Choosing Theo: The Clecanian Series: Book 1

This is definitely one of my favorite Alien series!! First book in the Clecanian series. It follows Jade, a woman who is abducted from Earth and taken to an alien planet, where she is forced into a marriage lottery. She ends up with Theo, a gruff but honorable alien warrior who is determined to protect her. As they navigate their arranged marriage, their relationship slowly turns from obligation to genuine love. I found the world-building very interesting. The matriarchy society is very intriguing too and the story has enough fluff and lightness for a quick read. Jade, our strong, relatable heroine who refuses to be a victim. Theo I adoreee him, he is the perfect mix of gruff, protective, and secretly sweet. What do we get: 🛸 Human/Alien relationship 🛸Fated mates 🛸Grumpy MMC 🛸Badass FMC 🛸Spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🛸Arranged marriage 🛸Force proximity 🛸Alpha male 🛸Lots of Banter 🛸Alien abduction 🛸New world-building 🛸Interconnected standalone 🛸HEA

This book was recommended to me on social media for people who liked Ice Planet Barbarians. I have to say I am glad I took this recommendation because I really enjoyed reading this book. This is an alien abduction book, where our main character Jade is abducted one night at home. She fits the bill, healthy, pretty, and with no real ties to anyone. So when she finally escapes she finds herself on a planet she doesn’t know and have an entirely different culture and value system. I have to say I really like the way the culture was explained both to me as a reader and to Jade as a character. I like how she is reminded a couple of times that this planet is different than hers, that you can’t judge an entirely different culture based on your own. The rules say Jade must get “married” which is slightly terrifying for someone from Earth because married means something it does not mean on this planet. Basically its more of an audition. I really like how Jade went about picking her husband. And it was super interesting getting to know Theo, who is more of an outcast and considered “undesirable” because of what their culture values, but for Jade, he’s just an attractive guy. I liked watching these two figure out how to be around each other. They are both so awkward. Jade is nervous being on a new planet, and Theo is untrusting after years of not being wanted and suddenly this woman showing up and picking him. I love Theo’s pet, he’s adorable and I totally get why Jade would instantly fall in love with him. Neither one of these two are at all what they expect but in all the best ways. There are elements of suspense, some spicy times, and also some funny moments. I really found the whole book just enjoyable to read from beginning to end and I will be looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

Stars: 5 Stars Format: Digital Series: Clecanian Book 1 Steam Level: Steamy CW: kidnapping, violence, threat of SA, blood This is a spoiler but one I think everyone would want to know: the dog does NOT die A friend of mine recommended this book series to me months ago, I got it the first one, then promptly got distracted by other books. Then a week ago she suggested it again saying it was right up my alley and she devoured all of them so I picked it up after the book I was reading and now I’m mad at myself for waiting to read this. Quick Thoughts: - This is my favorite kind of fated mates: an instant attraction but they both fight it not knowing what is pushing them together - I want to live on Clecania just for the medical care - There were times I wanted to shake Jade. You don’t just try at every opportunity to escape, you have to wait for the best time. But I did understand her desperation - I really really liked how same-sex attraction is viewed and “dealt with” in this society. I do get frustrated with how hetero-centric Monster Romances are and how they usually have no mention or hint of what roll same-sex attraction takes - Avsivva and Zikas are absolutely delightful and I hope they are in more books - Theo is written perfectly. He expertly walks that thin line of being a class A paranoid jerk and being a sweet and adorable husband - I loved how all of Theo’s plans spectacularly backfire - These two truly are perfect for each other in both temperament and pasts - The ending was so good that I waited until I finished the book before taking my sleeping pills. I did not want to wait until the next day to finish it - There were spots where I was saying “holy s***!” out loud from The Gathering to the end of the book Overall I fell in love with this story so quickly that by chapter five I had bought the next three books. This has a lot of the normal alien fated mates tropes but Victoria Aveline uses them in such clever ways that they make sense so you don’t just have to roll with it as just a book thing. If I didn’t still have a few more books to read for a couple of book challenges, I’d be devouring the next one immediately.

Since reading this series I ask myself where i could find this husbandry school so I can submit for a potential mate! Still searching but I won’t give up! Not only did each story had their own unique beautiful love story the spice was hot hot hot hoot summer…. Maybe if I steal a spaceship and my efforts to find this school will be paying off. Also I would totally do a lion king remake with Alejandra.

I saw a video on tiktok about this book and decided to give it a try. It's better than i thought it would be, and first thought, that would be amazing, so yeah, i love it

I just love it Love how is written Love the story Love the characters You're going to fall in love with Theo

If you love Ruby Dixon and Anna Hackett’s books then you’ll love this too. From the snarky heroine-Jade to dangerous, tortured, lonely hero- Theo I loved everything in this book. The romance in this book was sweet and spicy- indeed a deadly combo. I loved the alien world and their customs. It was unique and refreshing. A planet where they send their teenage boys to husbandry school? Come on, we need that. The boys actually get graded for cooking, conversation skills, parenting etc. like I said it was refreshing. This also had some mystery, hot scenes, marriage of convenience and the cutest pet Cebo. Though you can read it as standalone, I believe the future books are interconnected. But they are so good! Highly recommended and included in KU.

I can’t believe how quickly I devoured this book. There’s so many interesting details that make this book enjoyable. The author does a great job of world building, and it really sucked me in. Jade is kidnapped by aliens and dumped on an alien planet. The advanced raced of human-like (well, they are all gorgeous, tall and fit) aliens, must stick to some intergalactic law about non interference with primitive species and say she has to stay and marry one of their own. The Clecanians face a serious threat to their survival as a species, and men far out number the women. So, the women get to choose a husband for three months, procreate, then move on to another husband, while the men raise the kids. Men are schooled in how to be good husbands and please their wives, and if they don’t, they get in serious trouble. Sounds like every woman’s dream. Of course, it’s not that simple. Anyway, Jade agrees to play along with the intention of trying to get back to Earth at some point. She chooses a husband who is deemed unsuitable by Clecanian females because he is scarred and considered imperfect. Because Jade chose him, Theo (a mercenary with many secrets) thinks she a spy, and intends to get Jade to blow her cover. Of course, neither of their plans pan out, because they fall in love and uncover a nefarious plot in the process. This was a really fun read because it combined so many elements: sci-fi, humour, relatable and emotionally wounded characters, a dash of mystery, swoony romance and some deliciously steamy scenes. The author’s writing style was easy to read, too. It flowed well without any jarring phrasing and disjointed syntax. The result was that I could not put this book down.