Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay, Bi
Reviewer: Tony
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About The Book
In the middle of a training trip, Keeska’s shuttle navigation fails and strands Keeska on Earth—alone, no way to contact home, and with no chance of help from the locals…until one does.
When Eric starts leaving food in front of an abandoned storefront in the crappy strip mall by his house, he thought he was helping a dog or a homeless kid. He gets the shock of his life when he discovers an alien instead. Not sure what else to do, especially with the alien bleeding and in shock, Eric realizes he’s about to have an unusual houseguest.
But as Keeska’s health improves, they both forget that Keeska should probably be finding a way home. As they grow increasingly close, they are forced to figure out the answers to questions they never thought would have to be asked…
This is a 2nd edition. No significant changes have been made from the original release.
The Review
Eric is the head librarian at the local library. He’s a sensitive soul who probably overthinks things. He’s nothing like his bestie Will.
Will is more gung-ho and a building contractor so he has the muscle to go gung-ho with. Just as well that it’s going to be in a good way.
Eric has been leaving food (the granola bars in the title) inside a shop in a semi-derelict shopping mall. He cannot quite say why but something draws him there.
That something is a someone named Keeska. Keeska is an alien. A cat like genderless alien. Eet has crash landed on Earth and is trying to survive long enough to be rescued by his family. (Pronouns ‘eet’ and ‘ta’)
The story follows the two main characters, how they meet, learn to communicate and fall in love. Will is a necessary component in their getting together, and he provides contact with the outside world(s).
This is a fun tale set mostly in Eric’s apartment and ending up on a space station. I’m not sure if it tells us anything new about ace relationships, but it does investigate how love might work between alien species. Eric and Keeska do get to shower together, but don’t expect anything hotter than the water.
When I started reading this I was hoping for a love story between Eric and Will, alongside whatever else was going to be going on. This is not quite that. They do love each other and will help each other out, but are not in love. Anyway, this is not my story so Will is not going to throw me over his shoulder and rescue me from danger. Sorry, did I say me? I meant Eric and Keeska. *grins*
I’ll have to read the next book in the series so I can spend some more Will time.
This is an enjoyable read with some very humorous moments.
The Reviewer
Tony is an Englishman living amongst the Welsh and the Other Folk in the mountains of Wales. He lives with his partner of thirty-six years, four dogs, two ponies, various birds, and his bees. He is a retired lecturer and a writer of no renown but that doesn’t stop him enjoying what he used to think of as ‘sensible’ fantasy and sf. He’s surprised to find that if the story is well written and has likeable characters undergoing the trails of life, i.e. falling in love, falling out of love, having a bit of nooky (but not all the time), fending off foes, aliens and monsters, etc., he’ll be happy as a sandperson who has just offloaded a wagon of sand at the going market price. As long as there’s a story, he’s in. He aims to write fair and honest reviews. If he finds he is not the target reader he’ll move on.