Struggling to discover her role in a terrifying new world where everything has changed, she must decide who she can trust.
Sierra Walker has been missing for 30 years. Her family thought she was dead, only when Sierra turns up, she hasn’t aged a day. But Earth has changed drastically.
Biological warfare has decimated the planet. Her home town of Redmeadows exists under a bio dome, and to survive in Redmeadows, you must be micro-chipped. No chip? Then it’s off to quarantine for you. And no-one has returned from quarantine. Ever.
Running from the law, fighting her forbidden attraction to Alrik, the tall, dark and handsome alien who rescued her, unsure of where her brothers’ loyalties lay, and mourning the death of her mother, can Sierra also keep the secret she’s been desperately trying to hide? The one that could be her salvation, or her doom.
Aussie author, Jane Hinchey, brings you Returned, the first in the Acarnania Warriors series of alien warrior romance. It’s a sci-fi, dystopian romantic suspense that features gripping supernatural drama, surprising twists, dynamic characters, and heart-pounding romance. Contains hot romance and sizzling sex scenes, suitable for 18+ only.
Read Returned today to satisfy your craving for a fast-paced paranormal tale.
Returned by J.A. Hinchey is a wonderful story that I have fell in love with. This wonderful story was writen by a brand new author for me to read and I can nt wait to see what they write next. I highly recommend this story to everyone I loved it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
I came across this book on a Amazon similar, and I'm so glad that I decided to buy it and give it a chance. The blue-eyed woman on the cover was intriguing. The blurb was also catching. I don’t think that I’ve ever read a sci-fi, dystopian mix before, but it worked well for the book. The beginning involves an alien abduction. One where the aliens plants a host of their species into your back—in a very painful process. This happened to Sierra right before she was rescued. Then she had to keep what happened to her a secret from her aliens rescuers or they would have killed her themselves. During her stay with the new aliens, Sierra formed a connection with Alrik. It was a good thing, too because she was starting to chance—becoming faster and stronger with blue, glowing eyes.
Around the halfway point, the plot shifts, taking on a dystopian feel, which I really liked. Sierra found herself back on an Earth that she doesn’t recognize. Knowing that something wasn’t right before they sent her back, Alrik went to ensure her safety.
The ending had a lot of action and steamy romance which I thoroughly enjoyed. The events that were happening were believable. My only complaint was that the author is unsure if she will make a sequel. If that’s the case, I think the author sure have given a little more detail of the end game. Are Sierra an her alien parasite able to continue to coexist together long term? Do they just live in the next city in the underground colony for the rest of their lives with no problems at all from their surrounding enemies? These were just a few questions, I was curious about because I felt the happily ever after ending happened a little too conveniently. Maybe the author will make a sequel eventually. I would sure love to continue the adventure. This was an awesome book!
Struggling to discover her role in a terrifying new world where everything has changed, she must decide who she can trust. Sierra Walker has been missing for 30 years. Her family thought she was dead, only when Sierra turns up, she hasn’t aged a day. But Earth has changed drastically. Biological warfare has decimated the planet. Her home town of Redmeadows exists under a bio dome, and to survive in Redmeadows, you must be micro-chipped. No chip? Then it’s off to quarantine for you. And no-one has returned from quarantine. Ever. Running from the law, fighting her forbidden attraction to Alrik, the tall, dark and handsome alien who rescued her, unsure of where her brothers’ loyalties lay, and mourning the death of her mother, can Sierra also keep the secret she’s been desperately trying to hide? The one that could be her salvation or her doom.
Great adventure and departure from what I am used to reading from this author.. Great world building that is just so descriptive. Well written plot and story line that was a joyt to read. Well fleshed out characters that I can't wait to read more about. Really gripping story that had me hooked from the start. Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
For me, I was hoping for an alien romance in this book. And yes, it started out that way and I can honestly say I was really enjoying it. Then the rest of the book is based back on earth, and that's where we get a completely different story to the first half. Where the heroine becomes the rescuer and the hero a bit of a sap. I felt like I was reading 2 completely different stories in one book with completely different characters. Really disappointed.
I've never read anything in this type of genre before, so I wasn't sure what I'd think. I loved the book! Alien abduction, making friends with people from different galaxies, romance and a few very bizarre situations. What's not to like about all of that :) I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
This was a wonderful start to a dystopian/sci-fi romance. The interaction between the characters was what you would expect , if you woke up 30 yrs later (with aliens). This can turn into an amazing series. A bit of romance with a lot of action. I can't wait for more. Although I received an advanced copy, I do own a previously released version. A great author and a great read!
Purch Amazon Aug. 23, 2017 This is the 3rd book I have read by this author and my least favorite. There are a lot of positives, but I never seemed able to connect to the 2 main characters. The plot is interesting, but the chemistry of the story was missing for me.
Returned by Jane Hinchey is sci-fi, dystopian, paranormal romantic suspense novel. In this book, we are introduced to Sierra Walker. She’s a cop at the beginning of the story, out with her partner on the beat grabbing some coffee. While at a local coffee shop, her partner spies what looks like a drug dealer on the corner with an impending storm brewing. When they see a deal going down they spring into action. Sierra chases the perp, but the storm breaks while she’s in pursuit. Lightning strikes near her once and then the last thing she remembers is excruciating pain and then nothing. When she wakes up she learns that she has been abducted by an alien race called the Bellatania, who are looking for compatible females to mate with. At first, Sierra thinks this is a joke or a punk being played on her but soon the situation becomes all too real for her when certain realizations come into play. She is rescued by another group of aliens, but was she rescued in time before they began to experiment on her? She soon learns, from her rescuers, that she is one of many women from different planets who was abducted and then rescued in an attempt to save one of their own from the Bellatania. One by one the women are returned home, and eventually so is Sierra. Sierra believes that she has only been gone for a few weeks, but in reality on Earth decades have passed and a lot has changed. Will Sierra be able to survive on this new Earth? Or will she fall victim to her own after surviving so much? Returned by Jane Hinchey is the first book that I have read by this author. The story engaged me from the beginning and kept me engaged throughout. Sierra is a strong female character. From the beginning the author lets us know that she is ambitious and looking to rise in the ranks as an officer. When she is abducted she seems to be pretty cavalier, because, like most people, denial would be the first response when you wake up in a strange place. Once she sees that things are all too real that’s when we see what some would perceive to be a more “proper” reaction to her situation. It’s nice to see her lose her composure more than a couple times in this story. For the most part, the author has her stay true to her being a strong female character. I like that her first reaction when she meets Alrik isn’t to fall all over herself drooling over him. There isn’t an immediate spark of attraction or chemistry, which is honestly what I feared, would happen. Instead, the author gives us a different scenario and it plays out well. I like that things develop between Alrik and Sierra and that it is well over halfway through the story before anything intense happens between them. In my personal opinion, I think that the blurb should be rewritten for this story. When I read it, it leads me to think that Sierra’s time in space would be more of a blip. That she would be in space for a brief time, then returned to Earth and then would begin an intense struggle to stay under the radar of this new Earth and surviving. The truth is Sierra is in space for quite some time of the story. Then when she returns to Earth things move quickly. I honestly expected more drama between her and her brother that there was. Also, when she and Alrik finally have sex, I expected more from the scene due to how intense her emotions and reactions toward him were and became. I also would have liked some points of the story from Alrik’s point of view, because I think it would have added an extra element of interest to the story. I wanted more of an explanation as to what happened on Earth and how things developed so quickly with the technology. All-in-all, I enjoyed this story very much. I just think that certain parts of the storyline could have been fleshed out more to give us more of the storyline that would have made this book exceptional. As it is, the story is well written and I enjoyed reading it. I like the various twists that the author writes into the storyline. The twists and surprises add an additional element of surprise and suspense to the story. I am rating this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars. The book is well written, and professionally edited as far as I can tell. I just wish that there was more to the story and that certain aspects had been fleshed out to give us more. I hope that the author will be returning to this world so that we can read more about Sierra, Alrik and the others in this new Earth. I want to know what happens next, how they will move forward and survive, and what dangers they will face. I would love for this book to become part of a series because it truly does have a lot of potential to go far.
I was uncertain and unsure Sy 1st and I feel the story definitely would have benefited from the added weight and dimension Akrik's pov could have and would have added, I think it was a wonderful and had some great world building ... Sierra got in my nerves at times but in the whole I really enjoyed her,only that really disappointed me was it seemed that by the time she as finally truly coming in to her own it seemed and her relationship with Alrik was picking up speed ? The story was coming to an end.... Btw the 1st time they had sex in the shower ? Her reactions started to make feel like I was reading about some shifter,or vamp. something about to claim their mate and to be quite honest I was rather disappointed when she didn't bite Alrik or something to seal the deal... I'd have liked some sorta mating ritual to have taken place,something to show just how strongly they felt towards each other and the permanence of there relationship and or bond... Thank you Ms. Hinchley Can't wait to read more ;)
Five stars for one amazing and well written book! This book had everything I love; non-stop action, romance and a little mystery all set in a futuristic sci-fi dystopian world. I liked how Sierra, our main gal, is such a feisty and strong character. Despite her situation she strived to help others around her and she didn’t give up. Alrik is a romantic lover and I loved the moments he was there for Sierra, the emotions I felt while reading these moments kept me entranced. I ended up sitting and finishing it in one day. There are so many different sci-fi dystopian stories out in the world and this one really stands out to me for its originality and creative plot.
I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys reading sci-fiction romance suspense. This story is a standalone and a very fast read. While the author doesn’t plan on continuing the story world I really hope one day I will get to revisit again.
I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All my opinions and thoughts are in no way influence by this.
I read this book when it was first published in 2016 and enjoyed it. I liked Sierra and Alrik and the story was interesting enough to hold my attention. I did feel that the ending came abruptly and left me with many questions. I was hoping for a sequel but, as yet, this has not materialised. I had read a couple of Jane's books before I read this one, which was why I picked it up. I have to be honest and say that her writing has definitely got better as she has written more books. If this is the only book of hers that you have read, I would recommend trying any other books she has written. I particularly enjoyed The Supernatural Investigation Agency series.
This type of book is usually short and more of an erotica book than a romance. This book is a full length novel and describes the world that Sierra has entered into. Earth is dystopian in the near future and aliens are among us. I love the relationship between Alrik and Sierra, it is based on respect and admiration of the other. It seems everyone has secrets and as we learn about what happened to earth, some of these secrets are revealed. I really liked this story and I got intrigued as I got deeper into the story. The only thing I disliked was I never did learn who these Quarantine people are, except they like to dissect people and control the people under the dome.
Returned tells a great story about Sierra. Kidnapped by an alien race, altered and then returned to Earth with her Alpha hero, Alric, she begins to uncover a sinister plot to keep the people of Earth living under domes, frightened and docile with the ruse that the planet has been devastated by a nuclear explosion. But to what purpose? Can she and Alric escape the domed city and certain death to explore what is supposed to be a ravaged planet? Are there others outside the dome? How do they survive in such a hostile environment and what will their place be in this new society? Read Returned to find out the answers to these question and more. I received a complimentary copy from the author
Wow! I don't know if I could deal with this abduction and return years later like Sierra. The story was a page turner that had a nice flow. Loved the world building and was thrilled with the way the story progressed. Alrik was also a great character who rescued Sierra and eventually followed her back to Earth. The chemistry was fantastic between these two. This book had lots of action and some surprises as well. Loved it!
3.5 stars. As this was a short novel it was quick to read. I liked it but it felt like something was missing. The story felt like 2 mini stories which were about half the book each- her time in space and after she was returned. I was expecting more about her time on Earth after she had been returned. I did enjoy learning about the alien species. Sierra's romance with Alrik didn't feel very alien like - he seemed very human to me. Still a nice romance aspect. Worth the read as it's a nice easy to read novel.
I Love the way this author speaks through her characters! Such Sass, Snark & Takes No Shit Attitude : A Complete And Utter Bad Ass! And How Hot Does Sierra Look On The Cover All Dressed In Black With a Massive Weapon!
The words of the story written all sound correct & as they should be and while there are emotions included in the story, there is something lacking paricularly from the first half of the book, which I find hard to define. This lacking element would take a novel like this from your average 4 ⭐ book to a 5⭐ book and reminds me of some of Ms Hinchey's earliest works, which I also found lacking this same ingredient which is now part of her more current novels & work.
As much as I love her stories and adore the incredible characters and couples, I'm still not 100% sure what that element is or how to describe what I mean, I think it may be the heart & soul of emotion or the depth of feelings associated with them, not just the words written on a page or perhaps its the story is rushed in the dialogue compared to her other works. I still can't put my finger on it.
If I compare Ms Hinchey work to some of my other All-Time Favourite Authors (which Jane is amongst, especially her later works) you will clearly see the difference, or if comparing Jane's earliest to her more recent works it becomes very apparent. But that also comes with experience, time, learning, gathering a solid base of ARC & Beta Readers & great feedback!
In saying all this though, there has never been one of Ms Hinchey's books I have not enjoyed, loved or fail to reccomend to others. Nor have I Rated any book of her's below a 3.9 ⭐ Out of 5 ⭐!
The author is so down to earth and has a wicked sense of humor, writes from her heart & soul, and although she uses profanity, it's never overboard or crass and seems perfect to the character, knowing which type of character would swear & which type would not. Jane has a brilliant mind, and I love the way it works, pouring blood, sweat & tears into every book!
The first major intimate scene between Sierra and Alrik was beautifully written full of love & tenderness with a tonne of the correct feelings and emotions. It was all there just as it should be & then some.
Over the course of this book the character Alrik certainly has come a long way in his attitude about the mixing of Alien DNA & inter species sexual contact. I must say I was a little shocked by his 180° turnaround, but love can & does change us in all types of strange & dramatic wonderful ways!
Jane is certainly in her element when it comes to love and sex scenes. Queen of the 'Oh God Scream' (if you know what I mean)! She truly is such a talented Author that has deep connections and a way with words and writes the greatest sex scenes with ease and more importantly knows when not to add another sex scene too soon. Kudos for Jane's Restrain.
The other bonus with Jane's sex scenes, is the terminology, using words that don't want too make me gag when I read it! Ms Hinchey has a way of writing that's not crude or distasteful, using vulgar or off putting terminology of body parts or its chemical reaction to the situation or stimuli although there is 1 word she uses for a part of the female anatomy that makes me cringe a little. I'm no prude, but thank you Jane from the depths of my stomach for your beautifully written tasteful descriptive sex scenes, which is some of the best writing in many of her books! Many authors miss the mark for me, writing over the top gratuitous sex scenes which totally ruins a great story!
I'm not sure what type editing Ms Hinchey uses, but after reading many of her books (and even though there are several I own unread for the moment, in my library) I've only ever found the one spelling error. And not a single one in this book! So Kudos to Jane, her editor (if used) & the incredible work of her Beta / ARC teams Congrats Jane & To Your 'Little Devil's Too!' There's nothing worse than being pulled out of a book by constant spelling or grammatical errors or story arc's that change or are wrong. But are of course they are totally forgivable in Beta copies (after all, that's a Beta Readers Job!)
There is one problem I have with this book though & took it up with Jane & her team. Why can all Earthling's understand Alrik when Sierra could not upon the spaceship until a universal translator was implanted in her?
Even the character Sierra picked up on this fact towards the end of the story, with promises of an explanation to follow from Alrik (as at the time he stops Sierra from speaking of it in front of her Brother Daniel, whom Alrik does not fully trust yet), but the explanation is never followed up on or forthcoming! For me the lack of this is a big gap in the story arc & a mistake by the author as big Sci-Fi fans will pick up on this too, just as I did the moment Alrik arrived on Earth & spoke to his first human in the cafe. Unfortunately this reduces my score in rating this book as does the other missing element from what would be 4.3⭐ rating out of 5⭐. I'm very sorry Ms Hinchey.
I RATE RETURNED 4⭐ OUT OF 5⭐!
I Recieved An ARC Copy of This Book From The Author & Now Own All 3 Book Versions. This Is My Fair, Honest & Impartial Review .
Reviewed By : Jewlzped 🙋♀️❤From the 🤪 🇦🇺 📖🐛❗ (Bye Love From The Crazy Australian BookWorm)!
Absolutely amazing first book in this new series. Truly entertaining and held my interest from the first page. So looking forward to the next story. Hope it will be soon. Have just put Jane Hinchey on my favourite author list. Highly recommend this author and her books.
This book was so gooooood.You won't want to put this down once you start reading it.There is so much going on that every page has a new adventure.Can't wait to read the next t book.
The creativity and pacing of this story kept me interested from start to finish. I liked the characters and the fact the heroine was not helpless! Really enjoyed it and recommend it!
I had the exciting opportunity to read this book for the author for my personal opinion. This started out like any other book of the genre then it took a crazy dip into a different genre. I will admit the transition was a bit rough but it ends up working out in the book's favor. I don't want to give away too much details you will just have to read it for yourself.
Loved this book. Was sceptical at first but was sucked in and it was hard to put down. Would recommend this book to anyone who loves sci-fi, action, and a tad of romance. A must read for sure.
A thought provoking tale. A young police officer is abducted. Left in a cage, like so many others. The Aliens intend on adding their DNA to all the captives. Great story line
What happens when you fall in love with an alien? You wake up silly because it was a dream. In this book, it's not a dream. The romance is steamy, the battles are bloody, and the protagonist is bad ass.
Very interesting read. Sierra is stolen by aliens for breeding experimentation, then rescued by different aliens who will kill her if they find she's been altered by the original aliens. She has been altered but no one figures it out, until she's finally returned to EArth. But, Earth is totally changed and it's 30 years later. WHAT?! I feel like I shouldn't tell you the hows and whys. However, Sierra is assisted by one of the aliens who became infatuated with her. The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. The couple find themselves in a safe place, but there are still more questions that I'm assuming will be answered in the next book. I highly recommend this read and really look forward to the next book.