Book picks similar to
Torn by Mary Brock Jones
sci-fi
netgalley
rating-4-star
science-fiction-romance
Alien Prince's Bride
Vi Voxley - 2016
Violet is a calaya, one of the most beautiful and most sought after prizes of the Atreens. And that is exactly what she has been raised to be - a bauble to be claimed. But Violet doesn't want to just be a mantelpiece for a great warrior who wins her hand in a galactic gladiator tournament - she wants to make her own choices. Or so she discovers when her heart and destiny clash and she can only choose one to follow. With the charming and feared Raider Prince on one hand and a roguish guard on the other, her choices are going to be hard to make. Areon is a man of many secrets and many faces. Driven by revenge, he seeks to win the hand of the only woman who has ever held his heart and broken it, by winning hers in the grand tournament for him to do as he pleases. But old wounds only cover burning emotions and even a man who can't be stopped by anything, not even by blind luck, must admit defeat in front of his own heart. When it becomes painfully evident that he is not the only one seeking to claim his princess, the gloves have got to come off. So which will it be? Will heart or destiny conquer? Is victory more important than love? And who is this mysterious Raider Prince? Find out in this standalone scifi alien romance novel with a guaranteed HEA!
Rules of Redemption
T.A. White - 2019
Kira Forrest is a survivor. She’s risen above the pain of her beginnings to become a war hero only to leave it all behind in the pursuit of a simple life. Now a salvager, she makes a living sifting through the wreckage of dead alien ships from a war that nearly brought humanity to its knees. After her ship takes damage, she’s forced to re-route to a space station where her past and present collide with dangerous consequences. Kira’s existence holds the key to a faltering peace treaty with the Tuann—a technologically advanced alien race who dislikes and distrusts all humans. Winning her freedom should be easy, but a powerful and relentless Tuann warrior stands in her way. Deceiving him seems impossible, especially when he strays dangerously close to secrets she struggles to hide. Can Kira reconcile the pain of her past with the possibilities of her future? The fate of two races depends on her success.
Eldorado
Jay Allan Storey - 2013
Richard has to make the transformation from bookish nerd to street-smart warrior to survive, when he jumps the Food Train to the disintegrating wasteland that was once suburbia in a desperate search for Danny and his dog, Zonk.Branded a criminal by a community of outcasts and condemned to death, Richard is rescued by streetwise Carrie, who joins in his search. As they trek across the remnants of civilization, facing criminal gangs, renegade militias, and the hardships of the road, their friendship evolves into something more.The trail finally unwinds at a deserted complex in the remotest corner of the sprawling suburbs. The incredible secret they uncover there will alter their lives and their world forever.
Corsairs: Adiron
Ruby Dixon - 2020
It’s keffing awesome.The three va Sithai brothers — that’s us — cruise the universe looking for abandoned ships, treasure, and other pirate ships to rob. Right now, we’re on the hunt for the Buoyant Star, an abandoned cruiser rumored to have a massive treasure inside. The ship’s been found at the edge of an ice field at the far reaches of space.That treasure? About to be all ours.But the ship's not all that abandoned. The Star is crewed by a few lonely, attractive human females who are thoroughly grateful at being rescued…Actually, wait.They’re not grateful at all.They’ve set us a trap, and their leader, a beautiful human female named Jade, gives me a smile just before she captures me.It’s official. I’m in love.
Trick
Sean Hancock - 2011
He wins approval from his tough gang of friends by spotting an opportunity for a robbery at a local supermarket. He just never thought they'd go through with it. Even though they escape with more money than they'd anticipated, it is a botched job and cataclysmic events unfold. To make matters worse, Kelly Jenkins, the girl Trick has been in love with since he was seven years old, is planning her escape from their small town. If he doesn't tell her how he feels now, he risks losing her forever.A gritty fast-paced story full of suspense and intrigue, Trick is about friendship, love and a good kid’s determination to make something of his life, against all the odds.
The Last Voyage
T.S. Snow - 2016
She's far from it.Together, they’re Earth's last hope... they just don’t know it yet.Sinbad sh'en Singh had everything. A thriving smuggling career, his hologram on wanted posters on eleven planets, and plenty of women. Then she walked into his life.Andrea Talltrees, member of a backwards cult not believing in space travel or anything else invented after the Twentieth Century.She wants him to find her husband, a fugitive accused of being an Albegensian spy, the planet currently at war with Earth.He doesn’t want anything to do with an Earther, but a massive culture clash and a heavy dose of instant attraction get in the way, sending good sense flying out the viewport.They'll brave some very unsavory characters, maybe even prevent a second interplanetary war...if they can stop arguing.
Across the Stars
Lauren Smith - 2019
On the run… And running out of time.Laina Roberts has been on the run for ten years, a freeborn human hiding from the cyborgs of the Silver Legion who now controls what’s left of humanity. Moving secretly from planet to planet and space station to space station makes for a damn lonely life—and don’t even get her started on how long it’s been since she last had sex. Sometimes she thinks it might be worth turning herself in to the cyborgs just to end the loneliness. That is, until she’s caught!Captured by a hot-as-hell Legion officer, the cyborg Ronan makes her think being probed by him might not be so bad. But becoming a cyborg’s slave—sex or otherwise—isn’t high on her to-do list. She doesn’t trust him and doesn’t understand his constant questions about Earth—especially those about her long-dead relatives. Ronan can just kiss her ass—oh yes, please—because she is not going to let her desires or his incredibly perfect body weaken her resolve. She now has a new mission, to convince the cyborgs and the rest of the galaxy that all Terrans, humans and synthetic humans like cyborgs, have the right to be free.If only he didn’t make her feel like melting into his arms and never leaving. Being captured by a cyborg might not be so bad after all…
The Last Astronaut
David Wellington - 2019
Haunted by her failure, she lives in quiet anonymity, convinced her days in space are over.She’s wrong.A large alien object has entered the solar system on a straight course toward Earth. It has made no attempt to communicate and is ignoring all incoming transmissions.Out of time and out of options, NASA turns to Jansen. For all the dangers of the mission, it’s the shot at redemption she always longed for.But as the object slowly begins to reveal its secrets, one thing becomes horribly clear: the future of humanity lies in Jansen’s hands.
Rescued by Qaiyaan
Tamsin Ley - 2018
And now she’s been captured by one…Wanted by the black market cartel, Lisa has come out of hiding to find her missing twin brother. She's carrying top-secret biotechnology that has both the cartel and the law hot on her tail. An alien pirate captain with smoldering eyes and a rock-hard body is the last distraction she needs—but he's also her only hope of escape.An evil galactic corporation destroyed Captain Qaiyaan’s home world, and with no females left, his fleet has turned to piracy and revenge. The last thing he thought he’d find on a derelict passenger ship is an alluring human female carrying a solution to his race's salvation. And he definitely never expected the feisty ex-con to worm her way into his heart.Together, they must fend off alien bounty hunters and keep their bucket-of-bolts ship from falling apart. Yet the greatest danger of all might come in the form of a single, passionate kiss. Will the very technology that allows them to be together end up ripping them apart?Reader Promise: Steamy love scenes, superhero aliens, and heart-pounding action. This thrilling Sci-Fi is intended for mature audiences.
A Larger Universe
James L. Gillaspy - 2010
The kidnapping of Tommy (and his cat) begins an adventure among the stars, a coming of age story entangled with computers, faster-than-light travel, a dying civilization, and an ancient evil.On board the five-thousand-meter starship, he meets a crew of humans, descended from peasants, priests, and soldiers taken from Earth a thousand years before. He soon learns that all are slaves to the seldom-seen aliens inhabiting the upper third of the ship. His first months are spent in mindless work that he later learns is meant to domesticate his “feral” nature.Eventually, he is introduced to the reason for his kidnapping: Tommy is expected to replace the ancient and failing computers on the ship with computers taken from Earth, beginning with the long-dead missile controller, without which the ship is defenseless. After the new missile controller, with Tommy as its operator, successfully defends the ship against attack, his “benefactor,” one of the alien Nesu masters, directs him to replace the environmental and navigation computers. This work leads to revelations that the star drive is from still another alien group -- called the Guardians by the Nesu -- who, fifteen hundred years before, destroyed the Nesu home world and now block all scientific advancement in the local arm of the galaxy.Tommy’s determination to return to his family expands to include returning all the human slaves to Earth, using his control of the computers that now run the ship. With the help of a Nesu mathematician, will he also find a way to free the Nesu from their enthrallment by the Guardians and protect the Earth from the fate of the Nesu home world?
New Dawn
Andrew J. Morgan - 2016
. . With mankind on the brink of economic collapse, a population growing at an unmanageable rate and a limited supply of natural resources, there is only one place we can look to for our future . . . the stars. A deep space mining tug is sent to a planet codenamed New Dawn to begin a mission to relocate humanity.. . . the only person you can trust . . . is youThe mission falls into chaos when a crewmember dies unexpectedly. Geologist Jake Brooks must keep his wits about him to uncover what really happened—but are the confines of the ship clouding his judgment? Is there really a sinister motive behind the death—and the mission—or is he letting his mind get the better of him? What really awaits him on New Dawn? He must push on to reveal the truth, no matter who or what stands in his way . . .Please note: New Dawn is not a hard sci-fi novel.Here's what people are saying about New Dawn:"The suspense is killing me!""A perfect ending""A whodunit in space!"
Parasite
Darcy Coates - 2016
A guard discovers an unusual lifeform on her remote moon outpost. She disregards protocol to investigate it, with catastrophic consequences. The parasitic alien wears its victims' skins and adopts their personalities. It's a perfect disguise, and allows the creature to spread without being detected. By the time humanity realises it's facing extinction, a third of its six hundred space stations have already gone dark. As the alien's ruthless progress collapses communication networks, wipes out defences, and leaves hundreds of stations to fend for themselves, a handful of remarkable individuals must find a way to battle the greatest threat the universe has ever encountered.
Qualify
Vera Nazarian - 2014
You die, or you Qualify.
The year is 2047. An extinction-level asteroid is hurtling toward Earth, and the descendents of ancient Atlantis have returned from the stars in their silver ships to offer humanity help.But there’s a catch.They can only take a tiny percent of the Earth’s population back to the colony planet Atlantis. And in order to be chosen, you must be a teen, you must be bright, talented, and athletic, and you must Qualify.Sixteen-year-old Gwenevere Lark is determined not only to Qualify but to rescue her entire family.Because there’s a loophole.If you are good enough to Qualify, you are eligible to compete in the brutal games of the Atlantis Grail, which grants all winners the laurels, high tech luxuries, and full privileges of Atlantis Citizenship. And if you are in the Top Ten, then all your wildest wishes are granted… Such as curing your mother’s cancer.There is only one problem.Gwen Lark is known as a klutz and a nerd. While she’s a hotshot in classics, history, science, and languages, the closest she’s come to sports is a backyard pool and a skateboard.This time she is in over her head, and in for a fight of her life, against impossible odds and world-class competition—including Logan Sangre, the most amazing guy in her class, the one she’s been crushing on, and who doesn’t seem to know she exists.Because every other teen on Earth has the same idea.
You Qualify or you die.
* * *EXCERPT!Now you can read
Chapter One
in its entirety (click here)!* * *
Celestial Mates Box Set
C.J. Scarlett - 2017
Crowded in huge underground cities, they’ve finally come to the end of the line and they must decide whether or not they will trade the only valuable resource Earth has left... Women.Being the daughter of a wealthy diplomat, Rose is blissfully ignorant of how the less fortunate live. Desperate to escape to a planet where she can enjoy the sun on her face and swim in clear unpolluted oceans, she vows to make herself the first bride to be mated to off-worlders.When the Krylon delegation arrives, she realizes that in addition to being good stewards of their planet, eager for female companionship, and polite to a fault, the Krylon males are also drop dead gorgeous. Unfortunately, Earth’s population is vehemently opposed to the galactic mate’s treaty...
will Rose and her soon to be Hot Alien Husband be able to make their escape from Earth?
Fire Princess Returns (Celestial Mates #1.5)
Clone's Bride (Celestial Mates #2)
Few people in the verse understand or have a genuine liking for the Shardon. They see clones as expendable since they are so easy to replace. Some are even under the mistaken impression clones aren’t real people and they share a hive mind.Lar Shalon is one such clone. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to combat all the irrational beliefs about his kind. Being a physician he understands the critical need to breed humans in order to save his dying race. What he can’t quite get his head around is how they are going to lure human females to them. As he sets about learning their breeding habits, one won’t seem to leave him alone. She can’t seem to keep from touching him. It’s disconcerting and he doesn’t know quite what to make her behavior.Madison and her twin sister are dying. The doctors on Earth have no idea what’s wrong with them. Their one hope of survival is signing up for the alien brides program. Aliens have spaceships and technology, right? They must have advanced medical knowledge as well. The desperate pair risk everything on one last wild gamble at staying alive, landing gorgeous alien husbands in the bargain.
Imperial Bride (Celestial Mates #3)
Hating her isolated, sheltered life in the Japanese Imperial Family Maiko longs for action and adventure among the stars. When her opportunity come, she grabs it with both hands and risks everything to protect her new home world when a temporal anomaly threatens to swallow everything in its path.Little does she know her father has made an exception to the longstanding rule that no Imperials leave Earth, only because he plans to have her fitted with new husband from the Krylon Imperial House. There are two brothers. She has her heart set on the scarred one with curious eyes. Unfortunately, arrangements were made for her to be courted by the one with a smirking face, snarky attitude, and reputation for running around the galaxy chasing women.No thank you dies on her lips about the time he hits her with their very first kiss. A handsome clone from a nearby world seems mesmerised by her intelligence and charm. He would be a much better fit, since he’s not been caught cavorting in the harems but something is missing when they are together.
It all may become a moot issue unless they can figure out how to stop the darkness from swallowing their world.
Warrior's Bride (Celestial Mates #4)
Keiko and her brother are the last surviving members of the Japanese imperial line. Their struggle to save the last remaining humans on Earth from an invasion by an insectoid race is curtailed when Keiko is sucked into a temporal anomaly and ends up in a parallel dimension. Finding herself flung from one catastrophe to another, she clings to the one man who makes her feel safe.Shar Jalon rules over a clone army and has been tasked with locating human brides for his dying people. Trying to balance his desire for the beautiful Japanese princess against his need to complete his mission, he treads softly. When insectoids invade his ship, all bets are off as this warrior kicks it into high gear.Trying to sort friend from foe and keep a step ahead of their enemies, Keiko and Shar Jalon grow closer. Shar worries that he isn’t individualised enough to capture and keep her affection. Meanwhile, Keiko worries that she’s just a stand-in for the woman who once rejected him. The constant feeling of being a person out of place plagues her, until one big, beautiful, blue world welcomes her with open arms. Will embracing her future cost her the man she loves?
Content Warning: Explicit love scenes. Intended for mature audiences only.
Scout Ship
D.L. Harrison - 2017
Due to heroism and long distinguished service, he’s elevated to the rank of Lt. Commander when most of his peers have just attained senior lieutenant. His career appears to be going very well.The year is 2263, and the UEDF is in several star systems in a twenty-light year radius from earth, but are expanding even further. He’s assigned to a one year exploratory mission to become accustomed to his new rank, one that will finally culminate in reaching a new star system, 61-Virginis, which is just short of twenty-eight light years away from the Sol system, and he’s excited to be one of the first humans in a new solar system as they finish the race across the void between stars in the scout ship Columbus.There will be challenges he never imagined though, especially not on a simple survey mission. The death of his best friend to a senseless accident is the least of his troubles. Because mankind always thought they were alone in the stars. They’re about to find out they’re wrong, very wrong…Author’s Note: This series will be told in the first person, the reader will discover things as Michael does, there will be no other points of view excepting the prologue. This is also the start of a series, I will avoid cliffhangers as best I can, and believe it can stand as a series of mostly complete stories with overarching plots.