What do you think?
Rate this book
Selected #7
Beginnings
It's time for the aliens to let the world know the truth behind Testing, and Yvette D'altrea is just the one to put a pretty face on the message.
But in the the meantime, Yvette has her own adventures, courtesy of Jasmine Brighteyes. All does not go well, and Yvette's relationship with Audra and the aliens is at significant risk.
Along the way, Yvette meets some wookies, a Kitsune or two, a few Hobbles, and several Catseye. She makes a movie or six, including one with a rather unexpected costar.
This is a novel of 220,000 words, the 7th in the ongoing Selected series.
But in the the meantime, Yvette has her own adventures, courtesy of Jasmine Brighteyes. All does not go well, and Yvette's relationship with Audra and the aliens is at significant risk.
Along the way, Yvette meets some wookies, a Kitsune or two, a few Hobbles, and several Catseye. She makes a movie or six, including one with a rather unexpected costar.
This is a novel of 220,000 words, the 7th in the ongoing Selected series.
766 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2017
33 people are currently reading
8 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 29, 2022
This is seventh (and I think last) in a seriously strange alien lesbian series. Characters, events, and plots spill over into this one and Yvette first appears earlier, too. I recommend reading the rest before this one.
I've liked Yvette since she first appeared. The pampered starlet who wants more and ends up entangled in alien affairs (heh) was interesting and her relationship with the Beamer family was a fun take on intimate but not sexual. This book spans a couple of years, unlike the others, and brings the series to a reasonable conclusion with Yvette helping the aliens be more open with their activities regarding human women (and moving to a fully voluntary system while still maintaining the "biological needs" of those who need conquest and challenge to kick in the attachment to a mate).
During this story, we see Yvette be instrumental in a few important developments (maybe a bit too much so, but I was in for it), and that includes taking the head alien on planet to task for flubbing a key moment. I loved seeing her put forward her ideas even as she's hesitant and insisting that she's just the pretty girl. Her intelligence and lack of ego was a strong part of her appeal and I liked seeing her stand up for the things she needs and her open-eyed evaluations of the institutions and expectations around her. This is as much of an indictment of Hollywood as you could hope for while still maintaining a love of it I've seen—without ignoring the ugly stuff, either.
What sat less well is that this one moves back to a tick in the first where the aliens reinforce all the political talking points of a certain sector of progressive politics. The "overpopulation" is as unexamined and reinforced, the weird judgement of humans as immature as a group. But this time, we get a wholly gratuitous run at religion as well. Like, the aliens can't believe that we let fantasists (you know, people who believe in a God) have any say in our governments or policy-making. Actual policy informed by religion is scoffed at. And did I mention that Yvette is from Utah and formerly Mormon? Roseau completely botches this background and in laughable ways. I mean, there might be some Mormon father who tells his daughter that having a career in acting is "for your husband to tell you." but I haven't met one in all my years in the church and every father I know, inside or outside the church, would be horrified by that statement. I think Roseau tries to mitigate this somewhat with Yvette's grandfather who is a senator (yes, from Utah). He's supportive of her, gave her the best advice she got when moving out on her own (a fact she openly acknowledges), and declares that he'd stand with her when she comes out as gay stating that he'd known for years and wondered when she'd get around to coming out. I liked that relationship (and interaction), but it doesn't mitigate the underlying anti-religious tirade at the heart of some of Yvette's general character that I found rather lazy for so complex a topic.
I saw the romantic twist coming, and deeply enjoyed seeing it play out. Okay, that's not quite true. I loved seeing it play out during the actual development. The weird manipulation engaged in to bring it home was a lot of unnecessary tedium. I don't think we needed Yvette to go back into candidate status and the eruption that caused, not least because that makes her eventual mate kind of a weakling that she can't just come forward and make a bid for acknowledging the change in feelings. But I was all in for the relationship and loved seeing it develop before that and like the resolution by the end.
Given the weak romantic break at the end and the random jabs at religion (including, specifically, my own), I'm having a hard time going above three stars. Since I can't really see who I'd recommend this series to, let alone this story, I'm going to be fine with that.
A note about Chaste: I'm not actually sure this was entirely chaste. But I can't recall any on-page explicit sex. There are sexual relationships, including with Yvette with others. But I'm pretty sure we didn't go there. There are some nudity comments and appreciation of, erm, parts, so it isn't a strong case for chaste, but it's one I'm going to settle for.
I've liked Yvette since she first appeared. The pampered starlet who wants more and ends up entangled in alien affairs (heh) was interesting and her relationship with the Beamer family was a fun take on intimate but not sexual. This book spans a couple of years, unlike the others, and brings the series to a reasonable conclusion with Yvette helping the aliens be more open with their activities regarding human women (and moving to a fully voluntary system while still maintaining the "biological needs" of those who need conquest and challenge to kick in the attachment to a mate).
During this story, we see Yvette be instrumental in a few important developments (maybe a bit too much so, but I was in for it), and that includes taking the head alien on planet to task for flubbing a key moment. I loved seeing her put forward her ideas even as she's hesitant and insisting that she's just the pretty girl. Her intelligence and lack of ego was a strong part of her appeal and I liked seeing her stand up for the things she needs and her open-eyed evaluations of the institutions and expectations around her. This is as much of an indictment of Hollywood as you could hope for while still maintaining a love of it I've seen—without ignoring the ugly stuff, either.
What sat less well is that this one moves back to a tick in the first where the aliens reinforce all the political talking points of a certain sector of progressive politics. The "overpopulation" is as unexamined and reinforced, the weird judgement of humans as immature as a group. But this time, we get a wholly gratuitous run at religion as well. Like, the aliens can't believe that we let fantasists (you know, people who believe in a God) have any say in our governments or policy-making. Actual policy informed by religion is scoffed at. And did I mention that Yvette is from Utah and formerly Mormon? Roseau completely botches this background and in laughable ways. I mean, there might be some Mormon father who tells his daughter that having a career in acting is "for your husband to tell you." but I haven't met one in all my years in the church and every father I know, inside or outside the church, would be horrified by that statement. I think Roseau tries to mitigate this somewhat with Yvette's grandfather who is a senator (yes, from Utah). He's supportive of her, gave her the best advice she got when moving out on her own (a fact she openly acknowledges), and declares that he'd stand with her when she comes out as gay stating that he'd known for years and wondered when she'd get around to coming out. I liked that relationship (and interaction), but it doesn't mitigate the underlying anti-religious tirade at the heart of some of Yvette's general character that I found rather lazy for so complex a topic.
I saw the romantic twist coming, and deeply enjoyed seeing it play out. Okay, that's not quite true. I loved seeing it play out during the actual development. The weird manipulation engaged in to bring it home was a lot of unnecessary tedium. I don't think we needed Yvette to go back into candidate status and the eruption that caused, not least because that makes her eventual mate kind of a weakling that she can't just come forward and make a bid for acknowledging the change in feelings. But I was all in for the relationship and loved seeing it develop before that and like the resolution by the end.
Given the weak romantic break at the end and the random jabs at religion (including, specifically, my own), I'm having a hard time going above three stars. Since I can't really see who I'd recommend this series to, let alone this story, I'm going to be fine with that.
A note about Chaste: I'm not actually sure this was entirely chaste. But I can't recall any on-page explicit sex. There are sexual relationships, including with Yvette with others. But I'm pretty sure we didn't go there. There are some nudity comments and appreciation of, erm, parts, so it isn't a strong case for chaste, but it's one I'm going to settle for.
April 23, 2017
Really!!
I can't believe it ended the way it did. I Love the Selected Book series but was not very happy with the ending of this book. I was looking for more. A lot more! I'm hoping there is a book 8 that gives a little more detail on there relationship.
I can't believe it ended the way it did. I Love the Selected Book series but was not very happy with the ending of this book. I was looking for more. A lot more! I'm hoping there is a book 8 that gives a little more detail on there relationship.
July 30, 2024
One of my favorites
This story was one of my favorites of the series. I really liked Yvette from first meet. But I also thought that maybe Bluebell may have been right. I was glad to see that she was, but not in the way I thought she was going to be. From the very beginning, Yvette was taken with the Catseye species and not in a small way. She accepted them immediately.
I like most of the things that happened in this book. Except that I thought that Jasmine Brighteyes went way too far with Yvette. It got tiring after awhile to hear “You will be treated like a mating candidate.” It was way too heavy handed. One person that continued to grow in the book was Yvette.
I noticed that in a couple books that Bluebell changed in a way that did not seem remotely in keeping in who she is at the baseline of her personality. She was also a part of some underhanded and dirty things that hurt those closest to them emotionally. Maybe that is part of the Catseye way and I am used to Bluebell being full of wisdom and calm when everyone else falls apart. She was always a source of reason She lost that a few times and I was not happy about that. Azalea stayed true to herself.
But Violet, Audra and Skye confused me from time to time. I didn’t know how to take them. It made me believe it is hard to be a friendship such as theirs. The lines are always moving and people telling you that they have your best interests at heart as they watch you hurt to achieve that end, is very distressing. Yvette kept forgiving them and kept finding herself in that same position time and time again.
i knew that there was going to be something with a Catseye this book for Yvette. This has been going on since book 4. When we met Foxglove Blue, I knew something had to be up. And then we meet Zinnia and that meeting happened a few times. But it was uneventful. But Foxglove came with venom for Yvette.
I didn’t know who Slide was and I did not understand what was going on there. I did not know Violet was doing with the Octal. I thought that was terrible. No one deserves that without consent. And I still find that a bit unforgivable. Some of these stories lines dragged on for way too long. And the one that that I do NOT like about reading this authors book is that there are way too many games played in the same book and you must get into the intricacies of each time. I get tired of hearing about wagers over and over again. It is rather boring and I must admit after I have read one or two of them, I scheme the rest. They are way too long and take way too much precious real estate. After the movie was over, it was like Foxglove just fell off the face of the earth. And they author filled that time with silliness like games and people that didn’t matter.
It took way too long for the ending to come around. And then it was anticlimactic. If that was all we were gonna get, I would have skipped even more of the story that I felt was irrelevant. I had a thought about Slide at first that was coming closer to the truth. And then, I finally had that aha moment. It all started to make sense. I kept waiting for it to happen a different way. It was a little unexpected and I liked it. But I did not like how we got there. The deceit on the part of the friends is a bit much. Although I do understand that there was not an easy way to resolve this except for something BIG! This book could have been cut in half and would have been wonderful with all the things that really mattered.
I believe Yvette got cheated out of her story that REALLY mattered. We saw Skye and Violet almost from the beginning. And it started with them about a 1/3 of the way in the book. And I enjoyed every moment of it. I think Yvette was owed the same. We spent too much time on Wookiee’s, the arena, challenges, talks about the resort, and all the in between stuff that was just plain fluff.
Now that this book is over, I was hoping that we could actually read Yvette’s story. I felt cheated here like I felt cheated when Galatea went home with Joy in the last book. Too much ado about nothing when it was all said and done. I felt Galatea deserved better too.
I hope we never see another “mating candidate” story in the way it has been told again. After you read a few of them…it gets stale and old. The same arguments and the same treatment to ad nauseam.
In the last book, my daughters first and middle name appeared in the book. What is happening that my first and last name and of course my daughters last name was in the book 4. Unbelievable. What a coincidence that is.
This story was one of my favorites of the series. I really liked Yvette from first meet. But I also thought that maybe Bluebell may have been right. I was glad to see that she was, but not in the way I thought she was going to be. From the very beginning, Yvette was taken with the Catseye species and not in a small way. She accepted them immediately.
I like most of the things that happened in this book. Except that I thought that Jasmine Brighteyes went way too far with Yvette. It got tiring after awhile to hear “You will be treated like a mating candidate.” It was way too heavy handed. One person that continued to grow in the book was Yvette.
I noticed that in a couple books that Bluebell changed in a way that did not seem remotely in keeping in who she is at the baseline of her personality. She was also a part of some underhanded and dirty things that hurt those closest to them emotionally. Maybe that is part of the Catseye way and I am used to Bluebell being full of wisdom and calm when everyone else falls apart. She was always a source of reason She lost that a few times and I was not happy about that. Azalea stayed true to herself.
But Violet, Audra and Skye confused me from time to time. I didn’t know how to take them. It made me believe it is hard to be a friendship such as theirs. The lines are always moving and people telling you that they have your best interests at heart as they watch you hurt to achieve that end, is very distressing. Yvette kept forgiving them and kept finding herself in that same position time and time again.
i knew that there was going to be something with a Catseye this book for Yvette. This has been going on since book 4. When we met Foxglove Blue, I knew something had to be up. And then we meet Zinnia and that meeting happened a few times. But it was uneventful. But Foxglove came with venom for Yvette.
I didn’t know who Slide was and I did not understand what was going on there. I did not know Violet was doing with the Octal. I thought that was terrible. No one deserves that without consent. And I still find that a bit unforgivable. Some of these stories lines dragged on for way too long. And the one that that I do NOT like about reading this authors book is that there are way too many games played in the same book and you must get into the intricacies of each time. I get tired of hearing about wagers over and over again. It is rather boring and I must admit after I have read one or two of them, I scheme the rest. They are way too long and take way too much precious real estate. After the movie was over, it was like Foxglove just fell off the face of the earth. And they author filled that time with silliness like games and people that didn’t matter.
It took way too long for the ending to come around. And then it was anticlimactic. If that was all we were gonna get, I would have skipped even more of the story that I felt was irrelevant. I had a thought about Slide at first that was coming closer to the truth. And then, I finally had that aha moment. It all started to make sense. I kept waiting for it to happen a different way. It was a little unexpected and I liked it. But I did not like how we got there. The deceit on the part of the friends is a bit much. Although I do understand that there was not an easy way to resolve this except for something BIG! This book could have been cut in half and would have been wonderful with all the things that really mattered.
I believe Yvette got cheated out of her story that REALLY mattered. We saw Skye and Violet almost from the beginning. And it started with them about a 1/3 of the way in the book. And I enjoyed every moment of it. I think Yvette was owed the same. We spent too much time on Wookiee’s, the arena, challenges, talks about the resort, and all the in between stuff that was just plain fluff.
Now that this book is over, I was hoping that we could actually read Yvette’s story. I felt cheated here like I felt cheated when Galatea went home with Joy in the last book. Too much ado about nothing when it was all said and done. I felt Galatea deserved better too.
I hope we never see another “mating candidate” story in the way it has been told again. After you read a few of them…it gets stale and old. The same arguments and the same treatment to ad nauseam.
In the last book, my daughters first and middle name appeared in the book. What is happening that my first and last name and of course my daughters last name was in the book 4. Unbelievable. What a coincidence that is.
February 12, 2019
Well, well, well. An exciting story comes to an end and it was grinding. My emotions were jarred and my moral compass was engaged. How do experiments form and what are the end results desired. To change behavior a lot of factors must be considered. The Selected series never shies away from that and Miss Roseau lays hints from the first book in the series to this last book in the series. It was amazing to read, and feel like I was in a movie theater watching a film, about how the main species in the series, Catseye, manipulated behavior of aliens and humans to get the end results; a better way to live on planet Earth. They were known for their ability to do this and took the lead.
Humans, those not xenophobic, wanting to help were treated to a life experience that was truly moving humanity to a brighter future.
I was impressed by the writing and the emotional upheaval that went into this book.
Humans, those not xenophobic, wanting to help were treated to a life experience that was truly moving humanity to a brighter future.
I was impressed by the writing and the emotional upheaval that went into this book.
January 15, 2018
Alien's can't live without them
I have to admit I was leary at first reading this series. But once I picked up the first book, Taken, I couldn't put it down. Sleep, who needs sleep from beginning to end I found myself residing in a world filled with magic. From one species to the next my imagination began to sore. As I read each book I was amazed by the complexity of the writers ability to bring it all together. This 5 star rating isn't just for this book but it is for every book that is a part of this one. Each individual story is a prelude to the next and each one is just as magical. All I can say is when does the movie come out? And maybe the next question would be is....... can I be a character in the next one? My name is JanNel and I'll let you decide the last. Thank you for giving me a world to escape to I can't wait for the next one.
I have to admit I was leary at first reading this series. But once I picked up the first book, Taken, I couldn't put it down. Sleep, who needs sleep from beginning to end I found myself residing in a world filled with magic. From one species to the next my imagination began to sore. As I read each book I was amazed by the complexity of the writers ability to bring it all together. This 5 star rating isn't just for this book but it is for every book that is a part of this one. Each individual story is a prelude to the next and each one is just as magical. All I can say is when does the movie come out? And maybe the next question would be is....... can I be a character in the next one? My name is JanNel and I'll let you decide the last. Thank you for giving me a world to escape to I can't wait for the next one.
May 19, 2019
A Great Last Chapter
This was a good ending to the series. A good way to wrap it up but still have an opening. I know there is a spin off and can't wait to read it. The main character was interesting and believable. The story moved well but there were a few mistakes here and there. Still enjoyable and looking forward to the next!
This was a good ending to the series. A good way to wrap it up but still have an opening. I know there is a spin off and can't wait to read it. The main character was interesting and believable. The story moved well but there were a few mistakes here and there. Still enjoyable and looking forward to the next!
February 28, 2021
I cant even begin to make sense of this book
Can somebody explain how Ivette forgives everyone for making her a mating candidate, and then asks for forgiveness and hugs and asks if she is allowed in Bluebell's home??????
Please, I had been struggling with this series for a bit now. This was my last one I read.
Can somebody explain how Ivette forgives everyone for making her a mating candidate, and then asks for forgiveness and hugs and asks if she is allowed in Bluebell's home??????
Please, I had been struggling with this series for a bit now. This was my last one I read.
December 13, 2017
Highly recommend this series
I loved these books . I hope this is not the last of the series. This last book was great but, I felt it was rushed at the end even though it was quite a long story. Please write some more. Thanks Robin 😊
I loved these books . I hope this is not the last of the series. This last book was great but, I felt it was rushed at the end even though it was quite a long story. Please write some more. Thanks Robin 😊
February 11, 2024
Great story
I have enjoyed this heartfelt story of young actress that was best friend with the aliens and then met one that seem to hate her but actually love her.
I have enjoyed this heartfelt story of young actress that was best friend with the aliens and then met one that seem to hate her but actually love her.
October 31, 2025
The ending, to me, was a little predictable, though I may have simply read too many of Roseeau's novels so I know what to look for. All in all, it is a wonderful addition to the Selected series, and I look forward to the next one.
The only thing I can gripe about is that Muriel isn't in it. I love Muriel. :(
The only thing I can gripe about is that Muriel isn't in it. I love Muriel. :(
November 25, 2023
😢
Robin must have been in some type of a hurry!
When you get to the last chapters its like Robin is a hurry to finish. So we start leaping through events. Then we get to the final chapter, and there its like miraculously Foxglove Blue is spontaneously forgiven and oh by the way we're married.
I'm really struggling with how to rate this final book in this series!!!😢
Robin must have been in some type of a hurry!
When you get to the last chapters its like Robin is a hurry to finish. So we start leaping through events. Then we get to the final chapter, and there its like miraculously Foxglove Blue is spontaneously forgiven and oh by the way we're married.
I'm really struggling with how to rate this final book in this series!!!😢
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2017
The best in the series (spoilers)
I've read every book authored by Robin Rouseaux and this is the best of the lot. I don't know if there are any other books planned for Foxglove and Yvette, but I'd like to see how their relationship develops. Do they do he tv series? I mean talk about good press for the ET's! I'd also like to get revisit the relationship that started this all. How is life on the space station?
I've read every book authored by Robin Rouseaux and this is the best of the lot. I don't know if there are any other books planned for Foxglove and Yvette, but I'd like to see how their relationship develops. Do they do he tv series? I mean talk about good press for the ET's! I'd also like to get revisit the relationship that started this all. How is life on the space station?
April 22, 2017
Wonderful story
I enjoy this series and the various characters and though I really enjoyed this story, I felt cheated by the ending. I was hoping there would have been more said concerning the relationship from their last awkward, angry parting to their resolution at the end. I enjoyed the roles of both characters and had already guessed what was happening with Yvette's last selection to have wanted just a bit more.
I enjoy this series and the various characters and though I really enjoyed this story, I felt cheated by the ending. I was hoping there would have been more said concerning the relationship from their last awkward, angry parting to their resolution at the end. I enjoyed the roles of both characters and had already guessed what was happening with Yvette's last selection to have wanted just a bit more.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews