A Promising Start with Unique World-Building, but an Unbalanced Finish
Blurb:
As if alien abduction wasn’t bad enough, it seemed Darla’s captors didn’t want her for something as simple as breeding or even experimentation. The Raxxians were nasty pieces of work, and they had other plans in mind. Namely, they wanted to eat her, and not in the fun way. But the universe, it seemed, had other plans.
Spared a gruesome fate when the Raxxian ship crashed on a distant world, Darla found herself suddenly free. Free but on an alien planet with only the company of another former prisoner.
An alien.
A tall, muscular, impossibly alluring alien.
One who didn’t seem thrilled about taking the little human woman under his protection, at least not at first. Little did either of them know just how hot their time together on this new world would become, and in a way that had nothing to do with the planet’s blazing sun.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this story and the slow evolution of Darla and Heydar’s relationship—from irritation, to respect, to love. The emotional pacing early on worked beautifully. Unfortunately, the ending felt rushed and overly focused on the sexual aspects rather than the story itself. Too many questions were left unanswered, and since the following books center on different couples, I’m not sure if we’ll ever get closure.
Character development, particularly for Heydar, felt thin. We learn very little about him beyond what serves the romance, which left me wanting more depth.
That said, the world-building is fascinating. Instead of the usual tech-heavy alien sci-fi, Quinn introduces a culture that relies on living pigment and rune-like tattoos to grant abilities—translation, strength, healing, and more. It’s an original, organic twist that I haven’t seen before and one of the novel’s strongest elements.
The story is told in omniscient narration, which I usually dislike, but it’s handled fairly well here. The perspective mostly stays close to Darla, so it doesn’t suffer from that jarring “head-hopping” effect some romances fall into.
Where it stumbled most for me was in the repetitive language of the intimate scenes. “Again and again” appears three times in the first encounter, and “bliss” shows up five times on one page. Darla’s nearly nonstop orgasms strain believability a bit and undercut the otherwise emotional tone of those moments.
Overall, Infala: The Alien’s Bond is a solid beginning to a series with imaginative ideas and sincere emotion. I just wish the ending had been given more narrative attention instead of sexual repetition. Still, I’m curious enough to pick up Book 2 and see where the Infala universe goes next.
Contains graphic sex scenes.
Occasional foul language.
3rd person past tense, omnipresent voice.
Errors: 1 – an extra quotation mark on page 27. So a fantastic job editing!
Debut Author Delivers a Slow-Burn Sci-Fi Romance with a Thrilling, Intimate Core
Blurb:
Across light-years, two strangers are forced into the deepest intimacy imaginable—and hunted for it.
Dr. Mira Tian has built her career on discipline and control. A scientist aboard Aris Station, she has mastered the art of keeping her emotions contained, her focus sharp, and her private longings buried beneath layers of precision.
Rafe Anders has built his exile on silence. Living on the remote mining outpost Sigma-9, he has resigned himself to isolation, convinced that distance is the only way to survive his past mistakes.
But when a violent solar event ripples through deep space, something impossible happens. Through their neural interfaces, Mira and Rafe make contact—mind to mind, thought to thought, feeling to feeling. At first it’s fragile, like a whisper in the dark. Soon it becomes undeniable. Addictive. Irresistible.
For Mira, the connection is the most profound intimacy she has ever known. For Rafe, it is the first chance at redemption. Together they share memories, regrets, and hopes as if they are two halves of the same soul. Yet every moment of closeness leaves traces in the system—traces that the wrong people are trained to find.
Cognixis, the corporation that built their neural technology, sees the bond not as intimacy but as opportunity. To them it is a resource—something to isolate, dissect, and replicate. Under the scrutiny of Camille Thorne, Director of Neurodevelopment, and Vosk, Head of Applied Neurosecurity, Mira and Rafe’s secret lifeline becomes the center of a ruthless corporate campaign. To survive, they must hide their tether, maintain the façade of normality, and outwit a surveillance machine designed to expose them.
But hiding isn’t enough. The deeper the connection runs, the harder it is to conceal. Mira and Rafe are pulled into a high-stakes struggle that tests not just their survival, but the very definition of self, trust, and love. If discovered, they won’t just lose each other—they’ll lose their freedom, their identities, and perhaps even their lives.
The Pulse Between Us is a gripping blend of sci-fi romance and psychological suspense. It explores what it means to be truly known by another person, the risks of radical vulnerability, and the lengths we’ll go to keep the one person who sees us fully.
Perfect for readers searching for: sci-fi romance adult stories that blend intimacy and suspense star-crossed lovers romance where connection is both salvation and danger telepathy romance that explores what happens when two minds—and hearts—collide
If you love star-crossed lovers navigating impossible odds, if you crave sci-fi romance that balances futuristic ideas with raw human intimacy, and if you want a slow-burn bond that feels both dangerous and irresistible, The Pulse Between Us is for you.
In the ink-black void of space, they found each other. But in a universe built on control, love may be the most dangerous anomaly of all.
Set in a corporate-dominated dystopia, The Pulse Between Us delivers one of the most unique sci-fi romance concepts I’ve read in years. While telepathic connections in fiction aren’t new, B.K. Brown takes it to an entirely different level—one that feels intimate, immersive, and emotionally real.
Instead of exchanging thoughts like text messages, Mira and Rafe share physical sensations, involuntary emotions, and even memories. There’s a visceral richness to this portrayal that’s deeply engaging. When Rafe feels the rough scratch of his uniform, Mira instinctively sends back the sensation of her soft lab coat. Their connection quickly evolves beyond intentional messages, and their deepest, most private experiences begin to bleed through.
What happens, his thoughts came slowly, deliberately, when we can’t tell the difference between your sensations and mine?
The question hung between them, unanswerable. Neither spoke the obvious follow-up:
What happens when we can’t tell the difference between you and me?
This slow emotional burn is incredibly well-crafted. There’s vulnerability and fear, but also recognition and trust. One of my favorite moments beautifully captures the raw power of being seen:
He’d stepped into her most vulnerable moment and simply stood beside her, offering neither judgment nor pity. Just recognition.
I see you.
The structure of the book mirrors this deepening connection. It begins with alternating third-person chapters focused on Mira and Rafe individually—standard for romance. But as their bond intensifies, chapter breaks disappear. The POV shifts seamlessly without formal cues, brilliantly illustrating how their minds (and lives) begin to merge. It’s a subtle, masterful storytelling device.
While the sci-fi backdrop is rich and well-developed, the emotional core always stays front and center. When romantic tension finally surfaces, it’s tender and awkward in the most human way—more like best friends tiptoeing toward something more than lust-driven passion. This makes the eventual intimacy feel earned and powerful.
There are broader thematic undercurrents too: corporate surveillance, digital ownership of identity, and the commodification of connection. Mira and Rafe’s fight to stay hidden—when even their thoughts are no longer private—echoes real-world concerns about data privacy and digital autonomy. Their rebellion is quiet but desperate, and it had me rooting for them every step of the way.
Additional Notes:
Pacing: Excellent. A fast, immersive read without feeling rushed.
Tone: Emotionally grounded with a strong sci-fi framework.
Genre Blend: Sci-fi romance with psychological depth and slow-burn tension.
POV & Tense: 3rd person close (alternating), past tense.
Editing: Very clean. A few small errors were noted and reported to the author.
Steam Level: Contains sex scenes, but they’re tastefully blurred rather than explicit.
Bottom Line: If you’re craving a sci-fi romance that dares to explore what happens when two people are truly seen—flaws, traumas, desires and all—The Pulse Between Us is a must-read. It’s a love story that is equal parts cerebral and soulful, and it lingers long after the final page.
I loved this book and highly recommend it. It’s SAFE (no cheating, no triangles, no abuse), emotionally satisfying, and delivers a true HEA. I look forward to seeing what B.K. Brown writes next—because I’ll be first in line to read it.
I was given an advanced review copy by the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
Beginning of the End, the prequel, and End of Story Kylie Scott
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Hilarious contemporary romantic comedy with a cat!
Blurb for Beginning of the End:
When her boyfriend announces he’s accepted a yearlong contract in London, Susie’s relieved that Aaron suggests a long-distance relationship. But then it makes her think. Is it her imagination, or does he seem just a little too eager to leave? Is she reading too much into his excitement to hit the British pub scene? And all relationships cool off after a while…right? As Aaron’s departure approaches, Susie confides in her favorite aunt and best friend to help her figure out—is this the beginning of the end or just the beginning of something even better?
This is a short story prequel to “End of Story”.
Susie has no filter, which makes her snarky and humorous – something Kylie Scott writes so well. It starts off with Susie dating Aaron. But it is obvious Susie and Aaron are not meant for each other. Susie has a heavy case of denial. Even the sex has gotten bad.
“He came, and I did not. Or, at least, I didn’t come until later when I could take care of business alone.”
Lars is Aaron’s best friend, “lumberjack hot” and a contractor. But he has a seemingly great girlfriend that Susie really likes. Susie and Aaron have a very public break up at Aaron’s going-away party. But it was a good thing that needed to happen.
At the end, Susie’s hoarder aunt died and left her a house, which is the setup for…
Blurb for End of Story:
When Susie Bowen inherits a charming fixer-upper from her aunt, she’s excited to start living her best HGTV life. But when she opens the door to find that her contractor is none other than her ex’s best friend, Lars—the same man who witnessed their humiliating public breakup six months ago—she isn’t exactly eager to have anyone around whose alliance is with the enemy. But beggars can’t be choosers, and the sooner the repairs are done, the sooner she can get back to embracing singledom.
Things go from awkward to unbelievable when Lars discovers a divorce certificate hidden in a wall and dated ten years in the future—with both their names on it. It couldn’t possibly be real…could it? As Susie and Lars work to unravel the document’s origins, the impossibility of a spark between them suddenly doesn’t seem so far-fetched. But would a relationship between them be doomed before it’s even begun?
Lars shows up to work on the house Susie inherited when Susie expected a different contractor from the firm. Awkward. We quickly learn that he is no longer with the girlfriend he had in the prequel.
“Lars went through various girlfriends during the year I’d been with what’s-his-face. Neither he nor his friend were down with commitment. Which was fine if you just wanted to have fun. But Jane was a keeper, smart with a wicked sense of humor. Lars definitely had a type. All of his girlfriends were petite, perfect dolls who behaved in a ladylike manner. The opposite of buxom, loudmouthed me.”
The best friend of my ex is not my friend. Confucious probably said that.
After pulling away a section of sheetrock, Lars finds a very old piece of paper. But, upon reading it, discovers it is a divorce decree for him and Susie, dated ten years in the future. Crazy!
Finding the divorce certificate raised about a billion questions. But it also made Lars and me look at each other in a new, different, and unwelcome way. It brought hearts, flowers, and sexy times to mind, rather than a you’re an okay human being whom I don’t object to spending time with mind-set. The idea that someone might be your everything was a lot. Same went for finding out in advance that a relationship would fail. Messages from the future weren’t as helpful as you’d think.
There is a cat that visits the house. I always adore the addition of a cat in a story!
The cat was crouched at the other end of the porch with the bowl of milk I’d left for her. It seemed rude not to offer her something to drink too. We discussed the weather for a while, but she didn’t have much to say. She mostly flicked her tail, watched the occasional car go past, and kept an eye out for birds.
It was clear to me that the cat was Aunt Susan, and she devised this whole scheme to get these two together. But this is never said or hinted at in the story itself. See if you agree with me or not.
I really loved the way the relationship grew out of friendship. It was organic, sweet, fun, and humorous. I really felt like I got to know the characters, and they had both great qualities and flaws that they accepted about each other.
I’ve never been accused of being deep. My talents consisted of having great style and saying weird shit.
This is a slow burn, with the intimate scenes not starting until about halfway through the book. But they are worth the wait! Foreplay is in no way skipped like I see too much in movies and TV these days. Has anyone else noticed that? It seems to go straight from a hot kiss to penetration and it’s over in 2 minutes. That is not good sex! But here…
His past lovers and girlfriends deserved thank-you notes. And cupcakes, maybe?
The humor in this is what really makes it so great. I love the snark! Some of my favorite quotes:
“Are you saying she was correct when she said we’re horny for each other?”
“There’s no way in hell I’m answering that.”
“You’re smarter than you look.”
“Thanks.” He laughed. “Why are you always picking on me?”
“Why are you always picking on me?” I asked. “It’s like that old nonsense about how the kid in third grade who pushes you over is secretly crushing on you. They’re not. They’re just an asshole. And yet we cannot seem to stop poking at each other.”
He grinned. “Maybe we’re both assholes.”
“Maybe,” I said. “Isn’t it nice that we have things in common?”
Wait a minute. That was not me getting poetic about a male. Heck no. Wash my mind out with soap.
Overthinking things was such a joy.
He grinned down at me. “Thank you for holding my man feelings in such high regard, Susie.”
“You’re welcome, Lars.”
How dare he not manhandle me. This was outrageous.
…he glared at my cute black sleep shorts and tank. Never had my sleepwear been so maligned. The lack of a bra seemed to particularly upset him.
If only people had mute buttons. That would be so useful.
“He should press charges,” hollered the evil witch. Though that was being too mean to witches. Even the ones that were evil. Like I’m sure they had their reasons.
Read this for a cute, feel-good story with a lot of laughs! And come back for more great books by Kylie Scott: Wildflowers, Flesh, and Skin.
Contains graphic sex scenes.
Occasional foul language.
Both the prequel and novel are 1st person past tense from Susie.
Errors: 1 repeated word in the novel “Make sure it hasn’t been accidentally been tucked away…”
195 Pages
$14.99 and $1.99 at Amazon.
I borrowed both of these from Hoopla, a terrific source of free books and audiobooks likely available to you if you have a library card.
Hot apocalyptic romance, no zombies, with fantastic snarky humor!
Blurb:
There’s only one person Dean Wallace wants to save from the end of the world: sunshine girl from across the street. She’s always smiling. Who knows, maybe she can teach him a thing or two about how to live? But saving her against her will is harder than he expected.
Astrid Hardy doesn’t know what to think when she wakes up in her hot neighbor’s basement. He says he wants to protect her from the deadly virus threatening to collapse society. But that sounds like paranoid conspiracy theory nonsense, and losing her sh*t seems like the correct response.
As they watch the downfall of the world play out online, hear approaching gunshots, and smell smoke from nearby burning buildings, it all starts to seem horribly realistic. With almost everyone they know dead, and law and order gone…how will they navigate this new world together?
Wildflowers starts off with Dean drugging Astrid, and Astrid waking up in a makeshift jail cell in Dean’s basement. On first glance, this may say “Dark Romance”, but it’s not. There is no forced touching, nothing sexual or evil about this captivity. Dean is saving Astrid from catching a virus at the real end of the world.
I absolutely adore the snarky humor in this!
My current position isn’t exactly one of strength, what with me sitting in an enclosure. Seems spending all of those hours watching cute animal videos and contouring tutorials instead of learning negotiation tactics and tips and tricks from escape artists might have been a mistake.
I never did like zoos as a child. All of the watching wild animals pace back and forth behind the bars. Having now been on the receiving end of just such a situation, I can confirm it is complete and utter bullshit. Zero stars. Do not recommend. Big jungle cats mauling their keepers makes so much more sense to me now. I am surprised it doesn’t happen more often.
It is exceedingly realistic with the credible speed at which society and all our modern civilization would break down. In a little over a week, Dean lets Astrid out of the cell, and it seems prudent to stick with someone who knows what they’re doing. At least for a while.
Dean is such a great character. He’s exactly the sort of man I would want at the end of the world – skilled with guns, knowledgeable on prepping, can cook, and he’s a contractor, so he knows about construction. All this, and he’s a genuinely good guy. He agrees to saving a child, instantly accepting a lifetime of responsibility, and agrees to saving a lap dog, not the kind of dog he wanted. He never forces Astrid to do anything romantic or sexual.
He stares down at me… and huh. He really is a prime example of a man. Tall, strong, and handsome. When I dreamed of meeting “the one,” he looked a lot like Dean. Guess the whole tall, dark-haired, and handsome ideal has always had me in a chokehold. Half-intelligent things often come out of his mouth. He can cook and shop. Ignore the whole kidnapping-and-caging thing and the man’s a miracle. I bet he even knows what to do with his dick.
But after everything he’s done, I do believe I have officially shelved all of the lust I previously felt for him. Which would honestly be the smartest decision to come out of me in forever.
There’s no expression on his face, but there’s this kind of knowing in his gaze. This all-consuming awareness of me. Like I am the only thing in the world that matters to him. The only thing he is thinking about and all that he’s living for.
I don’t know how to describe it. But it’s as if someone finally sees me, all of me, and is willing to accept me for who I am. The good and the bad. Including the frequently weird and occasionally cranky. Not a thing I honestly thought would ever happen. And the way this knowledge settles inside of me is honestly staggering.
Of course, he couldn’t just leer at my breasts and eye-fuck me. No. He had to go straight for my soul.
“That’s cheating,” I say.
And Dean is funny too!
Astrid: “I hate guns.”
Dean: “You wouldn’t believe the shit I heard it saying about you earlier. Some of it was downright mean and petty. I was surprised.”
Astrid’s philosophy on the end of the world and her sense of humor really endeared her to me. She’s hilarious and kicks arse when needed. She says what’s on her mind, which means no game playing or silly week-long fights from not communicating. She does a great job of teaching Dean how to live and be in an adult relationship.
V. B. Law 