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Short Circuit Time
In the year 2086, Zaphira is alone, the last survivor of biological warfare on Earth. Before he died, her scientist father promised other survivors would come. Nobody has. So when a horribly mangled android shows up claiming to be her father’s assistant, Aiden, who has been sent through time to rescue her, she’s both frightened and astounded.
The last time she’d seen Aiden, she’d been sixteen, head-over-heels in love with him and had literally thrown herself at him, leaving her devastated by his rejection and him running for the hills. The following day, she’d been told of his death.
Eight years later he’s miraculously back, this time asking for her help. Without it, he won’t survive. But can she really put a dead man back together with tweezers?
For Aiden, everything has changed. There are no other humans, no government, and time travel has left his new android body unexpectedly weak and suffering from inexplicable genetic changes in eye and hair color, brought about by his molecular shake-up. Unbelievably, the scientist who sent him is dead, and he must rely on the scientist’s daughter to help him. A woman who he’s not so sure has his best interests at heart.
The last time he’d seen her, Zaphira had been a sixteen year old with a dangerous crush on him and he’d been rocked by the turmoil of his own feelings. Now she’s twenty four and literally holds his survival in her hands. Too bad everything he does and says seems to annoy her.
Trusting her might be his undoing. But he is left with no choice.
For Zaphira, getting used to the transformation of old Aiden to android Aiden requires a large mental leap. But when android Aiden starts to rebuild his human form to a new and improved standard, things start to get tricky.
The Aiden she loved as a little girl was her father’s nerdy assistant. The new Aiden is hot. But are her feelings as strong eight years later or are they simply a cherished memory?
The last time she’d seen Aiden, she’d been sixteen, head-over-heels in love with him and had literally thrown herself at him, leaving her devastated by his rejection and him running for the hills. The following day, she’d been told of his death.
Eight years later he’s miraculously back, this time asking for her help. Without it, he won’t survive. But can she really put a dead man back together with tweezers?
For Aiden, everything has changed. There are no other humans, no government, and time travel has left his new android body unexpectedly weak and suffering from inexplicable genetic changes in eye and hair color, brought about by his molecular shake-up. Unbelievably, the scientist who sent him is dead, and he must rely on the scientist’s daughter to help him. A woman who he’s not so sure has his best interests at heart.
The last time he’d seen her, Zaphira had been a sixteen year old with a dangerous crush on him and he’d been rocked by the turmoil of his own feelings. Now she’s twenty four and literally holds his survival in her hands. Too bad everything he does and says seems to annoy her.
Trusting her might be his undoing. But he is left with no choice.
For Zaphira, getting used to the transformation of old Aiden to android Aiden requires a large mental leap. But when android Aiden starts to rebuild his human form to a new and improved standard, things start to get tricky.
The Aiden she loved as a little girl was her father’s nerdy assistant. The new Aiden is hot. But are her feelings as strong eight years later or are they simply a cherished memory?
- GenresPost Apocalyptic
93 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 8, 2015
59 people want to read
About the author
Diane Saxon
31 books372 followersDiane Saxon lives in the Shropshire countryside with her tall, dark, handsome husband. She has two gorgeous daughters, a Dalmatian, two cats, numerous rare breed chickens, and grandfurbabies too.
After working for years in a demanding job, Diane gave it up when her husband said, “Follow that dream.” She subsequently had 12 romances published for the U.S. market then turned to the dark side with her psychological thrillers published through Boldwood Books.
Nominated for the CWA Dagger in the Library Award 2024 and an International No 1 Amazon Bestseller, Diane never regrets living her second life.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 30, 2015
Ever wanted to build the perfect guy? Change that nose a bit, raise that droopy ear, and maybe add a few inches in the right place(s)? Zaphira gets to do that and more to the android version of Aiden, the geeky science boy who was her father’s assistant and the secret teenage crush who broke her heart. Of course all that was eight years ago and he, along with everyone else was now dead. Except her. Which meant she was alone until something comes bubbling out of her stream one day. Except his eyes are a different color – different colors, in fact. And he has more muscles. Confused? So was she. That’s what happens when you start talking about time travel.
Zaphira’s scientist father promised her that there were going to be other survivors from this terrible plague and that in time, they would come. But she has been alone for so long now, she isn’t sure that she believes anymore, until Android Aiden shows up. Apparently he was sent from the future to help her. But she isn’t sure that she needs his or anyone’s help. She plants a garden and uses a bow and arrow to take down an animal so she can eat and so her dogs can have meat. The skin keeps her warm and preserving things means she has meat and vegetables to last through the cold. So how exactly is this geeky science guy going to help her?
In this fun, quirky, sweet, erotic and very entertaining novella Diane Saxon shows us her talent for writing strong, likeable characters no matter who made their skin! The way she blends the science effortlessly into this story – along with a bit of a lesson to those who will listen – is a mark of a true storyteller. The differences she emphasizes in each of them, as they have grown (Zaphira is 8 years older in this reality) or been genetically altered (Aiden’s eye color now changes according to his mood) enables the reader to insert themselves into the story alongside Zaphira or Aiden and experience the rush of lust or heart-stopping fear or any of the other emotions these two go through.
I am a huge fan of Diane’s other books and for me, the things I love about those are here in this one as well.
Zaphira’s scientist father promised her that there were going to be other survivors from this terrible plague and that in time, they would come. But she has been alone for so long now, she isn’t sure that she believes anymore, until Android Aiden shows up. Apparently he was sent from the future to help her. But she isn’t sure that she needs his or anyone’s help. She plants a garden and uses a bow and arrow to take down an animal so she can eat and so her dogs can have meat. The skin keeps her warm and preserving things means she has meat and vegetables to last through the cold. So how exactly is this geeky science guy going to help her?
In this fun, quirky, sweet, erotic and very entertaining novella Diane Saxon shows us her talent for writing strong, likeable characters no matter who made their skin! The way she blends the science effortlessly into this story – along with a bit of a lesson to those who will listen – is a mark of a true storyteller. The differences she emphasizes in each of them, as they have grown (Zaphira is 8 years older in this reality) or been genetically altered (Aiden’s eye color now changes according to his mood) enables the reader to insert themselves into the story alongside Zaphira or Aiden and experience the rush of lust or heart-stopping fear or any of the other emotions these two go through.
I am a huge fan of Diane’s other books and for me, the things I love about those are here in this one as well.
January 15, 2015
Sci Fi romance, time travel, humor, and an android.
I very much enjoyed this quick read filled with Saxon’s trademark humor. But make no mistake; this is not a romantic comedy.
Saxon uses her humor to make this more than just a poignant tale of unrequited teenage love given a second chance eight years later after the heroine has been forced to fend for herself following a worldwide apocalyptic event. With the help of time travel and android technology, her father’s assistant, twelve years her senior at the time, arrives to rescue her and humankind. He’s a little late and in an android body. She’s twenty-four—only four years younger than he is now.
For those who aren’t big science fiction fans, the story is written so you will not be overwhelmed with a futuristic world and technology. But sci fi romance fans will be entertained by the ideas presented in the story line. In short, if you are a romance fan, you should enjoy this.
I am a huge fan of Diane Saxon, and have her on my “must read list”.
I very much enjoyed this quick read filled with Saxon’s trademark humor. But make no mistake; this is not a romantic comedy.
Saxon uses her humor to make this more than just a poignant tale of unrequited teenage love given a second chance eight years later after the heroine has been forced to fend for herself following a worldwide apocalyptic event. With the help of time travel and android technology, her father’s assistant, twelve years her senior at the time, arrives to rescue her and humankind. He’s a little late and in an android body. She’s twenty-four—only four years younger than he is now.
For those who aren’t big science fiction fans, the story is written so you will not be overwhelmed with a futuristic world and technology. But sci fi romance fans will be entertained by the ideas presented in the story line. In short, if you are a romance fan, you should enjoy this.
I am a huge fan of Diane Saxon, and have her on my “must read list”.
September 15, 2015
After reading, and very much enjoying, a contemporary western romance by Diane Saxon, I picked up her lone offering in the SFR genre. For all that sci-fi romance is mostly imagination, I'm a little more used to the science being based somewhere in the realm of possibility. The science behind this book was just silly. What saved the book for me was the romance between Zaphira and Aiden. I was intrigued by the premise that Aiden has traveled through time in an android body and was sent by Zaphira's father, who is now dead in a future with virtually no people due to a ravaging disease. Zaphira barely recognizes her father's research assistant in his damaged android body. However, she does remember the last time she saw him when she acted impulsively on a teenage crush for a man 12 years her senior. Due to the time travel, Aiden is now only four years older than Zaphira and is captivated by the beautiful woman the passionate teen became. This is another book where Saxon has written a heroine with a brain who is likable, self-sufficient and brave. There is an interesting twist at the end and a terrific epilogue.
March 29, 2015
This is surprisingly fun as we meet a girl called Zaphira who used to fancy her dad's lab assistant, Aiden. After the War wipes out almost everyone, Zaphira is alone for years, until a metal android travels to meet her - he says he is Aiden and her father sent him through time. He looks different, he's battered and burned, and his face is a blank. Can she believe him, and if so what use is he anyway? Androids aren't going to repopulate the Earth.
The setting comes across as pretty real and Zaphira is making the best of her new normality in the countryside. She's resourceful and quickly adapts to new thoughts. Pretty soon she's wondering if she and Aiden can get it on... somehow? And how much of him is left in there?
This short story is way more fun than you'd expect, a nicely romantic YA / adult love story with a good dose of positive thinking and happiness in the midst of dystopia.
The setting comes across as pretty real and Zaphira is making the best of her new normality in the countryside. She's resourceful and quickly adapts to new thoughts. Pretty soon she's wondering if she and Aiden can get it on... somehow? And how much of him is left in there?
This short story is way more fun than you'd expect, a nicely romantic YA / adult love story with a good dose of positive thinking and happiness in the midst of dystopia.
February 15, 2015
*book gifted to me by the author*
4.5 stars, actually.
I loved the story. So unique and well written. True to Diane Saxon's form, Zaphira is as strong and independent as I like my leading ladies, and doesn't see love as a weakness. Aiden is lovable in both what we glimpse from his past and what we see in the future he's thrown in. The humor, always present in Diane's stories, brings a lightness to what could have been a grave situation, and makes the characters' interactions believable, adorable, and sexy at the same time.
My only reason for not giving it a solid five-star review is that my inner nerd wanted to see more of this world and the science behind time traveling, and my greedy reader side wanted it to be a long novel.
4.5 stars, actually.
I loved the story. So unique and well written. True to Diane Saxon's form, Zaphira is as strong and independent as I like my leading ladies, and doesn't see love as a weakness. Aiden is lovable in both what we glimpse from his past and what we see in the future he's thrown in. The humor, always present in Diane's stories, brings a lightness to what could have been a grave situation, and makes the characters' interactions believable, adorable, and sexy at the same time.
My only reason for not giving it a solid five-star review is that my inner nerd wanted to see more of this world and the science behind time traveling, and my greedy reader side wanted it to be a long novel.
January 14, 2015
This was a fun, quirky sci-fi romance and a fast read. Zaphira is one of the few remaining humans on earth in 2086 when the man she loved when she was sixteen comes back into her life as an android. The two of them take some time to adjust to the changes...and then sparks fly.
January 19, 2016
Read my review on RomanceJunkies.com by clicking on the link below:
http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/...
I rated it 3.5 but rounded to 4 on Goodreads.
http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/...
I rated it 3.5 but rounded to 4 on Goodreads.
November 10, 2015
What a nice change of pace. A nice quick read with some funny moments as the two characters get to know each other again.
February 3, 2017
A too short circuit
An intriguing insight into what the future may hold. Tender, witty and thought provoking. Hopefully, Diane has a follow up in her head - preferably a full length one
An intriguing insight into what the future may hold. Tender, witty and thought provoking. Hopefully, Diane has a follow up in her head - preferably a full length one
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews