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Looking for love on all the wrong planets …
Olympia Alien Mail Order Brides, book 1.
Penelope Boswell needs a fake boyfriend to save her from her meddling family.
But when the Intergalactic Dating Agency matches her with a sexy alien willing to play pretend in exchange for her help assimilating to Earth culture, she gets way more than she bargained for: Eros is seductive, pushy and has no intention of faking anything, least of all their relationship…
**********
If you enjoyed this story, read the other books in the Olympia Alien Mail Order Brides series, and check out the multi-author Intergalactic Dating Agency collection (see the official series website).
Olympia Alien Mail Order Brides, book 1.
Penelope Boswell needs a fake boyfriend to save her from her meddling family.
But when the Intergalactic Dating Agency matches her with a sexy alien willing to play pretend in exchange for her help assimilating to Earth culture, she gets way more than she bargained for: Eros is seductive, pushy and has no intention of faking anything, least of all their relationship…
**********
If you enjoyed this story, read the other books in the Olympia Alien Mail Order Brides series, and check out the multi-author Intergalactic Dating Agency collection (see the official series website).
102 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2017
187 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
K. Cantrell
5 books7 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Kat Cantrell (writing Science Fiction Romance as K. Cantrell) read her first Harlequin novel in third grade and has been scribbling in notebooks since she learned to spell. What else would she write but romance?
When she’s not writing about characters on the journey to happily ever after, she can be found at a soccer game, watching Friends or dancing with her kids to Duran Duran and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Kat, her husband and their two boys live in North Texa
When she’s not writing about characters on the journey to happily ever after, she can be found at a soccer game, watching Friends or dancing with her kids to Duran Duran and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Kat, her husband and their two boys live in North Texa
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
March 9, 2022
Penelope meets a matchmaker but doesn't realize until she decides to use her services to get her family off her back, that the matchmaker is making matches with aliens from other planets that need green cards. In order for Penelope to make this match work she will have to marry the alien she's been matched with so he can get a green card and she can help him blend in as a human until he learns better English and our customs.
But right from the start Eros (John Smith) just wants to make out and have sex which got on my nerves. I think he thought that Penelope would fall in love with him if they were intimate. But because he doesn't understand our culture, our language or how things really work here, he's like a child...who wants to have sexy times with Penelope.
It's hard to get to know a character when he can't communicate or understand well. I thought the premise was great but Eros was very one dimensional for most of the book which made it hard to really like him because I couldn't get to know him.
But right from the start Eros (John Smith) just wants to make out and have sex which got on my nerves. I think he thought that Penelope would fall in love with him if they were intimate. But because he doesn't understand our culture, our language or how things really work here, he's like a child...who wants to have sexy times with Penelope.
It's hard to get to know a character when he can't communicate or understand well. I thought the premise was great but Eros was very one dimensional for most of the book which made it hard to really like him because I couldn't get to know him.
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September 7, 2018💝FREE on iBooks today (9/7/2018)!💝
October 26, 2021
3.75 - Eros was a quick, fun and sweet read. This was a 1st book/read from new to me author, K. Cantrell, and hopefully not my last.
November 1, 2017
This is the alien SF romance version of having it all! AWWW! Control freak Penelope has a big meddling family who just KNOW she'll never be happy until she marries and starts popping out babies. Penelope would rather not. She's an entrepreneur, a talented hair stylist and salon owner, ambitious, determined to be single, and also a generous and open-hearted person. A series of unfortunate events has her visiting a matchmaker to arrange for a fake boyfriend. Enter "John Smith" - who is no more John Smith than I am, and a lot less human. He's an alien - as in extraterrestrial - refugee come to Earth in a long-established secret resettlement program, and the Olympia Mail Order Brides agency is the branch of the Intergalactic Dating Agency that specializes in getting refugee Torvians assimilated into human life. Firm in the understanding that the marriage can be ended at her pleasure, Penelope signs up for a "green card" marriage to Mr Smith - whose unpronounceable Torvian name she shortens to "Eros." Eros is too good to be true - physically and sexually perfect for her in every way, and unbelievably eager to "learn" how to please his human bride. The language barrier and a few other little glitches send the situation out of Penelope's control and HEA seems impossible, but Eros and Penelope were written in the stars. Author K. Cantrell has delivered a lovely, warm-fuzzy-filled alien romance with just the right doses of angst and spice, lovable characters, clever details, and the promise of more matches to come. I've already pre-ordered!
September 20, 2017
I will be honest and say that this is my first intergalactic romance and I was not sure what to expect. However, I should know by now that Kat Cantrell can never disappoint! Eros and Penelope are great together! And the love is strong, no matter where they are from!
December 17, 2017
I read the book a few weeks ago... but I love it! I fell in Eros! Can I take him home, pleasseeee!?! 
September 17, 2023
TW/CW: I don't think there are any :))
ABOUT:
A salon owner is tired of her family pestering her about her love life, so she takes the advice from her friends and looks for a temporary partner to fake-date. A matchmaker overhears her plans and hands her her business card - but the business doesn't involve ordinary match making. When she decides to go along with the idea of using the match makers services, Penelope doesn't take the questionnaire seriously and it ends up biting her in the ass.
- alien/human
- he says "i love you first"
- he falls first
- only FMC's POV
Penelope is a woman who loves control. She needs things to go her way, or everything will fall apart - in her eyes at least. She needs to be aware and focused on whatever she is doing so she isn't accepting to the idea of a partner or kids. Men don't interest her much. At least the human men don't interest her. She's tried dating but it's never worked out well enough for it to last.
Eros is so calm and loving He's someone Penelope's needed in her life even if she didn't know it or understand it yet.
THOUGHTS:
Anyway, I loved this little story. It's a cute little safe read with some small spicy moments.
I do wish we got to see more of her family and their interactions with Eros though. I feel like they should have or would have been more vocal about their daughter eloping to a stranger out of the blue.
ABOUT:
A salon owner is tired of her family pestering her about her love life, so she takes the advice from her friends and looks for a temporary partner to fake-date. A matchmaker overhears her plans and hands her her business card - but the business doesn't involve ordinary match making. When she decides to go along with the idea of using the match makers services, Penelope doesn't take the questionnaire seriously and it ends up biting her in the ass.
- alien/human
- he says "i love you first"
- he falls first
- only FMC's POV
Penelope is a woman who loves control. She needs things to go her way, or everything will fall apart - in her eyes at least. She needs to be aware and focused on whatever she is doing so she isn't accepting to the idea of a partner or kids. Men don't interest her much. At least the human men don't interest her. She's tried dating but it's never worked out well enough for it to last.
Eros is so calm and loving He's someone Penelope's needed in her life even if she didn't know it or understand it yet.
THOUGHTS:
Anyway, I loved this little story. It's a cute little safe read with some small spicy moments.
I do wish we got to see more of her family and their interactions with Eros though. I feel like they should have or would have been more vocal about their daughter eloping to a stranger out of the blue.
August 25, 2023
nope can’t do it
This is so uncomfortable and I question people being okay with the entire plot line. You have an “intergalactic dating company” and the mail order brides? It’s a mail order husband who has to basically please the FMC in every way so he isn’t sent back to some underground bunker. It’s human trafficking with aliens. The roles are reversed giving females an uncomfortable amount of power that they can wield over the male alien just trying to make a life on earth after being banished from their own planet for being useless? There is not a lot of anything good going on where. The entire plot is grotesque.
This is so uncomfortable and I question people being okay with the entire plot line. You have an “intergalactic dating company” and the mail order brides? It’s a mail order husband who has to basically please the FMC in every way so he isn’t sent back to some underground bunker. It’s human trafficking with aliens. The roles are reversed giving females an uncomfortable amount of power that they can wield over the male alien just trying to make a life on earth after being banished from their own planet for being useless? There is not a lot of anything good going on where. The entire plot is grotesque.
August 6, 2023
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book a lot. I truly liked the author's writing style.
And, yes, I will be reading the next book.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I truly liked the author's writing style.
And, yes, I will be reading the next book.
January 25, 2023
The premise was interesting enough but there was hardly any dialogue from the hero.
February 13, 2022
Was it entertaining?
I was thoroughly captivated by the premise but that’s about it. When a random woman comes into your salon and tells you to try her matchmaking service, I personally would think she’s either a madam or a cop but I’m jaded and my life is not a romance novel. Finding out that the aforementioned strange woman matches humanoid aliens banished from their home planet with lonely women would send me into an absolute spiral but again I am not the FMC in a romance. Wild ride from start to finish but also relatable with the whole family riding you to get married and have babies but you have other goals thing. 5/5
Was it enjoyable?
Mmm…not really. It was too short. 100 pages is barely enough time to get a plot like this off the ground but just as we got off to a rip-snorting good time, it was over. I hate feeling rushed by the book I’m reading — especially when it has all the sci-fi fantasy goodness I want in a romance.
Aside from that, I hate pregnancies as a plot device or
catalyst for character development when one or more characters has explicitly stated they don’t want them. Children are not a bargaining chip or a means of growth — they’re people. I know it’s just a book but god help me I hate this trope. Instantly hated it and everything that signalled it was coming. And it’s the fastest way to guarantee I don’t read the next one. 1/5
Was it well-written?
I want to say yes because I don’t remember anything egregious but I’m trying to forget this one. 5/5
Overall there wasn’t anything actually bad about it, just personal preferences but I still hated it. 3.7/5 stars
I was thoroughly captivated by the premise but that’s about it. When a random woman comes into your salon and tells you to try her matchmaking service, I personally would think she’s either a madam or a cop but I’m jaded and my life is not a romance novel. Finding out that the aforementioned strange woman matches humanoid aliens banished from their home planet with lonely women would send me into an absolute spiral but again I am not the FMC in a romance. Wild ride from start to finish but also relatable with the whole family riding you to get married and have babies but you have other goals thing. 5/5
Was it enjoyable?
Mmm…not really. It was too short. 100 pages is barely enough time to get a plot like this off the ground but just as we got off to a rip-snorting good time, it was over. I hate feeling rushed by the book I’m reading — especially when it has all the sci-fi fantasy goodness I want in a romance.
Aside from that, I hate pregnancies as a plot device or
catalyst for character development when one or more characters has explicitly stated they don’t want them. Children are not a bargaining chip or a means of growth — they’re people. I know it’s just a book but god help me I hate this trope. Instantly hated it and everything that signalled it was coming. And it’s the fastest way to guarantee I don’t read the next one. 1/5
Was it well-written?
I want to say yes because I don’t remember anything egregious but I’m trying to forget this one. 5/5
Overall there wasn’t anything actually bad about it, just personal preferences but I still hated it. 3.7/5 stars
dnf
November 14, 2024"They helped build the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland, which is the portal between their world and ours."
I think, as a physicist, I am focusing on the WRONG parts of the book here, but WHAT??? The LHC is not an accelerator built to reproduce Big Bang energy collisions, but as a portal to an alien world ?!
Just... HOoooWWW???
If you're going to drop a bomb like this, I'd like ALL the explanations on HOW please!
You can make them as bonkers as you'd like, but I need them!
This book didn't, and after a lackluster instalove romance, I was bored, and stopped reading it...
But I would have given it 5 stars if it had the explanations about a LHC portal 😂
I think, as a physicist, I am focusing on the WRONG parts of the book here, but WHAT??? The LHC is not an accelerator built to reproduce Big Bang energy collisions, but as a portal to an alien world ?!
Just... HOoooWWW???
If you're going to drop a bomb like this, I'd like ALL the explanations on HOW please!
You can make them as bonkers as you'd like, but I need them!
This book didn't, and after a lackluster instalove romance, I was bored, and stopped reading it...
But I would have given it 5 stars if it had the explanations about a LHC portal 😂
July 5, 2022
Great feels, nice steam, and plenty of humor
This fine short read has everything I look for from the title and blurb. A driven, intelligent female lead/narrator. A mail free complimentary matchmaking service. A male accessory constantly injecting steam and brilliant situational humor.
And it comes with an interesting last-second HEA and a teaser for Book 2! If you're interested in plenty of refugee studly aliens desperate for human wives, run (don't walk) to single click this volume.
This fine short read has everything I look for from the title and blurb. A driven, intelligent female lead/narrator. A mail free complimentary matchmaking service. A male accessory constantly injecting steam and brilliant situational humor.
And it comes with an interesting last-second HEA and a teaser for Book 2! If you're interested in plenty of refugee studly aliens desperate for human wives, run (don't walk) to single click this volume.
January 15, 2022
Eros is the perfect name for a perfect husband!
This is an excellent sexy romance between human Penelope and alien they have named John. He knows how to treat the woman he loves which is why he makes a great husband! This is my first book by this author and I’m completely open to more. I received this book for free and happily voluntarily writing this review on my own not required.
This is an excellent sexy romance between human Penelope and alien they have named John. He knows how to treat the woman he loves which is why he makes a great husband! This is my first book by this author and I’m completely open to more. I received this book for free and happily voluntarily writing this review on my own not required.
June 5, 2022
A fun, quick read that almost feels as if written by a sexually frustrated young woman that has determined all men are pigs. So let's make up a perfect partner. And since men are all pigs, let's get a male specimen from another planet that is just right in every respect and feel good about using him as a sexual toy because you are rescuing him from the pound, I mean incarceration. No, not that either. Oh heck, just read it. It's fun and you'll figure it out.
October 9, 2023
It was okay
This was a more difficult read than it needed to be. The language barrier was like a gaping hole. I get that he's not from this world. But shit, the lack of communication was hard to read. The story line was interesting and I get the very realistic implications of a language barrier between species. I don't know if I can read the next because of it though. He had a translator for Pete's sake!
This was a more difficult read than it needed to be. The language barrier was like a gaping hole. I get that he's not from this world. But shit, the lack of communication was hard to read. The story line was interesting and I get the very realistic implications of a language barrier between species. I don't know if I can read the next because of it though. He had a translator for Pete's sake!
dnf
May 4, 2025DNF @ 63%
Eros was cute, but I wasn't really vibing with the story. Also, I wasn't comfortable with the fact I was almost 3/4 of the way through the book and Penelope still hadn't come clean about the fact that she doesn't want kids even though she said that in her profile, and Eros wants a family. There was also the element that maybe Eros was doing all this so he wouldn't be sent back, and maybe he didn't actually feel so lovey dovey.
Eros was cute, but I wasn't really vibing with the story. Also, I wasn't comfortable with the fact I was almost 3/4 of the way through the book and Penelope still hadn't come clean about the fact that she doesn't want kids even though she said that in her profile, and Eros wants a family. There was also the element that maybe Eros was doing all this so he wouldn't be sent back, and maybe he didn't actually feel so lovey dovey.
September 9, 2018
Awesome alien / human Romance
I like this book because the characters are funny, relatable, and unique. The human girl it's a salon owner and her family is pressuring her to date, get married, and have a family. And then she meets her alien.
The plot is unusual and fascinating. I highly recommend this romantic alien book.
bookwormsuzy
I like this book because the characters are funny, relatable, and unique. The human girl it's a salon owner and her family is pressuring her to date, get married, and have a family. And then she meets her alien.
The plot is unusual and fascinating. I highly recommend this romantic alien book.
bookwormsuzy
September 28, 2018
A Quick Easy and Fun Read!
This was a good concept for a series, though I wish there was more details on the aliens. It was a fun, interesting mail order bride that had a unique twist to it...I really am interested in reading more and am definitely adding this to my favorites. A quick easy read well worth checking out!
This was a good concept for a series, though I wish there was more details on the aliens. It was a fun, interesting mail order bride that had a unique twist to it...I really am interested in reading more and am definitely adding this to my favorites. A quick easy read well worth checking out!
October 12, 2018
Fantastic
Really enjoyed this book. It has a great storyline, kept me reading to the end. Couldn’t put it down until I finished it.
I really liked Eron, uncovering all of his personality and traits was a pleasure.
Can’t wait to read the next book in the series. If it’s half as good as this one it will be fabulous.
Paulette
Really enjoyed this book. It has a great storyline, kept me reading to the end. Couldn’t put it down until I finished it.
I really liked Eron, uncovering all of his personality and traits was a pleasure.
Can’t wait to read the next book in the series. If it’s half as good as this one it will be fabulous.
Paulette
January 24, 2022
fast paced easy quick read i really enjoyed this book. penelope and eros are really complete opposites and what starts off as a temporary needed boyfriend to stave off her families interference ends up with a long lasting true love with lots of funny things happening in the middle to hold your interest.
February 9, 2022
Eros
I’m not sure how a feel about Eros basically being reduced to a toddler with strong sexual feelings. It’s hard to reconcile his stilted speech with his obvious heat. But, I still thought this was an interesting premise and a sweet story. I think I like the more alpha male approach to an alien romance. That’s why I gave it 4 stars.
I’m not sure how a feel about Eros basically being reduced to a toddler with strong sexual feelings. It’s hard to reconcile his stilted speech with his obvious heat. But, I still thought this was an interesting premise and a sweet story. I think I like the more alpha male approach to an alien romance. That’s why I gave it 4 stars.
May 26, 2022
Intergalactic love
MS Cantrell has based this series in Olympia, Washington. For an author who lives in North Texas her description is quite real. Anyway, the premise of the series is interesting and very different from other intergalactic love stories. The reasoning behind the displaced Torvians is not completely explained maybe it is in the other two books.
MS Cantrell has based this series in Olympia, Washington. For an author who lives in North Texas her description is quite real. Anyway, the premise of the series is interesting and very different from other intergalactic love stories. The reasoning behind the displaced Torvians is not completely explained maybe it is in the other two books.
August 5, 2023
.-.
Lectura corta para pasar el rato. En mi experiencia fue aburrido, la prota un poco indecisa, aveces se sentia un poco forzado y hacía ver como si solo fuera a utilizar al prota, no senti conexión y me hubiera gustado que aun que sea el epilogo fuera desde la perspectiva de Eros para saber como el veía las cosas.
Lectura corta para pasar el rato. En mi experiencia fue aburrido, la prota un poco indecisa, aveces se sentia un poco forzado y hacía ver como si solo fuera a utilizar al prota, no senti conexión y me hubiera gustado que aun que sea el epilogo fuera desde la perspectiva de Eros para saber como el veía las cosas.
December 23, 2023
Not very good. The characters are one-dimensional and the relationship feels one-sided, since we never got what Eros was thinking at all. At least a chapter on his POV would have made this much better. The ending is extremely rushed and if he had been an actual Swedish human man the story wouldn't have been much different.
September 24, 2017
This is part of a boxed set and to tell you the truth, some of the stories in it were so terrible that they have overshadowed the ones I marginally enjoyed. I've read the description of this story and it rings no bells with me at all.
September 25, 2018
Not Bad.....
This is a shoot off series, I’ve read a few books from the original series and enjoyed them but I’m not a fan of this book. I found this one a bit dull and the main female character is way too inner whiny!!
This is a shoot off series, I’ve read a few books from the original series and enjoyed them but I’m not a fan of this book. I found this one a bit dull and the main female character is way too inner whiny!!
October 31, 2018
The story held my attention. I wasn't fond of the heroine or hero, she was too off the wall for my liking & he was almost stepford-like in his behavior & that kind of hurt the story for me. The story itself was sort of fun & light hearted, with an HEA at the end.
November 4, 2018
Cute story
Cute story with good characters. Unique approach to a popular storyline since the men are coming to earth instead of the women taken to space. The story has a contemporary feel more than sci-fi.
Cute story with good characters. Unique approach to a popular storyline since the men are coming to earth instead of the women taken to space. The story has a contemporary feel more than sci-fi.
November 26, 2018
Could have been better....
These are the type of books that I enjoy. However, Penelope came across as whiny and two dimensional. Eros was nowhere near as developed a character as he could have been. I think there was potential, but not as written.
These are the type of books that I enjoy. However, Penelope came across as whiny and two dimensional. Eros was nowhere near as developed a character as he could have been. I think there was potential, but not as written.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews