Radiant Exception

by A.J. Wynn

The mission seemed simple:

Step One: Find the Phoenix.

Step Two: Kill the Phoenix.

Step Three: Collect insane bounty.

Step Four: Live happily ever after.

In the depths of space, Lark Sterling has one mission: bring down the Phoenix, the elusive leader of a criminal syndicate responsible for the tragic loss of her family. After years of relentless pursuit, a covert opportunity arises—one that could provide her with the revenge she seeks. But it comes with one condition: she’ll have to pose as the wife of Captain Damian Vaughn, a decorated military hero with a brooding past, a strict preference for working alone, and secrets of his own.

With the Phoenix in their crosshairs, Lark and Vaughn must put their differences aside to navigate through a maze of secrets, lies, and their own burning chemistry, putting their reluctant partnership to the test. But in the shadows of their deadly mission, will their undeniable attraction ignite something more, or will their hidden scars and personal demons tear them apart before they can bring the Phoenix to justice?

Radiant Exception is a spicy standalone sci-fi mystery romance. HEA guaranteed.

Genres: Science Fiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 21, 2026

About the author

AJ Wynn is a Southern California-based author who works in marketing professionally, but whose true passion lies in writing. Weaving captivating stories with romance, mystery, fantasy, and much more allows AJ to express her creativity and serves as a canvas for her boundless imagination. When not immersed in the world of words, AJ is an avid reader, book dragon, and interior decorating enthusiast. Her favorite cozy days are accompanied by a fresh cup of coffee and her faithful canine sidekick.

Reviews

[Books &Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Radiant Exception was such a fun read! It is fast-paced with a compelling mystery that will keep you turning the pages.

The dynamic between the main characters had a great balance. There was plenty of tension and longing with just the right amount of spice.

The character development really stood out, especially for the MMC. As a decorated war hero dealing with PTSD and panic attacks, his struggles felt thoughtfully handled and authentic. While the story doesn’t dive too deeply into his past, it reveals just enough to show how it shaped who he is in the present.

This was my first sci-fi read and it definitely did not disappoint. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery, sci-fi or romance!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Release Date: May 21, 2026

Tropes ✨:
Badass FMC
Possessive MMC
Dislike to lovers
Forced proximity
Fake marriage
He falls first
Only one bed
Sci-fi
Undercover mission + mystery 
Spy romance 
“my wife”

Representation:
PTSD/mental health rep 

🖤: “Like gravity, I suddenly found myself in her orbit, helpless to pull away.”

Thank you to the author and Behind the Pages for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Dani Tipton · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW OF ADVANCED READER COPY!

I think this was my first sci-fi read? But forced marriage, you had me there! What really kept me invested was the character dynamic especially the fact that he falls first (and fast). Their relationship had this mix of tension, humor, and vulnerability that made it really easy to get attached.

Alongside the romance, there’s a mystery element centered around a dangerous drug operation, giving it a bit of a WHO DONE IT feel. Watching them try to work together, while not always succeeding, added a layer of realism to their partnership that I appreciated. It wasn’t perfect, and that made it more engaging.

The banter was cute and enjoyable, the pacing kept me interested, and the spice was very much what I looked forward to in a good book.

Overall, this was an entertaining blend of sci-fi, romance, and mystery. Definitely worth the read if you enjoy forced proximity, emotional tension, and a bit of intrigue mixed in.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

2-2.5 stars

Thank you to the author for an advance copy of this book, received as a member of the Behind the Pages ARC Team! All opinions are my own.

Radiant Exception started off strong, the first 25-30% of it really pulled me in! It started to decline around the 50% mark and I would say the decline plummeted around 75%.

First of all, I think the concept of the book is really sound! Contrary to what I find frustrating in a lot of books, I didn't feel there were gaping plot holes that drove me insane. Candidly what drove me insane here was primarily two things: 1) Telling, instead of showing, and, 2) Pacing.

1) There was really a lack of detail at parts that I think mattered, which also ties into the telling instead of showing. Lark's primary purpose for taking this mission is her do-or-die desire to hunt down the Phoenix and dismantle the Meridian for the deaths of her family, especially her twin brother. But despite the fact that this remains her entire purpose, she 1) claims the numbness she felt at her parents' murders was pretty much exactly what it felt like growing up with them, seemingly an unchanged emotion, as she was raised by nannies and the like, and 2) talks repeatedly about how she feels her brother's death was essentially like her own, yet not once could I actually FEEL the emotion about the loss of her twin.

We're told relatively little about him and get nearly almost all of the details about what he did with his life (only a page or so tbh) in the author's mad dash to wrap the story up as Lark puts everything together with ease.

Now onto her and Vaughn as characters. I didn't dislike his character but similarly to Lark, I really felt nothing for either of them. We're told so much about them through their own thoughts and views of each other, but I personally don't think we saw a ton in action that showed us what makes the characters themselves - most of this happened in the first 25% of the book, hence being pulled in then! We're told how horrible both of their lives have been, even given some examples, but none of those examples ever really incited any emotion in me.

PLEASE show us who your characters are, don't tell me, because the showing is what ultimately connects the reader to the book!

2) I found the pacing to be a little bit off putting. It started out at a decent rate, but very quickly after essentially two interactions between our two main characters, one of which went quite poorly, the second of which went quite poorly because Lark character almost got injured, suddenly we've fallen into territory where Vaughn feels so upset by that second interaction that he's seeing everything in such a different way he is suddenly in love with Lark, reflecting on how SHE is the one he wants to change for and he wants everything, despite the glaringly few interactions they've had? It went shockingly quickly from dislike to respect and head-over feels love, that it felt quite close to Insta-love, though I won't use that exact word since it wasn't within their first interaction (lol).

I am trying to be courteous and fair in the way I choose to review this book, but the last 25% of it I truly found to be so poorly written. It really felt like the author chose the most cliche choice possible in every single situation where a choice was required, and then wrote it out with almost next to no detail (again, telling us, never showing us) which made everything happen at a truly astounding rate and that frustrated me. The level of writing and care that felt present at other parts of the novel felt very, very absent during the last quarter of the book, as it seemed she just needed to throw something together and tie it off with a bow.

I'm not saying every novel needs to be a slow burn, but I beg of you, please have your characters interact in a meaningful way at least a couple of times before proclaiming life-changing love. And SHOW us who they are so I can feel it and sympathize with them. Telling me who they are is just frankly no good.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy 5 stars!

There is something about the way AJ writes that pulls me in completely. Her stories always feel vivid and alive, like I am right there with the characters, and this one was no exception. She has such a talent for balancing an intricate mystery with steamy romance, and she makes it feel effortless.

This story drops you straight into a world of space travel, missions, and a tightly knit crew aboard the ship Radiant. The world building is immersive without ever feeling overwhelming, which made it so easy to get invested right away. From the very start, there is tension simmering under everything, especially with the knowledge that someone on board is a mole.

Lark is the newly assigned chief engineer and Damian is the captain of the Radiant, and the dynamic between them is immediate chaos in the best way. Their first almost meeting is a disaster when he stands her up, and their actual first encounter is intense and unexpected. The tension only builds from there, especially when they discover minutes before launch that they have been assigned an exception, which means they are legally paired as a married couple for the mission… except they are not actually married, just forced to play the part. I loved this concept so much. It added stakes, pressure, and so much delicious tension right from the beginning.

The romance is everything I want in a slow burn. It is full of yearning, restraint, and moments that feel hard earned. Lark falls first, but when Damian falls, he falls hard. His protective side, especially when he leans into the whole “my wife” energy, was so satisfying to read. Their grumpy and sunshine dynamic worked so well, and the forced proximity only made everything more intense.

Beyond the romance, the mystery keeps you hooked. The undercover mission, the suspicion among the crew, and the added layer of Lark reconnecting with a childhood friend she lost touch with all build this constant sense of unease. I loved the found family aspect too. The crew felt real and grounded, which made the stakes feel even higher.

There are so many tropes packed in here, but they all work together seamlessly. Fake marriage, workplace romance, dislike to lovers, one bed, spy elements, undercover mission. It never feels like too much. It just feels like a story that knows exactly what it is doing.

AJ truly knocked it out of the park with this one. It had me completely hooked from start to finish. Easy five stars for me. And the fact that it is a standalone makes it even better. This is absolutely one to mark on your calendar if you love sci fi romance with tension, mystery, and unforgettable characters.

[Meg (fantasybook.adventurer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Radiant Exception✨

AJ has this amazing way of writing characters that I would literally follow around or continue to binge read about even their simple daily lives. As this book came to a close, I wasn’t ready. Like Chance and Violet in AJ’s dark academia, The Other Side, I found myself just loving being around these intricate and relatable characters. And I’m PROUD of AJ for her dive into sci-fi/fantasy AND dual POV!

In RE, we follow the POVs of our two MCs, Lark and Vaughn. When they are both assigned to a mission to uncover the leader of a deadly crime syndicate, who is lurking on Vaughn’s ship, they find themselves facing a fake marriage, a race against time, an old love interest, and a mystery criminal, but also unwelcome feelings. Lark and Vaughn must not only learn to work together, but also build trust, scheme, and address their hurts all in hopes of finding the identity of an organization that has deeply hurt so many.

AJ addresses PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks, and grief so beautifully with delicate and intentional support. As usual, I LOVE the dynamics she creates within her relationships, communication, and spice. Every moment within their heads was sooo thoughtful and heartfelt. The found family was such a funny and lovely group and I had soooo much fun volleying back and forth between who I thought was the bad guy. It’s true; I’ll read anything by AJ.

Tropees you may find in RE are fake marriage, “my wife”, nickname, forced proximity, undercover mission, one bed, grumpy possessive MMC cinnamon roll, mystery, “good girl”, reluctance to lovers, he talks most in the bedroom 😮‍💨🤭, he falls first, grumpy x sunshine vibes, medium spice, PTSD/mental health rep, and a HEA.

AJ, thank you for once again letting me be an arc reader for you. This book is added to my favorites list alongside The Other Side. And thank you to Behind the Pages as well!

[E H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well dang. This book just hit the ground running, didn’t it? We got a a sci-fi ish, space romance, mystery thriller all mixed into one. Yet i’d also somehow stick this in the contemporary romance genre as well… because it was just so simple and human and satisfying!

Lark has spent a majority of her adult life hunting down the people involved in her brother’s murder. As she begins to get a bit sloppy, her mentor insists she partner up with another spy, who happens to be the captain of a ship they believe the leader of crime/drug syndicate type thing is hiding out/blending in on. Lark, whose got her own history to deal with is thrust into a fake (but also 100% real) marriage with Vaughn, who shut this idea down before it started, so he doesn’t even know she’s his wife until he’s got her pinned up by the throat against a wall(not in the sexy way you’d be expecting). Anywho, the two have to decide whether or not they will let their solo-spy personas go in order to work together to find the people behind all of the devastation and destruction in their lives. Vaughn has his own baggage. He’s lost a lot of people because of this same group that Lark is hunting. Both are so very shut off, but once the chemistry starts flowing, it can’t be stopped. The way these two fit together so quickly just WORKS. Trauma bonding? MAYBE but who cares. It’s fiction.

This book is short, sweet, and to the point with the romance, relationship and character building. If you’re looking for something in depth with life altering declarations, and jaw dropping therapeutic moments and realizations, this isn’t for you. Wynn successfully enveloped space travel, a meaningful budding relationship, and a mystery thriller in a short 290ish page book. It’s fast, it makes sense, it’s not forced, but it’s NOT intricate. It is however beautifully paced, and is a wonderful standalone piece to get ya going.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.

My first Sci-fi book of the year, and it’s a pretty solid book to start with. This is the first book that I have ever read by AJ Wynn. It is filled with space adventure, romance, and spy stuff. Who doesn’t love all of those things?

This book revolves around Lark Sterling and her unintended partner, Damian Vaughn, as they pose as a couple with an Exception (the equivalent of marriage) aboard Vaughn’s ship, Radiant (Get it? Radiant Exception? I see what you did there.). The mission is to find out who the Phoenix, a criminal mastermind ruining the Galaxy, is and take him out. Lark and Vaughn each have their own reason for wanting to find this person, and they’ll need to figure out how to work together to solve the mystery.

I fell in love with these characters so quickly. We don’t get much time with the other crew members, other than the occasional interaction here and there. I would like to have learned more about them and really gotten a good idea of how close they all were going on these cargo runs all the time. I really enjoyed the interactions that did happen in the book; I just wanted some more because I loved them.

I will admit that I had an idea of who the Phoenix was most of the time (and no, I’m not telling); however, there was this one Red Herring that I did not expect at all. I love it when stuff like that happens, and while I might have known without actually knowing the major mystery, all of the little pieces that are scattered throughout still made the mystery itself fun to understand and watch the characters figure out.

Now, let's talk about the romance. It is adorable (and then steamy). I love these two characters together, and when Vaughn tells someone to “get away from my wife,” I swooned. It was perfection. They don’t get along at first, and Vaughn actively avoids her as much as he possibly can. As they get to know each other, the feelings sort of just hit like a freight train and explode. It’s fantastic.

I loved the vibes of this book. It was fun, made me cry, and made me scream and giggle. I experienced the full rainbow of emotions through here, which is impressive for a book under 300 pages (this, of course, might change as I read an ARC copy). While there was so much that I loved, it wasn’t quite enough for me to give it a full 5-star, but it was at least a 4.5-star read. If you want some sci-fi, only one bed, grumpy bear romance, pick this one up. It is absolutely worth the read.

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I dipped back into sci-fi, the genre that originally made me fall in love with reading, and Radiant Exception turned out to be the perfect re-entry point. Science fiction mixed with crime, mystery, and just a touch of romance? Yes please. This was such a fun read.

Let’s start with why this is a 4 star instead of 5, because it’s honestly a me thing. The romance felt a little rushed to me. But given that this is a shorter book compared to the absolute doorstoppers I usually read, it makes sense that things had to move a bit faster to fit everything in. It didn’t ruin the story for me at all, just something I noticed.

Now, the good stuff.

The plot? I loved it. Our FMC goes undercover to take down a crime syndicate, yes, not the most original setup, but after living in fantasy worlds full of court politics and intrigue, this felt like a breath of fresh air. And the way AJ Wynn built the crime syndicate actually made sense. It felt believable, which made it that much more engaging.

I did kind of see the twist coming, but I still enjoyed the ride getting there, which says a lot.

The characters were a huge highlight. Lark and Vaughn are both dealing with trauma in very different ways, and watching them navigate that, and their own healing, was really compelling. And their dynamic? I loved it. Lark irritating Vaughn felt very familiar in the best way, like watching my own relationship play out on page.

And the side characters?? Loved them. The found family element added so much warmth and personality to the story.

Is it perfect? Almost.
Is it fun, engaging, and something I’ll absolutely recommend? 100% yes.

[Lauren Mouchka · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ / 3🌶️

ARC REVIEW FROM AUTHOR:

Where do I start, AJ Wynn’s writing is EXCEPTIONal. Her way of bringing you into a storyline and plot is well done and makes you fall in love with the characters easily. I loved the idea behind the book, where the FMC has to go undercover to bring down a drug lord by infiltrating the ship from within. And the only way to do that is by pretending to be an exception (the wife) of the captain.

This is where the book lost me. I felt like this book could have either been a duology or atleast 200 pages longer! There is so much backstory missing in the book. The author could have gone into more details about Lark’s past with what happened at Deimos, or with the overdose of her brother. Or with Vaughn, she could have made a few chapters out of the abusive father angle instead of a couple paragraphs. I just felt like we didn’t get enough out of why he hates his first name and why Lark is the way she is because of her past.

Also, the spice was cute, but it wasn’t it for me. I didn’t love it. I wanted something more I guess. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Things I did love, I loved the SciFi aspect of the book. The way the author brought in a mix of different planets and ships into the book. This is something that I felt could have made a great duology if the author wanted. I also love the witty side characters. She did a great job introducing them without them taking over the story for the single book.

I wanted to love this book because the author gave me the link herself with the eARC. And I did enjoy it, but I felt there was so much more to this book that she could have added.

[Amy | PagesWithPeachy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, fast-paced, high-stakes sci-fi mystery standalone with a fake marriage trope and forced proximity on a spaceship?!

Say.
No.
More.

As much as I love an epic, 3-5 book series, I have been feeling desperate for a standalone that doesn’t need to be 600+ pages to get the job done.

Bravo to AJ Wynn for doing just that in Radiant Exception!

Some of the things I loved:

Mystery: when I guess (with equal conviction) that each and every character is the Phoenix, then I can technically pat myself on the back when one of my 6+ guesses is correct, right? lol. I loved how she put this mystery together, how it was revealed, and ultimately how the book tied up at the end. It wasn’t a long book, and the pacing was perfect. Total page turner that kept my attention the entire time, and kept me guessing throughout!

Romance: I love fake marriage and forced proximity tropes, and they were both done so well! This is *not a slow burn romance, nor does it claim to be so. Not every romance needs to be slow burn, and I absolutely loved how their relationship complimented the sci-fi mystery plot. It was fun, spicy, and worked great with the story.

Sci-fi writing: I haven’t read a ton of sci-fi, so I was a bit nervous that this would be over my head or confusing. Nope! The setting is unique from the other books I read, very accessible, and described in ways I fully understood.

Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Can’t wait for this to come out May 21, 2026!

[Ashton V · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed the author's other books so I was so excited to see her make the jump to sci-fi! This is an excellent book for any romantasy fans looking to make the jump to sci-fi. It's short, straightforward, and extremely entertaining!

Radiant Exception follows Lark as she works to take down the Phoenix, the elusive leader of a criminal syndicate responsible for the death of her family. After years of pursuit Lark uncovers a lead and by joining the Radiant as a chief engineer becomes one step closer to discovering the Phoenix. The only catch? She is entered into an exception with Captain Vaughn, a broody and mistrustful man who wasn't looking for a 'wife' to work with while taking down the Phoenix. Together they must work together to discover the mole on the Radiant who has been working for the Phoenix.

I love sci-fi romance so I was immediately invested in this story when Lark and Vaughn first meet. I mean who doesn't love a first meeting kiss where both instantly fall right into it. The passion and connection between them was instant but that doesn't mean it's all smooth sailing. Their relationship was full of banter, tension, and was incredibly strong. The mystery element was a fun addition to this story as I tried to work through who I thought the culprit would be.

Overall this was such a fun read! It was short, entertaining, and left me wanting more. Plus Radiant Exception is a dual POV standalone which I absolutely love. I'm hoping we will see more of these characters in the future as I'd love to know more about the other crewmembers.

Thank you to AJ Wynn and Behind the Pages PA for an early copy!

[Kylie Mang · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Radiant Exception by AJ Wynn✨
ARC Review
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“𝐼 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹𝓃’𝓉 𝓃𝑒𝑒𝒹 𝒽𝑒𝓇, 𝑜𝓇 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝑜𝓃𝑒. 𝐵𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓃𝑒𝑒𝒹𝑒𝒹 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝑜𝓃𝑒…𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓁𝑒𝒻𝓉. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹𝓃’𝓉 𝒷𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝑒𝓁𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒…𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒽𝒶𝒹. 𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓃𝑜𝒷𝑜𝒹𝓎 𝓁𝑒𝒻𝓉.”

Thank you AJ Wynn and Behind the Pages for the ARC!

This was my first Sci-Fi read and I loved it! I didn’t know I needed a space romance in my life but I did and I need more! 🚀
Lark Sterling is a woman with a plan and a need for vengeance. She is hell bent on finding The Phoenix and dismantling all they created. Lark is a badass FMC who is driven by the loss of her parents and grief of losing her twin and best friend.
Captain Vaughan is a broody war hero with a past of loss just like Lark.
This book is also a forced proximity and a fake marriage so you know I was sat the whole time giggling and kicking my feet.

If you want a fun, fast paced space travel romance this one is for you!
Radiant Exception releases May 21st!!!


This book contains:
~ Dual POV
~ Forced Proximity
~ Fake Marriage
~ Undercover missions
~ He calls her ‘Trouble’ 🤪
~ Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️

“𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝐿𝒶𝓇𝓀, 𝓂𝓎 𝓋𝑜𝓇𝒶𝒸𝒾𝑜𝓊𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓊𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒𝓇. 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓅𝒶𝒾𝓃𝒻𝓊𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒸𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝑒. 𝐼𝒻 𝓂𝓎 𝒶𝒻𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃𝑒𝒹, 𝐼 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒷𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓅𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒻𝓊𝓁, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝒶 𝓈𝒾𝓃𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐼 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓈𝓅𝑒𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝓎 𝒹𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒷𝓁𝓊𝑒-𝑒𝓎𝑒𝒹 𝓈𝒾𝓇𝑒𝓃 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝓁𝓊𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝓂𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝒻𝒾𝓇𝓈𝓉 𝓂𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉, 𝒾𝑔𝓃𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶 𝓁𝑜𝓃𝑔-𝒹𝑜𝓇𝓂𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝒻𝓁𝒶𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝒹𝓃’𝓉 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓏𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝓂𝑜𝓁𝒹𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓃𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒 𝓂𝑒.“

[My Cozy Book Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge Thank You to the author for the eARC. This review is my own.

WOW!!!! It has been a while since I read a single book in 24 hours. And even longer since I have read a sci-fi novel!

I could not put this book down for a moment. And when I did have to do life, I kept thinking about it. I love this story and A.J. Wynn did a fabulous job with dropping the reader right into a world where I could seamlessly find my way.

Lark, our FMC, was someone that I immediately fell in love with. Her character was fabulous. Vaughn, MMC, is top tier for me...... the way he fell. Mmmmmm *chef's kiss*.

This world is set in space and takes place mainly on Radiance, a ship that is traveling through space, making deliveries along the way. Lark and Vaughn are strangers that have to fake a marriage (the only way for couples to travel together) in order to infiltrate and trap a terrorist/mob/mafia mastermind. Who collectively is ending so many lives.

Throughout this journey, I loved to see the characters grow. I loved the mystery, the "who is the bad guy". I loved that just when I thought I had it...."Oh wait, there's more!"

I would absolutely not hesitate to recommend this book to any reader. Regardless if you are typically a sci-fi reader or not, this was just good writing. OH! And this had my absolute favorite line ever..... "Where is my wife?" (!!!!!!!)

[Sara Van Blarcom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author, AJ Wynn and Behind the Pages Pa for this eARC for my honest opinion.

So, I am not usually a sci-fi fan.. But this is a sci-fi novel I can get on board with! Don't let the science fictiony vibes of the cover scare you off, it is the perfect book to dip your toes in if you're a romantasy fan looking to expand your genres.

Radiant Exception starts off deep in space We follow Lark as she tries to take down the Phoenix, the leader of a crime organization responsible for the death of her family. She has an opportunity to become a chief engineer aboard the Radiant. The one catch is that in order to do so, she must become the exception to Captain Vaughn, who isn't very thrilled to be forced into a marriage and undercover partnership. Together, they must find out who is sending information to the Meridian group.

Almost nothing catches my attention faster than a "necessary" first kiss upon meeting where they each can't stop thinking about it. I really enjoyed the romantic side of this book. I really liked Vaughn holding the line on his needs. I loved their little fort they had together. It was fun to add in the element of mystery as well. This was so great and I would happily recommend it to anyone! Plus a standalone with a HEA- oh yeah!
Standalone • Forced Marriage • Mental Health Rep
Rating: 🩶🩶🩶🩶🩶

[anzel iyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐀 𝖿ⱺ𝗋𝖼𝖾ᑯ ꭑα𝗋𝗋𝗂α𝗀𝖾 𝗂𐓣 𝗌ρα𝖼𝖾… ᑲυ𝗍 𝗍ɦ𝖾 𝗋𝖾αᥣ ᑯα𐓣𝗀𝖾𝗋 ωα𝗌 ɦⱺω 𝖿α𝗌𝗍 𝗍ɦ𝖾𝗒 𝖿𝖾ᥣᥣ.
Radiant Exception was such a quick, addictive read for me. It’s under 300 pages, but it never felt rushed everything just kept moving, and I was completely pulled into the mission on the Radiant, trying to figure out the mole while also watching Lark and Vaughn circle each other.

The “Exception” setup (them being bound as a married couple on paper) made the tension so much better, because they start off as strangers, pretending… but then it slowly stops feeling like pretending. And I loved that push and pull like they’re constantly in each others space, thinking about each other, but not saying it.

The alternating viewpoints make everything feel more intimate, as you see both characters wrestling with their feelings in real time. Vaughn is all restraint cold on the surface, shaped by his past, yet quietly longing for something real. Lark, in contrast, is playful and strategic, teasing and tempting him just to watch his control slip.

Their dynamic is a mix of sharp tension and quiet care where teasing meets restraint and neither of them fully gives in. The spice 🌶️ shows up like it owns the place, turning up louder than the already charged chemistry.

Highly recommend if you enjoy fast-paced sci-fi romance with tension, emotional vulnerability, and an underlying sense of mystery.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Radiant Exception by AJ Wynn - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 🌶️🌶️

A spicy, stand-alone, sci-fi, mystery romance with guaranteed happily ever after… how could I possibly refuse?

With a description like that, the stakes were high but AJ Wynn did not disappoint.

Set on huge spaceship, the Radiant, we are instantly catapulted into a world of corruption, deception and espionage. Chief engineer Lark Sterling is working undercover to locate and identify the illusive “Phoenix” - a criminal mastermind responsible for mass death and destruction across the solar system… including that of her parents and twin brother. The mission should be straight forward, were it not for Captain Vaughn, the dark, brooding captain of the Radiant who will be her partner on this mission…and her fake husband for the duration of their time on the Radiant…

Lark is a smart, witty FMC whose determination to uncover the truth and avenge her family drives the plot along. Vaughn is her perfect counterpart - grumpy and outraged at the idea of having a partner (let alone a wife!) but equally driven and such a genuinely good guy at heart! Also… forced proximity in space is a new level of intense!!

Key tropes:
* Fake marriage
* Possessive MMC
* Forced proximity…in space
* He falls first
* Espionage/mystery
* PTSD representation
* Betrayal
* Guaranteed happily ever after

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radiant Exception is a spicy standalone sci-fi mystery romance. That description might sound vague but it is anything but. It is actually quite simple: the main characters try to solve a crime, on a spaceship, while falling in love.

Lark is undercover, trying to find the criminal responsible for her family's death. To research a very promissing lead she needs access to The Radiant. Joining the crew of this spaceship is made possible by arranging an 'Exception' with Captain, and fellow undercover agent, Vaugh. An Exception is almost equal to a marriage, and both Lark and Vaugh hate this plan at first. But while they get closer to finding the criminal they also get closer and closer to each other.

This book kept me interested the entire story. The author clearly set up a complete framework before starting to write the details, as is necessary to write a good crime solving story. The world and characters are all well written and have decent background stories. The character development is slow enough to be believable, but fast enough to be able to add some spice tastefully sprinkled throughout the entire second half of the book.

Radiant Exception is an easy read without getting boring anywhere. At some points the pacing felt a bit rushed to me, but there is a good balance between skipping time and going into detail for important moments.

[Amber R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went out of my comfort zone with a sci-fi mystery romance and I'm so glad I did!!

I read this as an ARC.

Lark is the FMC. She is a no-nonsense, smart, and very much a bad ass spy. She grew up in that environment with her parents and twin brother being involved in encryption.

Vaughn is the MMC. He is a broody, all male, ex war hero who captains a spaceship. He has a traumatic past history and suffers from PTSD.

The Phoenix is the leader for a criminal entity called the Meridian. There is a mole in Vaughns crew and Lark is sent in to help find it! One catch- she needs be undercover and pose as Vaughns wife. There is history between Lark and the Phoenix, so she is dead set on the success of this job and getting revenge!

Vaughn and Lark have to work together to solve the mystery of who the mole might be. At the beginning, Vaughn fights against this team approach but he quickly finds that he can't do it alone.... he may also be developing feelings for Lark🔥

Who is the mole? Does Lark finally get her revenge?

Several really great things about this book!
•it's a STANDALONE!!! Yes, you read that correct!!
•the action started immediately
•there is romance 💋 and it's gooood!
•badass FMC!
•I was guessing til the end!

Amazing tropes:
🌟forced proximity
🌟fake marriage
🌟possessive MMC
🌟mental health rep
🌟ONLY ONE BED
🌟spy romance

[A Court of Sprayed Edges · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW FROM AUTHOR <3

Radiant Exception was exactly the kind of standalone I love to slip between longer series, and it completely exceeded my expectations. AJ Wynn delivers a spicy, tension‑filled sci‑fi romance with sharp banter, high stakes, and a mystery that kept me hooked from start to finish.

The story follows Lark, a black‑ops spy determined to uncover the mastermind behind the corporation responsible for her family’s deaths. She’s fierce, capable, and refuses to back down from a challenge. Enter Vaughn — a 6’8” tattooed, grumpy, walking complication who tests her patience and her resolve in all the best ways. Their chemistry is instant, electric, and impossible to ignore.

The mystery element was one of my favorite parts. I loved piecing together the clues, especially with the clever chapter titles hinting at what was coming. I kept guessing, second‑guessing, and still ended up surprised by the reveal. Between the forced proximity, the witty back‑and‑forth, and a romance that sneaks up on you beautifully, this book delivers on every promise.

If you enjoy sci‑fi settings, strong heroines, grumpy‑sunshine dynamics, and a mystery that keeps you turning pages, Radiant Exception is a fantastic pick.

[Patsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two former spies. One impossible mission. And a chemistry that could burn the stars.

This was a very good read. I'll start off by saying that I like when one of our main characters is having to deal with an issue that many people deal with. In this case, PTSD and panic attacks. I think that these issues were very well written into the story and handled with great care. This aspect definitely brought a sense of realism to the story.

I don't often read sci-fi base stories so this was a leap for me but I'm glad that I decided to read it.

The crime syndicate in this story was very well written. It felt so authentic. The fact that our FMC was willing to do whatever it took to take down the syndicate was a great baseline for the story. The character development was great and I loved Lark and Vaughn. I loved that each of them was perfectly flawed in their own way due to past traumas.

Thete is so much I want to say but I feel like I'd spoil it for you. I will say this was a definite four out of five stars read for me.

Tropes:
💪 Badass FMC
❤️‍ Possessive MMC
😒 Dislike to lovers
❤️ Forced proximity
💍 Fake marriage
️ Only one bed
✨ PTSD/mental health rep
🚀 Sci-fi
️‍♂️ Undercover mission + mystery
👀 Spy romance
👰“my wife”

[McKenzie Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Radiant Exception was such a well-paced, jam-packed read for me! I am usually not one to read sci-fi but I think AJ Wynn just switched me over to loving it! Wynn’s pacing in the book resulted in me staying locked in from the start. There was never a moment where I sat back and said, “gah, I wish this would hurry up!” She did a fantastic job in providing enough background of the characters and setting while also keeping the pace of the story to move forward.
Not only was the setting really easy to grasp, the main characters, Lark and Vaughn, were also the perfect pair to follow along with! Lark provides all the best aspects of a sassy FMC that just wants to be cared for while Vaughn provides the grumbly MMC that just wants to be loved. Even in the moments where the characters get in their own way, you KNOW they deeply care for one another and just want to be together. Wynn wrote a great plot where you watch Lark and Vaughn start off as disgruntled allies to then passionate partners when they are forced to work together to take down The Phoenix. Watching their relationship grow was one of the many highlights of this book.
I hope we get to see more of this found family in books to come because now I’m intrigued to see what all the side characters are up to moving forward!

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for me.
Lark Sterling have only one thing in mind -bring down the Phoenix,organization responsible for her family death.To achive this she needs to work with Captain Damian Vaughn,who's not so happy about it.Time is passing and they getting closer to uncover the truth,there's also a attraction that it may cost them more then they want to give.

Who's the Phoenix?
Will they find and bring the Phoenix to justice?

It was great sci-fi mystery.Told from two POV it was a glimpse of what characters were feeling,and some of their past that shape them the way they are.Lark are still dealing with grief,her twin gone and she wanted just a revenge,not planning to fall for Vaughn she was surprisingly cute in her denial.Vaughn on the other hand is this hard and untochable man,it was fun to discover his softer side that he is hidding.When both get together it was explosive.Mystery and some action added make this read so engrossing,it was not just a romance,but a full package for me.My first book by this author and I can't wait for her next work,maybe others in crew?(hint hint:)

If you like a sci-fi with romance,action and mystery I would recommend this one.

Thank you author for arc,my review is honest and my own.

[Maryjoie Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

🚀🚀🚀



When I first started to read the first few pages of Radiant Exception by AJ Wynn and it was going through the rules and laws I was slightly overwhelmed of the expectations of space. As soon as we meet Vaughn it was chaos and spicy and I LOVED IT. I guess being alone in space between cargo pick ups can make a man…let’s just say famished lol. As we got to learn more about Lark…. At first I hated her arrogance, but as I got to learn her past and how she exposed herself to Vaughn (sometimes literally 🔥) I completely flipped. Her character needed Vaughn. They balanced each other out and I loved that he put her first before anything when he finally gave in to his feelings for her. I loved that we got to see a bad ass built man who sounded like he was 7 ft tall have all these emotions it was cute!! We need more of that in this world… anyways haha. I truly enjoyed the journey and action of the book. But I felt like the book was in hyperspace mode and everything was happening so fast and it made the story feel so short. But if this was the intention well you got me 😆. For me wanting more means the writer did its job. Thank you for the ARC and the space adventure I didn’t know I needed!

[halli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Behind the Pages PA and AJ Wynn for providing this eARC in return for my honest review!

5⭐️ Plot. Tropes. Characters. Radiant Exception has it all!

The blurb hooked me immediately and as soon as I read the prologue, I knew this was going to be a book I loved. The undercover/spy aspect was really well written but the thing that sold me was Lark and Vaughn! The forced proximity, not-quite-enemies-to-lovers and the fake marriage was the absolute perfect mix and I am obsessed!!

Lark is strong and independent but is still weighed down by the grief from the loss of her family. Vaughn is a brick wall with a gruff and grumpy exterior but secretly loves his crew. Their banter is so good and it was so sweet watching them both slowly open up to the other. The side characters were all memorable and I think the author did a great job of showing the bond between them all.

The story never felt like it had any slow points and I quite literally finished it in a day. I am honestly a bit sad that it's a standalone because I really enjoyed the chemistry between the characters and would love to see what else happens with them. It's most definitely a 10 out of 10 from me!

[kym ✨ the midnight review · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐
Radiant Exception
AJ Wynn

Radiant Exception features a sarcastic, talented spy named Lark who is desperately searching for the outlaw known only as "The Phoenix" after her brother's death. She finds herself paired off in a fake marriage with a strict ship captain after the Phoenix's bounty — but unfortunately, he wants nothing to do with her and refuses to cooperate.

In this sci fi/mystery/forced proximity romance, sparks fly and tempers surge aboard a shoddily repaired cargo ship as Lark and Captain Vaughn learn to trust each other to achieve their goals.

I enjoyed the forced proximity trope and its take on just one bed. I also loved the crew as found family, and the sort-of Firefly vibes the story gave off.

Personally, I think the resolution was too quick and easy and I clocked the villain the moment they were introduced.

This little novella also had a lot more spice than I was anticipating, to the point where sometimes I think we lost the plot 👀

All in all, if you like romantic spice, space travel, and espionage, I recommend this book.

⭐⭐⭐

Thank you AJ Wynn and Behind the Pages for the eARC.

[Jamachia Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐✨ ITS ALWAYS WHO YOU LEAST EXPECT


This was my first dive into a space romantic suspense, and I have to say—I really enjoyed it! The blend of high-stakes missions with a developing romance kept things interesting and gave the story a unique edge.


One of my favorite aspects was the dynamic between the two main characters. They were both so used to operating alone, relying only on themselves, that watching them struggle—and eventually learn—to work together felt really rewarding. Their growth as a team was believable, and I liked that it didn’t happen instantly. It took time, tension, and a lot of push and pull before they realized they couldn’t achieve their shared goal without trusting each other.


The plot itself kept me engaged, especially with the twist and the major revelation surrounding the main character. That moment added a nice layer of depth and shifted the story in a way that made everything feel more impactful.


Overall, this was a solid introduction to the genre for me. While there were a few moments where I wanted a bit more depth or emotional intensity, I still had a great time with it and would definitely be open to reading more like this in the future.

[MicaylaTheBookDragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lark is determined to bring down the criminal mastermind known as The Phoenix after the deaths of her family. She has been hunting for the Phoenix in the years following the loss of her family and she is offered the golden opportunity to continue her hunt for The Phoenix and bring down the criminal organization behind them. The catch is that Lark will have a partner.

Lark must join the crew of the Radiant, but to do so, she has to pretend to Captain Vaughn's Exception. An Exception is a corporate approached marriage so the couple can officially work on the same crew and they are given out very sparingly. Vaughn is completely taken by surprise by this development l, but both he and Lark agree to do what they need to do to finally bring The Phoenix to justice.

This was such a sweet and spicy story! I adored Vaughn and Lark! They are perfect partners and I loved their chemistry! I loved the sci-fi aspects of this story. It was an entertaining and quick read for me. This is absolutely an amazing book to pick up if you are looking for a quick standalone.

Thank you to Behind The Pages PA and author AJ Wynn for the gifted eARC.

[Jaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mission seemed simple: join a crew, take down the Phoenix, the elusive leader of a crime syndicate who may have infiltrated Vaughn's crew, and fake a marriage. Simple, right? Except Vaughn wasn't prepared to have someone helping him on his mission, let alone a wife he'd never met before.

Lark is willing to do whatever it takes to bring them down, but she needs Vaughn on her side, and nothing is ever that easy.

Once again, AJ Wynn delivers romance that swept me off my feet while keeping me hooked with its mystery.

Lark is a realist. She's smart, determined, and not afraid to take risks (even when it puts her in danger). And she loved pushing Vaughn's buttons, which made their dynamic so entertaining.
Vaughn comes off as hard and rough on the outside, but underneath he's a total softie who cares deeply. Watching these two go from hating each other to explosive chemistry was everything. It tugged at my heartstrings to see them get the HEA they deserved in the end!

Thank you, AJ Wynn, for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Lexie Michaud · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Radiant Exception by A.J. Wynn and, while I was really intrigued by the concept—a sci-fi mystery romance—it ultimately wasn’t the best fit for me.

The story moves quickly due to its shorter length, but I found that this came at the expense of deeper character development and world-building. In a sci-fi setting especially, I personally look for a stronger sense of the world, its rules, and atmosphere, and I was left wanting more in that area.

I also found the central plot twist somewhat predictable early on, which lessened the overall suspense for me. Additionally, I had difficulty connecting with the characters, and their dynamics didn’t fully resonate.

The romance plays a significant role in the story, with a heavier emphasis on spice than I typically prefer. While I know this will appeal to some readers, it didn’t quite work for me in this case.

Overall, while this book didn’t meet my personal preferences, readers who enjoy shorter, fast-paced sci-fi romances with a strong focus on the romantic elements may have a different experience.

[BOOK IT BISHES · Rating 4 out of 5]

An out of this world adventure with forced proximity and mystery.

Lark Sterling is on a mission to take down the syndicate that changed her life forever. Lark will do anything to complete her mission, even if it means to pretend to be the Captains doting wife on said ship. She soon finds her lines blurring when her attraction to the grumpy captain is not all pretend.

Capt. Vaughn lives by the code of command and control. When he finds that his new engineer is also his new betrothed, he is drawn to Lark's resilience, realizing the risks of letting someone into his guarded heart. They have to work together to unmask the mole that is sabotaging the missions, discovering that he has more to lose than just his ship.

I love sci-fi books so this was a great story to get lost in. If you love grumpy/sunshine, a "my wife" declaration, mystery and found family, this book is for you!

Thank you Behind the Pages for the ARC and to the new to me author for this adventure!