Title: Nighttime Wishes
Author: M.A. Church
Series: #1 in the Make a Wish series
Genre: M/M Sci-Fi Romance
Publisher: M.A. Church, THIRD Edition pub. 2017 (first published May 10, 2012)
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Rating: ☕☕☕☕
Synopsis: *Previously published in 2012 and 2015. This edition's cover has been changed but the story has not been changed*
Ziang, a tentacled warrior from the planet Maz'Rar, has come to Earth to claim his most precious prize and start a new life. When an unforeseen accident results in a crash landing, his plan for a quick removal of the human Shawn lays in a twisted ruin at his feet, much like his shuttlecraft. If that isn't enough, the FBI is sniffing around.
Confronted by the very same alien who observed him since he wished on a shooting star as a child, Shawn finds his initial inability to communicate with Ziang leads to misunderstanding and fear. Forced to hise until rescue arrives, tensions mount. Shawn learns of Ziang's intentions of taking him as a mate. Ziang, on the other hand, is completely befuddled at Shawn's less than stellar response to said taking.
As they wait, a spark ignites. Turns out humans and Maz'Rarians are very compatible--tentacles and all. Shawn falls for the big alien he jokingly call E.T. Now he must decide if he's willing to throw away all he knows to travel the stars with Ziang.
(Synopsis courtesy of GoodReads)
My Thoughts: A good introduction to MA Church's writing and, although, not an award-winning book, she completely hooked me on her Aliens and left me wanting more.
The Good, The Bad, and Everything Else: 3 days. That's as long as this storyline really lasted to create a believable romance. It didn't work as well for me, mostly because I don't like insta-love and in my eyes that is what this was. Never mind Ziang had been watching him practically his whole life. So that sounds creepier than it really was. Honestly. I wouldn't lie to you. Ziang was intrigued by the boy Shawn was as he didn't seem afraid of the "lights" he saw in the sky. Ziang then came back every 6 years or so to check up on Shawn and waited until Shawn was in his 20's before coming to claim him. Ok it still sounds a bit sketch but this romance really did work for me, and I don't consider myself to be skeezy so there it is.
I really liked the Aliens Church created although with some tentacle action (tentacles on the males where their hair would be) I really pictured more of a Predator/humanoid hybrid rather than E.T. and it kind of annoyed me with Shawn continually called Ziang this. I know it was supposed to lend a lighthearted humor to the book, but I think it missed the mark.
The sex was spicy enough and not overly done although I would have liked to know more about the Maz'Rarian's mating season. Ziang mentioned it was his time and it was a bit precarious for Shawn as the Maz'Rarian males could go into a Rut situation (like some animals here on Earth...I'm think like a Bull or Stallion type rutting.) Anyway, this wasn't explained enough for me. Like how long their mating season is and how often it happens etc. I like details and there wasn't enough for me. I think some additional details would have enhanced the storyline and I would have enjoyed it even more.
On a positive note, I really did like the Prologue. Although I have to be honest it did confuse me at first as to the time frame because there was an alien ship crash that happened in the Prologue and then the present-day chapter one opened up with a crash. It took me a while to realize it was 2 different crashes. Back to the prologue and the importance of the crash. I'll not go into details just in case you want to read for yourself, but I appreciated it and found it to be a positive to the storyline.
In a Nutshell: I'm hooked and will definitely read book 2. As of this review there are only 2 books in the series, and I'm really interested in reading the next as it is set up really well towards the end of this first book.
