Close Encounters - Book Review

Close Encounters (Alien Affairs #1) by Katherine Allred

What is it about:
Kiera Smith is not like ordinary Genetically Engineered Persons . . .

The Bureau of Alien Affairs needed a special GEP agent with empathic abilities to handle their most extraordinary assignments—and a rogue geneticist saw to it that Kiera fit their specifications. But she turned out stronger, faster, smarter, and more impervious to harm than anyone anticipated. A reluctant "superhero," Kiera wishes she were normal, but it is not to be.

On Orpheus Two, the indigenous Buri race faces extinction, a prospect the powerful Dynatec corporation welcomes and, in fact, may be actively hastening. It is Kiera's job to protect these beautiful, exotic aliens . . . and to discover what there is on Orpheus Two that Dynatec feels is worth killing for.

But the magnetic allure of Thor, the breathtaking Buri leader, is proving a dangerous distraction. And now, to save Thor's people, Kiera will need a power she's never before possessed—something hidden in the unexplored recesses of her heart.

What did I think of it:
As a SciFi Romance this book was a pleasant enough read, but a bit too easy in my opinion.

First there's Keira:
she's just too much in my opinion. I like my lead characters to have some flaws, but Keira is just nearly perfect in every way. Ok, she has her emotional issues, but those are added to an otherwise complete and perfect package and didn't make me feel for her, instead it made her look whiny.

Then there are the Buri:
Why is it that in every SciFi Romance I come across the aliens are basically humans? Especially when it comes to love interests! The Buri are just as Keira human in shape, only bigger, better and more gorgeous. Now I can live with humanoid aliens when the story is set on earth. I mean: a tentacle beastie would stand out in a crowd and therefor for earth based SciFi humanoids are just the most likely to be able to fit in on earth. But I really would like to read about an off-world SciFi romance where one of the two is looking a bit more alien. If anyone has any recommendations let me know!

All in all this was a nice read though. Most of the world building was fun. I really liked the dragonbirds and Keira's rock cat Crigo. If I'm looking for a pleasant, easy read I might even pick up the next book in this series.

Why should you read it:
It's a very pleasant SciFi Romance