Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Disclaimer: Reading is all about discovery, but this Book Review does not shy away from spoiling specific scenes as this is more of a look inside the good and bad of a book.
The Analysis:
I was excited to start the next seven books in the series, but oh, how the tides have changed. At least you get to see my thought process first hand. But first, here’s PART 1, if you missed it. Let’s Book Review, #8-#10
Here’s the Blurb:
And the only native inhabitant I've met? He's big, horned, blue, and really, really has a thing for me...
[one_half]
This book is more plot then sex, and I for one am not disappointed. In fact, when the big moment came at the end, I skipped it. This book fleshed out the world a little more and introduced a disabled character and its just as good as the others, in my opinion. Any slow moments are quickly revived by scenes of actions.
Recommendation:
Score: 4 out of 5
Available: Amazon
My first 3 stars of this set, and it's not because of the couple. The setup around them just was lackluster. For one, there was no explanation as to why the khui hadn't matched her and the alien. Two, the tribe forgot about me narrative doesn't fit with everything we've learned about them since book 1. Three, I'm bored narrative is self-inflicted as she acts like all the women were born basket weavers. Everybody had real jobs on Earth, but they fit in where they could. But I did love the pair themselves. As I'm sure I wouldn't mind being a basket Weaver, I could also picture myself missing Micky d's lol. So I admire any character's ambivalence to a place so diff from Earth. I also wouldn't recommend skipping this one as major world-building changes happen in this book.
Recommendation:
Score: 3 out of 5
Available: Amazon
The book that made me DNF the whole series. Read the explanation of why below. This story is a second chance romance with an amnesia trope. I read about a third of it. I thought reviews were too harsh picking one side over the other and then the heroine cried after sex because he didn't rub her bootie, and I was like there it is. This is why she's horrible. But I stuck it out, up until the hero asks to leave, and my heart plummeted, not this again. Then I close the book.
Recommendation:
Score: N/A
Available: Amazon
Thoughts on DNF and Series:
The future of the series looks bleak. From reviews alone, I wouldn't necessarily be interested in the storyline again until book 15. Meanwhile, I would have missed the story progression as it relates to the novel's world-building. However, I know enough about these novels to know that it would only be a couple of pages and certainly not worth sitting through couples I'm not invested in. So, It ultimately comes down to me reading a bunch of 3-star books versus starting a new series and stumbling across a new gem.
The formula is getting old. I think I've outgrown the concept related to this series. This next set of books, see's the author getting serious about plot. Which I strongly applaud, but she's not doing anything new with it. In, Barbarian's Heart, I grew frustrated, once again, with the couples seperating themselves from the pack in order to fall in love. This time, I would have appreciated if they had taken this journey with everyone else and they slowly won each other over as a nice change of pace. Then them going off to yet another cave. Especially, with the most exciting part being their new location. Heck, they could have fallen in love there to give the reader more time to get to know the new setting. Sorry, taking my author hat off now. But no, I don't think I can take anymore of this.
Would you recommend this series? If we share some of the same opinions, then yes. Start the series taking into account my notes and when you get to book 10, just consider that the proverbial fork in the road. There you decide to continue the story or venture off to new pastures. Just keep in mind that you don't have to continue just because you committed so much time already. And FOMO is real.
