he finds out he will never hunt again he pushes her away. The story has a man learning that even though he can not able to do what he used to he is still able to contribute in a different way. I enjoyed seeing them get their happy ending, but danger is coming. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
loved it !! love this series !! love Emily and Stromm.. this is their story... a fast paced shorter drama.. Stromm is injured badly and Emily nursed him back...they made plans to be together and then, it all changed... Emily will fight for her happily ever after but, will Stromm ? and his injury... so good !!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I like a strong female lead. Someone who's not afraid to go after what she wants. Emily knows that she and Stromm have a bond and that something is coming between them. Their ups and downs tug at your heart. It's a sweet story, with some tears, a definite HEA, great characters, as well as awesome world building. I loved it!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An amazing story. Emily has loved Stromm since the start. The news that Stromm can never be a hunter or warrior again has him pushing her away. Stromm thinks he is unable to provide or protect a mate. Will Emily be able to convince Stromm he is the only Rakui for her? Loved reading their story. Thanx.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This Book 5 in the Rakui Warriors Series has an insteresting Sci-fi romance story, a well-crafted world, and interesting characters. These characters have unique personalities, believable interactions, and. complicated histories. This story has fated mates, second chance at love, danger, twists, turns, a connection, found family, chemistry and love.
Stromm is coming to terms with his new life post injury while Emily tries to reconnect. Mixing crash landings, aliens, mates, and government subterfuge makes an exciting read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is part of a series of interconnected standalones, and I think reading the earlier books help with the understanding of the world building. I love how Emily fights for her relationship with Stromm.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.