He’s awkward. He’s adorable. He’s alien as hell. Zylar of Kith B’alak is a four-time loser in the annual Choosing. If he fails to find a nest guardian this time, he’ll lose his chance to have a mate for all time. Desperation drives him to try a matching service but due to a freak solar flare and a severely malfunctioning ship AI, things go way off course. This ‘human being’ is not the Tiralan … not the Tiralan match he was looking for.
She’s frazzled. She’s fierce. She’s from St. Louis.
Beryl Bowman’s mother always said she’d never get married. She should have added a rider about the husband being human. Who would have ever thought that working at the Sunshine Angel daycare center would offer such interstellar prestige? She doesn’t know what the hell’s going on, but a new life awaits on Barath Colony, where she can have any alien bachelor she wants.
They agree to join the Choosing together, but love is about to get seriously strange.
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I freaking adored Strange Love. I laughed so hard, and it was steamy as well!!
A friend recommended this book to me, and I’m so glad she did! I was curious to see how Beryl and Zylar’s romance would work, since she’s human and he’s the one pictured on the cover, a decidedly non-human alien. I was laughing out loud during the opening scenes, which was a great start. As their relationship developed, it was sweet, and then it got steamy! If you like a happily-ever-after story on an alien world with a spunky heroine and heartwarming hero, this is a great book for you. Highly recommend!
I love a good alien romance and the alien the better (I adore Naomi Lucas). I got this book because of historical romance author’s Bethany Bennett’s recommendation. And let me say…this is very very alien. Did I like it? It’s so well written, I can’t say I didn’t like it. 🙂 Will I read it again? That’s a mystery for me as well as anyone else. If I do…it’ll go to 5 stars.
This was my 1st Ann Aguirre novel and I found it delightful!
Strange Love is a fun & sexy sci-fi quest novel that also deals with respect, trust, loyalty, ethics & integrity, karma (or justice delivered), perseverance, acceptance, companionship and love. Yes, this is a mate abduction (by mistake) novel – yet so much more. I loved & recommend Strange Love to readers who enjoy lighter sci-fi/alien adventures, para or shifter novels, time travel novels (which this isn’t), and romance suspense novels.
The FMC/Beryl and her small dog/Snaps are accidentally picked up by an alien humanoid when he arrives in a secluded area to pick up what he believes to be his pre-selected & consenting mate prospect. The mistake is not discovered until it is too late, as Zylar is hurtling his malfunctioning ship back home, desperate to survive a probable attack from the unknown planet, earth.
Beryl discovers Zylar had hoped his prospective mate would compete successfully with him in what would be his 4th and final chance as a contestant in his world’s “Choosing.” Failure and elimination from the competition would mean Zylar would never mate, it also would mean stripping Zylar of all social rank, possessions, present living quarters, and lower his status to that of a non-sexed drone with minimal rights.
I found Zylar’s alien world fascinating and the competition rounds terrible. I loved Beryl’s overall resilient attitude; and although Zylar was physically described rather hideously, he had all the character traits I love in a man. Kurr was a wonderfully intriguing character. I would happily purchase another novel based upon this world of bizarre creatures. Readers should take note – there are several descriptive episodes of steamy sexual intimacy between the 2 main characters in Strange Love. Due to the sexual content (3.5 or 4 on 0-5 Sweet-Steamy), I do not recommended Strange Love for young readers or for readers who prefer Clean novels. Profanity is present, as is occasional violence during the games. There is also a talking dog, in case you’ve ever wondered what your dog is thinking. Great fun!!
The main “man” is a bug type alien which just kind of freaks me out. They don’t have cooperating sex organ to do the deed. They can’t reproduce because it would cause unrepairable damage to the human female, Beryl. With all that being said, they still made things, work and stuck together. I gave this one four stars because it was VERY different, well edit, and it has a good storyline.
Zylar of Kith B’alak has one last chance at love before he is turned into a drone and service to his people. He has to ensure his online mate understands the extreme importance of their courtship on his planet. Beryl Bowman is considered a loser on Earth. The only person that has returned her affection unconditionally was her dog Snaps. When Zylar “accidentally” picks her and Snaps up, she realizes this is her opportunity to have a better life.
This story was funny, entertaining and the love scenes were interesting and tantalizing. Zylar’s galactic geekiness mixed with Beryl’s human witticisms makes this story worth the read. The inventive ways they find to romance each other is steamy and mind-boggling at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and the antics. The challenges that took place for their courtship were inventive and action-packed. It was refreshing to read an alien-human romance that did not entail the human character constantly complaining about the new planet and exalting planet Earth. Beryl was realistic about her life on Earth and realized she could make a new life for herself. This novel has it all—love, romance, friendship, intrigue, revenge, drama, chaos, and death. A truly awesome read.
I know. I know. Human and no-humanoid alien? It’s a riot though. I was laughing so hard I snorted by the end of the first chapter. The writer does a beautiful job of making their romance unfold in a way that’s believable, with fascinating side characters.
This book was hilarious, charming, and heartwarming. I love that our alien hero is not humanoid and that the MCs have to learn to live together as they come to appreciate and love one another. These characters as so wonderfully caring and supportive. And, of course, Snaps the talking dog is just the best.
Wonderfully weird are the best two words to describe this book. My first time reading Aguirre but it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this unique story!
Master storyteller Aguirre gives scifi romance’s “alien abduction” theme an inventive new twist. Humor, passion, suspense, skullduggery, and great world building. Can’t wait to read the next in this series!
Zylar from Kith B’alak colony Barath is getting desperate.
After being rejected for a nest-mate at the choosing on numerous occasions he has arranged through an alien matching service for an off-world companion.
But instead of his arranged intended he accidentally abducts Beryl Bowman and her dog Skip from Earth after a solar flare manages to disrupt his Onboard AI Helix.
Now with no way to return her and knowing this is his last chance for a potential match he offers her the same deal as his previous intended to enter into the choosing.
So this was initially amusing not only does Zylar implant Beryl with a communication chip he also does the dog who can now communicate and that one was definitely an eye-opener and ever so amusing.
Zylar is very alien-looking so he initially finds Beryl fabulously hideous which he thinks is an asset for his future nest-mates status.
Also, their customs and outward appearance’s are poles apart.
This initially plays out in a gladiator-style arena with Beryl and Zylar both competing for the privilege of being a couple.
This was really was so much fun and also incredibly amusing.
Add in the fact that Zylar was just so bloody adorable and I was so sold.
He was a lovable mix of proper behaviour and overly formal language but he had such a sweetness and humbleness to him that was ever so enticing and his vulnerability really appealed to me.
He definitely had esteem issues and I adored his sudden hope and how bolstered he was by Beryl’s loyalty and attention towards him.
I was also incredibly intrigued by the very unusual and unique sexual practices combined with the different anatomy it was oh so very interesting.
This one actually turned out much better than I originally assumed.
It was imaginative and different and definitely stood out from the crowd.
So if alien’s that look like aliens are your thing this is one for you.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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I was lucky enough to win this out-of-this world romance in a giveaway. Truly lovable characters, including a hilarious talking dog. Stunning and unique worldbuilding–the alien species and cultures were very creative and different, feeling more like a traditional sci-fi than the average sci-fi romance, though the central romantic plot line was sweet, sexy and heartfelt. An all around top-notch read, that transported me in the best way.
Saw this mentioned on Twitter and had to ONE-CLICK. So glad I did. This book was so good.
I cannot begin to describe how much I enjoyed this book. It was delightfully creative and so incredibly funny. Imaginative and delicious. Only Ann Aguirre could pull something like this off. She is incredibly talented. Come for the quirky romance. Stay for the talking dog. ; )
I don’t read a lot of sci-fi romance because I have skepticism about alien dudes always being just like human dudes but with rainbow skin colors and giant dingalings. (I know, skepticism coming from a PNR author. I recognize and embrace my double standards.) ANYWAY, I read a review of Strange Love on the Smart Bitches, Trashy Books blog, and it was celebrated as having an alien hero who is like a giant insect, has no peen, and there’s *so much consent*.
Also: a talking dog.
I knew I must have it and read it forthwith, and I am so glad I did! It made me laugh out loud, also made me very sad at one point, and the whole experience was extremely satisfying. Highly recommend!
This book was definitely strange, but also funny and very, sweetly romantic!
Best love story I’ve read this year!
Couldn’t get into it
Unusually alien-human romance with an endearing hero who slowly learns the meaning of love.
Where to start. First I had no idea that Ann Aguirre wrote more than YA I’ve read her Razorland series. I picked this book up on KU because the cover intrigued me and I’m ssssoooo glad I read it what a beautiful book between two completely different people, this book had me laughing out loud, the talking dog is how you would imagine a talking would, well talk. The main characters believed in each other and grew to love and respect each other more and more you couldn’t ask for two better people in a novel seriously it was a FANTASTIC book. Ann Aguirre please please please continue with adult romance books I for one can’t get enough. One more thing I loved it so much I bought it to add to my favorites