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Alien Jeopardy
We're fighting for our lives, living for reward challenges, in front of an intergalactic audience—and, oh yeah, apparently the huge winged alien is now my mate.
I’ve always been a reality tv junkie, heading up a fantasy league and hosting watch parties at my place. I jumped at the chance to apply to one, and my entire reality tv obsessed girl gang does too, drinking too many margaritas in the process. We didn’t care that none of us had ever heard of it, or that the premise is a bit too physical for us couch potatoes— there’s no way they’ll pick us, anyway.
Except… they do pick us. And the show’s not set on Earth.
Nope.
We’re starring on the first season of Mated & Afraid, and that paperwork we rushed through had a whole lot of fine print we didn’t read. I’ve been matched with a Draegon alien— and he’s been mated to me, marking me with the poison (yep! Poison!) that means I’m his. We’re dropped into a biosphere, and the game is easy enough to make it to the exit and we win.
That is, until the supposedly uninhabited moon we're on turns out to not be uninhabited at all— and the artificial intelligence we've awoken? It has a whole different idea of fun and games.
I’ve always been a reality tv junkie, heading up a fantasy league and hosting watch parties at my place. I jumped at the chance to apply to one, and my entire reality tv obsessed girl gang does too, drinking too many margaritas in the process. We didn’t care that none of us had ever heard of it, or that the premise is a bit too physical for us couch potatoes— there’s no way they’ll pick us, anyway.
Except… they do pick us. And the show’s not set on Earth.
Nope.
We’re starring on the first season of Mated & Afraid, and that paperwork we rushed through had a whole lot of fine print we didn’t read. I’ve been matched with a Draegon alien— and he’s been mated to me, marking me with the poison (yep! Poison!) that means I’m his. We’re dropped into a biosphere, and the game is easy enough to make it to the exit and we win.
That is, until the supposedly uninhabited moon we're on turns out to not be uninhabited at all— and the artificial intelligence we've awoken? It has a whole different idea of fun and games.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2025
157 people are currently reading
300 people want to read
About the author
January Bell
48 books538 followersJanuary Bell writes steamy sci-fi and fantasy romance with a guaranteed happily ever after. Combining pure escapism, a little adventure, and a whole lotta love makes for romance that's a world apart. For the latest updates, follow her on Instagram and Twitter and subscribe to her newsletter for exclusive content. Is there a character you would like to see featured in a future novel or novella? Don't be shy! She'd love to hear from you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
August 30, 2025
Ell and Rex were very sweet together in this chaotic dating/survival show. Ell was so relatable with her “the earth sucks” outlook. I liked her pragmatism too. Rex was all possessive and growly. The drunk decision to apply and the initial purposeful language barrier was unique and awesome. The plot twist? Totally went a different direction and I was here for it. I’m excited for this series and the wild ride it’s gonna continue to be.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: violence, blood, animal attack, drowning threat, inebriation, mating heat, mentions of alien invasion, mention of parent death, mention of divorce
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: violence, blood, animal attack, drowning threat, inebriation, mating heat, mentions of alien invasion, mention of parent death, mention of divorce
September 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this but I’ve already read a few books from Accidental Alien Brides and I think you kind of need at least the first one for this to make sense.
September 2, 2025
I really don’t like coming on here and being a hater but respectfully my rating is for the MMC only because that sweet alien himbo was adorable and I wished that he had been granted a deeper exploration into his tragic backstory for greater emotional impact.
This was my first book by the author and I never realised that it was set in the same universe as one of her other series. The world building was unfortunately quite clunky and a bit difficult to grasp as different species of alien are introduced without much explanation. I’m heavily assuming that there’s intricate lore that exists from the other series which sets up the story that is established throughout this book which I sadly didn’t find to feel recounted with enough conviction to be understood. It just wasn’t making a lot of sense so I personally don’t think that this book is strong enough to stand apart on its own without having read the Accidental Alien Brides series first for full clarity. There was also some side characters that were written with intended impact that ultimately fell flat for me as again, I believe they exist within the other series and their significance was not explained enough to feel substantial. I just think this book needed clearer explanations into the lore of the world, the alien species we are introduced to and all of the characters to help support the plot of the book.
As for the FMC of the book… I’m so sorry but just no. Lots of ‘hysterical’ laughter and cackling which don’t get me wrong, fair enough. She definitely experiences a whirlwind of drama and I would be crashing out too if I were her. I just feel like she wasn’t written to her fullest potential and unfortunately a lot of her actions left me feeling frustrated. The pop culture references were a bit much for me with their frequency and the way they’re expressed during the strangest of moments… and I never again want to see a character moan “chugga chugga choo choo” when she orgasms ever again. Just why?
I’m genuinely gutted that I couldn’t get into this because the cover alone had my abandoning my current read to pick this up instead. I was really excited by the premise and was looking forward to a short and slightly silly read with hot aliens but I just couldn’t connect with this at all.
This was my first book by the author and I never realised that it was set in the same universe as one of her other series. The world building was unfortunately quite clunky and a bit difficult to grasp as different species of alien are introduced without much explanation. I’m heavily assuming that there’s intricate lore that exists from the other series which sets up the story that is established throughout this book which I sadly didn’t find to feel recounted with enough conviction to be understood. It just wasn’t making a lot of sense so I personally don’t think that this book is strong enough to stand apart on its own without having read the Accidental Alien Brides series first for full clarity. There was also some side characters that were written with intended impact that ultimately fell flat for me as again, I believe they exist within the other series and their significance was not explained enough to feel substantial. I just think this book needed clearer explanations into the lore of the world, the alien species we are introduced to and all of the characters to help support the plot of the book.
As for the FMC of the book… I’m so sorry but just no. Lots of ‘hysterical’ laughter and cackling which don’t get me wrong, fair enough. She definitely experiences a whirlwind of drama and I would be crashing out too if I were her. I just feel like she wasn’t written to her fullest potential and unfortunately a lot of her actions left me feeling frustrated. The pop culture references were a bit much for me with their frequency and the way they’re expressed during the strangest of moments… and I never again want to see a character moan “chugga chugga choo choo” when she orgasms ever again. Just why?
I’m genuinely gutted that I couldn’t get into this because the cover alone had my abandoning my current read to pick this up instead. I was really excited by the premise and was looking forward to a short and slightly silly read with hot aliens but I just couldn’t connect with this at all.
August 27, 2025
January, January, January... The things you do to my heart and mind. Oh, and about my public image? Well, let’s just say that reading your books on public transportation has turned me into THAT person. You know, the one laughing and giggling to herself while everyone else side-eyes her like she’s completely lost it. Do I care? Absolutely not. I just keep flipping pages and living my best life on my ride to work.
Now, let's talk Alien Jeopardy, Book 1 of January's Mated & Afraid series of interconnected standalones. Oh, you're all in for a treat. A treat shaped like a tall, muscular cinnamon roll alien with a few translation issues. Does it get him and the FMC in some delightfully awkward situations? Yup. Does it make the whole thing even cuter and sweeter? You bet it does.
Picture this: an intergalactic reality TV show, a group of aliens ready to find their mates, and a group of human women who may or may not remember what they actually signed up for. Toss them into the wilderness, sprinkle in action, adventure, and chaos. Piece of cake, right? Wrong! But is it hilarious, swoony, and perfectly spiced? Oh yes.
So go and read Alien Jeopardy. I will be waiting at the finish line for a high five, or maybe even a double high five. You just have to earn it.
Thank you, January, for this gem of an ARC; you are my person, and I adore being on your team!
Now, let's talk Alien Jeopardy, Book 1 of January's Mated & Afraid series of interconnected standalones. Oh, you're all in for a treat. A treat shaped like a tall, muscular cinnamon roll alien with a few translation issues. Does it get him and the FMC in some delightfully awkward situations? Yup. Does it make the whole thing even cuter and sweeter? You bet it does.
Picture this: an intergalactic reality TV show, a group of aliens ready to find their mates, and a group of human women who may or may not remember what they actually signed up for. Toss them into the wilderness, sprinkle in action, adventure, and chaos. Piece of cake, right? Wrong! But is it hilarious, swoony, and perfectly spiced? Oh yes.
So go and read Alien Jeopardy. I will be waiting at the finish line for a high five, or maybe even a double high five. You just have to earn it.
Thank you, January, for this gem of an ARC; you are my person, and I adore being on your team!
September 3, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Alien Jeopardy is book 1 in January Bell’s new Mated and Afraid series, a spinoff from her Accidental Alien Brides series, picking up with new characters and races.
I read the original series and really enjoyed it until it got too repetitive and I needed a break. The new series follows a very similar arc, but it was still unique and enjoyable. That’s the thing about January’s books — even when I know what’s coming or all of it doesn’t necessarily vibe with me, she still writes in this wholesome, full-hearted way that still produces cuteness I can’t say no to.
This series starts with Ellison, a human who’s been living on Earth in the post Roth-takeover era. So not living her best life. Ellison and her 3 best friends are having a girls night where all but one of them are super trashed, when the friend I’m most interested in signs them all up for an alien dating show that will start the second they all sign the papers—which they do—without knowing what it really is.
So, anyway, all hail the sneaky friend who is the only reason this series begins.
The friends are zapped off planet for the show they signed up for: Mated and Afraid, where they will—you guessed it—pick a mate and partner up. This is where Ellison picks her mate, Ka’Rexsh, a Draegon, who she annoyingly nicknames Rex.
(Honestly? I hate the nickname of an alien character to a name that sounds human-normal. It’s one of my biggest pet peeves in alien romance. Just let an alien be an alien. But we’ll get to my frustrations)
Anyway she’s super anti being mated but then you know he has some wing poison that makes her go into heat—bc why not—so she fights against it but eventually succumbs, and naturally they fall in love despite the evil AI who has taken over the show and is trying to kill them all.
The story ends with our featured couple finishing their experience early bc they’ve fallen in love. They’re zapped off planet to Sueva (where the original series is based, so we get a snapshot of the lives of the original characters) where they will receive their own parcel of land and home, as part of the show’s resettlement project. Meanwhile, the three other couples are still off planet filming the show, giving us an easy lead into the next 3 books to tell each of their stories and telling the rest of the story of the evil AI villain.
All in all, I mostly enjoyed this book. Ellison and Ka’Rexsh are super cute honestly. The couples usually are! I’m happy she stopped kicking against literally the kindest male of all time and that they got off that hellscape of a dating show. I might read on for the next books! I am slightly curious, especially for the story of the friend who started everything. What’s her name? Libby? It’s not Lucy, that’s the other friend. Lmao idk but I’ll know it when her book comes out. I have a feeling she will be last.
I like that we got some expansion in this universe! We’re hearing about other races and planets, like the Draegons, and the little we learned about their planet that is under a regime of a mad king working his people into the ground. However, I wish they could have gone somewhere new instead of Sueva. A fresh start. A new perspective into the rest of the universe without continuing to harp on the original characters that I find mostly very annoying in snippets. But alas this is January’s world and I’m just swimming around in it.
Some things that bother me from this book, but mostly things that just seem to be in all of January’s alien romances that bug me as a fan of the genre:
~all the gdamn pop culture and meme culture references from present day reality. I don’t even like these things in our world, why would I want 50 references to things I hate in present day constantly thrown in to the book’s alternate reality?
It is funny when humans and aliens interact and can’t understand references etc. But it’s not something to be done so excessively. It got to the point where the main villain AI is nicknamed Ken No Privates. From Barbie. Like. It’s just too much and it totally takes us out from the world that’s been created and back to ours. And that’s like exactly the opposite of what I want in an alien romance. That’s kind of what I’m looking to avoid.
It just needs to be reined in, it’s too much.
~ a lot of the action and villain conflict stuff didn’t make a ton of sense to me and I skimmed a lot of it, in all honesty. I felt like being tricked into a dating show on another planet and being forced to pick a mate was plenty of conflict lmao, why do we need this AI guy? Idk it just seemed excessive and I could skip all their actiony fighting against death competition sequence scenes and not miss anything.
But listen, if you love pop culture and meme references this is gold. Super cute and wholesome and I did highlight quite a bit of the lovey dovey quotes bc that is something January does VERY well. She’s quirky but she writes good romance underneath it all.
At the end of the day, I enjoy what her mind comes up with and how she executes it. She’s one of the top prolific alien rom writers right now, respect where it’s due.
Thank you January Bell for providing this ARC for review. All views are my own.
Alien Jeopardy is book 1 in January Bell’s new Mated and Afraid series, a spinoff from her Accidental Alien Brides series, picking up with new characters and races.
I read the original series and really enjoyed it until it got too repetitive and I needed a break. The new series follows a very similar arc, but it was still unique and enjoyable. That’s the thing about January’s books — even when I know what’s coming or all of it doesn’t necessarily vibe with me, she still writes in this wholesome, full-hearted way that still produces cuteness I can’t say no to.
This series starts with Ellison, a human who’s been living on Earth in the post Roth-takeover era. So not living her best life. Ellison and her 3 best friends are having a girls night where all but one of them are super trashed, when the friend I’m most interested in signs them all up for an alien dating show that will start the second they all sign the papers—which they do—without knowing what it really is.
So, anyway, all hail the sneaky friend who is the only reason this series begins.
The friends are zapped off planet for the show they signed up for: Mated and Afraid, where they will—you guessed it—pick a mate and partner up. This is where Ellison picks her mate, Ka’Rexsh, a Draegon, who she annoyingly nicknames Rex.
(Honestly? I hate the nickname of an alien character to a name that sounds human-normal. It’s one of my biggest pet peeves in alien romance. Just let an alien be an alien. But we’ll get to my frustrations)
Anyway she’s super anti being mated but then you know he has some wing poison that makes her go into heat—bc why not—so she fights against it but eventually succumbs, and naturally they fall in love despite the evil AI who has taken over the show and is trying to kill them all.
The story ends with our featured couple finishing their experience early bc they’ve fallen in love. They’re zapped off planet to Sueva (where the original series is based, so we get a snapshot of the lives of the original characters) where they will receive their own parcel of land and home, as part of the show’s resettlement project. Meanwhile, the three other couples are still off planet filming the show, giving us an easy lead into the next 3 books to tell each of their stories and telling the rest of the story of the evil AI villain.
All in all, I mostly enjoyed this book. Ellison and Ka’Rexsh are super cute honestly. The couples usually are! I’m happy she stopped kicking against literally the kindest male of all time and that they got off that hellscape of a dating show. I might read on for the next books! I am slightly curious, especially for the story of the friend who started everything. What’s her name? Libby? It’s not Lucy, that’s the other friend. Lmao idk but I’ll know it when her book comes out. I have a feeling she will be last.
I like that we got some expansion in this universe! We’re hearing about other races and planets, like the Draegons, and the little we learned about their planet that is under a regime of a mad king working his people into the ground. However, I wish they could have gone somewhere new instead of Sueva. A fresh start. A new perspective into the rest of the universe without continuing to harp on the original characters that I find mostly very annoying in snippets. But alas this is January’s world and I’m just swimming around in it.
Some things that bother me from this book, but mostly things that just seem to be in all of January’s alien romances that bug me as a fan of the genre:
~all the gdamn pop culture and meme culture references from present day reality. I don’t even like these things in our world, why would I want 50 references to things I hate in present day constantly thrown in to the book’s alternate reality?
It is funny when humans and aliens interact and can’t understand references etc. But it’s not something to be done so excessively. It got to the point where the main villain AI is nicknamed Ken No Privates. From Barbie. Like. It’s just too much and it totally takes us out from the world that’s been created and back to ours. And that’s like exactly the opposite of what I want in an alien romance. That’s kind of what I’m looking to avoid.
It just needs to be reined in, it’s too much.
~ a lot of the action and villain conflict stuff didn’t make a ton of sense to me and I skimmed a lot of it, in all honesty. I felt like being tricked into a dating show on another planet and being forced to pick a mate was plenty of conflict lmao, why do we need this AI guy? Idk it just seemed excessive and I could skip all their actiony fighting against death competition sequence scenes and not miss anything.
But listen, if you love pop culture and meme references this is gold. Super cute and wholesome and I did highlight quite a bit of the lovey dovey quotes bc that is something January does VERY well. She’s quirky but she writes good romance underneath it all.
At the end of the day, I enjoy what her mind comes up with and how she executes it. She’s one of the top prolific alien rom writers right now, respect where it’s due.
Thank you January Bell for providing this ARC for review. All views are my own.
August 31, 2025
January Bell has done it again with a laugh out loud start to a new alien romance series, this one taking place on a space reality tv show that’s part Naked and Afraid, part Survivor, and part Love Island. And is all hilarious alien antics.
Ell is over her job when she and some friends drunkenly and accidentally sign up for an alien dating reality show… and then immediately get abducted to said show. And she didn’t mean to become mated to the dragon alien Ka-Rexsh, but it happened so fast and now the two must work together to win the game … and also not die. A task that is made infinitely harder when an evil AI (think Hal in 2001: A Space Odyssey) starts to manipulate the game.
This is so funny and I am here for the shitting on AI that Bell, through Ell and Rex, does. I love how fresh the idea of this show is, especially cause it’s exactly what would happen if we found out about aliens. I loved these characters- Ka-Rexsh is a golden retriever of an alien if I’ve ever met one- and the side characters also left me wanting more! If you need a funny alien romp, complete with giant scary alien crawfish, check out this brand new series from January!!!
Ell is over her job when she and some friends drunkenly and accidentally sign up for an alien dating reality show… and then immediately get abducted to said show. And she didn’t mean to become mated to the dragon alien Ka-Rexsh, but it happened so fast and now the two must work together to win the game … and also not die. A task that is made infinitely harder when an evil AI (think Hal in 2001: A Space Odyssey) starts to manipulate the game.
This is so funny and I am here for the shitting on AI that Bell, through Ell and Rex, does. I love how fresh the idea of this show is, especially cause it’s exactly what would happen if we found out about aliens. I loved these characters- Ka-Rexsh is a golden retriever of an alien if I’ve ever met one- and the side characters also left me wanting more! If you need a funny alien romp, complete with giant scary alien crawfish, check out this brand new series from January!!!
September 19, 2025
This was a very fun & unique story if you ask me!
A book that’s basically an Alien & human mating reality show is something I have never read before and I am so here for it. It’s a very unique setting and I loved that. After a while Ken No Privates gets thrown into it aswell and it all become a whole lot more interesting.
What I love every time I read a January Bell book is the humor. I’m always laughing out loud or simply just cackling with her books and this one was no different. The humor was, again, really on point. All her books read like a train aswell and it makes it so fun! I always forget I am reading and I’m just so in the story with her books and this one was no different!
Now that we’ve read about Ell & Rex I am so curious for Lily and her big purple mate.
A book that’s basically an Alien & human mating reality show is something I have never read before and I am so here for it. It’s a very unique setting and I loved that. After a while Ken No Privates gets thrown into it aswell and it all become a whole lot more interesting.
What I love every time I read a January Bell book is the humor. I’m always laughing out loud or simply just cackling with her books and this one was no different. The humor was, again, really on point. All her books read like a train aswell and it makes it so fun! I always forget I am reading and I’m just so in the story with her books and this one was no different!
Now that we’ve read about Ell & Rex I am so curious for Lily and her big purple mate.
August 29, 2025
Thank you to January Bell for the opportunity to read this ARC!
THIS STORY HAD ME CACKLING THE ENTIRE TIME. FMC’s POV? Laughing. MMC’s POV? Laughing. It’s safe to say I really enjoyed this reality TV alien/human romance. Ellison’s friend group is so fun and I can’t wait to read each of their stories (hopefully?!). This one is supposed to be the first in the series.
I’ve read the Wild Oak Woods before by January Bell and loved it - so I immediately had to sign up for this ARC. I didn’t realize it was connected to her other alien books. It seems like I’m going to have to go back and read them all now! (And recommend them all to my friends of course)
THIS STORY HAD ME CACKLING THE ENTIRE TIME. FMC’s POV? Laughing. MMC’s POV? Laughing. It’s safe to say I really enjoyed this reality TV alien/human romance. Ellison’s friend group is so fun and I can’t wait to read each of their stories (hopefully?!). This one is supposed to be the first in the series.
I’ve read the Wild Oak Woods before by January Bell and loved it - so I immediately had to sign up for this ARC. I didn’t realize it was connected to her other alien books. It seems like I’m going to have to go back and read them all now! (And recommend them all to my friends of course)
September 3, 2025
This story was SO MUCH FUN! I found myself laughing constantly and probably looked a little unhinged with the big grin on my face 😅 but this was just so enjoyable!
Ellison is such a no nonsense, likeable character I’m sure many women can relate to. And Rex - such a perfect book boyfriend! 😍
I loved the reality show premise for this new series, it kept everything exciting and fast paced, although I did think their trials maybe wrapped up a little too suddenly. I’m really excited to see how the other teams get on with Ken No Privates in the next books though! 🤣
I received a copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ellison is such a no nonsense, likeable character I’m sure many women can relate to. And Rex - such a perfect book boyfriend! 😍
I loved the reality show premise for this new series, it kept everything exciting and fast paced, although I did think their trials maybe wrapped up a little too suddenly. I’m really excited to see how the other teams get on with Ken No Privates in the next books though! 🤣
I received a copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 26, 2025
I was beyond excited when I heard of Naked and Afr-I mean Mated and Afraid! I love that January Bell is keeping her universe alive and expanding it! Rex and Ellison had good chemistry from the get go!
Alien Jeopardy was a great introduction to the premise of Mated and Afraid and gave us a few glimpses into who to expect from following books. I loved the plot twist halfway through the book! Did not see that coming at all!
Alien Jeopardy was a great introduction to the premise of Mated and Afraid and gave us a few glimpses into who to expect from following books. I loved the plot twist halfway through the book! Did not see that coming at all!
September 25, 2025
4.5 Stars
This was really fun. I do take slight squinty eyes at the title just because it didn't give "Jeopardy" the game show at all, but more their lives were in jeopardy at times. This was fun. It does connect to her other alien series though, and I'm not completely caught up. It read fine but there were little comments about the other alien races or things that have happened in the world that didn't mean anything to me at the time. Excited to read more from January though!
This was really fun. I do take slight squinty eyes at the title just because it didn't give "Jeopardy" the game show at all, but more their lives were in jeopardy at times. This was fun. It does connect to her other alien series though, and I'm not completely caught up. It read fine but there were little comments about the other alien races or things that have happened in the world that didn't mean anything to me at the time. Excited to read more from January though!
September 2, 2025
Great start to the series!
Rex and Ellison's story was a ton of fun! I loved the banter and movie references throughout! It had me laughing out loud.
I loved the premise of the story. The idea of the characters being mated and stuck in a reality/ survival shows felt super original.
I can't wait for the next book!
Rex and Ellison's story was a ton of fun! I loved the banter and movie references throughout! It had me laughing out loud.
I loved the premise of the story. The idea of the characters being mated and stuck in a reality/ survival shows felt super original.
I can't wait for the next book!
September 12, 2025
I was cackling laughing this entire book. It's like your typical alien romance mixed with a bad reality television show. I absolutely ate it up. Our MMC is a delicious, confused, but absolutely obsessed alien. And our FMC is a sarcastic, determined, horny FMC.
The premise was fun. The spice was pretty good. And I'm really excited to get more books and characters from this story!
The premise was fun. The spice was pretty good. And I'm really excited to get more books and characters from this story!
September 14, 2025
absolutely hilarious
This was perfect; no notes. Hilarious, like the most ridiculous humor I’ve ever read. But also a little sweet, those alien men are something else. Can’t wait for the next book!
This was perfect; no notes. Hilarious, like the most ridiculous humor I’ve ever read. But also a little sweet, those alien men are something else. Can’t wait for the next book!
August 31, 2025
My first ever try at monster smut and wauw what an adventure it was!
Very fast paced, funny and witty, count me in for more!
Very fast paced, funny and witty, count me in for more!
September 12, 2025
So silly and fun to read loved it
November 10, 2025
This is very silly-goofy. Not that I expect my smutty alien romances to take themselves very seriously, but this went pretty far.
September 1, 2025
I really liked the premise of this book was excited for this new series, but I felt super lost as a reader that hadn’t read any other book from the author before. There were so many (I’m assuming) cameos from other characters that were completely unfamiliar to me that I quickly lost track of who was who. They felt dumped in without much thought for plot development. The main characters were funny and interesting, but the plot was so nonsensical and the events were so randomly inserted that I had a lot of trouble following along. I also really didn’t like the lack of real resolution.
September 8, 2025
"She already makes my heart sing, and I don't even understand the words to our song yet."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
What you'll find in this book:
- Survival
- He's Obsessed
- Mating Heat
- Forced Proximity
- She Reads Alien Fanfic
- Absurd Humour
This book is such fun with a healthy dose of appropriate freaking out being had, especially considering that one of the main characters has indeed been abducted and dropped onto an alien planet to take part in a dating show with you guessed it, aliens. I love how this book blends a modern dating show format with an alien romance. This book was as sweet as it was bonkers, and with a shot of spice this was a perfect quick read that had me laughing at its absurdity. Providing the perfect reprieve from larger heavier reads this book was perfectly refreshing and delightfully ridiculous.
Ellison has always loved reality TV, so when she holds a watch party and her place and gets drunk trying to forget her life and job thag bores her, she of course signs up for a dating show when the opportunity is presented. Neither Ellison or her friends care what it entails or the fact that they have never heard of it, they figure there is no way they'll be picked but how wrong they are. So when they are picked and instantly abducted they quickly realise that this dating show is not set on Earth. All of the girls are starring on the first season of Mated and Afraid meaning that they have been matches with Draegon aliens. Before Ellison knows it, she's been mated and marked wirh poison meaning she is his. Dropped on a foreign planet where the game is simple enough, make it to the exit and you win. However, nothing is ever as straightforward as it seems and when the uninhabited moon they are on turns out to be not so deserted after all and an artificial intelligence awakens which causes havoc as its willing to play with its own complete set of rules.
Ellison is chaos in a bottle, she truly dislikes her current job and wants for something more, something exciting which I think many poeple can relate to. However, going on a dating show with alien dragons is not on many peoples bucket list. Having said that Ellison's alien mate does happen to be hot and absolutely obsessed with her so its not all bad. I really enjoyed how genuine Ellison's reaction to all of the massive changes she goes through seems. She freaks out in what I would of thought would be a healthy amount considering the bonkers situation she finds herself in. Ka-Rexsh just wants to be free from his opressive home planet and to have a little bit of land to call his own and a mate to share it all with. From the moment that Ka-Rexsh sees Ellison he knows she is the one for him and will stop and nothing to convince her of that. Their love story was as cute as it was funny, with the banter between them and the learning they have from one another.
I just love that when you think this book can't get any weirder, January goes ahead and throws an absolute curve ball. Did I see a somewhat morally grey AI space center interface coming into mix, nope, did I find it's interference into the dating show and its unbridled sass hilarious, you bet I did. The plot of this book was simple and I was here for it, I was looking for a book that delivered exactly as I was expecting it to. There were plenty of twists and turns in the story as well as comical moments, especially where Ellison and Ka-Rexsh initially can't communicate with one another. Actually even when they can understand eachother the idioms still cause confusion which I found hilarious. I will definitely be picking up the following books in the series, especially if they are as funny and spicy as this one.
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an e-ARC to read and review early.
Author: January Bell
Series: Mated & Afraid
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: August 31st, 2025
Pages: 244
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
What you'll find in this book:
- Survival
- He's Obsessed
- Mating Heat
- Forced Proximity
- She Reads Alien Fanfic
- Absurd Humour
This book is such fun with a healthy dose of appropriate freaking out being had, especially considering that one of the main characters has indeed been abducted and dropped onto an alien planet to take part in a dating show with you guessed it, aliens. I love how this book blends a modern dating show format with an alien romance. This book was as sweet as it was bonkers, and with a shot of spice this was a perfect quick read that had me laughing at its absurdity. Providing the perfect reprieve from larger heavier reads this book was perfectly refreshing and delightfully ridiculous.
Ellison has always loved reality TV, so when she holds a watch party and her place and gets drunk trying to forget her life and job thag bores her, she of course signs up for a dating show when the opportunity is presented. Neither Ellison or her friends care what it entails or the fact that they have never heard of it, they figure there is no way they'll be picked but how wrong they are. So when they are picked and instantly abducted they quickly realise that this dating show is not set on Earth. All of the girls are starring on the first season of Mated and Afraid meaning that they have been matches with Draegon aliens. Before Ellison knows it, she's been mated and marked wirh poison meaning she is his. Dropped on a foreign planet where the game is simple enough, make it to the exit and you win. However, nothing is ever as straightforward as it seems and when the uninhabited moon they are on turns out to be not so deserted after all and an artificial intelligence awakens which causes havoc as its willing to play with its own complete set of rules.
Ellison is chaos in a bottle, she truly dislikes her current job and wants for something more, something exciting which I think many poeple can relate to. However, going on a dating show with alien dragons is not on many peoples bucket list. Having said that Ellison's alien mate does happen to be hot and absolutely obsessed with her so its not all bad. I really enjoyed how genuine Ellison's reaction to all of the massive changes she goes through seems. She freaks out in what I would of thought would be a healthy amount considering the bonkers situation she finds herself in. Ka-Rexsh just wants to be free from his opressive home planet and to have a little bit of land to call his own and a mate to share it all with. From the moment that Ka-Rexsh sees Ellison he knows she is the one for him and will stop and nothing to convince her of that. Their love story was as cute as it was funny, with the banter between them and the learning they have from one another.
I just love that when you think this book can't get any weirder, January goes ahead and throws an absolute curve ball. Did I see a somewhat morally grey AI space center interface coming into mix, nope, did I find it's interference into the dating show and its unbridled sass hilarious, you bet I did. The plot of this book was simple and I was here for it, I was looking for a book that delivered exactly as I was expecting it to. There were plenty of twists and turns in the story as well as comical moments, especially where Ellison and Ka-Rexsh initially can't communicate with one another. Actually even when they can understand eachother the idioms still cause confusion which I found hilarious. I will definitely be picking up the following books in the series, especially if they are as funny and spicy as this one.
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an e-ARC to read and review early.
Author: January Bell
Series: Mated & Afraid
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: August 31st, 2025
Pages: 244
August 30, 2025
💚 “She is mine to look at, mine to cherish, mine to touch.”
~~~
Ellison is so awesome! She’s kind, compassionate, courageous and resourceful. And she is absolutely hilarious! Ell’s sarcastic humor and witty commentary had me cackling all the way through. Ellison is an amazing woman and I adored her so, so much!
And then, there’s - Ka-Rexsh - a strong, confident and swoon-worthy Draegon. This dragon alien is not only capable, fearsome and resourceful, but also patient, considerate and fiercely protective of what’s his. Rex is a Consent King through and through! Mr. Big, Green and Gorgeous is one utterly irresistible male and I couldn’t help but adore every single thing about him!
I absolutely loved everything that happened between Ellison and Ka-Rexsh! During a girls night with one too many margaritas, Ell and her friends sign up for a new reality TV show. And all of them actually get chosen and swooshed away to one of the Suevan moons. But did they all read the fine print? Yeah… not really. And now, they’re not only paired with gorgeous alien dragon “mates” and have to win a series of challenges, but there’s also a language barrier and unexpected mating heats. Piece of cake, right?! And to make things even more complicated, a rogue AI takes over the show…
I absolutely adored Ellison and Ka-Rexsh together! Rex is smitten from the very first moment, but Ell is not so quick to give into the unexpected attraction and the mating heat. Still, they made such an awesome team and I loved every moment they spent together! Even more, their chemistry was off-the-charts and the cultural differences and the language barrier had me laughing out loud on so many occasions. I adored Rex for being his incredible self and showing Ell time and time again that he could be the right male for her. And when they finally gave into the undeniable need, the passionate moments they shared were scorching hot and I couldn’t get enough. Ellison and Ka-Rexsh were absolutely perfect for each other and they deserved not only to win the challenges thrown their way but also find happiness, love and a new life together!
Overall, Alien Jeopardy is a remarkable start of the series, filled with adventure, danger, humor, twists, passion and awesome characters. It had me laughing, swooning and on the edge of my seat till the very last moment.
I couldn’t put it down and absolutely loved every single page of it!
And I cannot wait to see what will happen in the next round of Mated & Afraid!
~~~
Ellison is so awesome! She’s kind, compassionate, courageous and resourceful. And she is absolutely hilarious! Ell’s sarcastic humor and witty commentary had me cackling all the way through. Ellison is an amazing woman and I adored her so, so much!
And then, there’s - Ka-Rexsh - a strong, confident and swoon-worthy Draegon. This dragon alien is not only capable, fearsome and resourceful, but also patient, considerate and fiercely protective of what’s his. Rex is a Consent King through and through! Mr. Big, Green and Gorgeous is one utterly irresistible male and I couldn’t help but adore every single thing about him!
I absolutely loved everything that happened between Ellison and Ka-Rexsh! During a girls night with one too many margaritas, Ell and her friends sign up for a new reality TV show. And all of them actually get chosen and swooshed away to one of the Suevan moons. But did they all read the fine print? Yeah… not really. And now, they’re not only paired with gorgeous alien dragon “mates” and have to win a series of challenges, but there’s also a language barrier and unexpected mating heats. Piece of cake, right?! And to make things even more complicated, a rogue AI takes over the show…
I absolutely adored Ellison and Ka-Rexsh together! Rex is smitten from the very first moment, but Ell is not so quick to give into the unexpected attraction and the mating heat. Still, they made such an awesome team and I loved every moment they spent together! Even more, their chemistry was off-the-charts and the cultural differences and the language barrier had me laughing out loud on so many occasions. I adored Rex for being his incredible self and showing Ell time and time again that he could be the right male for her. And when they finally gave into the undeniable need, the passionate moments they shared were scorching hot and I couldn’t get enough. Ellison and Ka-Rexsh were absolutely perfect for each other and they deserved not only to win the challenges thrown their way but also find happiness, love and a new life together!
Overall, Alien Jeopardy is a remarkable start of the series, filled with adventure, danger, humor, twists, passion and awesome characters. It had me laughing, swooning and on the edge of my seat till the very last moment.
I couldn’t put it down and absolutely loved every single page of it!
And I cannot wait to see what will happen in the next round of Mated & Afraid!
August 30, 2025
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
For all my alien romance lovers, this is the book! If you’re looking for action, adventure, humor, some spice, swoon worthy MCs, this is it! I love Rex and Ell! Ell is hilarious and I just love her personality! She’s thrown into this dating reality show immediately after signing up with her friends while inebriated. You would think she knew what she signed up for, wrong! None of them knew how quickly it would turn. Artificial Intelligence has taken over the reality show and now they have to fight for their lives all while completing challenges with their mates.
Rex is such a simp for Ell.😭 He fell for her from the first moment he saw her. It’s so cute how protective and smitten he is of her. I love that we got to see Rex grow on Ell. Although she was attracted to him initially, she didn’t know anything about him that would make her want to be with him. Rex proves he is a worthy mate for her through loyalty, partnership, protection, and generosity. Not once has he put his own needs above her wellbeing. He didn’t force himself upon her. He didn’t manipulate her feelings. He didn’t talk down on her. He motivated, praised, encouraged, and was honest the whole time. No mix signals and he meant what he said. Their chemistry was everything and the way Ell encouraged him was so sweet. She also didn’t downplay him. She was honest about her feelings and told him from the beginning that she wasn’t sure about them being together. She grew to love him through seeing his actions. Let’s be honest, actions speak louder than words.
For all my language barriers peeps. This has some HILARIOUS misunderstandings and I couldn’t stop laughing at Rex! I am a sucker for misunderstandings due to language barriers.😂 This did not disappoint!
This book is so good! It’s fun, wild, chaotic, and very sweet. A worthy read imo! The AI heightens the chaotic atmosphere and he really is something else.😅I am recommending this to everyone! I can’t wait to read more from this series. I’m looking forward to reading about Ell’s friends and their mates. 😭
For all my alien romance lovers, this is the book! If you’re looking for action, adventure, humor, some spice, swoon worthy MCs, this is it! I love Rex and Ell! Ell is hilarious and I just love her personality! She’s thrown into this dating reality show immediately after signing up with her friends while inebriated. You would think she knew what she signed up for, wrong! None of them knew how quickly it would turn. Artificial Intelligence has taken over the reality show and now they have to fight for their lives all while completing challenges with their mates.
Rex is such a simp for Ell.😭 He fell for her from the first moment he saw her. It’s so cute how protective and smitten he is of her. I love that we got to see Rex grow on Ell. Although she was attracted to him initially, she didn’t know anything about him that would make her want to be with him. Rex proves he is a worthy mate for her through loyalty, partnership, protection, and generosity. Not once has he put his own needs above her wellbeing. He didn’t force himself upon her. He didn’t manipulate her feelings. He didn’t talk down on her. He motivated, praised, encouraged, and was honest the whole time. No mix signals and he meant what he said. Their chemistry was everything and the way Ell encouraged him was so sweet. She also didn’t downplay him. She was honest about her feelings and told him from the beginning that she wasn’t sure about them being together. She grew to love him through seeing his actions. Let’s be honest, actions speak louder than words.
For all my language barriers peeps. This has some HILARIOUS misunderstandings and I couldn’t stop laughing at Rex! I am a sucker for misunderstandings due to language barriers.😂 This did not disappoint!
This book is so good! It’s fun, wild, chaotic, and very sweet. A worthy read imo! The AI heightens the chaotic atmosphere and he really is something else.😅I am recommending this to everyone! I can’t wait to read more from this series. I’m looking forward to reading about Ell’s friends and their mates. 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2025
AI made them do it! low spice but intriguing with ties to Sueva, Roth, Draegon, Arco
I don’t know what I thought the story would be — but I wasn’t expecting what I read haha Surprises are fun!
It’s short and sweet — fun alien rom com ish with a little bit of danger thrown in. It’s a good start at world building but leans heavily on her other series and characters, like Pol or the girls from Sueva or the women that married the Roth princes (it references Sueva, Roth, Arco, Draegon, etc)
I AM excited about Pol getting his own book lol and wonder if the Arco will get pulled in to this or not based on what the AI said —
Ellison’s character was soooo hard for me to get into; I struggled with it for the first 30%…. if I had to read one more sentence about her cackling or laughing madly, I was gonna toss the book lol She monologues a lot and uses a lot of euphemisms to describe scenes and I felt like a lot of dialogue went into that unnecessarily —- when I would’ve preferred more focus on the story line, more detailed spice scenes, and more Rex POV to even out Elle.
I DID love the shout out to ACOTAR lol and about reading fanfics <3 Little bit of nuggets here and there were great
SPOILERS
P
O
I
L
E
R
S
.
.
.
.
.
The ending seems abrupt and maybe incomplete? (Like why was Rex given metal claw tips if he didn’t have to fight anyone?) — but the book is pretty short so I guess you gotta cram what you can into 244 pages. Really interested to see what happens to the other couples. If this had been closer to 350-400 pages to properly flesh out it would’ve been 5 ⭐️ honestly.
I’m really looking forward to the next book with Lily and her Draegon … I think I’ll enjoy the black cat female and smug & cocky male banter better
I don’t know what I thought the story would be — but I wasn’t expecting what I read haha Surprises are fun!
It’s short and sweet — fun alien rom com ish with a little bit of danger thrown in. It’s a good start at world building but leans heavily on her other series and characters, like Pol or the girls from Sueva or the women that married the Roth princes (it references Sueva, Roth, Arco, Draegon, etc)
I AM excited about Pol getting his own book lol and wonder if the Arco will get pulled in to this or not based on what the AI said —
Ellison’s character was soooo hard for me to get into; I struggled with it for the first 30%…. if I had to read one more sentence about her cackling or laughing madly, I was gonna toss the book lol She monologues a lot and uses a lot of euphemisms to describe scenes and I felt like a lot of dialogue went into that unnecessarily —- when I would’ve preferred more focus on the story line, more detailed spice scenes, and more Rex POV to even out Elle.
I DID love the shout out to ACOTAR lol and about reading fanfics <3 Little bit of nuggets here and there were great
SPOILERS
P
O
I
L
E
R
S
.
.
.
.
.
The ending seems abrupt and maybe incomplete? (Like why was Rex given metal claw tips if he didn’t have to fight anyone?) — but the book is pretty short so I guess you gotta cram what you can into 244 pages. Really interested to see what happens to the other couples. If this had been closer to 350-400 pages to properly flesh out it would’ve been 5 ⭐️ honestly.
I’m really looking forward to the next book with Lily and her Draegon … I think I’ll enjoy the black cat female and smug & cocky male banter better
September 18, 2025
This was such a cool concept for a sci-fi romance book! Equal parts Naked and Afraid, Love Island, Survivor and Big Brother it was a great mix of reality tv shows we all know and love. Plus through in some hunky aliens, mating venom and heats, it made for an entertaining ride. I also loved that it was four best friends and one mysterious girl they didn’t know. One minute you’re hanging out getting drunk with the girls, the next we’re abducted and set out into the wild. Be fair warned, this book sets up a lot of lore, and a lot of stuff for the other girls to finish and find out. All your questions won’t be answered right away but I feel like that makes it even more enticing. I wanted to know how the other pairs were faring, what’s the story with the AI, what happened to the original crew of both the show and space station? A ton of cool moving parts I can’t wait to find out about.
The chemistry between Ka-Rexsh and Ellison was good from the start. He was utterly devoted to her from the beginning, doing anything to make her safe and comfortable without pressuring her. Ellison was fun as well as determined to win and survive. The two things I didn’t love was the lack of description of when we got spicy time. There was so much build up to it during the first half that when it came time to fulfill, it was fade to black. Not my preferred style, but some people might love that. I also didn’t love a lot of the slay/jokes stuff but that could just be my humor. Other people might love these things! Overall, I enjoyed it on the lore and action aspect, plus the romance was more sweet than spicy but still good, I would recommend it still!
The chemistry between Ka-Rexsh and Ellison was good from the start. He was utterly devoted to her from the beginning, doing anything to make her safe and comfortable without pressuring her. Ellison was fun as well as determined to win and survive. The two things I didn’t love was the lack of description of when we got spicy time. There was so much build up to it during the first half that when it came time to fulfill, it was fade to black. Not my preferred style, but some people might love that. I also didn’t love a lot of the slay/jokes stuff but that could just be my humor. Other people might love these things! Overall, I enjoyed it on the lore and action aspect, plus the romance was more sweet than spicy but still good, I would recommend it still!
October 11, 2025
The premise sounded fun, which is what piqued my interest. The story opens with Ellison, the female lead, hosting a sleepover watch party with her friends. Alien reality TV shows are one of their favorite forms of entertainment, and while chatting about an upcoming series, they do something stupid. It resulted in them being unexpectedly selected to participate in a new intergalactic reality show called Mated & Afraid.
You might ask, how can they watch alien TV shows in the first place? That’s because Earth was invaded by the Roth, and after such a violent introduction, humans quickly realized they’re not the only intelligent life in the universe. There are also mentions of other alien races and planets, but the story primarily focuses on Ellison and Ka’Rexsh as they try to survive the reality competition (think of it as a mix of Naked and Afraid, Survivor, and Big Brother). Occasionally, there are brief glimpses of Ellison’s friends, but the main spotlight stays on the two leads.
While reading, I got the sense that some of the side characters introduced are from the other series. I’ve only read the first book in the Accidental Alien Brides series, and it’s been a while, so none of the names rang a bell for me. This was an okay read overall, though I suspect I’d enjoy it more if I had read all the other books.
One thing that did bother me was Ellison’s constant use of modern pop culture references and humor. It threw me off because I imagine the story taking place far in the future, not what feels like just a few years from now. While this might make her more relatable to some readers, for me, it broke the immersion a bit.
You might ask, how can they watch alien TV shows in the first place? That’s because Earth was invaded by the Roth, and after such a violent introduction, humans quickly realized they’re not the only intelligent life in the universe. There are also mentions of other alien races and planets, but the story primarily focuses on Ellison and Ka’Rexsh as they try to survive the reality competition (think of it as a mix of Naked and Afraid, Survivor, and Big Brother). Occasionally, there are brief glimpses of Ellison’s friends, but the main spotlight stays on the two leads.
While reading, I got the sense that some of the side characters introduced are from the other series. I’ve only read the first book in the Accidental Alien Brides series, and it’s been a while, so none of the names rang a bell for me. This was an okay read overall, though I suspect I’d enjoy it more if I had read all the other books.
One thing that did bother me was Ellison’s constant use of modern pop culture references and humor. It threw me off because I imagine the story taking place far in the future, not what feels like just a few years from now. While this might make her more relatable to some readers, for me, it broke the immersion a bit.
September 2, 2025
If you've never read January Bell before... you're missing out on some of the funniest, most unhinged, but best alien romance fics out there. How Bell comes up with these premises, I have no clue, but I am for them. As soon as I saw alien reality tv show where you're paired up with an alien and you have to survive a moon and alien heat... immediate preorder. IMMEDIATE.
Ellison and her friends get a little too tipsy one night and sign up for what they think is another game show that they're never picked for. This time though, their contracts attorney friend, Poppy, had other plans. [side note: as a contracts attorney, I felt so seen, especially when Poppy was arguing about the contract with AI... just read it] Wake up with a hangover and choose an alien mate to fight for your survival!
Luckily for Ell, she chooses Rex, who knew she was the one the moment he saw her. Rex will do anything to make sure Ell decides to stay with him at the end of the show. He wants the prize (a parcel of land) but most importantly, he wants Ell. He isn't your typical brute though. Rex is very sweet and caring, constantly trying to show Ell that he is worthy of her.
Just when they think they have the hang of the game... dormant AI rises up and takes over. Get ready. Hope you survive your heat and like your mate.
Because you're officially Mated & Afraid.
💚 Survival
💚 Alien MMC x Human FMC
💚 Alien Reality TV Show
💚 Runaway AI
💚 Mating Heat
💚 Forced Proximity
💚 He Falls First
💚 She Reads Alien FanFic
Thank you to January Bell for the gifted copy!
Ellison and her friends get a little too tipsy one night and sign up for what they think is another game show that they're never picked for. This time though, their contracts attorney friend, Poppy, had other plans. [side note: as a contracts attorney, I felt so seen, especially when Poppy was arguing about the contract with AI... just read it] Wake up with a hangover and choose an alien mate to fight for your survival!
Luckily for Ell, she chooses Rex, who knew she was the one the moment he saw her. Rex will do anything to make sure Ell decides to stay with him at the end of the show. He wants the prize (a parcel of land) but most importantly, he wants Ell. He isn't your typical brute though. Rex is very sweet and caring, constantly trying to show Ell that he is worthy of her.
Just when they think they have the hang of the game... dormant AI rises up and takes over. Get ready. Hope you survive your heat and like your mate.
Because you're officially Mated & Afraid.
💚 Survival
💚 Alien MMC x Human FMC
💚 Alien Reality TV Show
💚 Runaway AI
💚 Mating Heat
💚 Forced Proximity
💚 He Falls First
💚 She Reads Alien FanFic
Thank you to January Bell for the gifted copy!
August 27, 2025
Disillusioned with her life, and severely inebriated, Ellison signs up for a new reality tv show with her friends. To her surprise, not only is she and her friends picked to participate in the show, it’s an alien production in which she has been paired with a Draegon alien, marked with his poison as his mate, and forced to fight for a prize. As the poison works itself through Ellison, she finds herself struggling with an alien heat, as well as her attraction to Ka-Rexsh. But when a strange AI takes over the show, Ellison and Ka-Rexsh have to survive through ever more dangerous conditions.
Alien Jeopardy is an absolute joy to read. Ellison is cynical and extremely competitive. She’s not sure if she wants to stay mated to Ka-Rexsh forever, but she refuses to be held back by the heat. Her continued commentary throughout the challenges adds a sarcastic humor to the whole scenario. In comparison, Ka-Rexsh is head over heels in love with Ellison, ever since he laid eyes on her. But he refuses to give into his instincts, as he wants to earn Ellison’s love while maintaining his personal integrity. As they learn to work together, Ellison learns to appreciate Ka-Rexsh and he learns to trust her.
A thoroughly entertaining and fun sci-fi romance set within a reality tv show that is part naked and afraid, part 90 day fiance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Alien Jeopardy is an absolute joy to read. Ellison is cynical and extremely competitive. She’s not sure if she wants to stay mated to Ka-Rexsh forever, but she refuses to be held back by the heat. Her continued commentary throughout the challenges adds a sarcastic humor to the whole scenario. In comparison, Ka-Rexsh is head over heels in love with Ellison, ever since he laid eyes on her. But he refuses to give into his instincts, as he wants to earn Ellison’s love while maintaining his personal integrity. As they learn to work together, Ellison learns to appreciate Ka-Rexsh and he learns to trust her.
A thoroughly entertaining and fun sci-fi romance set within a reality tv show that is part naked and afraid, part 90 day fiance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 1, 2025
“One million and three points to me for asking a coherent question instead of impaling myself on his disco stick.”
Oh my goodness! These two have me absolutely cracking up laughing! This book has some of my absolute favorite alien tropes!
Overall 4.5/5 stars
What’s Inside
💚Alien Romance
💚Girls night gone WILD
💚Language Barrier
💚What is Kissing?
💚Mating heat
The language barrier was HILARIOUS! And even once they got a translator the ‘lost in translation’ differences continue and are so flippin’ funny! This FMC is definitely one of the more snarky I have read lately, and I am eating it up! I love her quips and sarcasm both in her inner monologue and lobbed at other characters out loud. She is hilarious.
I adore a MMC who is a utter simp for the FMC and Rex definitely does not disappoint. Fiercely devoted from the very beginning and trying his very hardest to both woo her and demonstrate his fitness is so fun.
Everyone has their soft and squishy moments which are just divine! And I love the girl squad! The fact that they all end up there is so funny and perfect. I could not help inserting my own girl squad into their shoes trying to figure out which of my friends would be the Poppy.
Overall a really fun and funny alien rom com! I cannot wait for the next books in this series!
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. My opinions are my own. Thank you!
Oh my goodness! These two have me absolutely cracking up laughing! This book has some of my absolute favorite alien tropes!
Overall 4.5/5 stars
What’s Inside
💚Alien Romance
💚Girls night gone WILD
💚Language Barrier
💚What is Kissing?
💚Mating heat
The language barrier was HILARIOUS! And even once they got a translator the ‘lost in translation’ differences continue and are so flippin’ funny! This FMC is definitely one of the more snarky I have read lately, and I am eating it up! I love her quips and sarcasm both in her inner monologue and lobbed at other characters out loud. She is hilarious.
I adore a MMC who is a utter simp for the FMC and Rex definitely does not disappoint. Fiercely devoted from the very beginning and trying his very hardest to both woo her and demonstrate his fitness is so fun.
Everyone has their soft and squishy moments which are just divine! And I love the girl squad! The fact that they all end up there is so funny and perfect. I could not help inserting my own girl squad into their shoes trying to figure out which of my friends would be the Poppy.
Overall a really fun and funny alien rom com! I cannot wait for the next books in this series!
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. My opinions are my own. Thank you!
September 29, 2025
Ellison, our FMC, is peak relatable millennial chaos: overworked, slightly jaded corporate girl who hosts a margarita-fueled girls’ night... and drunkenly gets signed up (thanks bestie!) for an off-world dating show. Cute, right? Except it’s real. And it’s deadly.
The next thing she knows, she's dropped into a survival-romance game show with the most bonkers premise ever: pick a mate, survive the terrain, resist the mating heat triggered by his wing venom, and maybe avoid dying at the hands of a sentient AI (aka Ken)
And that mate? Ka’Rexsh. Wings. Muscles. Heart of gold. Immediate obsession.
Honestly, the man is one pheromone-laced snuggle away from being the alien boyfriend of the year. He's so devoted, patient, and sweet, even when Ellison is doing everything in her power to resist the pull between them. Yes, the mating heat trope is in full swing. And let's not talk about the language barrier trope. It’s fun, fast, and surprisingly cute.
The ending wraps up our couple with a satisfying romantic ending, while setting us up perfectly for the next one in the series. Consider me strapped in for the ride.
Tropes :
🛸 Alien Dating Show Survival
🛸 Cinnamon Roll MMC
🛸 Mating Heat / Wing Venom
🛸 Forced Proximity
🛸 Language Barrier
🛸 Fated Mates
Read Rating: 🔮🔮🔮🔮
Spice Scale: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Magic Level: 💫💫 (sci-fi world)
The next thing she knows, she's dropped into a survival-romance game show with the most bonkers premise ever: pick a mate, survive the terrain, resist the mating heat triggered by his wing venom, and maybe avoid dying at the hands of a sentient AI (aka Ken)
And that mate? Ka’Rexsh. Wings. Muscles. Heart of gold. Immediate obsession.
Honestly, the man is one pheromone-laced snuggle away from being the alien boyfriend of the year. He's so devoted, patient, and sweet, even when Ellison is doing everything in her power to resist the pull between them. Yes, the mating heat trope is in full swing. And let's not talk about the language barrier trope. It’s fun, fast, and surprisingly cute.
The ending wraps up our couple with a satisfying romantic ending, while setting us up perfectly for the next one in the series. Consider me strapped in for the ride.
Tropes :
🛸 Alien Dating Show Survival
🛸 Cinnamon Roll MMC
🛸 Mating Heat / Wing Venom
🛸 Forced Proximity
🛸 Language Barrier
🛸 Fated Mates
Read Rating: 🔮🔮🔮🔮
Spice Scale: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Magic Level: 💫💫 (sci-fi world)
August 30, 2025
With her smiles and small noises and stamping feet, though, she's crafted an entire museum gallery of scenes painted in vivid color, hung in gilded frames, each stroke a different promise of the future we could create. She already makes my heart sing, and I don't even understand the words to our song yet.
4.25 stars
Oh how I missed January Bell's easy writing and hilarious storytelling. Rex and Ellison's story was filled with January's signature humor and swoony romance, and I absolutely loved this start to a new series. I enjoyed the reality show spin on alien romance this story provided, but there was a nice twist that I did not expect that really amped up the danger and desperation. Rex was such a protective cinnamon roll, and I loved his adoration towards his mate. Ellison was an absolute riot, and I laughed out loud during so many of her chapters. I'm excited to continue this series as it promises to be a hilarious and heart-warming journey🖤
Tropes: fated mates, love-on-the-run, obsessed cinnamon roll hero, sarcastic heroine, forced proximity, language barrier, reality show survival competition (with aliens), mating frenzy, STEAMY🔥
*ARC provided by the author, and I voluntarily reviewed it*
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