"My Alien Summer: A Clean Scifi Romance" by Rose E. Pease

Current Tags

science fiction, alien contact, clean romance, just kisses, clean and wholesome, sweet romance, alien romance

Categories

Romance / Teen & Young Adult

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My Alien Summer: A Clean Scifi Romance

Author's Description

When Kyla's abduction by aliens takes an unexpected turn, she and her captor form an unlikely friendship that leads to the start of a summer they will never forget. But their new relationship is put to the ultimate test when it appears she may be vital to his kind's survival. Dual POV. Edited by Hollie Westring.

Why I Chose it

On one of the FB groups, people were listing their favorite story of the year and this one was in the mix. The first episode is a great example of someone trying to figure out how to dump their partner and then feeling hurt because the other person dumped them first. And that opens up the path for Kyla to be abducted by the aliens!

[Complete at 23 episodes.]

Who Might Like This

If you are an alien romance reader, this will be just the thing for you!

Unrelated Griping

It's the end of 2021 and I'm wondering if Kindle Vella will still be around at the end of 2022. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the platform improves and begins attracting more readers!

"Immortal Guardians" by RM Alexander

Current Tags

vampires, fae, romance, paranormal, suspense, urbanfantasy, heroine

Categories

Paranormal / Romance

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Immortal Guardians

Author's Description

Humans are fragile, and Celeste will stop at nothing to ensure they're able to live in peace from the fae who would destroy them. Then, she falls for the enemy.

Why I Chose it

Paranormal romance for the second day in a row, but this time the vampire is a woman who is responsible for protecting a human from fairies in Sacramento.  How can you not like a paranormal story set in Sacramento?

[4 episodes, 2 in the last 30 days]

Who Might Like This

Vampires protecting humans from fairies in Sacramento! What's not to love?

Unrelated Griping

I read the first episode of a story yesterday in which the main character was "from the UK" and was also a "junior in high school".

And maybe there was some transatlantic move explained sometime later, but... Here's the thing. If you put those two facts in the same paragraph at the beginning of the first episode, you either need to give a little more information so the reader isn't thrown out of the story by the idea of high school in the UK, or your writing has to be so perfect that the reader trusts that it will be explained later. Otherwise, the reader is going to come to the conclusion that you've set the story somewhere in the UK without knowing anything about the setting.

"Courtyards of the Lost" by Brigitte Delery

Current Tags

new orleans, slow burn, paranormal, romance, paranormal romance, vampire romance, vampires

Categories

Paranormal / Romance

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Courtyards of the Lost

Author's Description

Vampires are dying out. Though their end is near, few know or acknowledge that fact. Darbonne knows- but as he holds himself apart waiting for the end of all their stories, a chance encounter with a mortal upends everything he believes about the fate of vampires- and himself. Amy Trosclair flits unmoored through the New Orleans nights, lost in a past she longs to forget and an all too stifling present. Her life isn't about to change. It changed already - she just hasn't caught up yet.

Why I Chose it

Sure, vampires roaming New Orleans at night is not exactly a new concept, but fun reads rarely are new concepts. This is one of those times when you know exactly what you're getting. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that!

[54 episodes, 12 in the last 30 days]

Who Might Like This

Are you a fan of vampires in New Orleans? If so, this may be your thing!

Unrelated Griping

Well, they added a new section in which they list some (not all!) serials that have been marked complete. But what they don't indicate is how many episodes that is. A lot of them are 5 episodes long — so really, they're short stories. I think it would be worth listing the number of episodes instead of using the space to say "Completed" on every story in the carousel of completed stories...

Again, they really need to hire someone who can focus on the user experience. Or replace the person in that position. I'm famous for terrible GUIs and even mine were never this bad.

"Tenkyuu" by Noelle Nichols

Current Tags

historical fantasy, magic, mystery, adventure, reluctant hero, slice of life, ninjas

Categories

Historical Fiction / Fantasy

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Tenkyuu

Author's Description

Tenkyuu, a shinobi of the Arashi clan, desires a simple life, but after his grandfather falls ill, the dream of halcyon days is torn from him, and he reluctantly accepts the duties of a storm master. Using his blood talents and wits, he sifts through memories in the rain, bringing justice to those who have passed. A battle of wills is about to begin, man vs. nature, as Tenkyuu searches for his reason to become the next clan leader and the strength to endure the storm.

Why I Chose it

The grumpiness of the protagonist, who shows up to investigate the death of a boy even though he doesn't really want to, immediately makes him likable. Also, I'm a fan of murder mysteries, and that's a thread running through this story.

[15 episodes, 0 in the last 30 days]

Who Might Like This

It's a magical murder mystery set in a secondary world based on feudal Japan. What's not to love about that?

Unrelated Griping

No griping today, probably because I picked this one from a FB post and bypassed the whole "trying to find something through the Vella search interface". I did skip another one that started with a prologue containing at least five names in the first paragraph (all with a date to indicate that it was probably some time in the far past on this fantasy world), but I think I've probably complained enough about prologues already.

"Critical Access Medicine" by Olliver Went

Current Tags

medicine, true stories, drama, emergency, covid, death, thrilling

Categories

Action & Adventure / Thriller

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Critical Access Medicine

Author's Description

I'm an emergency medicine physician with over twenty years experience, mostly in small rural emergency rooms. These stories are based on real events. Details have been changed for privacy but the stories are real. There is a disconnect between what the public thinks happens in an emergency room and what really happens. Nothing is going to change until you first understand what is happening. Read these stories and understand these are real people and it could be you some day.

Why I Chose it

Ever wonder what it's like working cases in the emergency room? Now you can tag along, including for the case of the guy with the nail in his vertebra in the x-ray above. (I'm not a human doctor, but I was a veterinarian, and everything in the first three episodes rings true.)

[15 episodes, 9 in the last 30 days]

Who Might Like This

Stories from the ER — who doesn't love that sort of thing?

Unrelated Griping

Ooh, the "Top Faved" list changed! (Yeah, still the same five but some of them switched places.) It takes up half the screen. That list is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy — they're the top faved, but they're also the only ones shown to new users, so...

"Dragon Ranch" by Liz Rockrose

Current Tags

dragons, western, alternate history, texas, contemporary fantasy, young adult, fantasy

Categories

Teen & Young Adult / Fantasy

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Dragon Ranch

Author's Description

Charlotte Morgan's got a policy against attending any tourist trap where the main attractions can fly, breathe fire, or crush you with one pinky toe. Unfortunately, her father's arranged for her to spend the summer helping out at her cranky aunt's Dragon Ranch in Texas.

Why I Chose it

The first episode has at least three different tropes my teen self would have killed to read. (For the record: troubled teen being dumped on a stranger by uncaring parents, a horse dragon farm, and dangerous animals rescued from an abusive past who will learn to trust the protagonist.) 

[29 episodes, 4 in the last 9 days]

Who Might Like This

It's a dragon story for your inner horse girl!

Unrelated Griping

I saw yet another "non-fiction written by people who drive around in RVs" story today — seriously, there ought to be a separate genre just for that. Anyhow, it was a masterclass in an unreliable narrator, except, again, it was supposed to be non-fiction. Very interesting in a grin-while-backing-away sort of manner.

"Cosplay Worthy" by Q Glide

Current Tags

geeky, comic books, cosplay, fangirls, conventions, romance, contemporary romance

Categories

Romance

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Cosplay Worthy

Author's Description

Art, cartoons, and cosplay are Layla Bennet's escape from it all. At Nova, Long Island's Comic Con she meets Vic Williams, her favorite writer and the creator of the character she's cosplaying. To Layla's delight, she and Vic hit it off. After the convention they stay in touch, and their relationship heats up online. With memories of his deep blue eyes and kind compliments about her art still fresh, Layla falls head over heels for Vic. But can a professional really love his fangirl?

Why I Chose it

I haven't really hit the romance part yet, but I don't really care. The main character, Layla, is interesting enough that I'm willing to go along for the ride.

[9 episodes, 1 in the last 9 days]

Who Might Like This

Contemporary romance fans who are also members of any fandom — this may be your jam!

Unrelated Griping

I'm a little bummed Dragon Freehold hasn't found an audience on Vella. (I only have myself to blame — I haven't put enough effort into marketing it.) I'm working on the last episode of season one now, and it's a fun fantasy story.