When a Man Loves an Alien
(Tentacular Tales #3)
by Chloe Archer
Release Date: May 26 2023
Publisher: Rainbow Dreams Press LLC (self-pubbed)
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Primary Plot Arc: Romance
Pairings: M/M pairing (grumpy-sexy alien/sunshiny sci-fi nerd)
Genres: Romance, Science Fiction
Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, nerd, opposites attract, tentacles are fun, rom com
Story Type: Novel (>50k)
Word Count: 100,000
Amazon US - Amazon UK
Blurb
A grumpy-sexy alien and his (mostly) human mate are just trying to get married for goodness sake! But the road to matrimony is riddled with obstacles that could prove deadly...
RIVER
Being engaged to my adorable alien boo is a dream come true. Too bad there’s a target painted on my back. Come on universe, quit messing with true love! For reals. Kai and I need to plan our wedding—which is going to be hella quirky and fun, because I say so.
Cue Shilgar the Deadly, who’s screwing up everything—what with trying to kill me and all. My life is becoming even more unbelievable than my fictional characters, Lord Vardox and Captain Starblade.
There’s no way I’m not walking down the aisle with Kai, so help me! I fully intend to ‘get me to the church’—I mean Vegas wedding chapel—on time. This fool of an assassin thinks he can mess with my dreams of wedded bliss? I don’t think so. He’s about to learn he’s met his match in River Sullivan!
KAI
My relationship with River is solid and wedding bells are in the air. Unfortunately, other parts of my life are…less stable. Between juggling a highly inconvenient Mating Fever that can strike at any time, and dealing with an investigator from Intergalactic Alliance Headquarters, I’m finding it hard to hold onto my usual equilibrium.
When Shilgar the Deadly finally shows up on Earth, gunning for River, the control I cling to is stretched razor thin. I’m desperate to do whatever I can to keep my mate safe—but I’m not sure if I can.
Yet things aren’t all that they seem. New secrets come to light and we’re all left reeling. Apparently, that famous Earthling playwright was correct when he wrote, “the course of true love never did run smooth….”
When a Man Loves an Alien (Tentacular Tales #3) is a (96k words) M/M sci-fi rom com and the third book in the series. It should be read in chronological order. This installment features an assassin who just won’t quit, little old ladies at slot machines who should NOT be messed with, a zipline action-hero moment, shocking secrets and revelations, a death-defying climax, and just maybe…a zany Vegas wedding? This book has an HFN ending and no cheating. Never fear—there is a guaranteed HEA by the end of the series!
Warnings: sex involving tentacles, some violence
Other Books in Series:
1 - It's Not Unusual To Be Loved by an Alien
1.5 (novella) - A Very Tentacular Christmas
2 - Cant' Help Falling in Love with an Alien
Excerpt
RIVER
“Step right up and get your Tentacular Tales merch! We’ve got T-shirts in all sizes, made to accommodate folks of various shapes and appendages.” My old neighbor—and incognito alien—Tom Jones holds up one of the aforementioned shirts. “For those die-hard fans of our favorite villain out there, we have our brand spanking—no pun intended—new Team Vardox FTW tees!”
There’s an enthusiastic murmur among the crowd. Tom drapes the shirt over his shoulder like a bar towel and plucks up another. “For the more daring among you, we have I got tentacled by Lord Vardox…and I liked it or Villain in the streets, Tentacled-Lover in the sheets.”
There’s some enthusiastic whistling at that one. He tosses it aside and grabs a different one. “And let’s not forget about our Starblade stans in the crowd.” There are answering whistles and cheers. “Of course we have Team Starblade FTW. We can’t let Team Vardox have all the fun! We also have I’m too sexy for this shirt, and so is Captain Starblade or Tentacle Lover on the DL. Get your favorites before we run out!”
Aliens of all shapes and sizes begin surging forward, cash in hands and other appendages, as they surround the folding table where Tom is selling his wares.
I shake my head in awe, turning to my super-sexy alien boo, and now fiancé, Kai. “Did you know about this?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Looks like Tom took a cue out of your book and went the route of T-shirt design.”
I glance down at the black cotton tee I’m wearing. On the front, in multicolored sequins, it reads Team ANAL, and on the back it says in shiny metallic gold font, Kicking butt from here to Uranus. My design is a work of art and classy as f*ck—it also promotes team spirit, thank you very much. I’ve had quite a few orders from folks at work already. “Just so you know, I’m going to keep wearing this until it grows on you.” I beam. “I’ve got a different colored one for each day of the week!”
Kai rolls his eyes but favors me with a teasing smile. “Save me now.”
I give his arm a light and playful smack. “You know you love it.”
His mouth twitches and he arches an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t go that far, darling. But I’ll put up with it for you.”
I clutch my hands to my heart. “OMG, honeybuns. You’re getting to be sooo romantic! You just called me darling. It’s like we’re an old married couple already.”
Kai flushes adorably pink and sputters. I love getting a rise out of him at moments like this. He can be a bit too tightly wound, so I have to help him let go of his iron grip on duty, responsibility, and propriety.
I’m like Yoda, teaching him the ways of the Fun-Loving Force.
A microphone crackles to life and my new friend Nirblob addresses the crowd from atop the small impromptu stage against the wall at the far end of the bar. “Good evening, friends, and welcome to Vardox’s Cantina. Tonight, it is my supreme pleasure to usher in our very first Open Mic night!”
There’s an enthusiastic round of applause and some loud whistles.
Nirblob grins, which admittedly is a little freaky since he has no lips. I still haven’t quite gotten used to that. “This evening, we are most fortunate to have a very special guest. Here to kick things off with a sneak peek from the next chapter in the Tentacular Tales of Captain Starblade, please join me in welcoming the one, the only, River Sullivan, a.k.a. KirklovesSpock4eva!”
The crowd goes wild, which in a super-secret alien bar can be a bit surreal. After all, this bar is mainly for extraterrestrials who don’t pass easily in human society, or ones who do but want the opportunity to be their true selves in a safe space. Some folks here make even Nirblob look somewhat ordinary. It’s a bit like being a real-life version of the Mos Eisley Cantina in Star Wars—only less violent!
“Looks like you’re up,” Kai murmurs, giving my arm a squeeze.
I grin. “Give me a kiss for luck, boo.”
He sighs at the endearment, but his eyes darken as he leans down and takes my lips in a way that makes me want to ditch this event and go get our freak on.
When Kai pulls back, I’m tingly all over and more than a little hot and bothered. But I’m pleased to notice, as he adjusts himself discreetly, he isn’t exactly unaffected either.
“Knock ‘em dead.”
I give him a jaunty little salute. “Aye, aye, captain!”
He can’t keep the fondness from his eyes when he tries to glare at me, which turns my grin into that of a lovesick fool. And I basically am. I have no qualms about owning it.
I make my way over to the stage, offering variants of high fives along the way—to a tail here, a hand with eight fingers there, a furry paw every now and then. Two months ago, I never could have imagined this would be my life. A longtime Roswell alien conspiracy believer and total X-phile, I—by some remarkable twist of fate—actually found aliens here on Earth, living incognito among humanity.
What are the odds?
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Carra's Review
This series continues to be a perfect blend of laughs, romance, and action. Between the amazing characters, great dialogue, and extra surprises, the author keeps you on your toes…and may even cause you to burst out with a giggle-snort here and there. Plus sci-fi fans will appreciate the references to shows and movies in the genre that are liberally sprinkled throughout the story.
River and Kai are very much entrenched in their adorable relationship, a classic grumpy/sunshine duo. They’re swiftly moving forward, and the mating fever Kai is experiencing is certainly keeping things hot and sexy between them. Kai continues to become more demonstrative when around others, particularly when River has just been saved from danger.
And danger is definitely plaguing poor River with an assassin after him. Thankfully he has a lot of people on his side, from his Uncle Benji, friends, coworkers, and adoring fans—all willing to keep him safe and help root out Shilgar the Deadly before they can complete their assignment of offing River. This makes for some interesting scenes and action.
There were a few spots here and there where thing may have gone a little over the top, but then again we are talking about multiple alien species living on Earth, hidden from humans, so that’s not too much of a stretch. The author also threw in a couple of unexpected twists as things were running towards a dramatic peak that I did not see coming, but will make for some interesting points in the continuing storyline of the series.
I’m so glad there’s more to come, because I’ve been loving it so far. When a Man Loves an Alien was a 4.5-star read for me, and I just can’t get enough of these characters—especially River with his awesome stream-of-consciousness rambles and popular sci-fi references (those do my inner sci-fi nerd good). Be sure to read this series in order or you’ll likely be lost, but don’t worry—it’s a fantastic ride! Recommended for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content…including tentacles!
Giveaway!
Chloe is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card with this tour
