After seeing the enigmatic “gray men” and Eric’s beginning romance with one of them through Trev’s eyes in the previous book, and having hoped for Eric’s in the next installment, I was over the moon when I read the blurb for book eight in this amazing series – only to find out it is, indeed, Eric’s story. And what a treat it turned out to be. The cultural difference between humans and the secretive species from Tanarra is huge, and results in many, many misunderstandings between Eric and “Tall Man”, which is what he calls Adlor before the alien finally reveals his name.

Adlor is an extremely quiet individual. He and his four brothers serve Yanai (from book seven), as well as feed on his blood. Their symbiotic relationship benefits both species, but nobody else can find out. The gray men are not supposed to tell anyone about their hive culture, never mind taking an outsider as a lover or husband. And yet, Adlor finds himself falling in love with Eric, who inadvertently starts the binding process by kissing Adlor. Adlor Is determined to make him his, but cannot do so officially until they re back on Tanarra and Eric can be introduced to and tested by the hive elders. Adlor is determined to do things right, but that complicates matters.

Eric has no idea what he’s let himself in for when he kisses Adlor. To the human it is just a sign of affection, but Eric gradually discovers there are serious consequences. He isn’t opposed to getting to know Adlor better, but no sex for the duration of their trip back to Tanara (which takes nine months) is a bit extreme. Adlor’s secrecy soon gets to Eric, and when he finds out the alien got him pregnant? He loses it. Wanting kids “at some point in the future” and “right now” is not exactly the same thing.

Emotions between both men run deep from the very beginning, Even all the hard work of trying to understand each other cannot deter them, and they long for each other even when they fight. Eric isn’t used to keeping secrets from a lover, and Adlor has strong taboos that forbid him to tell Eric anything before they make it to his home planet. Their struggle was fascinating to watch and had me laughing and tied up in anxious knots in turn. What a great cross-cultural love story!


NOTE: This book was provided by Siren Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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