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Book two in the bestselling series, A World Beyond

Half-Argoran shifter, Arak O’tir knew good people existed. He worked with some of them. But as a deadly Jutak warrior, his work often took him into the less savory elements of society. So much so, he shielded his heart from those he’d rescued. That was, until one particular mission leaves him longing for a specific female. Someone who made him tremble even if she wasn’t from his world.

Sylvia Forrester never expected her quest for a husband would lead her into danger. Nor could she have ever foreseen that her search would find her captured by aliens and added to a list of potential sex-slaves to be sold for a high profit. While her captors should have broken her, destroying any hope she’d had of a life happily-ever-after, Sylvia’s savior has her wondering if her earlier dreams could still come true.

But Arak and Sylvia soon discover love and passion has its own price.

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 2015

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Michelle Howard

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
Profile Image for Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️.
2,967 reviews2,684 followers
September 11, 2023
Good, but with some plot holes and overuse of the word ‘moist’!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚❤️💜
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌍
Character development: 😉☺️😘🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration

The heroine: Sylvia - a virus decimated most of the male population on Earth, and the men that were left ended up with all the power to live life how they wanted and have as many women as they could. When it was found that most of the other planets in the universe had compatible males to Earth, even many that didn’t look much different than humans, an off-world singles program was created so that chosen women from Earth could choose which planet’s males they wanted.

The Hero: Arak - he is a Jutak warrior, they are known as the strongest and most dangerous warriors in the galaxy. Arak is half Argoran shifter. He and his team went after Meranian slave traders and often rescued the slaves. Though he had to harden his heart because of the depravity he often witnessed.

The Story: Sylvia was excited when she was chosen for the off-world singles program and couldn’t wait to find someone to love and have a family with. However, she never expected her journey would end up with her being captured and abused, only to be ultimately sold as an intergalactic sex slave. However, her luck improved when the Jutak warriors arrived and saved Sylvia and her friend Joni.

Arak couldn’t be a part of the choosing with the off-world singles program because he is half Argoran shifter, and they had a thing called true mates. His mother had originally been part of the program and became a chosen and had children, but ten years later she found her true mate and wanted to leave her chosen. After that Argoran’s were no longer allowed to be part of the SP, so Arak didn’t think he would ever find a woman, though as soon as he saw Sylvie, he knew she was his.

One thing I have noticed more than once in this series is that the Michelle Howard seems to use the word “moist” a lot during the intimate scenes. Though that term doesn’t bother me much, I do know that a lot of people seem to have a huge aversion to that word. So beware if you are one of those people. It is kind of like people who fear clowns, so though I don’t fear them, I seem to notice them more when they pop up in books like these.

I liked the story, especially the rescue from the slavers, it was suspenseful and realistic. There is plenty of steam in this series, but there are also some pretty good storylines, and the narration is terrific. I just now decided to pick up some more audiobooks in this series. Though there were some plot holes in this book. When it comes out who the traitor is on the Jutak team, he says the reason he did it was because Torkel was their leader and he was a Meranian, so anytime he could become a slaver. How does that make sense? You are helping out the leader of the slave traders because you are afraid that at some point your own leader may or may not become a slave trader? Can you say Cra-Cra?

This audiobook was told in dual points of view via Duet narration. It was narrated by Michael Pauley and Samia Moon. The first book was done in solo narration, so I was happy to see this one was duet narration. I liked Michael Pauley’s deep voice, and he is good at putting emotion into his voice. Samia Moon was new to me and has a pleasant-sounding voice. I also liked the fact that there were sound effects, like alarms, footsteps and other background noises. It added to the experience.

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Profile Image for Andrea.
620 reviews
March 21, 2021
First things first: I haven't read Torkel's Chosen prior to reading this book due to some negative reviews from the first installment. However, considering this second book didn't have all the rage I've seen for book one, I decided to give this a try. My mistake.

I love alien books and I love shifter romances, so I was excited to read a combination of both, since the author could bring the best of both worlds in one story. Sadly, this book seemed like it was written by two different authors, one was briefed to write about aliens and the other, shifters. The story felt disconnected regarding this two points.

My top dislikes:

- The extreme similarity between aliens and humans. Look, I understand that some people need the alien H to look as humanoid as possible, but some differences should be made. If not by his blood being blue and his ears being pointed, he would be a human. The H was a mix between two alien races and was human-like, just like all the other fighters, even though a lot of them were also mixed alien races (and not the same mix as the H). Even his shifter self was Earth-like (a "big cat"). So apparently not only most aliens look like humans, animals look Earthly as well.

- The ambiance, manners and technology were also similar to this age Earth. The h and her human friends had no difficulty adapting to their new lifestyle since everything was so close to what we find on Earth. Really? REALLY? That's just lazy writing, IMO. When I read a sci-fi romance, I want to be able to truly imagine something different from what I’m used to seeing on Earth, and this book failed.

- I had to read so many information regarding irrelevant side characters, it was not even funny. The author barely described the planet they were living, for example, but wasted an entire chapter to some drug operation that had nothing to do to the main story. 

- The H was a manwhore. I’m not a fan of knowing the main characters past relationships nor do I like to know their thoughts about other characters being hot (it felt like the H was lusting after the h’s best friend and that was gross). I hate men who flirt with everybody and doesn’t stop others from flirting with them. So the hero being flirty with the heroine’s friend? Not cool. I don’t care if he could smell that the side character was not actually lusting him, the heroine was not aware of it and had to watch them flirt with each other. 

- The sex would be lovely to a male reader but little to no excitement to a female one. The way the sexual encounters were described in this book were similar to some I read on books with male authors (Dan Brown would be proud, but I'm not).

- I was not able to understand how she was not a virgin considering the male-female ratio on Earth plus her not being raped when kidnapped. I get to read about the hero's past lovers but not a line about her previous sex life.

- The H marked her (and by doing so claimed her as his mate) but only invited her to move in with him a couple of chapters latter. It was almost as if marrying someone but only inviting them to live with you a few months later. It's odd.

- The whole relationship building happened off page and we were just informed they were developing feelings for each other (info dump). It was impossible to see how they feel in love since they were always with other people around or seeing each other in brief encounters. I had to believe they talked on the phone but was never introduced to a scene were this happens, for example.

- The book lacked actual plot. The story was all over the place, from a restaurant accidental explosion to a bad guy who only appears at the very end, it left that bitter taste of a book written by someone who had no focus.

-There were spelling and punctuation mistakes, but not to the point where it gets distracting.

Overall, this was a bad mix between a shifter romance and a mars-needs-woman trope. 

Had to skim the last ~30% to be able to finish this book. I’m sad to say I’m not going to continue to read this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mei.
1,897 reviews473 followers
June 18, 2018
Cute.
I like Arak's cat! LOL
Profile Image for Dee.
251 reviews
July 28, 2015
I eagerly waited for this book because I feel in love with the first book. Although I did enjoy this one it did not live up to the standard of the first book. The relationship with the two characters in the first book felt more real. I didn't. Get the same feel with these two characters. I did enjoy the build up with their relation ship but still something was missing. I did enjoy some of the secondary characters and can't. Wait for kyele and Vee's book.
Profile Image for Adaiah.
183 reviews15 followers
May 21, 2017

A very sexy read. I love cat shifters. I adored the time Arik took to get to know his mate Silvia before claiming her. Silvia, and her friend had been kidnapped and abusive by their alien kidnappers(no rape).
Profile Image for Stefanie.
126 reviews2 followers
September 28, 2018
Great book, I am addicted to Michelle's beyond series. She manages to give all her characters something unique.
Profile Image for Cheesecake.
2,800 reviews512 followers
June 30, 2016
Arak and Silvie. I enjoyed this one a lot more than Torquel's story. The audio book was well done with two readers. Michael Pauley does the male voices and Samia Moon does the women, and some random sound effects added. Nicely done.
Silvie and Joany are rescued by Arak and his team from a sex slave holding. Somehow Silvie did not get raped by aliens after all that time, but she was tortured somewhat. There's a lot of push and pull between Arak and Silvie. He is resistant to having a relationship because of his mother leaving his father, and she is resistant because of all she's been through. It was kinda choppy, the back and forth and waffling between them both, but doesn't drag on toooo long.
Meanwhile there's a traitor on the inside and a revelation for Torquel. I liked the MCs and it was sweet once they finally got over their insecurities.
Profile Image for Sydney M Neblett.
2,661 reviews26 followers
December 20, 2021
Just let me walk beside you

This is one of those stories that just finds it’s way into your heart. I love Arak! He is such a strong competent soldier, with a heart of absolute gold! He fell so hard for his lady love, and it was fantastic that he tried to give her space, but as soon as they both opened their hearts they found the most amazing HEAs. The author drew me in with the action and danger, but I was hooked by the best love story I’ve read in a while. This book is the perfect weekend read, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Profile Image for Angela Charles.
662 reviews29 followers
August 31, 2016
I loved all of the characters and I am so glad that we got to learn more about Arak. He is such an amazing character and knowing what makes him, him is great. We meet Arak's dad and all of the sacrifices he had to make to make sure his son was taken care of and what he gave up. We also get to see Torkel and all his amazingness. The next book seems like it is going to be just great!I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
312 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2015
This book was an so so read. I felt this way because the author did not show the growing love the two characters. One min. Slyvie was a sex slave, the next she wants to hop in the sack with Arak. The only mention to the stress Sylvie should be recovering from is her saying "I should not want him like this after the trauma I experienced." More scenes were needs to show the relationship developing.
Profile Image for Beccie.
153 reviews
October 23, 2016
The action was just as good as the first book and liked the way the story from book one was woven into this story. There were a couple small mistakes toward the end of the book but still worth the read! I am downloading the third book in the series as we speak, I have high hopes for it
Profile Image for Kelsie Gahan.
995 reviews6 followers
January 20, 2021
Totally enjoyed the book. I am going to move on to book 3. I have had book 3 started twice and got distracted and missed some of it lol i love the series
Profile Image for Beatriz Ortiz.
312 reviews5 followers
July 6, 2024
Definitivamente lo mío es leer alien romance! Es que leo de volada los libros de este género y este libro me ha enganchado desde el inicio.

Arak el chico gato (como le apoda Jaron) es un cambia formas que pertenece al equipo 1 de los guerreros Jutak dedicados a desmantelar grupos ilegales de Marenians que secuestran gente de todos los planetas y los venden como esclavos sexuales. Y en una misión de rescate logran recuperar a varias personas que habían sido secuestradas entre ellas 2 mujeres humanas y una de ellas le causó más curiosidad sobre todo a su gato.

Sylvie es una chica que juntó dinero para comprar su boleto e ingresar al Programa de Solteros y cumplir su suelo de encontrar esposo que la ame y tener una familia pero durante el viaje su nave es interceptada por unos alienígenas que secuestran a todos los que iban en la nave, aquí Sylvie conoce a Joni con quien entabla una gran amistad a pesar de las atrocidades que sufren a manos de los Marenians. Afortunadamente son rescatadas por los guerreros Jutak y Arak llama su atención aunque no sabe porqué...

La historia de Arak y Sylvie fué adorable un slow burn delicioso porque Arak conoce la situación de Sylvie y no quiere presionarla, lo único que sabe es que quiere conocerla y le gusta estar en su compañía. Arak es un personaje precioso porque es un sueño de alien y si lo leen sabrán porqué 😮‍💨😉

Este es el 2o libro de la serie A World Beyond.

Estos libros están entrelazados así que si no leíste el primero será difícil que captes algunas situaciones importantes para el desarrollo de este libro.

Slow burn yummy! Adoro este trope y acabo de darme cuenta en este libro que lo prefiero intensamente.

Lo recomiendo ampliamente.
Deben leerlo.
733 reviews9 followers
November 18, 2020
Not short, but felt short. Lotta noise from secondary characters. Fated mates, so instalove. There were so many typos, and the kind that make this look almost like a translation...

at a lost...loss
leave your conscious at home...conscience
four story steel and glass building...she lives on the fourteenth floor
fingers reached passed her...past
wouldn’t have don’t the trick...done
There’s was…is a love match...Theirs
He didn’t know much about Sylvie, gleaming what he could...gleaning
Sylvie rubbed a hang along...hand
would help him get passed...past
All points of entry that effected anyone...affected
ease the inferno raring through his body...raging (I assume, as raring is an adjective)
fingers digging deep into the arms of the chair arms...huh?!
Another knife landed in front of him, the tip gauging the table...gouging
resigned ourselves to her lost...loss
report to us when you here from...hear

It’s not hard to highlight these as I read, but it is jarring. Mistakes take the reader right out of the story. Have a care. Edit.
Profile Image for أجمل زهرة.
685 reviews28 followers
June 19, 2017
Not what I expected. The first meeting between Arak and Sylvia was 😕. The relationship was 😩. The story should be more than that. At the beginning the events were fast and tension was high, then it became so slow then fast then slow.
What I didn't like that the writer blow my own expectations about whom will Kyele love. Unfortunately, I am not so excited about his story as before. Even Joni looks like a stubborn child. But what is newly added the mysterious brother of Torkel's Alonson brother. I wish he'll have his own story.
509 reviews1 follower
October 5, 2017
Arak is hilarious. I think he should be on Kyele’s team. They are very funny together. I’m really enjoying this series. I’m pretty sure I will be missing Lindsey’s story because I’m not really into ménage, but am excited about Kyele’s. Scored it four stars because it dragged or repeated in places. Also some confusion for me. Sylvia mentions escaping, but she actually knee’d her two buyers and was returned. Just a little blunder I suppose. Also, I felt Arak’s love more than Slyvie’s in their relationship. It is such an exciting series thus far.
Profile Image for namericanwordcat.
2,440 reviews439 followers
November 23, 2016
This is a non stop action science fiction romance which still takes time to build a lovely romance between a cat shifter alien and a would be mail order bride that gets turned into the slave trade instead.

There is good world building here, bad ass yet tender warrior hero, and a never say die heroine.

The relationships between the women are just as strong and more intersting as those between the men. The best friend bonds are strong and loyalty and love abound.

Good stuff.
Profile Image for Jamoz23.
5,351 reviews46 followers
October 31, 2017
Lovely story that flowed well and kept my interest, a great plot with good action.
Interesting to see who the traitor to the Jutak was and his reason why.
This author writes in a way I enjoy by including previous characters, it was good having Faye and Torkel included as integral parts but not overriding the two H’s.
Cannot wait to find out what happens with Lindsey and also read Joni and Kyele’s story.
Profile Image for Kristi.
594 reviews23 followers
March 5, 2018
Enter one tough Earther girl and one bad-ass HAWT half-Enotian/half-Argoran cat shifter. Woooo, they were so good together.

Sylvie had to learn to trust again after being captured and enslaved. Arak was the perfect male to show her that not all males were bad.

During their romance, we find out more about what is going on in the background with all the slavery and Marenians. We find out who was behind things in book 1.

Looking forward to book 3!
Profile Image for Terri.
281 reviews3 followers
February 10, 2018
Must read series

In the past, I had always put off buying this series because I didn't like the expo on the first book - something about few men on earth didn't appeal.I wish I had read sooner because I loved the first book In this series and this book was icing on the cake! Can't wait to read more ! A must must must read!
Profile Image for Fran.
961 reviews10 followers
January 26, 2019
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was not quite as good as Torkel's chosen but I think that is more my preferences. The writing is still great and the twists you don't see coming to leave you pining for the next book. Arak and Sylvie are a sweet couple. I am glad they got their happily ever after. On a side note, I hope Arak's dad gets one too.
Profile Image for Boundless Book Reviews.
2,242 reviews77 followers
June 22, 2019
This audiobook is done in my absolute favorite formate not to mention I love all the additional sound effects it makes it that much more enjoyable.  

I liked the story for the most part, but Sylvia damsel in distress act was getting on my nerves.  I think this might have been the way the narrator portrayed her as a ditzy airhead.  But the character was getting on my last nerve.  I preferred Joni’s tough take no prisoners attitude.  

I will be moving on to the next book in the series, but I am rating this one 3 Boundless stars.  It was good. 

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Profile Image for Leslie.
2,113 reviews25 followers
July 10, 2021
He’s a half cat warrior who rescued the wrong woman. She’s a bad ass human who refuses to submit to slavery. They are each other’s future.

In the continuing saga of the hunt for Lindsey, the Jutak warriors fight for intergalactic justice and an end to the slave trade. Meanwhile, human woman flee Earth in droves searching for homes and families out among the stars. Easy prey for the slavers.
Profile Image for Bonnie L Hampton.
136 reviews
May 17, 2019
Such a great story 👍👍👍

This this is the second story in this series and it was fantastic! I have thoroughly enjoyed the first two stories and can't wait to read the next! 🌟🌟🌟
The author has created a wonderful cast of characters within these stories, so very very good.
255 reviews
December 6, 2020
This book is all "Awww". It's cute, funny, the characters are endearing and it's fresh when compared to the storyline so far, and with other similar series. This book is a close tie for favorite of this series and I would highly recommend it.
3,323 reviews30 followers
December 8, 2020
Arak's love

It seems earth women wreak havoc on Kiran warriors and Sylvie and Joni are no exceptions. Arak has become obsessed with Sylvie and has more violent situations to deal with than he should.
50 reviews
September 27, 2022
Nothing freaking happend in the whole book!
There were about 2 chapters at about 90% of the book that had any important information.. this was a complete filler book and the chemestry between main characters was pretty bland and underdeveloped too.

Boring...
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