[.ca] My Favorite Earthling (ISBN 0373771924)

An extraordinary tale.:
Keira, warrior-queen of the galaxy, is famous for her beauty and her mastery of weapons, especially plasma swords and daggers. Keira has never had a real friend. She was thrust into her queenly role as a child, when her entire family was killed in "a terrible accident". Keira prefers to let parliament deal with major issues while she does little as possible. Keira wishes only to be left alone and unwed. But when a little planet called Earth seems to actually threaten her world with its fleet of spaceships and advanced technology, the fate of her people rests in Keira's hands. Jared Jasper's family has always been in the spot light. However, Jared prefers not to be. Jared is a Sacramento real estate developer and a fighter pilot (F-16) in the National Guard. That all changes when he enters a space ship, gets connected (via video monitor conference call) to an unknown lady, and lets his mouth run wild. Jared's biggest mistake is giving the sexy lady his code name "The Prince". It is not long before Jared learns that the lady on the video screen was the warrior-queen of the galaxy! The queen now wishes (A.K.A. demands) Prince Jared wed her to form an alliance between Earth and the Coalition. This will present a united front to the Drakken Horde, their common enemy. Playing dutiful consort to the reigning queen is listed LAST on Jared's To-Do-List. Yet in exchange, over six billion people on Earth will live safely and have safer, brighter future. Well, Jared may have to wed the queen, but that does not mean he has to be a meek mate. Little "Sunshine" is about to learn that she has met her match. Meanwhile, unknown to Jared or Keira, the enemy has slipped inside. "Terrible accidents" begin anew. Jared must open Keira's eyes to the danger and together they must save the galaxy from the latest Horde plot. ***** This Science Fiction/Romance may target the female audience, but do not be fooled into thinking that men could not easily find themselves enthralled by this novel. Author Susan Grant writes in such a way that appeals to both genders. In this title, there is not only an Alpha Male, but also an Alpha Female. Readers view the situation through the eyes of BOTH main characters. The writing is in no way stilted. The entire story flows smoothly. I could almost feel as though I were there, watching it all from the shadows. You do not HAVE to read the first book (Your Planet Or Mine?) to fully enjoy this tale. I did not; however, I will certainly be looking forward to the next book in this series. An extraordinary tale. ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

A Fun, Intergalactic Romp:
Another disaster averted, Earth can once again rest easy...or can they? Though an alien invasion has in fact been averted, now's not the time for the big sigh of relief. On eggshells, the world watches in anxious anticipation of a permanent solution to the threat to their safety. Who will give all to keep Earth safe? Enter our Hero, Jared Jasper, brother to the previous installment's heroine. He knows about the limelight; his family's been in it for a long time. Now's his time to step up to the plate and make a stand for the people and all because of his big, sexy mouth. After a precipitous video encounter with a fiery alien beauty, via a crashed alien spacecraft, Jared finds himself her reluctant consort. A man through and through though, Jared's ready to bring his game to the people of not only Earth, but his soon-to-be-bride's as well. Keira, Queen of galactic superpower Sakka, is under pressure to marry. No one's remotely interested her till backwater Earth member Jared Jasper. While she'll bow to her council's wishes in this regard, she will retain complete control of her unwanted marriage. From the moment he steps foot on her frigid planet though, Jared not only dares to question her council's motives, but goes several further and dares to make her feel. On a planet in the throws of intergalactic disaster, can they divert the hated Drakken, keep Earth safe and surmount a rocky marriage? These aliens, the good and the bad, are in for a surprise because they've never met an Earthling on a mission. At first, I felt I should have read the first book previously. But then author Grant saved this reader's day by interweaving just enough of the previous book's (titled Your Planet or Mine?) plot and characters to set the scene perfectly for this entry. Too, it hooked me solidly for backtracking to the first one as soon as possible. That being said, Jared and Keira's story was as utter delight. We have a queen, revered in the highest sense monarchs can be, who is more vulnerable than the poorest of Earth's residents. Intrigue, murder and intergalactic espionage--it's all right here and written in a snappy, fast paced style that's enjoyable and witty. Keira, being who she is, has the opportunity to come off as arrogant and snobby, but fortunately she has a sensitive Earthling to delve under her protective layers. Jared's been dealt a low blow, having to save the world, but his new life's not without some perks. He's a genuinely caring husband to Keira, what she needs most at a crucial point. My Favorite Earthling is a marvelous addition to Ms. Grant's already impressive romance shelf. Be on the lookout for the third book, How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in Ten Days, starring Jared's other sister, Evie.

Amazing characters immersed in a witty intergalactic romp:
Picture the following scenario. You're a decorated military hero from a famous U.S. political family, lauded for helping your sister and her lover defeat the evil aliens to save Earth. But one morning, out of morbid curiosity, you decide to examine the alien airship that crash-landed in your backyard. You slip into the captain's seat of the ship, the screen in front of you becomes a window into a different world -- and suffice it to say your life is changed. This is the premise of Susan Grant's new novel, "My Favorite Earthling," second in her three-book "Earthling" series. To summarize, above-mentioned military hero Jared Jasper's big mouth puts him on the bargaining table as "Prince of Earth." In that role, he finds himself an unwilling groom to the lovely and headstrong Keira, warrior-goddess of her planet Sakka. The alliance is necessary for both worlds, to prevent further attacks from evil aliens. Both bride and groom are reluctant participants at first, forced into each others' arms through political necessity. But once their shared passion is kindled, Jared and Keira find more in common than they could have dreamed. Still, they must build trust with one another while rooting out an evil plan that could destroy their worlds. While the cross-galaxy political situations and characters described in "My Favorite Earthling" were somewhat tangled and confusing -- one assumes this is all laid out in the series' first novel, "Your Planet or Mine?" -- Grant handles the overall storyline with consummate skill and wit. The flow is fast-paced as the reader jumps from one subplot to another. Can Jared adapt to a new planet? Will Keira tame her "barbaric" Earthling? Will he tame her? Will they find the bad guys? Will they both make it out of the book with their lives and love intact? While the plot flow is great, what really makes the book sing are the two protagonists and their relationship. Their eventual joining is definitely passionate, but there is more to Jared's and Keira's relationship than physical attraction and politics. Jared is a cocky kind of guy who has the admirable quality of making the best of dubious situations. His wonderful wooing of and steadfastness to Keira caught my attention and emotions. For her part, Keira is an appealing blend of innocence and strength; someone who is headstrong, but not so stubborn that she can't see a truth when it hits her in the face. Her attraction to and protection of her "barbarian" is moving and amusing in turn, and the reader comes away from this story convinced these two are definitely on the same wavelength, despite their different cultures and planets. Thanks to Keira and Jared, Grant's story surpasses the usual "star-crossed-lovers-from-different-worlds" plot, making "My Favorite Earthling" a great and entertaining read.