Deadlocked

by Libby Sinclair

Brielle Connors, former officer for the elite bounty hunters the Cavalier Security Corp, is on a mission. To get her job back and make her old boss and ex-boyfriend look like a fool. After weeks of research and leg work, she finally discovers the holy grail of bounties and sets out to reel it in. Only, the alien Tulan bounty hunter, Finn Strydom, beats her to it. Rushing to the payload and bickering all the way, the two find themselves stranded on an abandoned ship with no hope of rescue. A last minute confession leads to a hot close encounter as the two face death.

Genres: Aliens, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Romance

Audible Audio

First published January 15, 2016

About the author

Libby Sinclair is a science fiction romance fictionist, and has been writing for the last ten years. She is happily married and although her husband doesn’t understand her fiction habit, he accepts it.

Reviews

[Leyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this was... A little frustrating. A little boring. Hated heroin. Hero is to good to be true and ends UP being boring. Sigh... Review lateerrrr

[Felicity Kates · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good sci-fi romance read. I especially liked the tension between the characters in the latter half of the book and the sense of suspense which Ms. Sinclair created when the characters are separated and the reader is left wondering if and when Finn and Brielle will ever see each other again, and if not, what will happen to Finn. Looking forward to the next book!

[Kim Pruitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadlocked is a Science Fiction Romance Novella based on a very strong willed, stubborn young woman by the name of Brielle Connors. Brielle works as a security officer for the high profile Cavalier Security Corp. She's dating her boss Haakon, and has a crush on the handsome Tulan Bounty Hunter, Finn. When Brie isn't working her day job, she often stops by to see if she can score a side job with a little more action than her day job provides, like actually hunting down bad guys and not just being a security escort for the wealthy politicians. All is well in Brielle's world until the one day when she sets her sights on the biggest score yet, catching a wanted killer for more money than she has ever been paid in her life! Will Brie survive the hunt for Grafton Neel, her boyfriends wrath, or the sexual tension between her and Finn?!

So Brie is human, and so is her man Haakon. They have been together for a while but have no intentions on making any serious commitments to each other. It sounds like to me the foundation of that relationship was not that strong. So when Finn was introduced as a love interest I was very excited about it! Haakon didn't come across as a very loving or affectionate guy, and Finn was all about the romance of it all. The action in the story was great! I felt like I could have been watching an episode of any of my favorite sci-fi shows! Reading on as Finn and Brie fought to catch the big game first and fall into a whole new kinda mess was very entertaining. The unexpected twist in the story that forever changes Brielle was well played, and I loved the ending! The side characters were great, the foreplay was hot, and the adventure was priceless! This is a must read for any lover of science fiction romance!

[Ishabelle Torry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of Deadlocked in exchange for an honest review, and I am glad I took the offer!
Despite being a novella, the backstory was complete and furthered by a wonderful, erotic journey that incorporated the sexual aspect of their relationship with an actual story full of action, adventure, and some rather hilarious banter. (In space no one can hear you bicker! HAHA ) Finn and Brielle are a great power couple, even with their completely different personas...and species. The heat between the two seared the pages!

Also, as a planet nerd, I was relieved to see the author paid attention to the science behind them, as well as space travel, and describing the technology one would expect to find among any species traversing the stars. I really need to get me a percom!

Highly recommended read for anyone who loves scifi, aliens, and of course hot romance.

[Anna Low · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a new author for me and I received and arc copy in exchange for an honest review. Loved the book and will be reading more from this author in the future. Brielle is dismissed from her job for speaking her mind to her charge. And her 10 year boyfriend, who is her boss and the one who fired her, moves her out of their quarters and into her ship. Finn is a Tulan bounty hunter and someone she is attracted to. She decided to have a one-night stand with him only there are many things about Tulan's and their mating rituals that she doesn't understand and soon gets a crash course on them. Then throw in the start of a war and some scientists in need of protection and it makes for a good read

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really enjoying this at the start of the book- the blurb only covers events up to 30%. The rest of the book is pretty much her throwing a hissy-fit, running across the galaxy, and being a jerk to the poor guy. She only sees him as a good lay, and doesn't harbor any romantic feelings towards him (other than towards his endowment) pretty much the whole story. In fact the final lines of the book are as follows;

She smiled. “I still don’t trust you.”
He returned her smile with a flash of his fangs. “But I trust you, dearest. And as long as you let me fuck you, we’ll both be happy.”

Could have been awesome if the book was completely redone from 30% on.

[Shasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sexy sci fi romance

I was pleased with the amount of science fiction in this story. The h and H are complex and so is the world building even though it is a novella. I wanted more at the ending and I look forward to more stories.
Mature content
Read in KU

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, He Is Your Sex God🐺🍆🌋

Definitely An Alpha Alien Male Sex God🐺🍆🌋 Romance!

Brielle💋 is a Cavalier, a high class security guard🔪🔫 on an outpost in space. Even so, she has to get extra work to make ends meet and keep paying for and fixing up her small spaceship🚀. She even takes on some bounty hunting jobs.
Finn🐺🍆🌋, An alien Tulan is a freelance bounty hunter🔪🔫. He has had his lusting eye on Brie💋 for years, but she had a boyfriend, her boss. Brie💋 is done with the boyfriend now, when she is fired by him for talking to a concubine about anti slave law on a protection gig.
She overhears a story about a lost derelict ship🚀, and leaves the outpost in search of it. Finn🐺🍆🌋 beats her to it, but when they get inside, the ship is booby trapped and they get trapped in the medical bay.
While trapped and waiting to die of oxygen deprivation, Finn🐺🍆🌋 tells her they should have sex, to pass the time. Brie💋 doesn't realize Tulans mate for life and that he has suggestive power over her body and mind, and now they are mated forever!💘
They are rescued by the owners of the ship, Xerlians, thought to be extinct. With Finn🐺🍆🌋 working his gift of B.S., And translating to Brie💋💕, they are allowed to leave in his ship. Mated forever💘, because Finn🐺🍆🌋 made her take the Tulan vows in front of the Xerlian.
Finn🐺🍆🌋 is a tall, green, sexy, tatted up, sex machine for Brie!
YEHAW! Ride em Bareback🍆, Cowgirl!🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎

ARC Received for a Voluntary and Honest Review.

Great sci-fi book📙!

[Caroline Doig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sci-fi book by Libby and I hope she can write this book into a series. The character Brielle gets fired from her job by her boss who she is sleeping with goes out in search for the Xerian ship that went missing a long time ago. Brielle finds the ship and docks then inside she finds a sexy green alien already on board. Finn is ready to get the bounty for the ship when he see’s an alluring woman board the ship, they have a one night stand then they go their seperate ways but Finn doesn’t tell Brielle that he has claimed her. They meet up much later and after all of their adventures end up alone on a planet. I loved this book it has a great storyline and characters and I definitely recommend this book.

[Charlotte Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

This book was a fast read and very enjoyable. Brielle is a very independent woman but doesn't trust really well when it comes to men. She finds herself and Finn, a Tulan, on an abandoned ship where they are searching for riches. Finn has an interest in Brie. Find out what happens.
The characters are being developed but you do get the sense of who they are. This is the first book in this series so it may seem like it ends in a cliffhanger but I think its just a continuation of their story. I can't say to much or I will give it away and I don't want to do that.

[HEATHER · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I just loved this story and will look forward to the next in the series. Science fiction with lots of background and believable characters with depth, a plot with unexpected drama, makes this book a great read for readers who like sci-fi romance and realism. Congratulations to the author on inspiring well written book.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun space adventure mixed in with some chemical locking sex. It takes a while for two main characters to get together, and then they’re separated again. It feels like the first episode of a series. It ends, but not where a typical romance ends. If you like Star Wars, Star Trek and Babylon 5 type shows, you’ll like this science fiction romance.

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

[Philleys Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book by this author, and I loved it! This was a quick and easy read, my favorite kind, with a totally sexy hunk of an alien named Finn, and his reluctant human mate, Brie. Great storytelling! I recieved a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

I loved the characters and dialogue. Good story just wish it had been longer. It would have been nice to have gotten to know the characters more.

L.

[Linda Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sci fi romance. Brielle is out to prove something but discovers something more important when she and Finn find themselves together. They generate a lot of heat. It is a good read and keeps your interest. It leaves you wanting more.

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

to short!

[Evon Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely enthralled with this book, I couldn't put it down once I started reading it, Can't wait to read the next book in this series.

[Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good sci fi romance

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brielle Connors, fired from her job with the Cavaliers and apparently from the relationship she had with her boss, is left to her own devices. Her goal, prove to her former boss/boyfriend that he was an idiot to let her go. How to do that. Hmm.

Through, how shall I put it, clever determination (i.e. outright theft), Brielle manages to come up with the location of a mythical Xerian ship. Thought to have been lost during the war that ended decades ago, the ship and it’s payload are the find of the century (or whatever passes for a very long time in the Deadlocked universe). But Finn Strydom, an alluring, sea-green-skinned alien acquaintance/competitor, is already on the ship when Brielle docks. At this point, things get interesting. When I say interesting, I mean quite a few things. Amorous activities, capture by aliens, release, separation, a new job, another war. And some of those things happen more than once.

I think what I appreciated most about Deadlocked is the build up of the relationship that seems to mean one thing to Brielle and something different to Finn. Also, when they are separated, I agonized about how they would get together again. Because I just knew they were meant to have a happily ever after.

If the story continues in future books (as hinted at in the ‘Thank for reading!’ section after the end of the story), I will be interested to learn more about the universe that Brielle and Finn live in. There is a lot of conflict among several intelligent species out there. In Deadlocked, the conflict was more or less a device to get two characters together. I could see it becoming a more critical aspect of the story.

Mostly I like loosing myself in a complex 3- or 4- or 5-hundred page novel. Deadlocked comes in at only 91 pages (according to Goodreads). Despite the meager quantity of pages, Deadlocked has everything a girl would look for in a SciFi Romance. Tough heroine, sexy hero (alien sexy hero), space ships, a threat of war, danger, adventure and a spicy romance!

Originally posted at Smart Girls Love SciFi Romance.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://fallenoverbookreviews.blogspot...

I received this book to give an honest review.

As anyone who knows my genre of reading knows that I am not big on Sci-fi books. I guess for me sometimes they feel too Sci-fiish (not sure that is even a real word.) Though on this book I was worried that I wouldn't like it but I was wrong. It was actually a bit enjoyable, though hold up a minute don't think that I am fully on the Sci-Fi train just this book was a good one for me.
We are introduced to Brielle who I am assuming is a human and works hard for what she has which isn't much but it is hers. I love the fact that she is a bounty hunter to me that is so cool and amazing though we don't read about her capturing anyone we get the feeling she is good at what she does.
When she gets laid off because of something silly she decides to find this major treasure only thing is another bounty hunter Finn is set on getting it first. Finn is an alien but you can tel with the way he jokes around with Brielle he has feelings for her.
When the two are stuck in a ship things get hot and heavy and then we learn just a bit about the Tulan and what happens within that species. I can honestly say I wasn't expecting that part it was a nice little twist.
When Brielle goes to not only work with her friend on a site across the system she also is there to warn them of the impending battle that may approach will Finn find her in time to save them all? Or will he be too late? Will Brielle give in to her feelings and needs to Finn or still be stubborn?
I really liked how Finn for an alien was a sweetheart and no matter what Brielle did or said did not deter him away.
There is adventure, hot scenes and action all rolled up into one. Check it out if you like Sci-Fi Romance.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a short story, Deadlocked does not lack in detail. The author does a fantastic job of creating a backstory and telling the story without sacrificing either to condense. I honestly felt like I was reading a full length novel with how much is enclosed within the pages of this book.

Brielle is a well-developed, conflicted, strong, smart, and independent hunter who is let go from her bounty hunter position because of a past incident. Brielle is human, but Finn is not. Finn has worked on the same cases as Brielle and the sexual tension between the two is undeniable. They never got together because Brie was seeing someone (a human male) and her and Finn were adversaries. When Brie’s boyfriend fires her, she goes after a wanted criminal as a freelance hunter. But, when she is trapped in a ship with no oxygen with Finn, they both succumb to their desires thinking it is the last time before they die. They end up being rescued and Finn talks their way to freedom by telling the rescuers that she is his mate. What Brie didn’t realize was that being his mate is a lifetime deal and Finn can never be away from her because his life depends on it.

This story sucked me right in and held on tight. My only complaint is that I wish we got to know/see more of Finn and what kind of alien he was and the world he came from. Other than that, the story is well done and a great one of any sci-fi romance fan.

*copy provided for review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brie and Finn

This is the first book by Libby Sinclair I've read and I found it to be very entertaining. My only complaint is the abrupt happy ending.
Brielle is human and serving in the Coalition. While providing protection to one of her charges, she talks to her, which is against the rules. When her commanding officer and boyfriend of ten years fires her, she has a good cry, then sets off to show him how wrong he was.
Finn is Tulan, a green skinned humanoid alien and mercenary/ bounty hunter with special abilities. He has been attracted to Brie since he met her, but her ex was in the way. But now when she docks her ship to the vessel he is salvaging and they become trapped on the dying ship, he talks her into passion prior to death. Afterward, her ex is no longer on her mind, nor is dying, and she slips into an oxygen deprived sleep. Then, surprise, they are rescued and Finn has to make some hard choices to ensure her survival. But can Brie ever forgive him?

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I have read anything from this author and I know I'm going to have to go find more. I enjoyed this story and am so looking forward to more of them to see where this is going to go. I love the alpha male and strong female, and she is strong, she doesn't follow just cause it would be easier. Her last liver left a lot to be desired and unfortunately Finn is going to have to pay for that. Brie has a lot of issues she has to deal with that are left over from the last lover. Can she get things sorted out before it's too late? Sure hope so. Get in and buckle up for the ride, should be a good one.

Received a copy for an honest review.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deadlocked

This was my second KU read. I couldn't even finish the first book. :/

This was a decent effort, but the grammar problems were massively distracting. An apostrophe is not how you indicate plurals. Gah.

The heroine wasn't quite TSTL, but she was a bit dense - failing to pick up on some subtle clues.

The resolution was rather anticlimactic, and the end was abrupt. However, I liked the characters enough to be curious about their futures.

[Karen J Hone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable Alien Romance

Love science fiction romance! The female lead was intelligent and independent and not ruled by her libido, yet her attraction to her alien lover was well-written and believable. I just wish their early interaction had a fuller history and back story. Fun.

[Mary Roya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly Good!

Wonderful story with humor, drama and awesome sex.

Space opera with an alien male and a human woman and how they become mated.

Fun Story, would like to have another story with them

[Beret Brenckman]

DNF - not my cup of tea

[Cc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brie and Finn

Different species accidentally mate for life. Brie, a human, isn't so sure.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Woman was a total bitch. Liked the alien. Love the narrator.