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The Ones Left Behind by Ari Reavis

When Jolie lost her sister, she never thought she would smile again. It was hard enough to go on, let alone think about being happy. But then a stranger walks into the support group her parents force her to go to, and for the first time, in a long time, someone makes her want to know more about them.

Elijah’s been drowning in guilt since his best friend died. Not thinking the support group will actually help but not knowing where else to go, he walks into the room and silently takes a seat. When he looks at the woman a few seats down, something in her eyes makes him think maybe she’s the one person who can truly understand him.

They build a bond through their grief, but then very different emotions begin to come into play. Can they heal from their losses enough to discover what they could have together? Or are the scars caused by the ones who left them behind too deep?

TW: Both of the main characters have recently had a loved one commit suicide. This book deals heavily with this subject, as well as mental illness. The suicide does not take place on page, but is described.



I've pretty much moved out of my contemporary romance phase, but there's something about the way this author writes that keeps making me come back!

I don't know how she made something that should have been incredibly sad into something that was incredibly sweet, but that's exactly what she did.

When you lose someone, especially in the ways that both Elijah and Jolie lost someone, how do you ever get past it? Through it? How does one accept that there will never be answers to their many questions and move on?

The Ones Left Behind told me there's no one answer on how to move through grief. It's different for all of us and not everyone will understand how you feel. And that's okay. Your feelings are valid and if you're really lucky, like Elijah and Jolie were, you'll find someone special who'll truly get it. Who'll stand by you through any and everything. Who will love you through the good and the bad, the happy and the sad.

So while this story could have been heartbreaking, it had too many happy and uplifting moments to really get me down. It was full of hope and honesty and when it feels so real, it's impossible not to love it!


Ari Reavis is a wife and mother of five. Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, she enjoys staying in, devouring books and watching movies. Her kids are running around, her husband is trying to show her martial arts moves, and she's trying to write. Her day in a nutshell.

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Nancy and the Naga by Honey Phillips

Can an alien prince in exile protect an escaped slave who won’t surrender?

A year as a slave in an alien mine is enough to destroy any woman, but Nancy refuses to give up hope. When she sees a chance to escape, she takes it.

Her freedom is worth almost any price, but she didn’t anticipate how hard she would have to struggle to survive. When a strange new alien discovers her, she fears the worst. He’s part man, part snake, and all dangerous - but he makes her feel safe for the first time since she was taken.

Banished from his home planet, former prince Kaiyo has found a place for himself in the dangerous underworld of Kalima. For the right fee, he’ll solve any problem - quickly, efficiently, and with no questions asked. The only problems he can’t fix are his own.

When an uncharacteristically altruistic action leads to the discovery of a fierce, frightened woman, his long-forgotten instincts demand that he protect her - whether she wants him to or not. And the more time he spends with the tasty human, the more he realizes he never wants to let her go.

But Kaiyo’s past is about to catch up with him. He has no intention of releasing his claim on Nancy - but will she be able to handle all of his secrets? And will his people ever accept a human?



I really enjoyed the dynamic that played out between these characters. Nancy was stolen from Earth and now stranded on an alien planet, she tried to make an abandoned residence as 'homey' as she could. When a strange alien enters her new home, she is desperate to stake her claim and make him leave.

Too bad Kaiyo was in the mood to be a gentleman. No way was he going to leave a defenseless human female like that. But how could he stay? And what did an exile have to offer her for a future?

Again, if I were to be kidnapped by aliens, please let me fall into the hands of the ones from this series! Two characters who couldn't find a home found one with each other.


Honey Phillips writes steamy science fiction stories about hot alien warriors and the human women they can’t resist. From abductions to invasions, the ride might be rough, but the end always satisfies!

Honey wrote and illustrated her first book at the tender age of 5. Her writing has improved since then. her drawing skills, unfortunately, have not. She loves writing, reading, traveling, cooking, and drinking champagne - not necessarily in that order.

Visit https://www.honeyphillips.com for more information

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Cold Light of Day by Toni Anderson

What happens when an FBI agent falls for the daughter of the most notorious spy in US history?

Physicist Scarlett Stone is the daughter of the most notorious Russian spy in FBI history. With her father dying in prison, time is running out. Using a false identity, she gains access to the Russian ambassador's Christmas party, searching for evidence to prove her father's innocence.

Former Navy SEAL, now FBI Special Agent, Matt Lazlo, is instantly attracted to Scarlett but when he discovers she lied to him about her identity, he hunts her down with the ruthless efficiency he usually reserves for serial killers.

Not only does Scarlett's scheme fail, it puts her in the sights of people who reward unwanted curiosity with brutality. The FBI—and Matt—aren't thrilled with her, either. As the agents involved in her father's investigation start dying, and the attempts to stop Scarlett intensify, Matt and his colleagues begin to wonder. Could they have a traitor in their midst?



This was my favorite book of the series so far! This author has such a fun way of pulling intrigue, suspense, messed-up-ness, and romance together and it really works for me. I was glued to these pages, hurriedly flipping to find out what the heck was gonna happen next. Each event had me baffled, wondering who was really in control of things. Read it and you'll see. It's messed up.

Scarlett's life was turned upside down when her father, an esteemed FBI agent, was accused and convicted of being a Russian spy. Believing in his innocence, she was determined to find evidence and clear his name. She didn't really think her plan through, trying to do more than she was capable of, putting her right in the crosshairs of the very people who perpetuated the conspiracy in the first place.

Thankfully, despite being deceived by her in the beginning, Matt became the hero that she needed. He had the skills and the resources to get things done, helping her dodge bullets and bombs in the process.

I loved this story and if I were to complain about anything, it would be the lack of a happy ending. This author hasn't given me one yet, but I'm satisfied (for now) with the way the story ends. Happy-for-nows aren't the best, but they're definitely better than the alternative.

This series will be seeing me again and I'll be back with my thoughts on book four!


Toni Anderson writes gritty, sexy, FBI Romantic Thrillers, and is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, Readers' Choice, Aspen Gold, Book Buyers' Best, Golden Quill, National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) Contest, and National Excellence in Romance Fiction awards. She's been a finalist in both the Vivian Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America. More than two million copies of her books have been downloaded.

Best known for her "COLD" books perhaps it's not surprising to discover Toni lives in one of the most extreme climates on earth--Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Marine Biologist, she still misses the ocean, but is lucky enough to travel for research purposes. In January 2016, she visited FBI Headquarters in Washington DC, including a tour of the Strategic Information and Operations Center. She hopes not to get arrested for her Google searches.

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Cold Pursuit by Toni Anderson

Single mom Vivi Vincent is thrust into her worst nightmare when she and her eight-year-old son are trapped inside a mall during a terror attack. Jed Brennan, a dedicated FBI agent on enforced leave, helps Vivi and her son survive the assault. But the danger is just beginning...

Vivi’s son may have witnessed critical details of the terrorists’ future plans and is targeted for death, but he’s mute, and he’s traumatized. When someone launches a strike against the FBI’s safe house, Jed fears the bad guys have an inside man. Not knowing who to trust, he hides mother and son in a log cabin deep in the heart of the Wisconsin Northwoods. There Jed and Vivi try to figure out how to unlock the information inside her son’s head.

What they don't bargain for is the red-hot attraction that flares between them or the extent of the sinister plot that threatens to rip apart any chance of happiness they might have together.



I'm really loving the plots the author has created for this series. Seriously loving them. However... for some reason, I found this one to be lacking on certain details.

I got so much information about the terrorists, which was helped along by getting their perspectives. I even got more than I wanted about Vivi and her ex. I got virtually nothing about Jed, which was ridiculous because he featured in such a huge part of this story. He mentioned a woman named Mia, who was murdered, but I know nothing about how they met, how she was killed, nada. So much was dumped on me about Vivi's ex and I really couldn't care less, but what I really wanted was missing. More of Jed's background please.

Once again, the author's writing made it so easy to picture it all, from the dangerous situations to the investigations to everything in between. I'm excited to keep reading this series and if you enjoy thrillers with some romance thrown in, you should dive in too!


Toni Anderson writes gritty, sexy, FBI Romantic Thrillers, and is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, Readers' Choice, Aspen Gold, Book Buyers' Best, Golden Quill, National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) Contest, and National Excellence in Romance Fiction awards. She's been a finalist in both the Vivian Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America. More than two million copies of her books have been downloaded.

Best known for her "COLD" books perhaps it's not surprising to discover Toni lives in one of the most extreme climates on earth--Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Marine Biologist, she still misses the ocean, but is lucky enough to travel for research purposes. In January 2016, she visited FBI Headquarters in Washington DC, including a tour of the Strategic Information and Operations Center. She hopes not to get arrested for her Google searches.

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A Cold Dark Place by Toni Anderson

Former CIA assassin Alex Parker works for a clandestine government organization hell-bent on taking out serial killers and pedophiles before they enter the justice system. Alex doesn't enjoy killing, but he's damn good at it.

FBI Special Agent Mallory Rooney has spent years hunting the lowlife who abducted her identical twin sister eighteen years ago. Now, during an on-going serial killer investigation, Mallory begins to suspect there's a vigilante operating outside the law.

When Mallory starts asking questions, Alex is ordered to watch her. As soon as they meet, the two begin to fall in love. But the lies and betrayals that define Alex's life threaten to destroy them both—especially when the man who stole her sister all those years ago makes Mallory his next target.



I really enjoyed this story. I liked how the author described certain scenes and events, making me feel like I was watching an episode of Criminal Minds. It was creepy and a bit scary and the murderer's perspective only made it more of a thriller.

It was exciting to know (or at least feel) like no one was safe. Mallory was a rookie agent who had a bit of arrogance that made her feel that she was untouchable. She was a smart and tough cookie, who was no stranger to tragedy ever since her identical twin was taken and has remained missing. All she wants is to find out what happened to her and get some justice. Alex was a man who was burdened by the tragedy as well. A trained killer, he was extemely patriotic, but he knew how to color outside the lines.

This story worked so well that I'll definitely be reading more of this series.

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Before I started writing this review, I took the time to read a few others and I was absolutely shocked. Quite a few remarked that they were disappointed because of the graphic sexual language.


Ummm... what?! It was slightly descriptive, but nowhere near explicit. Seriously, if people want clean stories, they shouldn't read anything out of the Christian section. And if they don't want sex, don't read romance. Because a romance book without sex isn't really a book I wanna read.

Regardless, the romance fed the story because without it, we'd be lost as to Alex's motivations where Mallory was concerned.


Toni Anderson writes gritty, sexy, FBI Romantic Thrillers, and is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, Readers' Choice, Aspen Gold, Book Buyers' Best, Golden Quill, National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) Contest, and National Excellence in Romance Fiction awards. She's been a finalist in both the Vivian Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America. More than two million copies of her books have been downloaded.

Best known for her "COLD" books perhaps it's not surprising to discover Toni lives in one of the most extreme climates on earth--Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Marine Biologist, she still misses the ocean, but is lucky enough to travel for research purposes. In January 2016, she visited FBI Headquarters in Washington DC, including a tour of the Strategic Information and Operations Center. She hopes not to get arrested for her Google searches.

Hanna and the Hitman

Standalone - Alien Abduction #8
Release - July 23, 2020
Genre - Scifi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 225 pages
Publisher - Indie


An alien assassin. A forgotten human. A planet determined to claim them both.

Since being kidnapped from Earth, Hanna has been treated as little more than a performing animal. Her latest indignity is being displayed in a cage in a seedy bar. When a massive alien warrior stops to examine her, she expects the worst.

To her shock, the warrior frees her instead. Scared and alone, she doesn't hesitate to turn to him. But there are more surprises to come...

Aidon is running out of time. Although eliminating galactic scum is a profitable occupation, it takes a toll on his unique skills. He needs to return to his planet immediately. Acquiring a human female, no matter how tempting, was not in his plans. Yet now that he has her, how can he let her go?

She looks at him so trustingly – but his planet is a dangerous place, and she's about to find out he's the biggest predator of them all.

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My review: 4 stars

Another human female was abducted and destined for slavery when a considerate and compassionate alien male saved her. And while we've all heard this story before, this one felt different. I love how this author gives her own unique take on every book I've read. Aidon was magnificent and Hanna was a peach. I loved the idea of this shapeshifter alien who felt exiled from his own planet only to need his planet in order to survive. I loved how Hanna was able to adapt to her new life and put her trust in the perfect alien for her. I even loved the family dynamic between the characters. I enjoyed it all and this story was more evidence of why I'm still reading this series.

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Izzie and the Icebeast

Standalone - Alien Abduction #9
Release - August 20, 2020
Genre - Scifi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 248 pages
Publisher - Indie


A jaded alien gladiator. A heroine who won’t give in. A battle worth winning.

After a fatal mistake drives Baralt away from his world, he has to rely on his fighting skills to survive. Despite his success in the arena, he grows increasingly tired of violence - until a soft, beautiful human female gives him a reason to fight.

With no one but herself to rely on, Izzie has managed to overcome all of the obstacles life has thrown at her. But being abducted and sold by aliens may be the one challenge she can’t defeat.

When a massive, furred alien comes to her rescue, she has no reason to trust him. And yet this strangely appealing warrior could be her only hope.

Determined to protect Izzie, Baralt is forced to return to the one place he vowed never to go - his home planet - only to find it facing its own threat. Can Baralt and Izzie work together to help his people, make peace with the past, and find the home they both want?

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My review: 3.5 stars

When I realized this story was going to be about one of the aliens who inhabited the ice planet that played such a huge part in some of the plots of the previous books, I was insanely curious to find out who it would be. I kind of expected it to be the chief, but I was still pleased that it was about a character that was semi-introduced before.

After a tragedy in his clan, Baralt's guilt forced him to leave his planet (and baby sister) behind. A fighter you didn't want to bet against, he was now positively bored with his life. And then a spark happens—he meets a human slave named Izzie. And nothing and no one was going to keep him from her.

I enjoyed the bit of drama that was involved with this story, not just with the escape plot, but also with the not so sweet reunion between Baralt and his people. I really liked Baralt, not so much Izzie, and I'm kind of hoping to see more of these characters again.

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Joan and the Juggernaut

Standalone - Alien Abduction #10
Release - September 24, 2020
Genre - Scifi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 224 pages
Publisher - Indie


An unstoppable alien warrior. A stubborn human. A desperate escape.

Varga’s life has been as hard as the armor which covers his skin, but he has never let it stop him. He has powered his way through every obstacle - until a favor for a friend sends him straight into the path of a stubborn, beautiful female, and everything changes.

After finally freeing herself from her domineering ex-husband, Joan is ready to start a new life on her own terms. Instead, she is kidnapped by aliens and sold into servitude on a mining planet at the far end of the galaxy.

When a terrifyingly attractive alien appears with promises to rescue her, she isn’t foolish enough to refuse. But the massive, scarred warrior wants more than her freedom - he wants her heart.

As Varga and Joan lead a ragtag group on a dangerous journey to freedom, can they also escape the ties of the past and find a new future - together?

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My review: 4 stars

Knowing that Varga (he's Baralt's bestie from the last book) would be out there looking for other human female slaves, I was curious to find out exactly what type of woman would appeal to him. And I actually really liked Joan, aside from the many times she brought up her ex Kevin (like please, can we stop already?). She was sweet and bright and just tried to make the best of a rotten situation. She was compassionate and cunning and I loved how smoothly she meshed with Varga. So yeah, I definitely liked this match. The naked and dirty slave they rescued (along with everyone else) intrigued me. Her name was Polly and I wonder if she'll feature again somewhere. I'd love to see her as normal as her trauma could make her and for her to find as much happiness as she deserves. Actually I want to see it for all of them, especially since Joan got such a happy ending with Varga.

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Kate and the Kraken

Standalone - Alien Abduction #11
Release - July 29, 2021
Genre - Scifi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 206 pages
Publisher - Indie


A rebellious alien prince. An overworked human female. A planet in crisis.

Kate spends most of her time in her lab, and as much as she believes in her job, she occasionally longs for a break. Being captured by aliens isn’t exactly what she had in mind.

Neither is being forced to abandon ship and almost drowning in an alien ocean. But the massive alien warrior who saves her? He might be exactly what she needs.

Prince A’tai is desperate to escape his family and their nefarious political schemes. On his way to a remote island, he rescues a smart, beautiful female. She doesn’t belong in his world, but he is determined to keep her.

But A’tai is not quite what he seems, and the planet of Mafana holds more than one secret. Can Kate and A’tai survive political intrigue, a planetary crisis, and their inescapable differences to forge a happy ending?

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My review: 3 stars

Honestly, those stars belong to A'tai. And I will admit that although I didn't like Kate for most of this book, I did somewhat like her by the end. I loved how he knew instantly that she was the woman for him. The attraction was very strong between these two, which was hilarious because Kat was described as the super analytical and deprived of emotion. At least she was in her previous life. I enjoyed the nod to the little mermaid and while I didn't really understand the mechanics of their sex life (he was an octopus man after all), it was still hot.

I did want to know if Kate's friends, the other kidnapped woman she befriended, were saved and I'm happy to see that their books are next.

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Lily and the Lion

Standalone - Alien Abduction #12
Release - August 26, 2021
Genre - Scifi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 170 pages
Publisher - Indie


A wealthy, bored alien. A fierce, unlucky woman. A primitive hunting planet. Let the games begin!

Lily has never been lucky - not with jobs, not with money, and certainly not with men. Her bad luck continues when she is first abducted by aliens, then shoved into an escape pod and abandoned on a jungle planet.

The enormous, and admittedly gorgeous, alien who finds her seems as much beast as man. And yet she can't help thinking there's more behind those intense blue eyes than just animal lust. Has her luck finally changed?

Leotra va Situni is bored. He has wealth, he has power, and he has countless females chasing his tail wherever he goes. When a strange, but stunningly attractive, female appears on his hunting trip, he assumes it's yet another attempt to lure him into mating.

But the infuriating female doesn't seem to recognize his charms, treating him more like a pet than an important - and obviously irresistible - male. Is it a clever trap? Or does she really not know who he is?

As Leotra sets out to find answers from the mysterious female, she is equally determined to keep him at arms length. He begins to wonder who is the hunter and who is the hunted in their seductive little game. And when the truth comes out, who will be the lucky winner?

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My review: 3 stars

I actually found this story to be a bit funny. It tickled me that Leo was a rich playboy and yet everything that worked to win over the ladies before... didn't work on Lily. She didn't care about priceless jems or mansions or yachts or jets. She just wanted a man who wouldn't lie to her. A man who wouldn't abandon her like the rest. And while I didn't have a lot of like for the girl, I could definitely feel for her. I enjoyed watching Leo jump through hoops to win her over and seeing a side to Lily that I didn't expect. Thank you author for giving this girl some vulnerable moments and for finally seeing the worth of the male who was fighting so hard to be with her.

Btw, Leo's dad was such a jerk and his punishment was too lenient. Am I mad for wanting to see him get what he truly deserves?

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Mary and the Minotaur

Standalone - Alien Abduction #13
Release - September 23, 2021
Genre - Scifi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 184 pages
Publisher - Indie


A grumpy, secretive alien. A sweet, not-as-naive-as-she-seems human. A nefarious plot.

Although Mary has never had an easy life, she has always tried her best to maintain an optimistic outlook. But when she is abducted by aliens, it is difficult to find anything positive in the experience.

When she is temporarily abandoned by her kidnappers, she hopes to escape their clutches forever. Instead, she soon finds herself in even more trouble. Her only hope is a huge bull-like alien who should terrify her. Instead, her heart says to trust him.

Sendat has been working as an undercover agent for far too long. Although he believes in his mission, he fears he is becoming as heartless as those he seeks to bring to justice. And then he encounters a small, curvy female who awakens long-hidden feelings.

In order to protect her, he is forced to play a role he despises - and yet, she does not pull away from him. On the run and not sure who to trust, all Sendat knows is that he has to protect Mary. But even if he succeeds, will he have any choice except to give her up?

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My review: 4 stars

It's about Sendat and I honestly didn't think I'd see this alien male again. I knew he was an honorable soldier, so at first I was surprised to find him working for a criminal enterprise. For slavers no less! But then I realized that he was still a good man when he tried to make the newest slave's life a little easier. He even went as far as to purchase her, at least temporarily, for himself. He was undercover and he wasn't going to let Mary suffer a moment more. She was his and sweet Mary recognized that he was every bit as much hers.

I really liked how this one, like the last one, linked the three friends together. Watching these human females interact together along with their alien mates was a sweet treat and I'm only hungry for more of what this author gives. If sweet connections, lively imaginings, and hot sex are to your liking, you're gonna love these books!

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Faith and the Fighter by Honey Phillips

A rogue spaceship captain. A human scientist.

Faith has spent the past eight years as a scientist locked in an alien research lab. When she finally manages to escape and finds out what the aliens are doing with her work, she is appalled and determined to stop their plans.

The alien spaceship captain who unknowingly assisted her escape is going to help her shut down the lab - whether he wants to or not. And she’s not going to let his massive body or the kind heart hidden behind his gruff facade distract her.

Captain Athtar finally has his life exactly the way he wants it - he has his ship, his crew, and his freedom. No mouthy little human is going to interfere with any of that, no matter how much she tempts him or how much his instincts demand that he claim her. If only he weren’t as tempted as much by her brilliant mind as by her luscious body.

Can Faith and Athtar fight their overwhelming attraction long enough to defeat the evil scientists and stay ahead of the Imperial Fleet? And when the battle is over, can there be a future for the two of them?



Okay, so I'm not saying it would be cool to be kidnapped by aliens, intent on selling me into slavery, however... if I knew that an alien viking would be my hero...


I'm just sayin.

Athtar was absolutely delicious and although he was a reluctant hero, he was indeed a remarkable hero in this story. He even made my somewhat blah feelings for Faith a bit easier to bear.

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I also read the 7th book of the series, Greta and the Gargoyle, but it was more of a novella than anything else. I actually really enjoyed it too and give it 3.5 stars. It was about a totally helpless human female who was imprisoned for defending herself against the horrors of her new 'master'. Imprisoned, it takes the kindness of one of her guards (Mikaroz the gargoyle) to give her a taste of happiness. Action and a bit of sex... can't really complain. It overlaps the story of Cam and the Conqueror, so it was neat to see those characters again.


Honey Phillips writes steamy science fiction stories about hot alien warriors and the human women they can’t resist. From abductions to invasions, the ride might be rough, but the end always satisfies!

Honey wrote and illustrated her first book at the tender age of 5. Her writing has improved since then. her drawing skills, unfortunately, have not. She loves writing, reading, traveling, cooking, and drinking champagne - not necessarily in that order.

Visit https://www.honeyphillips.com/ for more information