Can I just say that I am always pleasantly surprised at Lizzy Ford’s ability to create new characters, as well as worlds, with each of her series? I mean this is the third series of hers that I have read and I am just blown away! Specifically with Star Kissed I loved the whole book. Let’s start with the future Earth she has created. Yes, we find the characters 10,000 years in the future, but it is a future, that with the intervention of aliens is believable. Plus taking Mandy from present day Earth and throwing her into that world makes for a great read. For the beginning part of the story she is convinced she is still dreaming. I don’t want to spoil too much, but she even goes so far as to leap out a window, convinced it will wake her up. Her reactions to this future earth are also hysterical, especially once she realizes she isn’t dreaming. I’m torn on my favorite parts being her reaction to the futuristic bathrooms and her new favorite purse. I also liked how she worked the Naki in as the original founders of the human race. It helps to give foundation to the reason why the Naki are so committed to curing the plague.I love the characters. As I said above Mandy is hysterical. Her views are sooo different than Akkadi’s and watching their outlooks clash kept me turning the pages to see if they would ever be able to find common ground. I also liked the supporting characters. I think I got even more of a kick out of watching Cesar tease Akkasha than Mandy did. Then there is Akkadi’s mother, Helen. She is from a time on Earth close enough to Mandy’s that she has similar view points. But at the same time, Helen has been with Akkadi’s father, and in the Naki’s world, long enough to see things from their point of view as well. I do hope in future installments of the series that the author explores more of the Naki’s universe. I really enjoyed the Kini. I think they are a great counter point to the Naki’s logical views. However there really isn’t a whole lot revealed about them and I soooo want to know more! I can’t wait for book two to come out! If you are already a fan of Ford’s then don’t worry, you won’t be disappointed in her newest novel. If you haven’t yet been introduced to her work, then pick up a copy of Star Kissed and say hello! This is a great novel to start out with and a great romance with lots of adventure to pick up and read before the summer ends. Although the stories are different in that Mandy does not go to another planet, the book did remind me of Kiera's Moon so if you read and liked that one, I think you'll like this one just as much. It did take me a bit of time to switch gears into a futuristic sci-fi type book, but once I got used to the fact we were 10,000 years in the future and Earth was pretty much destroyed, well, things pretty much moved from there.For those of you who are grammar nazis, there are a few errors in the book that I'm sure will get corrected, so don't get held up by those. The book will grab your attention as you follow Mandy as she tries to get her head wrapped around the fact that she fell asleep on a plane and woke up to her worst nightmare. Strapped to a bed and trapped in a horrible reality of a future, where some would use her to breed disease free children or drain her of her blood in hopes to find a cure for the disease. Is it no wonder that she wavers between believing it is all just a dream and wanting to go "home" by any means necessary? Then there is Akkadi...the only one she feels remotely safe with, who makes her a slave and is bound and determined not to get involved with her. So much so, he chooses another as his future wife. He is Naki and the Naki race is an unemotional bunch. Akkadi believes his sole purpose is to be dutiful and fight a war to protect humans and cure the disease killing so many people/species. Mandy is too human and he does not want to rely on his emotions.I did get caught up in her manipulations to get home regardless of the cost to the whole of the planet, which is probably why I didn't love her. It is understandable that she wants to go back to a place and time that was more humane to people, but she was extremely selfish in wanting that given the repercussions to others. Now I said I didn't love her, that didn't mean I didn't like her. I had the same issues with Akkadi. His determination to find a cure, protect humans, including Mandy was second to none. His dishonesty with Mandy was what kept me from loving him. His blatant disregard for her feelings and that same determination that he displayed to find a cure, he applied to NOT being human. Drove me nuts. In fact, drove him to tie himself to a crazy, mean, and disloyal woman. I use the word loosely. There are other characters that you love simply for who they are...there kindnesses (Gonor) and their ability to adapt (Cesar). Lots of room for more books, including Helen's story, Akkadi's siblings and cousins, including Urik and Vekko. If you have not read this, it is definitely worth the read. I would recommend it.
What do You think about Star Kissed (2013)?
Very interesting story. I was definitely captivated. Full review coming soon...
—chris
Fun, fast scifi romance with Space Twinkies! I hope she writes a sequel.
—redmelody
A solid 4 stars for this intergalactic read. Enjoyed!
—Angie
