What do you think?
Rate this book
Viper #1
Dancing with the Viper
Is he the man of her dreams? Or her worst nightmare?
In the eight years since the first Talessanin embassy ship landed on Earth, Hanna Bradley, like most other humans, has never met one of the reclusive extraterrestrials--and she likes it that way. Hanna's life is finally going well. She has her friends. She has her art. She has her own cozy home. And it's been months since the last bout of horrific nightmares left her weeping on the floor of her locked bedroom closet.
Then Jon moves in across the street.Jonantathinel of House Kanestelan Ehr has left the intergalactic emperor's service to settle in a small, quiet town on the empire's newest planetary protectorate, Earth. But Jon isn't just any alien ex-soldier. Jon has secrets.
When Hanna's charming, yet intimidating new neighbor tries to spark a romance, the spark reignites the terrors of Hanna's past, and she struggles to keep her balance as Jon's ominous secrets whirl around her and draw her in.
In the eight years since the first Talessanin embassy ship landed on Earth, Hanna Bradley, like most other humans, has never met one of the reclusive extraterrestrials--and she likes it that way. Hanna's life is finally going well. She has her friends. She has her art. She has her own cozy home. And it's been months since the last bout of horrific nightmares left her weeping on the floor of her locked bedroom closet.
Then Jon moves in across the street.Jonantathinel of House Kanestelan Ehr has left the intergalactic emperor's service to settle in a small, quiet town on the empire's newest planetary protectorate, Earth. But Jon isn't just any alien ex-soldier. Jon has secrets.
When Hanna's charming, yet intimidating new neighbor tries to spark a romance, the spark reignites the terrors of Hanna's past, and she struggles to keep her balance as Jon's ominous secrets whirl around her and draw her in.
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2018
53 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Amy Beatty
7 books25 followersAmy Beatty grew up in the wilds of Yellowstone National Park as part of an experiment in crossing the genes of a respected research biologist with those of a grammar aficionado. She spent her summers making forts under the sagebrush with her friends and catching garter snakes by the creek to populate elaborate sandbox villages—or holed up in her bunk bed exploring the exotic worlds hidden between the covers of books.
She currently lives in Utah with her husband and their two delightfully unconventional children. For fun, she likes to cut big pieces of cloth into small pieces of cloth and then sew them together again. Several of her quilt projects have been exhibited in juried shows at a local art museum.
She currently lives in Utah with her husband and their two delightfully unconventional children. For fun, she likes to cut big pieces of cloth into small pieces of cloth and then sew them together again. Several of her quilt projects have been exhibited in juried shows at a local art museum.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Want to read
January 3, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/3/2020)! 🎁
November 11, 2021
3.5
This is a very clean romance, and definitely slow burn. I can't say that I loved the ending and it probably would have pissed me off if the second wasn't out, but in fairness to the author it was a good place to stop the story.
I liked it well enough to jump right into the next one. Both of the MCs are quite likable.
This is a very clean romance, and definitely slow burn. I can't say that I loved the ending and it probably would have pissed me off if the second wasn't out, but in fairness to the author it was a good place to stop the story.
I liked it well enough to jump right into the next one. Both of the MCs are quite likable.
October 14, 2024
Fantastic sci fi romantic adventure
I don't know why my review never posted to Goodreads. I loved this book when I first read it, and I loved it on this third reading. Here's my review:
The characters are fascinating, the plot is entertaining, and the book is difficult to put down. The worldbuilding is so believable I expected semi-aquatic aliens to be part of normal life. Hanna's trauma may be a trigger for some people. I highly recommend this book.
I don't know why my review never posted to Goodreads. I loved this book when I first read it, and I loved it on this third reading. Here's my review:
The characters are fascinating, the plot is entertaining, and the book is difficult to put down. The worldbuilding is so believable I expected semi-aquatic aliens to be part of normal life. Hanna's trauma may be a trigger for some people. I highly recommend this book.
January 8, 2019
This reminded me of my first read of Twilight—I devoured it! So I took a couple of days off and read it again to see how it would stand up to a second read. I'm pleased to report that unlike Twilight, it does—with just a few bumps. As with Dragon Ascending, Beatty's character development is terrific in that the characters are complex and feel like people in your neighborhood. Except for the alien aspect, of course, but the "alienness" of the aliens is interesting because they're different but then they're not. I'm really hoping that upcoming entries in this series take us off-world or at least tell us a bit more about Jon's home planet.
Would I recommend this book? Yes! It should be noted that the main character, Hanna, has past experience with abduction and rape that play a big role in the narrative. wouldn't say the descriptions are graphic, but the scenes could be difficult for some readers. For the same reason, I probably would recommend the book for older teen and adult readers.
Would I recommend this book? Yes! It should be noted that the main character, Hanna, has past experience with abduction and rape that play a big role in the narrative. wouldn't say the descriptions are graphic, but the scenes could be difficult for some readers. For the same reason, I probably would recommend the book for older teen and adult readers.
November 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this one. Not what I expected, but still very good. It's more science fiction than sci-fi romance, though there's plenty of romance too. Just more... depth? with very likeable characters. Definitely worth the read.
There's a lot of familiar tropes here, but with a scifi twist to it. Lonely, damaged assault survivor Hanna (h) lives in a small town, when world-weary noble and soldier Jon (H) moves in across the street from her little cottage. They help each other heal, they face prejudices from his family, etc. Things you've seen in a lot of other romances through the years. Jon just happens to be an extraterrestrial.
I loved that both leads were introverts. Like, legit introverts, not the condescending view of the 'social cripple' introvert that extroverts often take. Jon escaping the party at the beginning made him one of the most relatable Hs I've read in a while. New favorite book boyfriend, seeking asylum with strawberry slushies and chick flicks and quiet company!
While I mostly liked Hanna, I did get a little frustrated with her after Jon reveals his past. Yes, he did some horrible things, but he didn't seem proud of them, and she took a very, very black-and-white view of his past. It was just one more knife-twist for a guy who was already torn up by what his role had forced on him. Yes, I understand that she had her own share of PTSD and baggage that would have colored her reactions, but it did take her a long while to wrap her head around the view that the world is grey.
I loved all the cultural details that Beatty included. While the Talessanins are pretty similar to humans (aside from the fins and semi-aquatic nature), the cultural differences still help them feel unique. Like Jon described their feet - the same but not. Jon's frustrations with learning English, and Hanna's challenges with the different greetings were two of my favorite examples of this.
The plot development is slow-burn. Lots of creepy and unsettling flashbacks from Hanna, and hints and clues from Jon about his past, all building to something bigger. I really liked how all the threads wrapped together nicely at about 75-80% of the way through with a great OH! moment before heading into the climax. The romance is a slower burn too. No insta-love/lust, no fated mates or pheromones or anything. Jon is really very sweet, taking whatever he can get from Hanna, whatever she's willing to offer. And while they are each helping the other heal and deal with their own baggage, I liked how it wasn't an instantaneous, "oh, she's in love with the Right Guy now, so all is better." It's still a process, and she's still has progress to make, but Jon is definitely being helpful and supportive along the way.
The climax is the biggest downside I had for this one. After such a nice slow-burn, the action after that OH! moment moved very, very quickly. I see that she was moving to a break between the two books, but it made the wrap-up in this one a little more rushed.
Well edited and very readable. There's no sex between the main characters (he's thrilled just to gain her permission to kiss her - again, cultural differences) but that doesn't mean it's exactly sweet-and-clean. Hanna is a rape survivor, and her flashbacks, while not particularly graphic, are still unsettling.
Alternating 3rd person POV. Some minor OW drama from Jon's sister and her friend, but nothing too major. No cheating or love triangle nonsense. It's really more about two damaged people helping each other heal. One just comes from another planet. I pretty much stayed up all night to read this in a day - it was that sort of book. While not an HEA, it's not a horrible cliffhanger either.
Would I read more? Big yes! Am eagerly waiting for book two, The Viper's Kiss, which releases at the end of the month!
There's a lot of familiar tropes here, but with a scifi twist to it. Lonely, damaged assault survivor Hanna (h) lives in a small town, when world-weary noble and soldier Jon (H) moves in across the street from her little cottage. They help each other heal, they face prejudices from his family, etc. Things you've seen in a lot of other romances through the years. Jon just happens to be an extraterrestrial.
I loved that both leads were introverts. Like, legit introverts, not the condescending view of the 'social cripple' introvert that extroverts often take. Jon escaping the party at the beginning made him one of the most relatable Hs I've read in a while. New favorite book boyfriend, seeking asylum with strawberry slushies and chick flicks and quiet company!
While I mostly liked Hanna, I did get a little frustrated with her after Jon reveals his past. Yes, he did some horrible things, but he didn't seem proud of them, and she took a very, very black-and-white view of his past. It was just one more knife-twist for a guy who was already torn up by what his role had forced on him. Yes, I understand that she had her own share of PTSD and baggage that would have colored her reactions, but it did take her a long while to wrap her head around the view that the world is grey.
I loved all the cultural details that Beatty included. While the Talessanins are pretty similar to humans (aside from the fins and semi-aquatic nature), the cultural differences still help them feel unique. Like Jon described their feet - the same but not. Jon's frustrations with learning English, and Hanna's challenges with the different greetings were two of my favorite examples of this.
The plot development is slow-burn. Lots of creepy and unsettling flashbacks from Hanna, and hints and clues from Jon about his past, all building to something bigger. I really liked how all the threads wrapped together nicely at about 75-80% of the way through with a great OH! moment before heading into the climax. The romance is a slower burn too. No insta-love/lust, no fated mates or pheromones or anything. Jon is really very sweet, taking whatever he can get from Hanna, whatever she's willing to offer. And while they are each helping the other heal and deal with their own baggage, I liked how it wasn't an instantaneous, "oh, she's in love with the Right Guy now, so all is better." It's still a process, and she's still has progress to make, but Jon is definitely being helpful and supportive along the way.
The climax is the biggest downside I had for this one. After such a nice slow-burn, the action after that OH! moment moved very, very quickly. I see that she was moving to a break between the two books, but it made the wrap-up in this one a little more rushed.
Well edited and very readable. There's no sex between the main characters (he's thrilled just to gain her permission to kiss her - again, cultural differences) but that doesn't mean it's exactly sweet-and-clean. Hanna is a rape survivor, and her flashbacks, while not particularly graphic, are still unsettling.
Alternating 3rd person POV. Some minor OW drama from Jon's sister and her friend, but nothing too major. No cheating or love triangle nonsense. It's really more about two damaged people helping each other heal. One just comes from another planet. I pretty much stayed up all night to read this in a day - it was that sort of book. While not an HEA, it's not a horrible cliffhanger either.
Would I read more? Big yes! Am eagerly waiting for book two, The Viper's Kiss, which releases at the end of the month!
July 31, 2021
I first saw this book on Anna Carven's Facebook page. It gained lots of praise. I decided I'd take a look and I'm so happy I did. It's such a beautifully written story of love and acceptance. It's been a while since a book absorbed me into It's world and I was certainly lost in this wonderful and romantic tale.
It takes place in a out of the way town in rural America. Hanna, is the main female character whom the story centres around. A horrific advent in her past has left her broken and unable to trust. When her new neighbour moves in she decide to welcome him with a home made chocolate cake, urged on by her well- meaning, mischievous friends. Her new neighbour, Jon, is very different from everyone else as his an alien. The Talessanin, a far technologically superior race, came to Earth 8 years previous and decided it needed protecting. Jon, or rather Jonantathniel of the house Kanestelan Ehr, isn't just an ordinary soldier. He is much, much more and he is hiding away on Earth, trying to deal with his past. When he meets Hanna he is instantly intrigued by his neighbour. He wants to get to know her better but is unsure of Earth's customs. As for Hanna, although she finds Jon kind and gentle and is attracted to him, her past horrors won't let her move on.
I was so rooting for this beautiful couple. I enjoyed the world building, which was artfully done. The secondary characters were well formed and interesting.It was a slow building, very romantic tale. I'm just so happy theres a second story. Now I'm off to read it 😊
It takes place in a out of the way town in rural America. Hanna, is the main female character whom the story centres around. A horrific advent in her past has left her broken and unable to trust. When her new neighbour moves in she decide to welcome him with a home made chocolate cake, urged on by her well- meaning, mischievous friends. Her new neighbour, Jon, is very different from everyone else as his an alien. The Talessanin, a far technologically superior race, came to Earth 8 years previous and decided it needed protecting. Jon, or rather Jonantathniel of the house Kanestelan Ehr, isn't just an ordinary soldier. He is much, much more and he is hiding away on Earth, trying to deal with his past. When he meets Hanna he is instantly intrigued by his neighbour. He wants to get to know her better but is unsure of Earth's customs. As for Hanna, although she finds Jon kind and gentle and is attracted to him, her past horrors won't let her move on.
I was so rooting for this beautiful couple. I enjoyed the world building, which was artfully done. The secondary characters were well formed and interesting.It was a slow building, very romantic tale. I'm just so happy theres a second story. Now I'm off to read it 😊
December 27, 2018
Unexpected
Not what I expected. Deep characters and storyline. Intense, gritty, determined Hanna. A survivor prepared to live, broken and alone. And hope comes into her life.
Not what I expected. Deep characters and storyline. Intense, gritty, determined Hanna. A survivor prepared to live, broken and alone. And hope comes into her life.
October 14, 2021
I really, really enjoyed reading this romantic sci-fi story. It was full of great characters, a lovely romance, and intriguing world—building. I can't wait for the next book to come out, and see where Hanna and Jon go from here!
The characters in this story were well-developed and extremely likable. Jon and Hanna, the two main characters, were both very complex characters who are lovely as they are, with still some room to grow. What’s more, I thoroughly enjoyed watching them come together in a natural way. It was romantic, touching, and dreamy, the kind of gentle romance that brings a thump to the reader's heart, as if we are right there, a part of it ourselves. It was, honestly, because of the romance that I couldn't stop reading this book!
I also thought the author did a tremendous job of handling Hanna's trauma. I really understood the pain she felt and the terror of what she experienced, without having to know the heavy details. I think a trigger warning might be in order for abuse survivors, but the content is not overly graphic or disturbing, so for general audiences, this book is a comfortable read.
One thing I felt was lacking in the story was a little more development into the climax. The revelation that came just before it was good, but perhaps a little more suspense on the part of that revelation, maybe more development of the characters involved in that revelation, may have helped give the story that extra oomph. I also felt that the climax came suddenly and ended quickly. No one likes a drawn-out climax, but I think just a little more action, or more content, might have been good to nudge this novel a little more off of the "romance" track and more onto the "sci-fi/thriller" track. Thus, the four stars.
However, that doesn't take away from the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and as I said before, I simply could not put it down. It was heartwarming and joyful and sweet, with a little bit of action at the end, and Amy Beatty did a fantastic job of building the alien culture. With every tidbit introduced, I found myself wanting to know more and more. I'm hoping follow up books might take us to the world of the Talessinians, but we'll have to wait and see!
The characters in this story were well-developed and extremely likable. Jon and Hanna, the two main characters, were both very complex characters who are lovely as they are, with still some room to grow. What’s more, I thoroughly enjoyed watching them come together in a natural way. It was romantic, touching, and dreamy, the kind of gentle romance that brings a thump to the reader's heart, as if we are right there, a part of it ourselves. It was, honestly, because of the romance that I couldn't stop reading this book!
I also thought the author did a tremendous job of handling Hanna's trauma. I really understood the pain she felt and the terror of what she experienced, without having to know the heavy details. I think a trigger warning might be in order for abuse survivors, but the content is not overly graphic or disturbing, so for general audiences, this book is a comfortable read.
One thing I felt was lacking in the story was a little more development into the climax. The revelation that came just before it was good, but perhaps a little more suspense on the part of that revelation, maybe more development of the characters involved in that revelation, may have helped give the story that extra oomph. I also felt that the climax came suddenly and ended quickly. No one likes a drawn-out climax, but I think just a little more action, or more content, might have been good to nudge this novel a little more off of the "romance" track and more onto the "sci-fi/thriller" track. Thus, the four stars.
However, that doesn't take away from the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and as I said before, I simply could not put it down. It was heartwarming and joyful and sweet, with a little bit of action at the end, and Amy Beatty did a fantastic job of building the alien culture. With every tidbit introduced, I found myself wanting to know more and more. I'm hoping follow up books might take us to the world of the Talessinians, but we'll have to wait and see!
July 30, 2021
Loved it
Ms. Anna Carven mentioned this book recently on Facebook add one of the books that made an impact on her, so I had to read this one. And I do not regret it. I went through a whole lot of emotions. I want to read the second book but not before the third one is released. In the meantime I'll read the other new series of yours.
Ms. Anna Carven mentioned this book recently on Facebook add one of the books that made an impact on her, so I had to read this one. And I do not regret it. I went through a whole lot of emotions. I want to read the second book but not before the third one is released. In the meantime I'll read the other new series of yours.
November 17, 2018
OMG, so good! Fell in love with the characters. The main characters are strong & vulnerable. Can't wait for the rest of the series.
February 15, 2020
A thoroughly delightful romance. The author's note at the end encourages me with another book to come with the further adventures of Hanna and Jon. I say: "Bring it on!"
May 24, 2021
I think this is my third re-read. I really like this series!
January 10, 2025
*5/5 Stars
"She remembered Kamm saying it was the warriors who stood between evil and everyone else. This is what he'd been trying to tell her. Jon wasn't a weapon, he was a shield[...]He was a protector."
I was a woman wandering the desert, urgently searching for something to quench my thirst. I looked through so many grains of sand, day after day, hoping that I would come across this rare treasure. Sometimes I would find a cactus in the open barren space and with hope in my heart, I would crack open this cactus. Only to find a dry husk of dehydrated plant- no water in sight. Till one day, I stumbled upon a seemingly small cactus. I was so close to giving up, so close to just letting the desert consume me. Yet, I thought, "Why not try this one?" I cracked open this small little cactus, and behold, I found treasure. Finally, I said to myself, finally water to quench my thirst after days upon days searching the dry and barren desert.
So you see, I loved this book.
There comes a point in time (at least for me) that you get tired of the way books are written in certain genres. I love fantasy romance/science fiction romance books the same as anyone else. What I do not love is the constant use of porn in books replacing true and romantic love in favor of these, oftentimes, unnecessary and outright disgusting scenes. I have searched through countless of book lists, hoping to find one, just one book where it wouldn't make me cringe in disgust or bore me with the same five tropes, the same "girlboss" FMC, and the same "shadow daddy" MMC. Yet, almost every book I picked up, I could not finish. There's no true soul in so many books and I could feel it. The authors and publishers smash together the same tropes, characters, and plot (ACOTAR knockoffs, basically) and throw it at their audience in hopes that they will eat it up. And they do!
But, this book is not one of those books.
It is worth scrolling list after list to find true hidden gems like this book.
The FMC, Hanna, is not a fierce girlboss. Instead, she is a character who has powerful and inspiring inner strength. To keep one foot in front of the other despite what happened to her, truly no one knows how much sheer strength and will power that takes. To go through something so traumatic, yet choosing to live despite the memories that still haunt her. A soft and kind FMC who does not need to be insufferable, who loves to paint landscapes and bake all kinds of different goodies.
The MMC, Jon, is not an arrogant and repulsive "shadow daddy." He is a kind and gentle man who bears the weight of the life of a soldier who is tasked with shielding and protecting the innocent from the clutches of evil. A MMC who loves to play with his niece and build her a treehouse, who loves to drink strawberry slushies and watch chick flicks. The amount of times I have prayed for a MMC to not be a disgusting jerk is too many times to count. This book delivered on those prayers.
I love their interactions, the way they speak to each other. I love that when they gaze at each other, I can feel the affection coming right out of the pages. Their relationship is not instalust, it is true romantic love and affection, where they find solace in each other when the weight of their burdens become too much to bear on their own. It is a lovely thing to have someone to share your burdens with and I commend the author for showing us that.
On top of the wonderful characters and simple, but engaging plot, I loved the moral theme of this book. The moral dilemma of killing innocent life in order to save the lives of millions of others. Which one would you choose? It's not that easy isn't it?
This theme is so prevalent in real life and I absolutely love the way the author presents this great question, not so much shoving it in our faces, but weaving it into the story. As the FMC realizes, the world is not just black or white, it is all shades in between.
It feels so good to finally read a story that I thoroughly enjoyed and did not roll my eyes in annoyance or cringe in disgust. Thank you author!
"She remembered Kamm saying it was the warriors who stood between evil and everyone else. This is what he'd been trying to tell her. Jon wasn't a weapon, he was a shield[...]He was a protector."
I was a woman wandering the desert, urgently searching for something to quench my thirst. I looked through so many grains of sand, day after day, hoping that I would come across this rare treasure. Sometimes I would find a cactus in the open barren space and with hope in my heart, I would crack open this cactus. Only to find a dry husk of dehydrated plant- no water in sight. Till one day, I stumbled upon a seemingly small cactus. I was so close to giving up, so close to just letting the desert consume me. Yet, I thought, "Why not try this one?" I cracked open this small little cactus, and behold, I found treasure. Finally, I said to myself, finally water to quench my thirst after days upon days searching the dry and barren desert.
So you see, I loved this book.
There comes a point in time (at least for me) that you get tired of the way books are written in certain genres. I love fantasy romance/science fiction romance books the same as anyone else. What I do not love is the constant use of porn in books replacing true and romantic love in favor of these, oftentimes, unnecessary and outright disgusting scenes. I have searched through countless of book lists, hoping to find one, just one book where it wouldn't make me cringe in disgust or bore me with the same five tropes, the same "girlboss" FMC, and the same "shadow daddy" MMC. Yet, almost every book I picked up, I could not finish. There's no true soul in so many books and I could feel it. The authors and publishers smash together the same tropes, characters, and plot (ACOTAR knockoffs, basically) and throw it at their audience in hopes that they will eat it up. And they do!
But, this book is not one of those books.
It is worth scrolling list after list to find true hidden gems like this book.
The FMC, Hanna, is not a fierce girlboss. Instead, she is a character who has powerful and inspiring inner strength. To keep one foot in front of the other despite what happened to her, truly no one knows how much sheer strength and will power that takes. To go through something so traumatic, yet choosing to live despite the memories that still haunt her. A soft and kind FMC who does not need to be insufferable, who loves to paint landscapes and bake all kinds of different goodies.
The MMC, Jon, is not an arrogant and repulsive "shadow daddy." He is a kind and gentle man who bears the weight of the life of a soldier who is tasked with shielding and protecting the innocent from the clutches of evil. A MMC who loves to play with his niece and build her a treehouse, who loves to drink strawberry slushies and watch chick flicks. The amount of times I have prayed for a MMC to not be a disgusting jerk is too many times to count. This book delivered on those prayers.
I love their interactions, the way they speak to each other. I love that when they gaze at each other, I can feel the affection coming right out of the pages. Their relationship is not instalust, it is true romantic love and affection, where they find solace in each other when the weight of their burdens become too much to bear on their own. It is a lovely thing to have someone to share your burdens with and I commend the author for showing us that.
On top of the wonderful characters and simple, but engaging plot, I loved the moral theme of this book. The moral dilemma of killing innocent life in order to save the lives of millions of others. Which one would you choose? It's not that easy isn't it?
This theme is so prevalent in real life and I absolutely love the way the author presents this great question, not so much shoving it in our faces, but weaving it into the story. As the FMC realizes, the world is not just black or white, it is all shades in between.
It feels so good to finally read a story that I thoroughly enjoyed and did not roll my eyes in annoyance or cringe in disgust. Thank you author!
April 12, 2019
Dancing with the Viper took me by surprise. Honestly, from the ambiguous cover art and title, I was expecting something a little campy like Robyn Peterman’s books. That was reinforced when the book starts with main character Hanna Bradley taking a chocolate Bundt cake to her new neighbor, Jonantathinel of House Kanestelan Ehr. I mean what is the protocol for welcoming an alien to the neighborhood? What I got as I continued to read was something more like Sharon Lynn Fisher’s Ghost Planet and I loved it. Dancing with the Viper is thoughtful and well-written. Even though it’s short, the editing is good and it doesn’t feel slapped together.
At its heart, this is a lovely, soft romance between two damaged people, Jon and Hanna. Jon just happens to be an alien. He also happens to be ex-military with a deadly reputation. Jon is deeply troubled by what he has had to do in his military career and the reader has to think through some difficult questions about when it’s okay to use deadly force. We have no problem watching John McClane drop bad guys left and right in the movies, he’s a cop, he’s protecting us from their evil acts. We know this happens in war, but it’s largely hypothetical because it’s “over there.” We don’t experience it the way soldiers do. Jon knows who he is and what he’s done. He has no illusions about that and wears the scars close to the surface. He is also impossibly gentle with Hanna and we love him for it. The reader has to reconcile his past along with Hanna.
Hanna suffers from PTSD as the result of a classic alien abduction scenario, but even after aliens arrive on the scene, no one believes her. Whether it is real or not, Hanna believes that it is and often relives the trauma of her abduction. The reader gets them not as flashbacks, but as her nightmares, leaving us to wonder if they’re real. They are vicious without being overly graphic. We understand the level of her pain without having to live it ourselves.
The relationship between Jon and Hanna grows very naturally over several months. It’s not insta-love, or pheromones, or alien mating. It’s just two people learning each other over time. It’s subtle and the reader is lulled very gently into rooting for this relationship to work.
I had only two criticisms. The first is that the ending is too abrupt after a much too short climax. We needed a little more action in a crisis that was long overdue by the time it happened. And while we know there will be a second book, since there are many unanswered questions, I wanted a little more time to revel in the relationship Jon and Hanna reach after what has been building slowly and sweetly. There’s cliff hanger where the reader is left anticipating what comes next and then there’s walking into the elevator and falling down the shaft. Just nothing. I felt we were owed a cleaner ending.
My second criticism is that I wanted more history. How did the Talessanins come to know Earth and begin to intermingle with humans? Beatty has two short stories on her webpage which flesh out the alien history and arrival on Earth. At only 242 pages, it’s my opinion that Beatty should have included them in the book as a prologue, but I suppose it will drive traffic to her page. Readers will enjoy them before or after reading the book.
Neither of these criticisms are deal breakers, more like wishes. Beatty did an excellent job with her characters and making them real and their complicated romance real for me. We have no date yet on book number two. I will look forward to it impatiently.
My Rating: A, Loved It
Read this full review and more at That's What I'm Talking About: https://twimom227.com/2019/04/review-...
At its heart, this is a lovely, soft romance between two damaged people, Jon and Hanna. Jon just happens to be an alien. He also happens to be ex-military with a deadly reputation. Jon is deeply troubled by what he has had to do in his military career and the reader has to think through some difficult questions about when it’s okay to use deadly force. We have no problem watching John McClane drop bad guys left and right in the movies, he’s a cop, he’s protecting us from their evil acts. We know this happens in war, but it’s largely hypothetical because it’s “over there.” We don’t experience it the way soldiers do. Jon knows who he is and what he’s done. He has no illusions about that and wears the scars close to the surface. He is also impossibly gentle with Hanna and we love him for it. The reader has to reconcile his past along with Hanna.
Hanna suffers from PTSD as the result of a classic alien abduction scenario, but even after aliens arrive on the scene, no one believes her. Whether it is real or not, Hanna believes that it is and often relives the trauma of her abduction. The reader gets them not as flashbacks, but as her nightmares, leaving us to wonder if they’re real. They are vicious without being overly graphic. We understand the level of her pain without having to live it ourselves.
The relationship between Jon and Hanna grows very naturally over several months. It’s not insta-love, or pheromones, or alien mating. It’s just two people learning each other over time. It’s subtle and the reader is lulled very gently into rooting for this relationship to work.
I had only two criticisms. The first is that the ending is too abrupt after a much too short climax. We needed a little more action in a crisis that was long overdue by the time it happened. And while we know there will be a second book, since there are many unanswered questions, I wanted a little more time to revel in the relationship Jon and Hanna reach after what has been building slowly and sweetly. There’s cliff hanger where the reader is left anticipating what comes next and then there’s walking into the elevator and falling down the shaft. Just nothing. I felt we were owed a cleaner ending.
My second criticism is that I wanted more history. How did the Talessanins come to know Earth and begin to intermingle with humans? Beatty has two short stories on her webpage which flesh out the alien history and arrival on Earth. At only 242 pages, it’s my opinion that Beatty should have included them in the book as a prologue, but I suppose it will drive traffic to her page. Readers will enjoy them before or after reading the book.
Neither of these criticisms are deal breakers, more like wishes. Beatty did an excellent job with her characters and making them real and their complicated romance real for me. We have no date yet on book number two. I will look forward to it impatiently.
My Rating: A, Loved It
Read this full review and more at That's What I'm Talking About: https://twimom227.com/2019/04/review-...
April 7, 2024
I waited to write this review until I made sure the book wasn't going to give me nightmares. On the one hand, I found myself pulled into these characters' worlds and I was captivated by the story and the writing. On the other hand, I wasn't expecting such a brutally traumatic back story to be told through convincing (though not explicit) flashbacks.
When I pick up something described as a "fantasy/sci-fi romance," I'm not expecting to read about a traumatic sexual assault. It's only described in flashbacks and not explicitly, but the panic attacks and trauma are written so convincingly that it was very difficult to read. Kudos to the author for her gripping writing style, but I struggled with that aspect of the book and I could see it being a big problem for some readers. I go back and forth about the importance of "trigger warnings," but I think this book could have benefited from one.
That said, I like the characters and I admire the author for tackling such heavy topics in a way that shows a lot of compassion for someone determined to live a full life despite what happened in the past (which is true of both MCs).
When I pick up something described as a "fantasy/sci-fi romance," I'm not expecting to read about a traumatic sexual assault. It's only described in flashbacks and not explicitly, but the panic attacks and trauma are written so convincingly that it was very difficult to read. Kudos to the author for her gripping writing style, but I struggled with that aspect of the book and I could see it being a big problem for some readers. I go back and forth about the importance of "trigger warnings," but I think this book could have benefited from one.
That said, I like the characters and I admire the author for tackling such heavy topics in a way that shows a lot of compassion for someone determined to live a full life despite what happened in the past (which is true of both MCs).
July 28, 2024
Yikes, DNF at 64%
I can’t go on. It’s just too bizarre.
1. We are supposed to believe that similar aliens developed but advanced quicker and have intergalactic space travel and brain chip technology but the don’t have democracy and they fight wars and control their population the same way fascists do? Huh.
2. I think the author might have a misunderstanding of what feminism is based on the story told in the beginning with mc’s teacher trying to dissuade the her from wanting a family. Feminists want women to have whatever life they want for themselves. That and most of the women in the story are deeply flawed and most of the men are nearly saints
3. What is with all the “clean romance” tags? This story spends nearly 20% in flash back torture and sexual assault scenes. Trigger warnings every where.
I can’t go on. It’s just too bizarre.
1. We are supposed to believe that similar aliens developed but advanced quicker and have intergalactic space travel and brain chip technology but the don’t have democracy and they fight wars and control their population the same way fascists do? Huh.
2. I think the author might have a misunderstanding of what feminism is based on the story told in the beginning with mc’s teacher trying to dissuade the her from wanting a family. Feminists want women to have whatever life they want for themselves. That and most of the women in the story are deeply flawed and most of the men are nearly saints
3. What is with all the “clean romance” tags? This story spends nearly 20% in flash back torture and sexual assault scenes. Trigger warnings every where.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2019
I’m off to buy the next book after writing this review.
I’m glad I picked up this book after the release of the next book in the series so I can jump right into that one. I loved the main character and the neighbors. I loved the writing. I loved the dialogue. I would recommend the book, but I would recommend it to a mature reader. Both Hanna and Jon have had trauma in their lives, especially Hanna, and the book deals respectfully with the darkness without ever being graphic. I worried about the characters and finished the book in one day, needing to know what happens to them. Now I get to read more. -written by Sarah not David.
I’m glad I picked up this book after the release of the next book in the series so I can jump right into that one. I loved the main character and the neighbors. I loved the writing. I loved the dialogue. I would recommend the book, but I would recommend it to a mature reader. Both Hanna and Jon have had trauma in their lives, especially Hanna, and the book deals respectfully with the darkness without ever being graphic. I worried about the characters and finished the book in one day, needing to know what happens to them. Now I get to read more. -written by Sarah not David.
December 10, 2019
The love interest is an assassin, and has killed several kids in the line of duty. But one time he refused, and it caused a war, so dead kids are excused away and hey, he feels really bad about it sometimes. Then there's the MC, who was kidnapped and raped, and really no one in her life believes what happened to her. Her best friends continually ignore her boundaries, or ignore her when she tells them that spending time with a man triggers her nightmares and panic attacks and they decide to keep deliberately bringing the man to events without telling her beforehand. All in all, a big pile of nope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2022
This story drew me in right from the start and never let me go. There are very hard scenes which can be triggering but it was okay because I knew it would be a happy ending. There is so much hope and romance and the very special dance that is a relationship between two very different cultures and two people with a lot of emotional baggage who are vulnerable but still brave. I loved his alien-ess. I loved her spunk. I loved them together. I need to read the next book in line as soon as possible (it is already waiting on my e-reader!) and hopefully many many more by this author!
January 10, 2020
Fantasy romance
This was a very interesting and unique story. It stayed clean. No bad language. Great editing, and very well written. Great connection with the characters, and light humor thrown in makes it fun. I am looking forward to the next in the series. May be a bit much for anyone sensitive to sexual assault/torture, but only some details.
This was a very interesting and unique story. It stayed clean. No bad language. Great editing, and very well written. Great connection with the characters, and light humor thrown in makes it fun. I am looking forward to the next in the series. May be a bit much for anyone sensitive to sexual assault/torture, but only some details.
May 4, 2024
Very Good
An interesting read with great characterization. At heart it is a romance between a human and an alien. You come to know the characters and root for a happy ending.
An interesting read with great characterization. At heart it is a romance between a human and an alien. You come to know the characters and root for a happy ending.
February 6, 2025
The main characters are sooo irritating but the world building kept me reading. Very clean slow burn.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews