I wasn't sure if I should review this book for the blog or not, but honestly, since I got hooked in the first few minutes, I decided it might be worth sharing. For a sci-fi romance, it's highly entertaining and has so many laugh out loud moments. The characters are very enjoyable with their intense chemistry and snappy conversations.

It all begins with Megan about to drown in the open water, who was left there by her boyfriend, planning to kill her for her money. At first, she thought the bright light was heaven calling her, but then she quickly realized that she was being abducted by an alien ship, along with many fish and marine life. Actually, Megan doesn't seem too worried about being abducted. In her place, I guess I wouldn't be either since the only other option would be death. But to her benefit, her open mind and accepting personality, helps her survive something that could have been really traumatic for someone else. I love her initial description of her captor as "Han Solo on crack" and her multiple one-liners.

It wasn't Tren's intention to abduct the "barbaric female" from planet Earth. As an ex-mercenary turned acquisition specialist, his intention was to acquire some of Earth's marine life since the planet's barbarians were killing off some of their species with their destructive ways. At first, he decides to sell her off in the first available auction but her snarky mouth and curvy body makes him want to keep her all for himself.

Their sexual chemistry is definitely palatable. Tren might have purple skin and a few different body parts but he and Megan prove that their species are completely compatible. Both physically and emotionally. It doesn't take time for Tren to sample what Megan has to offer (it's not his fault since she's the one always bringing it up). Apparently all it takes is a few sips of a very potent wine to get things started.

It's only when Megan is abducted by someone else that Tren realizes he truly has some feelings for his barbaric human. Despite their differences, they do fit as a couple. Their intense chemistry and entertaining banter only proves their compatibility. Even though the story is primarily an erotic romance, it still has enough sci-fi elements and a good storyline to satisfy my need for a good story to go along with the rest. Literary wise, it's nothing amazing but overall, the novella length story was so  entertaining, I started reading the second book of the series immediately. Eve Langlais is definitely on to something with her purple aliens because they are definitely sexy and skilled (as warriors and lovers).

I've always liked reading historical fiction but personally I've never liked reading books about WWII. There's so many atrocities in that war that I usually can't face a novel set during that time. However, when I read the synopsis of this book, there was just something about it that caught my attention. I don't know if it's the idea of a fallen angel living in occupied Paris or if it's the idea of a novel about a fallen angel in love with two completely different men, but it just felt like I was about to read something special. Although the story was definitely not what I expect, it was truly original. I think it takes a special mind to come up with a story like this one. It shocked me multiple times, brought me to tears, and provided good entertainment.

The main character, Alia, is the fallen angel in question. As a protagonist, she's not my favorite because her carefree attitude in the beginning of the novel makes us feel like she doesn't take the war seriously enough. For her, she's just passing through, telling herself that she's not affected by the lives of the humans surrounding her. She's simply using them for her enjoyment since she has no more obligations as a fallen angel. She does eventually redeem herself multiple times throughout the book, since the book is in part her "transformation" from angel to a human.

Pedro and Josef are the two men Alia gets romantically involved with, that have proven time and time again their worth and their ability to sacrifice their lives for the good of the people. Although I can't really tell you who she ends up choosing without revealing major spoilers I can tell you either man is a worthy choice for any woman (or angel in this case). Traci L. Slatton took a huge risk by adding eroticism to some of the love scenes but personally I think it's a great way to balance out the horrors of war. These opposites are strange because it's unexpected but the love story does provide a way to escape into the story without being overwhelmed by the hostility of the occupation.

One of the aspects that I truly appreciated is the addition of real historical people in the novel. The author included people like Edith Piaf and Coco Chanel, among many others, in her novel and it added some authenticity to the story. Edith Piaf and Coco are the ones that stood out the most for me because they are among some of my favorite French celebrities. Obviously Edith Piaf's music will live on forever because of her unique voice and amazing talent, while Coco Chanel is known for revolutionizing women's fashion and beauty. I could go on and on about Chanel because I'm a huge fan of the fragrances and make-up (I can't afford the clothes so I must fuss about things that are a little less expensive) but I'm not going to turn this post into a beauty/fashion post. Suffice to say, the author certainly got a thumbs up from me for including these celebrities.

I wasn't sure where the author was going with her novel near the end, and although I'm still not sure if it's the perfect ending to the story, I think the conclusion allows the readers to reevaluate human life and to understand why some of us are driven to courageous acts. I don't think BROKEN is so much about how WWII broke the spirits of so many people but about how some were able to overcome so much and still able to piece themselves back together. It's obvious the author researched her subject thoroughly because the historical references seem accurate. I'm no historian, but ignoring the fictional elements, the war elements were very realistic. Please note that the book does contain some explicit scenes and some dark themes that are not suitable for everyone, however I do recommend it to anyone in the mood for something dark yet enlightening. BROKEN left me a bit confused because even though I enjoyed it, it's not your everyday paranormal read. I have nothing to compare it to, and it's hard to define it, but I guess that's what makes it so stunning. It's unlike anything I've ever read.