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Deadly Lover
Love can get you killed.
Security contractor Lily Rowan is clawing her way back to normalcy after a training mission gone horrifically wrong left her physically and emotionally broken. She’s returned to the city she grew up in, but not to hide from her nightmares, to face them. Living alongside the Ormney—genetically altered refugees who’ve settled in The Zone—is a daily reminder of the Ormney trainee who nearly took her life. Lily knew it would be tough, but she couldn’t have known coming home would drop her straight into a madman’s deadly game.
Someone is drugging Ormney men and turning them into mindless killers, reenacting the attack Lily barely survived. To stop the killing spree and put her own demons behind her, Lily must overcome her fear and work with Jolaj, a refugee Law Keeper with dangerous secrets and hidden motives of his own.
Jolaj long ago dedicated his life to his people, risking everything to find them a new home. But working with Lily could prove to be the most difficult task he’s ever faced. Despite the Council’s decree making relationships with the outsiders forbidden, he’s finding it hard to keep the courageous Lily at a distance.
With the fragile peace between their people on the line, Lily and Jolaj must stop the horrific crimes before their growing attraction makes them the killer’s next targets.
In the near future, the world is forever altered when the existence of the Ormney is made known. But two things remain the same—serial killers still walk among us and murder is still as ugly and terrifying as ever.
Security contractor Lily Rowan is clawing her way back to normalcy after a training mission gone horrifically wrong left her physically and emotionally broken. She’s returned to the city she grew up in, but not to hide from her nightmares, to face them. Living alongside the Ormney—genetically altered refugees who’ve settled in The Zone—is a daily reminder of the Ormney trainee who nearly took her life. Lily knew it would be tough, but she couldn’t have known coming home would drop her straight into a madman’s deadly game.
Someone is drugging Ormney men and turning them into mindless killers, reenacting the attack Lily barely survived. To stop the killing spree and put her own demons behind her, Lily must overcome her fear and work with Jolaj, a refugee Law Keeper with dangerous secrets and hidden motives of his own.
Jolaj long ago dedicated his life to his people, risking everything to find them a new home. But working with Lily could prove to be the most difficult task he’s ever faced. Despite the Council’s decree making relationships with the outsiders forbidden, he’s finding it hard to keep the courageous Lily at a distance.
With the fragile peace between their people on the line, Lily and Jolaj must stop the horrific crimes before their growing attraction makes them the killer’s next targets.
In the near future, the world is forever altered when the existence of the Ormney is made known. But two things remain the same—serial killers still walk among us and murder is still as ugly and terrifying as ever.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2015
2 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Charlee Allden
6 books793 followersCharlee is a long time fan of love, adventure, and happily-ever-after. She grew up in Florida where a huge fallen oak tree in the swampy woods near her home served as her very own Star Ship Enterprise. Luckily the alligators were almost never a problem on her spaceship as the flight-deck was several feet above the muddy ground. She did lose a few tennis shoes on away missions, though.
Today, Charlee writes super sexy, intensely emotional, romantic adventure that takes readers to exciting new worlds, populated by tortured alpha heroes and heroines tough enough to tame them.
Today, Charlee writes super sexy, intensely emotional, romantic adventure that takes readers to exciting new worlds, populated by tortured alpha heroes and heroines tough enough to tame them.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 11, 2016
What a wonderful wonderful book!!!
It reminded me of the series Star-Crossed, but much, much better!
We have a human woman and an alien man, a cospiracy, friend and foes, murders and hatred. It's a pefect blend of murder/mystery and SF.
The characters are great, the story is great - what else could you want?! :)
It reminded me of the series Star-Crossed, but much, much better!
We have a human woman and an alien man, a cospiracy, friend and foes, murders and hatred. It's a pefect blend of murder/mystery and SF.
The characters are great, the story is great - what else could you want?! :)
June 10, 2024
It’s a pity she stopped publishing…
____________________
An author to keep an eye on. I've read her first two books, and I liked them both. They are far from problem-free, but really good as first indie tries.
Deadly lover's main nit for me was the villain, but otherwise I enjoyed the book fully.
Note that there are some editing mistakes.
____________________
An author to keep an eye on. I've read her first two books, and I liked them both. They are far from problem-free, but really good as first indie tries.
Deadly lover's main nit for me was the villain, but otherwise I enjoyed the book fully.
Note that there are some editing mistakes.
August 18, 2020
Lily and Jolag. I thoroughly enjoyed this, even if it was a bit more 'messy' than I like in a romance. People die and sometimes they are ones that matter. But i guess that's what happens when there's a maniac on the loose. Whoever the crazed psycho is, they are smart and determined and their focus is on Lily.
Set in the near future, 20 years after a large group of aliens, the Ormney arrive on Earth by means, other than a spaceship. The Ormney live in a society segregated from Humans. They are very humanoid but for their own reasons, hold themselves apart as much as the humans keep them apart.
Everything moves along smoothly until a series of murders occur where Ormney gone mad, kill the humans they care for. Lily is recently recovered from a similar attack from an Ormney while working for Deepunder (a covert CIA type organization). But she's one tough cookie and not willing to bow down to her own PTSD. She meets Jolang, who is a 'Lawgiver' for the Ormney, and slowly the trust they forge turns into something more.
The world building and character growth is excellent. I was absorbed from the get go, even if I did guess the villain's identity early on. Lily is the best kind of heroine with family issues up the wazoo, and Jolang is her perfect Alien counterpart. So much in common despite their differences.
Safety is good, as i recall
Set in the near future, 20 years after a large group of aliens, the Ormney arrive on Earth by means, other than a spaceship. The Ormney live in a society segregated from Humans. They are very humanoid but for their own reasons, hold themselves apart as much as the humans keep them apart.
Everything moves along smoothly until a series of murders occur where Ormney gone mad, kill the humans they care for. Lily is recently recovered from a similar attack from an Ormney while working for Deepunder (a covert CIA type organization). But she's one tough cookie and not willing to bow down to her own PTSD. She meets Jolang, who is a 'Lawgiver' for the Ormney, and slowly the trust they forge turns into something more.
The world building and character growth is excellent. I was absorbed from the get go, even if I did guess the villain's identity early on. Lily is the best kind of heroine with family issues up the wazoo, and Jolang is her perfect Alien counterpart. So much in common despite their differences.
Safety is good, as i recall
May 29, 2015
Suit up, we are heading across time to a future where Inter-planetary travel is possible, but it would seem that prejudice and hate can still be just as barbaric and twisted as any time in history. Genetically altered to be warriors and feared, the Ormney are looking for a safe haven to live in peace. What they have is a place called The Zone and a world full of people who offer friendship on one hand while keeping their fingers crossed behind their backs. Now they are being targeted for extermination with drugs that cause them to lose control and become murdering machines. Lily Rowan knows all about the Ormney as a security contractor and saw firsthand their power when a training mission went wrong and she was almost killed by one. Now someone is out to bring her nightmares back to life and her greatest ally is one of “them.”
Alongside one of their most influential peacemakers and spokesmen, Jojaj, she faces more than mortal danger in finding whoever is responsible; her heart refuses to acknowledge the fear her brain still feels. In a deadly game of cat and mouse, they are only one step behind and that trail is covered in blood and madness.
Deadly Lover is another dark and deadly tale that includes all of the best elements of great science fiction reading by Charlee Allden. Crafting a world filled with darkness, fear and laws meant to keep different races apart, Ms. Allden subtly tackles social issues while creating a fast-paced romantic thriller where blood and gore is no stranger to her scenes as she takes one heroine who has been emotionally damaged and one powerful alien together in a no holds barred hunt for justice and truth. From warm familial ties to dark memories to illegal love, this is an emotional non-stop journey all the way! Again, she crosses genres with ease, as she introduces her version of romantic suspense and deadly love as trust becomes the only way to survival.
I received this copy from Charlee Allden in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: 4/17/2015
Publisher: Charlee Allden
Genre: Sci-fi Intrigue
Print Length: 310 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Alongside one of their most influential peacemakers and spokesmen, Jojaj, she faces more than mortal danger in finding whoever is responsible; her heart refuses to acknowledge the fear her brain still feels. In a deadly game of cat and mouse, they are only one step behind and that trail is covered in blood and madness.
Deadly Lover is another dark and deadly tale that includes all of the best elements of great science fiction reading by Charlee Allden. Crafting a world filled with darkness, fear and laws meant to keep different races apart, Ms. Allden subtly tackles social issues while creating a fast-paced romantic thriller where blood and gore is no stranger to her scenes as she takes one heroine who has been emotionally damaged and one powerful alien together in a no holds barred hunt for justice and truth. From warm familial ties to dark memories to illegal love, this is an emotional non-stop journey all the way! Again, she crosses genres with ease, as she introduces her version of romantic suspense and deadly love as trust becomes the only way to survival.
I received this copy from Charlee Allden in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: 4/17/2015
Publisher: Charlee Allden
Genre: Sci-fi Intrigue
Print Length: 310 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
September 11, 2022
Satisfying on a reread! I wish the author would write more in this world🥺
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The world building is so good and interesting but that means when the book is over you’re left feeling like you’ve only got a small piece of the whole picture. Why isn’t this a series?
The romance is okay but the best part of the book is definitely the aliens and the politics between them and humans. This book gave me a similar feeling to Eve Dallas where the heroine is a detective in a sci fi world. I can’t say this heroine was as good at it as Eve(the killer was kind of obvious But she didn’t even suspect) but it worked out fine in the end.
——————
The world building is so good and interesting but that means when the book is over you’re left feeling like you’ve only got a small piece of the whole picture. Why isn’t this a series?
The romance is okay but the best part of the book is definitely the aliens and the politics between them and humans. This book gave me a similar feeling to Eve Dallas where the heroine is a detective in a sci fi world. I can’t say this heroine was as good at it as Eve(the killer was kind of obvious But she didn’t even suspect) but it worked out fine in the end.
May 10, 2015
10 days ago: Here is the situation. New book. New author to me. The blurb sounds intriguing, but I've been fooled before. There is nothing to do but jump in and start reading Deadly Lover!
5 days ago: Finished Deadly Lover. It's over? All ready? Will there be more?
This morning: Time to finish this review...
Sci Fi. The Ormney. They came to Earth from another dimension, looking for a new home. In exchange for technology, they were allowed to stay on Earth. So, they found their new home, but they are relegated to a ghetto, walled off from the rest of human society. During the day, they mix freely with humans, but only until curfew. Why? The Ormney are humanoid, but different. Typical human fear of something different has segregated them. Oh yes, the Ormney do have these nasty claws at the end of their fingers. And they have a scary mode of transportation they call slipping. So, they are a bit off-putting. But many have jobs working with humans and have formed inter-species friendships. I like these aliens. They are peace-loving, hardworking, eco-conscious, and family-oriented.
Suspense. Everything was going so smoothly until the murders started. It is Ormney men killing human women. One of the murders happens when Lily Rowan is close enough to hear the screams. As a Deepwater Security agent, she cannot ignore the cry for help and gets involved. Also involved is Jolaj, the Ormney Law Keeper. The Ormney are not violent by nature and those that are not predisposed to judge them are convinced there is something else going on. Lily and Jolaj end up working together to get the bottom of they mystery. The mystery was a little predictable. I did figure out the culprit before the reveal. Okay, I was a little iffy on my conclusion, but my confidence level was high. That did not keep me from enjoying all the action getting to the reveal though. There are lot of twists and turns to follow.
Romance. Well, yes there is some considerable attraction between Lily and Jolaj. So there are a few obstacles to overcome in this relationship. Like the fact that Lily's history gives her a valid reason to fear them. There is something about Jolaj though. If I were Lily, I'd work on my issues to be with Jolaj. Sensitive, strong, protective. Swoonworthy. Another obstacle - Jolaj's people are forbidden to take human lovers. This is a sensitive issue for the Ormney and it will be interesting to see how this plays out in any future book in this series.
Deadly Lover is a first-rate example of Sci Fi/Suspense/Romance. Packed with aliens and humans, mystery, and some fierce inter-species attraction, this book has everything you need to ignore the TV and feed your mind.
Right now: I am not happy. I found a new author with talent. Why am I not happy? Have you seen my TBR list? Like I need to anything else to it. But I will, when Ms. Allden adds to the Forbidden Lovers series. And, actually, I have already added her Stealing Mercury to my list. I'm never going to get to the end of my list.
The author provided a copy in exchange for a review.
5 days ago: Finished Deadly Lover. It's over? All ready? Will there be more?
This morning: Time to finish this review...
Sci Fi. The Ormney. They came to Earth from another dimension, looking for a new home. In exchange for technology, they were allowed to stay on Earth. So, they found their new home, but they are relegated to a ghetto, walled off from the rest of human society. During the day, they mix freely with humans, but only until curfew. Why? The Ormney are humanoid, but different. Typical human fear of something different has segregated them. Oh yes, the Ormney do have these nasty claws at the end of their fingers. And they have a scary mode of transportation they call slipping. So, they are a bit off-putting. But many have jobs working with humans and have formed inter-species friendships. I like these aliens. They are peace-loving, hardworking, eco-conscious, and family-oriented.
Suspense. Everything was going so smoothly until the murders started. It is Ormney men killing human women. One of the murders happens when Lily Rowan is close enough to hear the screams. As a Deepwater Security agent, she cannot ignore the cry for help and gets involved. Also involved is Jolaj, the Ormney Law Keeper. The Ormney are not violent by nature and those that are not predisposed to judge them are convinced there is something else going on. Lily and Jolaj end up working together to get the bottom of they mystery. The mystery was a little predictable. I did figure out the culprit before the reveal. Okay, I was a little iffy on my conclusion, but my confidence level was high. That did not keep me from enjoying all the action getting to the reveal though. There are lot of twists and turns to follow.
Romance. Well, yes there is some considerable attraction between Lily and Jolaj. So there are a few obstacles to overcome in this relationship. Like the fact that Lily's history gives her a valid reason to fear them. There is something about Jolaj though. If I were Lily, I'd work on my issues to be with Jolaj. Sensitive, strong, protective. Swoonworthy. Another obstacle - Jolaj's people are forbidden to take human lovers. This is a sensitive issue for the Ormney and it will be interesting to see how this plays out in any future book in this series.
Deadly Lover is a first-rate example of Sci Fi/Suspense/Romance. Packed with aliens and humans, mystery, and some fierce inter-species attraction, this book has everything you need to ignore the TV and feed your mind.
Right now: I am not happy. I found a new author with talent. Why am I not happy? Have you seen my TBR list? Like I need to anything else to it. But I will, when Ms. Allden adds to the Forbidden Lovers series. And, actually, I have already added her Stealing Mercury to my list. I'm never going to get to the end of my list.
The author provided a copy in exchange for a review.
May 1, 2015
I received a copy of this book for my honest review.
Lily Rowan is broken. She is recovering from an accident with an Ormney that nearly took her life, forcing herself to face her nightmares. Soon she finds herself in a game with most of the players turning up dead. Lily must work with the family she fled from years ago, along with the Ormney and a sleezy ex-boyfriend, to try to find the psycho in change of the killings. Partial clues and many secrets keep Lily constantly searching, but she is always one step behind. Soon, in order to stay alive, she finds herself having to put all of her trust into a man of the same species that almost killed her. Together they discover truths from the past and hope for the future.
Deadly Lover has twists and turns to keep readers turning the page hoping to put all the clues together. Pretty soon you think you know who is the mystery killer... but then it takes a dive and you are left wondering how you could have ever gotten to that conclusion. Charlee Allden gave readers a novel of suspense, with just a touch of romance. I recommend it to anyone who wants romance without the overwhelming sap!
Lily Rowan is broken. She is recovering from an accident with an Ormney that nearly took her life, forcing herself to face her nightmares. Soon she finds herself in a game with most of the players turning up dead. Lily must work with the family she fled from years ago, along with the Ormney and a sleezy ex-boyfriend, to try to find the psycho in change of the killings. Partial clues and many secrets keep Lily constantly searching, but she is always one step behind. Soon, in order to stay alive, she finds herself having to put all of her trust into a man of the same species that almost killed her. Together they discover truths from the past and hope for the future.
Deadly Lover has twists and turns to keep readers turning the page hoping to put all the clues together. Pretty soon you think you know who is the mystery killer... but then it takes a dive and you are left wondering how you could have ever gotten to that conclusion. Charlee Allden gave readers a novel of suspense, with just a touch of romance. I recommend it to anyone who wants romance without the overwhelming sap!
September 13, 2021
This was a really good read, liked the writing and loved the Hero. He only sees the Heroine, is protective and not afraid to love her. The only thing missing was an epilogue.
October 19, 2015
Somewhere between 2.5 and a low 3 stars from me. I liked reading this at the time and the general outline was interesting, but it had some noticeable issues that I found personally annoying.
The plot telegraphed where it was going from a mile away and made it obvious who the murderer and who the red herring was from before the half way mark, yet kept the intelligent and well connected protagonists from following the breadcrumbs and making that connection. This was even after they'd narrowed down their potential suspects to those in a handful of professions and then failed to follow up on the only person on that list.
This is also yet another story where the relationship goes from "I've never even heard of you before" to "let's spend our lives together!" in a matter of 3 days and a handful of conversations. It's unrealistic and unbelievable and there is absolutely no reason for it despite how endemic it is to the romance genre. It's particularly incongruous in this type of story because I'd hope the lead investigators in a serial killer case would be focused on bringing that person to justice and not spending half their time making googly eyes at each other and knocking off early so they can go have sex all night.
There was also quite a lot of noticeable "there/ they're/ their" and "where/ we're/ were" issues that should/ would have been picked up in editing and sometimes lines were rather on the clunky side. For example describing lust as "tender" can (obviously) be done, but it sends out a confusing mixed message because lust is typically all about burning desires, unbridled passions and unquenchable needs, none of which I'd call tender. In the context used, "her bravado tugged at his heart and pushed aside the edge of anger, leaving raw, tender lust" , it sounds like the writer directly swapped love for lust at the last minute because she realised her characters were not at that stage of awareness yet, but failed to make allowances for how these two words, whilst often used in similar circumstances, have very different connotations.
Not everything set off my grouch-o-meter though.
On the whole I really rather liked the characters of Lily and Jolaj. Lily was a nicely tough, dedicated, and generally competent individual, but she still demonstrated moments of vulnerability and the ability to (sometimes) ask for help when needed. It would have been nice if that behaviour had been rooted in something other traumatic experiences, for example from her long history of successfully competing missions under dangerous circumstances, but I'll take what I'm given. I liked Jolaj because he was, for the most part, not an alpha-hole jerk who demanded everything his own way. In fact for the most part he was a pretty quiet and thoughtful person that was comfortable watching, waiting, and patiently piecing things together. It made for a nice change. I'd say I liked most of the secondary characters, but honestly we never really saw much of them/ had them fleshed out beyond their immediate need in the plot, so I was left wondering why some of them were acting in such an irrational way (Lily's mother. Just WTF was her problem? I guess I'll never know).
When the writing wasn't full of errors or being a bit weird it did manage to hit a pleasant stride that was comfortable to read and detailed enough for me to form a picture of what was going on without bogging me down with a lot of unnecessary information. It never felt like I was being overwhelmed by confusing action sequences only to fall in to long, boring periods where nothing much happened.
TL;DR This wasn't a story without problems, but it was pretty good for an indie novel. In fact it was better than some traditionally published stuff I've read (including every single Harlequin Romance I've ever stumbled across). I'd say it's worth a read, especially if you have nothing else lined up and fancy a bit of light sci-fi/ futuristic romance.
The plot telegraphed where it was going from a mile away and made it obvious who the murderer and who the red herring was from before the half way mark, yet kept the intelligent and well connected protagonists from following the breadcrumbs and making that connection. This was even after they'd narrowed down their potential suspects to those in a handful of professions and then failed to follow up on the only person on that list.
This is also yet another story where the relationship goes from "I've never even heard of you before" to "let's spend our lives together!" in a matter of 3 days and a handful of conversations. It's unrealistic and unbelievable and there is absolutely no reason for it despite how endemic it is to the romance genre. It's particularly incongruous in this type of story because I'd hope the lead investigators in a serial killer case would be focused on bringing that person to justice and not spending half their time making googly eyes at each other and knocking off early so they can go have sex all night.
There was also quite a lot of noticeable "there/ they're/ their" and "where/ we're/ were" issues that should/ would have been picked up in editing and sometimes lines were rather on the clunky side. For example describing lust as "tender" can (obviously) be done, but it sends out a confusing mixed message because lust is typically all about burning desires, unbridled passions and unquenchable needs, none of which I'd call tender. In the context used, "her bravado tugged at his heart and pushed aside the edge of anger, leaving raw, tender lust" , it sounds like the writer directly swapped love for lust at the last minute because she realised her characters were not at that stage of awareness yet, but failed to make allowances for how these two words, whilst often used in similar circumstances, have very different connotations.
Not everything set off my grouch-o-meter though.
On the whole I really rather liked the characters of Lily and Jolaj. Lily was a nicely tough, dedicated, and generally competent individual, but she still demonstrated moments of vulnerability and the ability to (sometimes) ask for help when needed. It would have been nice if that behaviour had been rooted in something other traumatic experiences, for example from her long history of successfully competing missions under dangerous circumstances, but I'll take what I'm given. I liked Jolaj because he was, for the most part, not an alpha-hole jerk who demanded everything his own way. In fact for the most part he was a pretty quiet and thoughtful person that was comfortable watching, waiting, and patiently piecing things together. It made for a nice change. I'd say I liked most of the secondary characters, but honestly we never really saw much of them/ had them fleshed out beyond their immediate need in the plot, so I was left wondering why some of them were acting in such an irrational way (Lily's mother. Just WTF was her problem? I guess I'll never know).
When the writing wasn't full of errors or being a bit weird it did manage to hit a pleasant stride that was comfortable to read and detailed enough for me to form a picture of what was going on without bogging me down with a lot of unnecessary information. It never felt like I was being overwhelmed by confusing action sequences only to fall in to long, boring periods where nothing much happened.
TL;DR This wasn't a story without problems, but it was pretty good for an indie novel. In fact it was better than some traditionally published stuff I've read (including every single Harlequin Romance I've ever stumbled across). I'd say it's worth a read, especially if you have nothing else lined up and fancy a bit of light sci-fi/ futuristic romance.
May 1, 2015
I found Deadly Lover to be fun but predictable. It did not keep me for enjoying the book but it could have been stronger if there had been a twist that added additional surprise to the story. I could anticipate the action and knew who the villain was as soon as he appeared in the story. Changing either of those would have added strength to the story.
The aliens coming to Earth and being kept in a compound was not a new concept but the way they arrived was. That part was a surprise. The plot moved at a steady pace with scenes full of tension followed by time for the reader and the characters to catch their breath.
There is a large cast of characters. Both Lily and Jolaj were very well developed. I like how it took time to reveal the circumstances that lead to Lily being injured. That part was very well done and added some mystery to the story. Jolaj’s character was revealed early. His place with the Ormney was not know for quite some time.
There are multiple side characters. Some developed and some not. There certainly plenty of choices for the next book.
The world building was very good. Little by little using description and action everything came into focus. Nothing was forced just revealed as needed.
I purchased Deadly Lover from Amazon and one thing that really bugged me was the number of typo’s. Had this been an ARC they could have been forgiven but this was the final edition. Every time I has to stop and figure out where a word really belonged or hit a misspelled word it took me out of the story. I hope Allder finds someone to do a better joy of proof reading next time. The story deserved better. (
after reading my review Allder went back and did another edit to correct the mistakes.)
The things I liked about Deadly Lover certainly outweighed the things I did not. There are just not enough good SciFi Romances being published. Charlee Allden has started a series that will add to anyone’s collection.
May 7, 2015
In a world where two species coexist in an uneasy truce, a series of murders takes place, implicating the Ormney, a near human-like race with claw appendages. The Earthers had the place first, and they outnumber the Ormney. Even so, the Ormney are a fierce, secretive race who are trying their hardest to survive in the Zone.
Agent Lily Rowan, a special tactics officer for a private security firm who is on leave to recover from an Ormney attack, tries to stop another Ormney attacking a woman, but there’s something off about the guy. Due to her insider knowledge, she anticipates his moves and ends his life before he can kill more people.
Ormney Law Keeper Jolaj is deeply saddened by his friend’s death. Another proud lineage ended much too soon. The woman that took his life intrigues him, and soon, he pairs up with Lily to determine what’s behind the killings.
The more they look, the more scattered the evidence. This villain knows how to cover his trail. As Jolaj and Lily investigate, they develop an intense attraction, which they fight to keep cool heads. But their passion won’t be denied, even though they are different species. They must hide their affair because it is forbidden. Not easy to do with a killer hot on their trail.
This high-action debut reeled me in from the start. The paranormal world was skillfully drawn, and the romance sizzled on the page. This is an author I’ll read again.
Maggie Toussaint aka Rigel Carson for Muddy Rose Reviews
Agent Lily Rowan, a special tactics officer for a private security firm who is on leave to recover from an Ormney attack, tries to stop another Ormney attacking a woman, but there’s something off about the guy. Due to her insider knowledge, she anticipates his moves and ends his life before he can kill more people.
Ormney Law Keeper Jolaj is deeply saddened by his friend’s death. Another proud lineage ended much too soon. The woman that took his life intrigues him, and soon, he pairs up with Lily to determine what’s behind the killings.
The more they look, the more scattered the evidence. This villain knows how to cover his trail. As Jolaj and Lily investigate, they develop an intense attraction, which they fight to keep cool heads. But their passion won’t be denied, even though they are different species. They must hide their affair because it is forbidden. Not easy to do with a killer hot on their trail.
This high-action debut reeled me in from the start. The paranormal world was skillfully drawn, and the romance sizzled on the page. This is an author I’ll read again.
Maggie Toussaint aka Rigel Carson for Muddy Rose Reviews
September 16, 2016
Deadly Love by Charlee Allden is a great read for anyone who likes Sci Fi, Mysteries and/or Romance. It is fascinating tale of dangerous relationships with a solid who-done-it at its core that left me guessing until the end of the book. If you’ve ever been interested in dipping your toe into Sci-Fi Romance, this is a great book to do it with. The mystery aspect in particular makes for a great plot and the story line following a culture of refugees inside another land. It is very well thought out and compelling, and for me proved the major pull through the tale.
April 26, 2015
This is the type of book that you have to read at least twice, because you get so involved in wanting to know what happens next that you read too quickly. I loved it! Loved Lily, loved Jolaj, loved how Lily slowly let herself trust again and be trusted in return. Great book to lose yourself in.
August 7, 2015
Originally published at Sci-Fi Romance Quarterly
The setting of Deadly Lover reminds me a lot of Sonya Clark’s Trancehack. Both are set in a near future where people who can practice “magic” are locked up in ghettos to keep they away from the rest of the population. When I say “magic”, I’m using the Arthur C. Clarke definition of “any technology sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from” and not spellcasting.
There’s also a resemblance to the near-future setting of J.D. Robb’s In Death series. Deadly Lover takes place on an Earth that is ahead of us but not terribly far distant in time. The two visions of the future are different in the details, but the worlds aren’t that much different from our own.
In Deadly Lover, that difference has been caused by the introduction of the Ormney people into our midst. The Ormney are humanoid but not quite human – they have a native ability to travel similarly to a Star Trek transporter, but without using a machine. It’s an inborn talent, and some of them are better at it than others. It is also the way that the Ormney traveled from their dying planet to ours. It’s not clear whether their planet was merely far away in space, or in a different space-time continuum altogether.
There’s a certain amount of handwavium on this point, but it doesn’t get in the way of the story.
Also, just for added references, the place that the Ormney go to while they are unsyncing and resyncing feels a lot like the “between’ in Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series. Without either the dragons or the rapey tropes that my friend Cass hates so much.
The Ormney have only been on Earth for 20 years, and interspecies relationships are still very much in the building stage. There is a lot of suspicion and fear on both sides, but not yet much real understanding.
Mostly because the Ormney are keeping a shit-ton of critical secrets.
Lily Rowan has already been exposed to a few too many of those secrets. In her job as a civilian security consultant working for a very secretive para-military research company, Lily was nearly killed when a training exercise went seriously pear-shaped and her Ormney teammate was poisoned and went bat-shit crazy.
Kiq went crazy because he was exposed to a toxin that works one way on humans, and an entirely different way on Ormney. A secret that was known to his people but not revealed until it was much too late.
And then it gets out, as important and dangerous secrets inevitably do.
The moment that Agent Lily Rowan is cleared for duty, she finds herself in the middle of a crime in progress – yet another Ormney is exhibiting the same symptoms as her training partner, and she is forced to kill him to protect civilians from his murderous rampage.
No good deed goes unpunished. Lily finds herself assigned to investigate the incident, and the series of dead bodies, both human and Ormney, that follows in its wake. Too many elements of the case mess with Lily’s peace of mind. The police detective assigned to the case is her estranged cousin. The chief human diplomat for Ormney-human relations is her ex-fiance, and the chief investigator from the Ormney side is a man that Lily finds all too compelling.
But Ormney have no interest in human females. Or is that another half-truth that the Ormney have allowed humans to believe? And is that the secret behind the rash of murders, or is it something even more deadly?
Escape Rating B+: This is a compelling story. I loved the way that the secrets were revealed slowly and carefully, because there are so damn many of them and they are at the root of this case.
However, at heart this is a romantic suspense story. What Lily has to do is investigate a series of murders, and figure out who the serial killer is, with the help of other officers who just so happen to be family.
Along the way she falls in love with her investigating partner, a man who should be off limits but isn’t. Jolaj, the Ormney Law Keeper who works with Lily, is not just a fascinating character but everything we learn about the Ormney culture adds depth to him and his side of this story.
Some of the more interesting aspects of the story were on Jolaj’ side of the equation – how much to keep secret, how much his people should adapt and assimilate, how much they should keep themselves separate, apart and isolated. Jolaj finds himself caught in the middle.
But it would have been relatively easy to remove the science fictional elements of this story and still have an interesting tale of romantic suspense. Especially when we discover that the villain is a peculiarly human kind of murderer – a psychopath who has been practicing his technique for every bit as long as the Ormney have been on Earth. They aren’t his real target, they are just an excuse for more and bloodier killing.
I will confess that I was lured by the red herring, and didn’t figure out who the real killer was until the protagonists did. Being along for the ride kept me flipping pages fast until the very end.
The setting of Deadly Lover reminds me a lot of Sonya Clark’s Trancehack. Both are set in a near future where people who can practice “magic” are locked up in ghettos to keep they away from the rest of the population. When I say “magic”, I’m using the Arthur C. Clarke definition of “any technology sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from” and not spellcasting.
There’s also a resemblance to the near-future setting of J.D. Robb’s In Death series. Deadly Lover takes place on an Earth that is ahead of us but not terribly far distant in time. The two visions of the future are different in the details, but the worlds aren’t that much different from our own.
In Deadly Lover, that difference has been caused by the introduction of the Ormney people into our midst. The Ormney are humanoid but not quite human – they have a native ability to travel similarly to a Star Trek transporter, but without using a machine. It’s an inborn talent, and some of them are better at it than others. It is also the way that the Ormney traveled from their dying planet to ours. It’s not clear whether their planet was merely far away in space, or in a different space-time continuum altogether.
There’s a certain amount of handwavium on this point, but it doesn’t get in the way of the story.
Also, just for added references, the place that the Ormney go to while they are unsyncing and resyncing feels a lot like the “between’ in Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series. Without either the dragons or the rapey tropes that my friend Cass hates so much.
The Ormney have only been on Earth for 20 years, and interspecies relationships are still very much in the building stage. There is a lot of suspicion and fear on both sides, but not yet much real understanding.
Mostly because the Ormney are keeping a shit-ton of critical secrets.
Lily Rowan has already been exposed to a few too many of those secrets. In her job as a civilian security consultant working for a very secretive para-military research company, Lily was nearly killed when a training exercise went seriously pear-shaped and her Ormney teammate was poisoned and went bat-shit crazy.
Kiq went crazy because he was exposed to a toxin that works one way on humans, and an entirely different way on Ormney. A secret that was known to his people but not revealed until it was much too late.
And then it gets out, as important and dangerous secrets inevitably do.
The moment that Agent Lily Rowan is cleared for duty, she finds herself in the middle of a crime in progress – yet another Ormney is exhibiting the same symptoms as her training partner, and she is forced to kill him to protect civilians from his murderous rampage.
No good deed goes unpunished. Lily finds herself assigned to investigate the incident, and the series of dead bodies, both human and Ormney, that follows in its wake. Too many elements of the case mess with Lily’s peace of mind. The police detective assigned to the case is her estranged cousin. The chief human diplomat for Ormney-human relations is her ex-fiance, and the chief investigator from the Ormney side is a man that Lily finds all too compelling.
But Ormney have no interest in human females. Or is that another half-truth that the Ormney have allowed humans to believe? And is that the secret behind the rash of murders, or is it something even more deadly?
Escape Rating B+: This is a compelling story. I loved the way that the secrets were revealed slowly and carefully, because there are so damn many of them and they are at the root of this case.
However, at heart this is a romantic suspense story. What Lily has to do is investigate a series of murders, and figure out who the serial killer is, with the help of other officers who just so happen to be family.
Along the way she falls in love with her investigating partner, a man who should be off limits but isn’t. Jolaj, the Ormney Law Keeper who works with Lily, is not just a fascinating character but everything we learn about the Ormney culture adds depth to him and his side of this story.
Some of the more interesting aspects of the story were on Jolaj’ side of the equation – how much to keep secret, how much his people should adapt and assimilate, how much they should keep themselves separate, apart and isolated. Jolaj finds himself caught in the middle.
But it would have been relatively easy to remove the science fictional elements of this story and still have an interesting tale of romantic suspense. Especially when we discover that the villain is a peculiarly human kind of murderer – a psychopath who has been practicing his technique for every bit as long as the Ormney have been on Earth. They aren’t his real target, they are just an excuse for more and bloodier killing.
I will confess that I was lured by the red herring, and didn’t figure out who the real killer was until the protagonists did. Being along for the ride kept me flipping pages fast until the very end.
May 2, 2015
The story is so good, engaging and original! The main character, Lily, is the most well-rounded of the crew, a sympathetic and likable woman of remarkable courage and honor. The male lead, an alien named Jolaj, is an intriguing Ormney man, perhaps a little too good to be true. Lily's recent past includes terrible injuries from a different Ormney male, one whom she trusted and liked, but who was drugged into a murderous state... forcing Lily to kill him in self-defense. That trauma has left her understandably panicky when she is too physically close to other Ormney. Yet she feels drawn to Jolaj, and he to her, and she is able to overcome her flight response more quickly than I would have expected. The two of them are key to solving a series of interspecies murders before the situation between the humans and the Ormney becomes untenable.
The murders are grim and bloody, the sex scenes are hot, and the story moves along at a perfect pace. The writing is so good that it was easy to immerse myself in the worldbuilding and character interactions.
The only things that kept me from giving this story 5 stars, the only things that pulled me out of the story, were the multiple typos and editing errors. I was reading an e-version, perhaps an early one, that really could use a thorough line-edit. As I used to be an editor, I am perhaps too sensitive to misspellings, misplaced punctuation, editing remnants, and the like, and no book is perfectly edited, but there were more than a handful of them. I hope the author is able to fix them before the next edition comes out.
All in all, though, a terrific read. I'm hoping for more stories set in this world.
The murders are grim and bloody, the sex scenes are hot, and the story moves along at a perfect pace. The writing is so good that it was easy to immerse myself in the worldbuilding and character interactions.
The only things that kept me from giving this story 5 stars, the only things that pulled me out of the story, were the multiple typos and editing errors. I was reading an e-version, perhaps an early one, that really could use a thorough line-edit. As I used to be an editor, I am perhaps too sensitive to misspellings, misplaced punctuation, editing remnants, and the like, and no book is perfectly edited, but there were more than a handful of them. I hope the author is able to fix them before the next edition comes out.
All in all, though, a terrific read. I'm hoping for more stories set in this world.
no-dnf-zzz-avoid
June 2, 2016DNF...not working for me
June 3, 2016
I simply loved it
Thanks Charlee
please write more soon
Thanks Charlee
please write more soon
March 18, 2024
3 stars
The narrative's pacing maintained a steady rhythm, although the book's length was slightly extended for its content.
The introduction of aliens added a compelling layer to the storyline, which was a pleasant surprise, especially while entering the story blindly.
The inclusion of advanced alien concepts deepened the world-building, providing a glimpse into a reality beyond our own. Real consequences associated with these otherworldly abilities, such as the potential for fatal errors in navigation, grounded the narrative in a tangible sense of risk.
While the FMC was well-developed and the MMC contributed positively to the narrative, embodying qualities of respect and wisdom, others, particularly the side characters, could have benefited from further exploration. Certain character arcs were resolved in manners that might polarize readers. However, the FMC's stable support system, albeit her being reticent to reach out, was welcomed.
Occasional grammatical errors and inconsistencies in character decisions detracted from the overall immersion. The lack of letters, misuse of words, and the protagonist's sudden leniency towards her ex despite her background strained the suspension of disbelief. Additionally, while the portrayal of familial dynamics, notably the protagonist's relationship with her mother, presented a complicated and emotional conflict, it did not significantly advance the plot. Her mother's actions seemed limited to causing trouble without deeper exploration of their impact.
Overall, this installment offered an engaging exploration of intergalactic romance and advanced civilizations that clashed with ours, making for a compelling read. However, it fell short in certain aspects of execution, including some secondary character development, frustrating villains, an abrupt ending, and the absence of an epilogue.
The narrative's pacing maintained a steady rhythm, although the book's length was slightly extended for its content.
The introduction of aliens added a compelling layer to the storyline, which was a pleasant surprise, especially while entering the story blindly.
The inclusion of advanced alien concepts deepened the world-building, providing a glimpse into a reality beyond our own. Real consequences associated with these otherworldly abilities, such as the potential for fatal errors in navigation, grounded the narrative in a tangible sense of risk.
While the FMC was well-developed and the MMC contributed positively to the narrative, embodying qualities of respect and wisdom, others, particularly the side characters, could have benefited from further exploration. Certain character arcs were resolved in manners that might polarize readers. However, the FMC's stable support system, albeit her being reticent to reach out, was welcomed.
Occasional grammatical errors and inconsistencies in character decisions detracted from the overall immersion. The lack of letters, misuse of words, and the protagonist's sudden leniency towards her ex despite her background strained the suspension of disbelief. Additionally, while the portrayal of familial dynamics, notably the protagonist's relationship with her mother, presented a complicated and emotional conflict, it did not significantly advance the plot. Her mother's actions seemed limited to causing trouble without deeper exploration of their impact.
Overall, this installment offered an engaging exploration of intergalactic romance and advanced civilizations that clashed with ours, making for a compelling read. However, it fell short in certain aspects of execution, including some secondary character development, frustrating villains, an abrupt ending, and the absence of an epilogue.
September 9, 2025
Awesome Story!
Great adventure story that reads like a combo of Blue Bloods, CSI and Alien Nation. The only down size was the faulty editing that marred the flow of the story which should have been rectified with good beta readers. Outside of that the story was very good. The alien angle was especially unique in this story. They didn’t come from another planet or galaxy but from another universe altogether. Their ability to phase shift made for some great action scenes in the story yet did not give them godlike status to the people of Earth. They struggled with their natural ability at times and made them more real. I really do hope that this book was not just a one-off as it would be fun to have the book continue as a series.
Great adventure story that reads like a combo of Blue Bloods, CSI and Alien Nation. The only down size was the faulty editing that marred the flow of the story which should have been rectified with good beta readers. Outside of that the story was very good. The alien angle was especially unique in this story. They didn’t come from another planet or galaxy but from another universe altogether. Their ability to phase shift made for some great action scenes in the story yet did not give them godlike status to the people of Earth. They struggled with their natural ability at times and made them more real. I really do hope that this book was not just a one-off as it would be fun to have the book continue as a series.
January 21, 2021
Would have given this book 5 stars, however there was too much gratuitous sex for my taste that didn't add anything to the story. I skimmed through those parts, avoiding as much as possible. I still was able to read a well put together story. Seems as if a lot of authors feel compelled to add sex where it does not add to their stories these days.
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
November 17, 2021
She was finally recovered from the attack, when she was diverted to an appointment, one she never made. Her attention was distracted by a scream, and as she rushed to the woman's assistance, she wasn't to know that this was just the start of a rollercoaster ride, which would test her fears, trust and humanity in a number of ways.
Yeah, good read.
Yeah, good read.
March 22, 2021
I really liked how this book worked out. I had a little trouble getting started in the book but after a little while I really got into the story.
July 10, 2024
The world building for this was really interesting
June 12, 2015
I read Stealing Mercury by this author and fell in love with her voice. Even though Deadly Lover is "down to Earth" and Stealing Mercury is worlds away, I was right to trust she wouldn't disappoint me. The futuristic Earth the author created was so compelling and the alien Ormeny very interesting. I wanted to know everything about them. The way the characters moved through the world and space, both Earthers and Ormney, was super cool! I loved Lily and Jolaj's story, hated the villain, and loved the ending! I'm hoping the author gives us another Ormney story in the near future!
April 3, 2016
A slow burner but wow
Aliens are going insane and killing women and then themselves. After working for a black ops company Lily was injured working with one of the aliens. She returns h one to heal and try to gain control over her panic.she lands in the middle of The alien case and finds an alien she does not fear. Betrayal by her twin sister and mother add bite to the story. Excellent.
Aliens are going insane and killing women and then themselves. After working for a black ops company Lily was injured working with one of the aliens. She returns h one to heal and try to gain control over her panic.she lands in the middle of The alien case and finds an alien she does not fear. Betrayal by her twin sister and mother add bite to the story. Excellent.
July 22, 2016
Not as good as Stealing Mercury but the world/alien culture was interesting.
It's a murder mystery though and the author kind of beat us over the head with all possible clues while the characters willfully ignored them.
For once I want to have my socks knocked off by the who dunnit.
It's a murder mystery though and the author kind of beat us over the head with all possible clues while the characters willfully ignored them.
For once I want to have my socks knocked off by the who dunnit.
December 29, 2015
3.5 stars :)
July 6, 2021
Quite an enjoyable romantic suspense. Lots of action.
undecided
July 16, 2016Maybe I'll come back b/c the story isn't holding me interest.
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