The LasaranBook #1 Aldebarian Alliance
By Dianne Duvall
April 21, 2020
New York Times bestselling author Dianne Duvall brings readers the first novel in a thrilling new sci-fi romance series full of action, intrigue, humor, and happily-ever-afters.
Taelon searches the galaxy for his younger sister, who mysteriously disappeared while on a diplomatic mission. When an ally reveals that she was seized and is being held prisoner on Earth, Taelon descends upon the blue planet, intent on freeing her and exacting vengeance. However, all does not go as planned. Before he can find her, Taelon is captured and becomes the subject of torturous experiments. For what feels like an eternity, all he knows is pain and fury… until a mind tentatively touches his own and a woman’s voice forever changes his world.
After suffering tragic losses, Lisa is finally beginning to carve out a future for herself when chance sends her to the Anomalous Cognition Research Institute. What at first appears to be a benign organization seeking participants for a psychic study instead turns out to be a government facility harboring a much darker intent. Lisa discovers this too late and soon becomes the unwilling subject of a terrifying experiment. Just as fear and desperation threaten to consume her, a deep, compelling voice penetrates the looming insanity and lends her hope.
Having seen only the worst of humanity, Taelon is shocked when Lisa risks everything to free him. Together the two make their escape, and Taelon finds himself fascinated by the small human woman who—despite all she’s suffered—can still laugh and tease and lure smiles from him. Friendship swiftly grows between them as they work together to evade soldiers intent on capturing them and find themselves hunted by mystifying preternatural beings. Through it all, Lisa steadfastly remains by his side, stealing more of his heart each day while she helps him unravel the mystery of his sister’s fate. Can they find his sister before the hunters find them? If they survive their quest, will Taelon have to bid Lisa farewell… or can he coax her into leaving her planet and joining him for the adventure of a lifetime?
My thoughts:
The Lasaran is the first book in a new Sci-fi spin-off series. The last book in the Immortal Guardian Series, Death of Darkness, left us all on a cliffhanger. The first half of this book tells us covers the events the lead up to the mysterious strangers showing up at the door. This is Taelon and Lisa's story. It is so hard to talk about any of these books at this point without giving away spoilers for the Immortal Guardian series or this one. I'll just say that I loved this first book and am so excited to have two series to devour from this author. I loved Taelon and Lisa. I loved their back story and their bond. I loved the direction the new series is taking. Of course, this one ends in kind of a cliff-hanger, with the fates of some characters unknown. I hope we get answers real soon! I highly recommend this one. You won't be disappointed!
Mythoughts:
Enjoy this excerpt:
The bathroom door opened. He
turned as Lisa stepped out.
Leaving the light on, she pulled
the door almost closed so a little light would illuminate the room for them.
Taelon turned off the overhead
light and crossed to the bed.
Lisa faced him on the other side
of it and fiddled with the edge of her towel. “My clothes are still wet.”
“Mine are, too.”
“I’m thinking there’s no way this
towel is going to stay around me while I sleep.”
“Do you wish to sleep without
it?” he asked, willing his body not to respond to just the idea of it.
“Um . . .”
“I can sleep on the floor.”
“Hell no. Not with those wounds.
You’ll sleep in the bed with me. I’m just . . . not exactly an exhibitionist.”
He hesitated. “I don’t think my
translator is giving me an accurate definition of that word.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You have a
translator?”
“Yes. All members of the
Aldebarian Alliance do.”
She studied him curiously. “Where
is it?”
He pointed to his head, just
behind his ear. “Embedded in my brain.”
“I’m surprised the doctors at the
base didn’t remove it.”
“Their scans failed to detect it
because it isn’t metal and appears to be part of my skull when viewed with your
more primitive scanning devices.”
“That’s trippy.”
“That word isn’t translating at
all.”
She tilted her head to one side.
“What did it tell you an exhibitionist is?”
“A street performer.”
She laughed. “When I said I’m not
an exhibitionist, I meant I’m not comfortable flaunting my naked body.” She
glanced down and wrinkled her nose. “Especially when it looks like this.”
“You’re shy?”
“More self-conscious than shy,”
she admitted. “I don’t know. I guess, despite my actions earlier, I just don’t
want you to see me naked.”
Surprise coursed through him. “You
don’t want ME to see YOU naked?”
Her brow furrowed. “Yeah.”
Taelon shook his head. “Lisa,
you’re beautiful.” When she started to speak, he held up a hand. “I’m not
saying that to put you at ease. I think you’re lovely. So much so that I’ve
honestly been having a hard time keeping myself from staring at you too long.”
Her lips parted in surprise.
“Really?”
“Yes.” He motioned to the towel
at his hips. “This doesn’t exactly hide my body’s response to you, so I’ve been
trying to keep my focus from drifting lower than your pretty face. You’re
beautiful, Lisa. If anyone should wish to hide his body, it’s me. I’m quite a
bit thinner than I used to be.”
Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”
She motioned to his form. “You have all that muscle.”
“I used to have more. And I’m
covered with all these ghastly wounds and scars because I’m too weak to
regenerate. I don’t know how you can stand to look at me or manage not to
grimace when you touch me. So again, I will offer to sleep on the floor.”
She stared at him, unspeaking.
“I won’t be offended if you don’t
wish to sleep with me,” he assured her. Assuming an exaggeratedly somber
expression, he rested a hand over his heart and spoke in dejected tones. “I
will just be deeply, deeply hurt.”
Her lips twitched, then she
laughed. “You are so freaking likable.”
He smiled. “I feel the same about
you.”
“Okay then. We’re both adults.
And neither one of us is physically up to engaging in anything amorous anyway,
so—”
“Well,” he said with a grin,
“that isn’t precisely true.”
Her cheeks pinkened. “Stop making
me blush!”
He laughed.
The Immortal Guardians Series:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians series and The Gifted Ones series. Reviewers have called Dianne's books "fast-paced and humorous" (Publishers Weekly), "utterly addictive" (RT Book Reviews), "extraordinary" (Long and Short Reviews), and "wonderfully imaginative" (The Romance Reviews). Her books have twice been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards and are routinely deemed Top Picks by RT Book Reviews, The Romance Reviews, and/or Night Owl Reviews.Dianne loves all things creative. When she isn't writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the vampires she creates in her books.
For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit DianneDuvall.com. You can also find Dianne online . . .
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Tour-Wide Giveaway:
- (1) $50 Amazon Gift Card
- (2) An Aldebarian Alliance, Immortal Guardians, and The Gifted Ones by Dianne Duvall Prize Pack
- (2) An Aldebarian Alliance, Immortal Guardians, and The Gifted Ones by Dianne Duvall Prize Pack
*Please be aware, that should conditions worsen due to COVID-19, the author reserves the right to substitute an Amazon.com gift card of their choice amount for the prize pack. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
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Thanks for the review. Now I'm more excited to read this book!
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt! Thanks for sharing, Kari. So glad that you enjoyed the book as well! 🙂 I hope that your readers enjoy THE LASARAN (available now)! – Crystal @ Author’s Taproom
ReplyDeleteCannot wait to get my copy tomorrow! 💜💜💜
ReplyDeleteSo excited to finally read!!
ReplyDeleteI loved that scene! I didn't go to sleep this morning until sometime after 3am because of The Lasaran :-) Not complaining as it was totally worth it to be dragging today. Loving The Lasaran!
ReplyDeleteFun excerpt. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved The Lasaran! It is an absolutely amazing book.
ReplyDeleteFantastic book! Thanks for the post!
ReplyDelete