The Rebel and the Rogue

Stop reading reviews and just grab this book and be prepared to be sucked into Rogue 5. The Interstellar Brides' Atlans are my favorites but boy, does this hybrid Forsian come close to surpassing them. Just a note - if you couldn't tell by the blurb, these are not a matched pair (Rogues so far have been chosen and not matched). This fascinating universe that the author has built, just gets better and better. To perfectly explain how great this story is would require spoilers and I just can't do that. So, Ivy - awesome, butt-kicking, broken, looking for revenge Zenos - mouthwatering, controlling, terrified his bite will kill Astra - 1/3 of the "good" rogue leaders and an inspiring character And a guest appearance from a certain IC commander that really needs to get mated so, that his mate can kick his butt. A riveting story that revolves around all of the characters different heartaches. As each character has to face their fears and desires, their struggles within cause more heartache. The relationships developed are strong and true. Overall, this is one of the best books in the series (it is even better than some of the Atlans that I adore, but don't tell them, as I love those giant teddy bears). To be totally honest - Grace Goodwin is one of a handful of authors that I will drop whatever I am currently reading (even if it is a promised ARC) so that I can read one of her new releases. Her characters are well fleshed, the world building is fantastic, and the plots just draw you in.

This story brings us some awesome characters in Zenos of the Astra Legion of Rogue 5 and Ivy Birkeland. Ivy, a human, has walked away from the Coalition Fleet’s regulations to become a bounty hunter seeking revenge against the aliens responsible for the death of her entire ReCon unit. They were provided with Quell, a mind-altering drug distributed by the pirates of Rogue 5, and no one survived. Ivy will not stop until she has seen justice served and the death of her unit avenged. She has no desire for any sort of commitment to a male, but she still makes time for a wildly passionate one-night stand with a stranger to take care of her needs. Zenos, a hybrid Forsian, is on a mission to obtain a serum, the antidote to make sure a female survives the mating bite from his poisonous fangs. In the same way that the mating instinct affects the Atlans, Zenos knows his own mating instinct will soon control him and he needs to be prepared with the serum. Although he cannot mate until that serum is in his possession, when he meets the kicka$$ bounty hunter, he won't deny his body the one-time experience of a few hours of pleasure she is offering him without commitment. As always, this author gives us the very best stories, bringing the reader back again and again to read about the various aliens we are so familiar with! The story line is fast-paced and exciting as Zenos and Ivy let their passions overtake them, only to meet each other again unexpectedly at Transport Station Zenith when she attempts to gain access to the “unknown operative’s” home planet. How will their overwhelming attraction impact her plans for revenge? They need each other – can either walk away? Grab your copy and immerse yourself in a fantastic experience you won’t want to miss as the author places us in the amazing universe she has created!

Book nineteen of the Interstellar Brides® Program series a well written story that has a very good storyline, the story flowed smoothly across the pages. This is human Ivy Birkeland and Zenos' story of a man in love with a woman but to afraid to trust that a cure has been found and he will not watch her die if he does what she wants. There is suspense, drama, danger, twists, turns, villains, and romance. I hope there is more to come in this series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.