Reviewed by: Sue Eaton

TITLE: Can’t Help Falling In Love with an Alien

SERIES: Tentacular Tales

AUTHOR: Chloe Archer

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 411 pages

RELEASE DATE: December 30, 2022

BLURB:

A grumpy-sexy alien and his (mostly) human sunshiny mate find the road to happily ever after is paved with challenges, including a troublesome ex, alien refugees in need of help, unexpected mating instincts, and someone trying to expose alien existence on Earth. Tentacles and tarnation! Will they be able to handle everything in their way and finally get engaged?

RIVER

Working for the Alliance is a sci-fi nerd’s dream–aka mine–come true. I’ve even won the heart of my grumpy-sexy alien boyfriend. Nothing can bring me down, baby. I’m walking on freaking sunshine! Except now one of Kai’s douchey AF exes decides to turn up like a bad case of crabs that he can’t get rid of. I don’t trust him one bit. But I’ve got even bigger problems to worry about. Like helping some awesome aliens in trouble, and maybe moving in with Kai, who’s totally going to propose any day now—right? Oh, and my shady relatives might be hiring an assassin to take me out. So, you know, a day in the life of River Sullivan. I’m sure everything’s going to be fine. Won’t it?

KAI

Just when we think we have a new lead on the drug dealer targeting extra-terrestrials on Earth, we run into a major roadblock. And the longer this mess of an investigation drags on without answers, the less I like it. Outside of work though, things are going amazingly well with my adorable mate–dear galactic gods, how did that happen? But with an ex back in my life wanting to be friends again, and the threat of a potential assassin looming, things are getting a little complicated. I love River with both my hearts—and all five tentacles—but even I’m worried I might not be able to protect him from the dangers ahead. Also, I need to figure out how the heck I’m going to propose to him. River deserves something “epic,” and I don’t want to let him down. Am I going to be able to deliver?

REVIEW:

It was so nice to return to this series, Kai and River’s epic love story continues.  River is a delight, nerdy, full of energy and in his words a bit extra, with a huge heart that sees the best in everyone.  Kai is grumpy except where River is concerned, he will do anything for his boyfriend / mate and will burn the world down if anything threatens River.

I loved all the continuing sci-fi references from popular culture, it appeals to my inner sci-fi geek.   Rivers very tongue in cheek acronyms made me snigger and feel like a teenager again.

The plot follows on from book 1 but all their leads come to nothing, and they are left scratching their heads at a total impasse.  Kai’s ex-boyfriend or rather ex-friends with benefits comes back on the scene, River can see right through him, Kai is much more forgiving as he feels guilty about how things ended between them.  I really liked how River handled this development, he realised that throwing a fit would backfire but being supportive while airing his suspicions would go a long way to support Kai.   They also get word that River’s alien family have sent an assassin to kill him which sends Kai into overdrive on the possession front.

It was great to continue to get a glimpse of the burgeoning relationship between Benji and Mal, Benji is oblivious and continues to be River’s kooky stoned uncle.  Mal can’t understand why Benji isn’t falling at his feet, like everyone else.  These small vignettes are wonderful and I look forward to seeing their relationship develop in future books.

River’s Operation ORAL is a stroke of genius and the scene with the children’s party and Alien Elvis was awesome and to build on his success he drafts in Evan, to choreograph an alien striptease act.  I can totally see that in the entertainment industry, especially in Las Vegas, that aliens, pretending to be aliens, and performing would work.  As long as no-one gets a glimpse behind the curtain and realises that the fake aliens are really real aliens.

River’s ability to get the most ruthless aliens on his side, his alien tentacle story, which has many inter-galactic followers also helps him thwart the dastardly plot against him.  The ability to turn an enemy into a friend is one of River’s super-powers and it is so believable as he is extremely lovable, quirky and sees the good in the most villainous people.

Finally I must mention the epic proposal Kai does for River, it is fantastic and everything River deserves.

RATING:

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