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Selected #4
Candidate
Andromeda Hayes is having a bad day, going from bad to worse. Her roommate's dog adds a complication to the morning routine. At work, bad news arrives. And when she gets home, the aliens have a surprise waiting for her.
This is a long novel of 225,000 words, the 4th in the Selected series.
This is a long novel of 225,000 words, the 4th in the Selected series.
885 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2016
7 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Robin Roseau
114 books213 followersA writer by avocation, Robin has a renaissance interest in many areas. A bit of a gypsy, Robin has called a few places home and has traveled widely. A love of the outdoors, animals in general and experimenting with world cuisines, Robin and partner share their home with a menagerie of pets and guests, although sometimes it is difficult to discern who is whom.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 18, 2022
This is fourth in a very strange sci-fi series and it features a lot with Jasmine Brighteyes, who has been an ambiguous figure in all of the previous stories, often as manipulator extraordinaire. In this story, you learn far more of her personality and many of the hidden reasons behind what she does. I recommend reading the others first. Note: reading this one before them will have horrible spoilers.
If you've read the others, you know a lot of what you'll get with this one. Only, a lot less tickling, way more swimming and a brick-ton of heartbreak. Andie is brought in a lot older than the other candidates at thirty-four. She is fairly fit, so a better competitor in the challenges, and something of an administrative genius. Jasmine makes her a very strange offer in an experiment on her quest to alter the way the space aliens are doing things. And that's just the setup.
Andie ends up spending months courting lonely space women. Jasmine has asked her to keep her heart open and she does. Which leads to some amazing heartbreak and eventually breaks Andie altogether. Which results in a surprise twist (unless you were paying veeeery close attention) and eventually an actual love match.
Andie is the first human who unambiguously gets the better of Jasmine. This story might have been worth it if for that alone (assuming you've read the other books and have eagerly anticipated that happening). Personally, I was in it to see how much reform Andie could get away with as Jasmine gives her some actual responsibility and was deeply pleased to see it play out. Andie was a delight and I hurt for her setbacks and rejoiced in her triumphs. And in her darkest moments, I was in there with her, hoping to see her find the light at the end of that dark tunnel.
Yes, that means five stars. But as with the others, I have no idea who I could possibly recommend this to. The whole series is essentially "space lesbians need Earth women for comfort and wooing" and this is that times ten as Andie tests limits and the system as a whole. If you're at all interested in the series, however, then this one is easily a highlight and not least .
A note about Romance: This isn't really a romance. Andie's heart takes a beating through a couple of intense relationships. She falls in love a handful of times with different women. I love the resolution. And the complicated facets of love on display. But it doesn't really function as a romance because the story structure couldn't support that kind of build up.
A note about Steamy: There are a handful of explicit sex scenes, though they aren't very detailed. There's also a ton of titillating nudity because space lesbians are apparently obsessed with human females and their obvious mammaries (an odd worldbuilding choice, but an interesting one). So this is the middle of my stream tolerance but if the titillating stuff registers as steamy for you, this could be much higher. The sex in this one is core to the story, so it's very well-supported, I think.
If you've read the others, you know a lot of what you'll get with this one. Only, a lot less tickling, way more swimming and a brick-ton of heartbreak. Andie is brought in a lot older than the other candidates at thirty-four. She is fairly fit, so a better competitor in the challenges, and something of an administrative genius. Jasmine makes her a very strange offer in an experiment on her quest to alter the way the space aliens are doing things. And that's just the setup.
Andie ends up spending months courting lonely space women. Jasmine has asked her to keep her heart open and she does. Which leads to some amazing heartbreak and eventually breaks Andie altogether. Which results in a surprise twist (unless you were paying veeeery close attention) and eventually an actual love match.
Andie is the first human who unambiguously gets the better of Jasmine. This story might have been worth it if for that alone (assuming you've read the other books and have eagerly anticipated that happening). Personally, I was in it to see how much reform Andie could get away with as Jasmine gives her some actual responsibility and was deeply pleased to see it play out. Andie was a delight and I hurt for her setbacks and rejoiced in her triumphs. And in her darkest moments, I was in there with her, hoping to see her find the light at the end of that dark tunnel.
Yes, that means five stars. But as with the others, I have no idea who I could possibly recommend this to. The whole series is essentially "space lesbians need Earth women for comfort and wooing" and this is that times ten as Andie tests limits and the system as a whole. If you're at all interested in the series, however, then this one is easily a highlight and not least .
A note about Romance: This isn't really a romance. Andie's heart takes a beating through a couple of intense relationships. She falls in love a handful of times with different women. I love the resolution. And the complicated facets of love on display. But it doesn't really function as a romance because the story structure couldn't support that kind of build up.
A note about Steamy: There are a handful of explicit sex scenes, though they aren't very detailed. There's also a ton of titillating nudity because space lesbians are apparently obsessed with human females and their obvious mammaries (an odd worldbuilding choice, but an interesting one). So this is the middle of my stream tolerance but if the titillating stuff registers as steamy for you, this could be much higher. The sex in this one is core to the story, so it's very well-supported, I think.
March 12, 2016
Well, this is the best book in this series so far.
The author kept the gaming spread thin enough to not getting constantly annoyed. There was no major Stockholm syndrome and no big betrayal.
The final pairing was not unexpected but sufficiently subliminal for other possible outcomes.
One of the best books of the author overall.
The author kept the gaming spread thin enough to not getting constantly annoyed. There was no major Stockholm syndrome and no big betrayal.
The final pairing was not unexpected but sufficiently subliminal for other possible outcomes.
One of the best books of the author overall.
July 28, 2016
Best book in series
However, you need to finish Sapphire and Bronze's story. You left too many unanswered questions. I think her sister needs her story to!d as well.
However, you need to finish Sapphire and Bronze's story. You left too many unanswered questions. I think her sister needs her story to!d as well.
July 22, 2024
I was so mad…
reading this story at first. When Jasmine Brighteyes came on the scene and met Andromeda Hayes, she was especially mean. I did not recall her being that mean with Sapphire from the first book. I do remember her being just as underhanded with Sapphire. And I just knew that I was not going to like anything about Jasmine in this book either. And it grew from reading about her with Skye Andrews from book 3. But, I also got to see good sides of Jasmine in book 3 that was not possible in the first two books about Sapphire.
I actually enjoyed this book just as much as I did the third one about Skye. I was not sure what to feel most of the time about Jasmine. I remember she made a play for Sapphire, which I am not sure why anyone would. So, I knew that Jasmine was just as lonely as anyone of the other ET that left their home planets to help the inhabitants of Earth. Without knowing her in book 3, there is no way anyone would ever like Jasmine Brighteyes. She seems so different from all the other Catseye that we had met. But her position was also very different as well.
This installment was filled with a lot of politics. More politics and games that I ever really want to deal with. I did tire of all the games, the arenas, the challenges and the treatment of the women. I also believe that this is basically intergalactic sex slave trade. These women do not have a choice. But this choice was taken away from them, not just by the Aliens, but by the governments and the United Nations of Earth. Someone had to pay. I don’t like to say it that way, but it is what it is. And I also feel that the aliens should not have to leave everything behind, their own homes, family, and friends to help Earthlings and be lonely. There is a price to be paid to save the planet, and someone has to bear the cost. I, like Sapphire and Andromeda does not like how that is done. But knowing humanity, VERY few would volunteer for such a price, especially because 80% didn’t put us in the position that 20% of us did where we needed an Intergalactic intervention before we destroyed ourselves and the planet beyond repair with no viable plan B.
I still did not like what Jasmine did to Andromeda, the exhibitionism, the voyeurisms, the forced nudity, challenges, kidnapping, secrecy, and all the rest. Also, I felt that poor Andromeda could not take anymore. She lost friends and potential mates after giving her heart to most of them. She suffered humiliation, hopelessness, powerlessness, degradation, heartbreak, manipulations, and more. I am sorry, but 34 is nowhere near being old or even close to used-up. She also experienced joy, kindness, friendship, love, happiness, and more besides anger, frustrations, sadness…
We got to see her with Dark Skies, Cherish, Soft Rain, Charoite, and Harper/Jaguar. We saw her form friendships with Peony, Clover, Cedar and others. And we saw a friendship between her and Jasmine blossom. And we also saw her turn to Jasmine again and again with all the emotions a human can display. We saw Jasmine be right there within seconds taking it all in, the good, the bad and the ugly. And we also saw Jasmine “help” sabotage to a degree some of those relationships. It’s subtle, but it is there if you’re looking for it.
When it all came to a head, I was not surprised. It was all leading to this point. It started here in the first book and it ended here in this book. It was as it should be. This was a long book. And some loose ends from prior books were finally tied. I am glad about that as well. Jasmine gave some clues also in the first and second book and it came true in this one.
But there is still work to be done. Past players are back in play once again. Still hard to read some of it, but remains a wonderful and interesting story despite the interplanetary/galaxy mess.
I think we will see more of Lotus (we met her very briefly and lonely in book 2), Charoite, Sugilite (because of what she did in the end), Clover and Peony (from time to time) and we haven’t seen the last of Dark Skies and Smooth Seas. I believe at some point we will see Harp and Jaguar again. Their stories are incomplete. But it appears this book is more about the humans and the Catseye specifically when it comes to the aliens.
reading this story at first. When Jasmine Brighteyes came on the scene and met Andromeda Hayes, she was especially mean. I did not recall her being that mean with Sapphire from the first book. I do remember her being just as underhanded with Sapphire. And I just knew that I was not going to like anything about Jasmine in this book either. And it grew from reading about her with Skye Andrews from book 3. But, I also got to see good sides of Jasmine in book 3 that was not possible in the first two books about Sapphire.
I actually enjoyed this book just as much as I did the third one about Skye. I was not sure what to feel most of the time about Jasmine. I remember she made a play for Sapphire, which I am not sure why anyone would. So, I knew that Jasmine was just as lonely as anyone of the other ET that left their home planets to help the inhabitants of Earth. Without knowing her in book 3, there is no way anyone would ever like Jasmine Brighteyes. She seems so different from all the other Catseye that we had met. But her position was also very different as well.
This installment was filled with a lot of politics. More politics and games that I ever really want to deal with. I did tire of all the games, the arenas, the challenges and the treatment of the women. I also believe that this is basically intergalactic sex slave trade. These women do not have a choice. But this choice was taken away from them, not just by the Aliens, but by the governments and the United Nations of Earth. Someone had to pay. I don’t like to say it that way, but it is what it is. And I also feel that the aliens should not have to leave everything behind, their own homes, family, and friends to help Earthlings and be lonely. There is a price to be paid to save the planet, and someone has to bear the cost. I, like Sapphire and Andromeda does not like how that is done. But knowing humanity, VERY few would volunteer for such a price, especially because 80% didn’t put us in the position that 20% of us did where we needed an Intergalactic intervention before we destroyed ourselves and the planet beyond repair with no viable plan B.
I still did not like what Jasmine did to Andromeda, the exhibitionism, the voyeurisms, the forced nudity, challenges, kidnapping, secrecy, and all the rest. Also, I felt that poor Andromeda could not take anymore. She lost friends and potential mates after giving her heart to most of them. She suffered humiliation, hopelessness, powerlessness, degradation, heartbreak, manipulations, and more. I am sorry, but 34 is nowhere near being old or even close to used-up. She also experienced joy, kindness, friendship, love, happiness, and more besides anger, frustrations, sadness…
We got to see her with Dark Skies, Cherish, Soft Rain, Charoite, and Harper/Jaguar. We saw her form friendships with Peony, Clover, Cedar and others. And we saw a friendship between her and Jasmine blossom. And we also saw her turn to Jasmine again and again with all the emotions a human can display. We saw Jasmine be right there within seconds taking it all in, the good, the bad and the ugly. And we also saw Jasmine “help” sabotage to a degree some of those relationships. It’s subtle, but it is there if you’re looking for it.
When it all came to a head, I was not surprised. It was all leading to this point. It started here in the first book and it ended here in this book. It was as it should be. This was a long book. And some loose ends from prior books were finally tied. I am glad about that as well. Jasmine gave some clues also in the first and second book and it came true in this one.
But there is still work to be done. Past players are back in play once again. Still hard to read some of it, but remains a wonderful and interesting story despite the interplanetary/galaxy mess.
I think we will see more of Lotus (we met her very briefly and lonely in book 2), Charoite, Sugilite (because of what she did in the end), Clover and Peony (from time to time) and we haven’t seen the last of Dark Skies and Smooth Seas. I believe at some point we will see Harp and Jaguar again. Their stories are incomplete. But it appears this book is more about the humans and the Catseye specifically when it comes to the aliens.
February 6, 2019
This was a long read and I still couldn't put it down. Robin Roseau takes her time delving into the psychological growing of an immature species by a more advanced species (and the advanced species don't get along with each other). The citizens of the world don't know that they've been served up on a platter to serve the emotional & physical needs of 'the aliens'; and, it's mostly women. So the process is...there are no good words to describe the personal trauma of the experience.
But that's it in a nutshell, what does the process look, sound, and feel like from the women taken point of view and the humans & aliens they interact with.
So, kudos to Miss Roseau for building a world that's not preachy or over done. Crisp dialogue, well designed locations, and a continuous illustration about how to effectively, or not, talk with someone different from you in so many ways.
I'm on to the next one.
But that's it in a nutshell, what does the process look, sound, and feel like from the women taken point of view and the humans & aliens they interact with.
So, kudos to Miss Roseau for building a world that's not preachy or over done. Crisp dialogue, well designed locations, and a continuous illustration about how to effectively, or not, talk with someone different from you in so many ways.
I'm on to the next one.
September 3, 2018
🌈REMARKABLE🌈.
February 7, 2021
Both main characters are difficult to like.
December 8, 2022
Hated this one
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with the ending but so many of the plot lines sucked. The dark skies one was especially awful.
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with the ending but so many of the plot lines sucked. The dark skies one was especially awful.
December 10, 2023
Nice story
I see that Jasmine final got a human mate that could handle her and help her get the human matting candidates the dignity that they deserved.
I see that Jasmine final got a human mate that could handle her and help her get the human matting candidates the dignity that they deserved.
March 2, 2016
Keeper
Another enjoyable installment to the series. I found part 4 of the series to be the most intense of all. Andromeda had quite a run with being a mating candidate and throughout I kept waiting for Jasmine to become more to her than Administrator Brighteyes , because from the very beginning, this was the right match for them both.
Another enjoyable installment to the series. I found part 4 of the series to be the most intense of all. Andromeda had quite a run with being a mating candidate and throughout I kept waiting for Jasmine to become more to her than Administrator Brighteyes , because from the very beginning, this was the right match for them both.
July 7, 2016
Great book
I am glad to see the mating in this book. It was a lot of fun to read about and see how it was going to happen.
I am glad to see the mating in this book. It was a lot of fun to read about and see how it was going to happen.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews