Close Encounters (Alien Affairs Novels)

I loved this book!!!!!!.I read alot of books in this genre and thought this is the best i have read in along time.Her writing style drew me right into the characters and the story line made sense and was straight forward sometimes books like this can loose you when they get into the technology etc. Any way will be waiting impatiently for the next installment.

This was a really good scifi romance. The main character really has "character" and depth. Keira's friends the ship computer Max and her rock cat are really good characters as well. I LIKE a ship computer, now thats good writing. keira's Love interest Thor is also very well written, They cant speak the same language yet I still really cared about Thor and his Buri tribe. I will definitely by more of her books.

I loved this novel! I usually avoid SF and lean toward fantasy, but this author hooked me. It was a terrific ride. The setting is wonderful and the premise kept me fascinated. No skimming for me--I read every word. Sexy romance and skillful writing. In short: big win! Loved the secondary characters, too. Ha, I dare you not to love Crigo!

I absolutely loved this story! Kiera is the ideal heroine. In less skillful hands, a Genetically Engineered Person like Kiera might have come across as too "perfect," but Ms. Allred allows the reader to identify with Kiera's flaws and fears, making her more "Natural" than a lot of romance heroines in traditional stories. Thor is sexy and sublime. Considering there's a tremendous language barrier between the two for the first half of the book, I'm awed that Ms. Allred communicated so much heat with her prose. Kudos to Close Encounters and you can bet I'll be pre-ordering the next book in the Alien Affairs series!

In the distant future, humans are divided between Naturals created in the traditional way and GEPs developed to the buyer's specifications in test tubes as genetically engineered people. Each GEP is indentured to a boss until they are old enough to produce and go on their own. Kiera Smith of The Bureau of Alien Affairs is much more evolved than the usual GEP as she is stronger, faster, heals quicker and is an empath. She is sent to the planet Orpheus Two, where the Buri race faces extinction as the natives have dropped to under 100 living. Dynatec corporation claims the planet since the Buri will be gone within 100 cycles. Buri leader Thor Sparks and Kiera are attracted to one another and he actually makes her feel she belongs to him; an alien feeling for the GEP loner. His people also welcome her as one of them rather than the usual treating her as an intrusive outsider. She will insure Dynatec adheres to the rules, but the firm wants to expedite their take-over by immediately annihilating the dwindling indigent populace. Kiera risks her life to keep her adopted people safe. This excellent science fiction tale contains characters whether they are Naturals, GEPs or aliens that seem plausible. The audience will root for the "David" Buri to somehow triumph against the Goliath Dynatec Corporation. Kiera struggles with the awakening of new emotions as the Buri welcome her as an insider showering her with love and respect; something Naturals never have done before as she is used to being a tool to them. Thus when Thor and his people get through to her, she lowers her natural barriers for the first time in her life. Though in some ways too simplistic with the evil industrial giant trying to destroying the pristine native world, Katherine Allred provides an entertaining strong thriller as CLOSE ENCOUNTERS in this case includes the heart and soul of a GEP who never understood she had a soul and her heart that did anything besides pumping blood. Harriet Klausner