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Beyond the Next Star (Love Beyond Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Melody Johnson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,219 ratings
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An intolerable order. A desperate charade. A deadly secret.... Before Commander Torek Renaar can return to active duty, he’s ordered to purchase an animal companion to help relieve his PTSD symptoms. But having been a caretaker for and lost a loved one, keeping even one little human alive is a challenge he feels doomed to fail. It doesn’t help that his animal companion is the newest, most exotic breed on the market, demanding constant attention, daily grooming, and delicate handling. If she doesn’t die first in his incompetent care, she’ll be the death of him.

After witnessing the murder of her domestication specialist, Delaney McCormick allows her new owner to treat her like the pet he believes her to be. If anyone suspects she’s more intelligent than a golden retriever, her murder would be next. She endures the humiliation of being washed, the tediousness of being trained to “sit” and “come,” and the intrigue of hearing private conversations. But in Torek’s care, she finds something unexpected on this antarctic planet, something she never had in all her years on Earth while house-hopping between foster families: a home.

As companionship grows to love, must Delaney continue the charade, acting like an animal and hiding from the murderer waiting on her misstep? Or can she trust Torek with her secrets, even if the truth threatens everything he holds dear—and both their lives?

Trigger warning: please visit www.authormelodyjohnson.com/books for trigger warning.

KIRKUS - "AN ENGAGING AND UNUSUAL OTHERWORLDLY TALE."
"Johnson effectively introduces readers to the planet Lorien and its alien inhabitants, the lorienok, in this opening series entry. Overall, the novel does a good job of immersing readers in a strange new realm, and its use of Delaney’s perspective allows them to learn details of the culture and characters organically, as the protagonist does. Along the way, the author describes her alien creations in exquisite detail—“two rows of sharp predator teeth filled his overly large mouth, and pointy bearlike claws tipped each finger and likely each toe on his boot-shod feet”—and her comparisons to familiar Earth creatures make for easy visualization. Even pacing and smooth transitions to different characters’ points of view make for a quick, solid read that remains consistently compelling."
~Kirkus Reviews

RUBY DIXON "STAYED UP FAR TOO LATE READING THIS."
"If you're looking for something to read, I started this one last night! The beginning was a little rocky for me, but a few chapters in, it really starts swimming, and I stayed up far too late reading this. The hero is suffering from PTSD and is told to get a pet to take care of. He gets... the heroine, who has to pretend she's a 'golden retriever' of sorts. It's a really sweet romance so far and definitely a slow burn, but I'm really enjoying it."
~Ruby Dixon, author of the viral sci-fi romance novels: Ice Planet Barbarians.

LYNSAY SANDS "LAUGHS OUT LOUD" READING BEYOND THE NEXT STAR"
"It's rare for a book to make me laugh out loud and rarer still for me to read it and wish I'd come up with that idea. This book did both. I don't usually read sci-fi, but I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to even non-sci fi readers. Dog owner will especially love it!"
~The New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Lynsay Sands.
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    Love Beyond
  2. Print length
    378 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    June 23, 2020
  6. File size
    5118 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An engaging and unusual otherworldly tale. Even pacing and smooth transitions to different characters' points of view make for a quick, solid read that remains consistently compelling."

-Kirkus Reviews


"If you're looking for something to read, I stayed up far too late reading this. It's a really sweet romance and definitely a slow burn, but I really enjoyed it."

-Ruby Dixon, author of the Ice Planet Barbarians


"It's rare for a book to make me laugh out loud and rarer still for me to read it and wish I'd come up with that idea. This book did both."

-Lynsay Sands, The New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author

About the Author

Melody Johnson is the author of the "out of this world" Love Beyond series and the Night Blood series published by Kensington Publishing/ Lyrical Press. The City Beneath (Night Blood, book 1) was a finalist in the "Cleveland Rocks" and "Fool for Love" contests. Melody graduated magna cum laude from Lycoming College with her BA in creative writing and psychology. Throughout college, she wrote contemporary love stories, but having read and adored the action and dark mystery of vampires and aliens her entire life, she decided to add her fingerprint to the paranormal and sci-fi genres. When she isn't working or writing, Melody can be found swimming at the beach, hiking with her husband, and exploring her new home in southeast Georgia. Keep in touch with Melody on social media or sign up for her newsletter to receive emails about new releases and book signings. Website: authormelodyjohnson.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0897S23JN
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Incendi Press, LLC (June 23, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 23, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5118 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 378 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,219 ratings

About the author

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Melody Johnson

Melody Johnson

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Melody Johnson is the award-winning author of the “out of this world” Love Beyond series and the gritty, paranormal romance Night Blood series published by Kensington Publishing/ Lyrical Press. The New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Lynsay Sands, "laughed out loud" reading Beyond the Next Star (Love Beyond, book 1), and Kirkus Reviews praised is as, "an engaging and unusual otherworldly tale." Ruby Dixon, author of the viral sci-fi romance novels: Ice Planet Barbarians series, "stayed up far too late reading this."

Melody graduated magna cum laude from Lycoming College with her B.A. in creative writing and psychology. Throughout college, she wrote contemporary love stories, but having read and adored the action and dark mystery of vampires her whole life, decided to add her fingerprint to paranormal romance.

Melody's unique perspective on vampires lends fresh bite to a classic genre. In addition to a reimagined transformation—the requirement of night blood—vampires have gargoyle-looking, vicious day forms, an orgasmic bite, and as the series progresses to Sweet Last Drop (book 2), a mindless, rampaging, zombie-like breed is introduced. Melody is constantly upping the stakes, and Day Reaper (book 4) is no exception.

Earning the 2021 Maggie Award of Excellence, Beyond the Next Star is an exciting branch from Melody's paranormal romance roots, keeping the dark grit from her Night Blood Series and taking it to new worlds. Told from the dual perspectives of both human pet and alien owner, Melody's story weaves a slow-burn romance that explores the bonds of love in all its forms, navigating the main characters’ relationship in delicate stages from oblivious ownership to woke, romantic love.

You can learn more about Melody and her work at http://www.authormelodyjohnson.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
1,219 global ratings
This book was an unexpected delight.
5 Stars
This book was an unexpected delight.
This book was an unexpected delight.There's a book convention coming up, and in an effort to put a couple more of the attending authors' books under my belt, I stumbled across this gem. The hardcover was on sale and I figured why not.I did not expect to be glued to the page for two days straight, for a book that had literally zero romance until its last quarter. But the suspense, but the carefully-constructed and utterly unique world, and the fascinating relationship between Torek and Delaney kept me riveted. I found her approach to the alien-human genre to be refreshing and wildly emotional as both characters fought to gain understanding of the situation they found themselves in.I adored this book, am eager to share just that with the author herself, and look forward to more books set in this world she's created.
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Top reviews from the United States

Hannah Romig
5.0 out of 5 stars great read
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
This book is hard to read for sure, check trigger warnings and be forewarned. I’ve read more brutally graphic books but the concept here was stomach turning and that was consistent until bout 50% of the way through. That being said I loved the slow build and the romance was sweet. Very creative concept and the world building was great. I’d say a few sections of the book dragged on with excessive dialogue but overall I agree with other reviews that it was hard to put down. You will need to suspend your disbelief a little in certain areas. Low steam although it’s worth the wait. Didn’t appreciate the sudden emotion dump toward eachother after they sleep together in which they did a lovely comparison of her to his dead wife. I would definitely recommend though and I will be reading all of her other books.
2 people found this helpful
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Tamye Whitener
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting P.O.V.
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2023
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A human woman is captured and sold as a pet. I haven't seen this story trope and it was very interesting to see the heroine's point of view. It's a cute story. Yet, it has some degradation moments. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. At times I felt sorry for the guy that buys her. He is so afraid he is going to screw up her care and end up killing her. There were a few scenes in that I questioned as to Delaney's behavior. She is trying to act like a dog, but I think she should have tried more for a cat's behavior. That is just my opinion though. I can see where this troupe was challenging to write.

There are a lot of layers to this story making it very interesting. The interaction between the Commander and Delaney was highly entertaining.
3 people found this helpful
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Thriller and Romantic Suspense Lover
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique storyline, great writing
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2020
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I'll preface this by saying I am NOT a sci-fi reader. I saw the author's videos leading up to the release of the book where she read parts of it, and it intrigued me so I bought it. I really enjoyed it. Her writing style is smooth and she built a unique, interesting world. I also felt the characters were fleshed out really well. I do have to admit, I had a hard time thinking of the male protagonist as a romantic interest because of how he's described (furry, muzzle, horns.) That was a turn off for me. However, I'm guessing people who are typical sci-fi readers and used to aliens in their stories wouldn't be bothered by it. He's described basically as a man, but with alien/dog-like characteristics. If you can think of him just as an alien man who's a bit different, lol, he really is a like-able guy. And the story is compelling. I was caught up in the tension and conflict and was rooting for the characters the whole time. I was sad to see the book end and that is a major indicator to me that it was a good story.
5 people found this helpful
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BoomWorm Lala
3.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 Stars
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2022
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This was a pretty god book with a plot that I haven't encountered before. So I liked the originality. I liked the characters. Delaney was a little annoying at times. Like when Torek was rushing off to battle, and she chose that moment to throw a fit. I know she was scared, but it was an inappropriate time. I had a couple of questions at the end, and I wish the author had expanded on some things. Also, I though the ending was abrupt, and it kind of seemed like a hfn rather than an hea. I am absolutely looking forward to more in this series.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpectedly sweet
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
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I was surprised by how sweet the MCs were together. The romance felt very organic and more like a natural progression of things. I loved that the world building wasn't full of humanisms and it felt very much like an alien society that just so happened to be obsessed with pets. (Even to their own detriment) I also found myself feeling major sympathy for our own pets and found myself contemplating whether or not my own cat was experiencing her very own trauma with every visit to the vet. She is definitely getting extra treats for being so brave.
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LunaLovesBooks
4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing, didn’t hit the spot for romance
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2023
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Well thought out and held my interest. I did not like that there was zero $exual tension until 60+%. I can understand potential reasons for this, but I would have preferred it a là Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey. The emotional connection forged in the second half was not enough in quality or quantity to keep the romance reader in me happy. Once the $exual tension came into play, there wasn’t much of it before the payoff. I prefer a slow burn that simmers from the start, whereas this felt abrupt.

However, the world struck a nice balance of familiar and original, and I liked the heroine. I also appreciated the way language barrier and similar worldbuilding issues were tackled in a thorough, detailed way.
2 people found this helpful
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Jenna
4.0 out of 5 stars 😍😍😍
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2023
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Beyond cute I loved this story beautifully written and I was captivated from the first chapter I can’t wait to see what else happens in this world 💥💥💥
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the next star
Reviewed in Canada on November 26, 2022
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This was excellent. I wish I could have read it all in one go. (My only complaint: I wish authors would stop trying to write therapy scenes, as usual it was horrific. If your therapy is even remotely like this find a new therapist, this is what incompetence looks like. Didn’t wreck the book though)
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Lea
5.0 out of 5 stars so gooood
Reviewed in Germany on November 24, 2022
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Ok I love human pet alien romance books. Don’t know why but they have their own charm 😆. Anywaaaay… this one was one of the best ones I’ve read so far. Really great fMC who has a great survival instinct and uses her brain to think and act. And the MC was great as well, very sweet and caring and overall it was just a very nice and enjoyable story which captured my interest till the end.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite read of 2021
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2021
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Absolutely adored this book. It was the perfect slow burn and I loved how the heroine was looked after and adored before he realises she is an intelligent being. It needed to be a slow burn to avoid the "ick" factor and the author pulled it off beautifully. Really hope there will be more books in this series and that they don't take too long to come out. Have bought in paperback as well to cherish!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, read it!
Reviewed in Australia on November 17, 2021
Verified Purchase
This was a stunning surprise. I urge anyone to read this, there are portions where a trigger warning may apply, but the author deals with it so well. I have read SO many kindle unlimited authors in this genre type. This blew me away, I could not put it down. Characterisation, world building, depth, realism, emotion, steamy scenes, loves, conflict. It literally had everything and not one aspect was poorly done. Superb, I will be avidly following this author.
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I♥️Romance
4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing and suspenseful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2021
Verified Purchase
This book caused a bit of a buzz on a Facebook group. The post said that the heroine is treated like a pet and the hero takes her to the vet. Well, colour me intrigued.

Delaney McCormick was abducted and taken to the planet Lorien, where she is treated like an animal rather than a person.

Torek Lore’Onik Weidnar Kenzo Lesh’Aerai Renaar (yep, that’s his full name) is an alien intelligence officer for the Lorien Federation. He’s described as having full body hair and horns, so I imagined him like some sort of ram-headed humanoid.

Humans are a previously unknown species, and considered unintellectual and inferior, like animals. The population of Lorien apparently love “owning foreign domesticated animals”. Torek has been ordered to have an animal companion as part of his PTSD therapy, but he’s afraid he won’t be able to care for Reshna (her animal name) properly.

Torek does, in fact, give Reshna a bath and takes her to the vet! This is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. There are grey, to the point of murky black, areas regarding consent. As Reshna, Delaney is subjected to some degrading treatment, but she puts up with it in order to keep up the charade of being of a lesser intelligence after she witnessed a murder.

There’s also lots of name dropping, and like Torek’s, they’re long and difficult to pronounce, and it’s a bit confusing to put names to characters. The plot also inspires a lot of curiosity from the start. The author gives minimal details about how Delaney got to the alien planet, the planet itself, and it’s place in the universe. It’s revealed in snippets, which can be a bit frustrating at times, but I suppose it does it’s job and keeps the reader turning the pages.

My overall feelings about this book are as strange as the premise. It felt very surreal, and uncomfortable, reading about a growing love between characters who were so imbalanced. I mean, a romance between a pet and their owner? It immediately feels a bit depraved. However, it wasn’t, and there was no crossing that boundary until after Torek realised Delaney was a person rather than an animal. There was also a decent element of suspense which made it a very nice read, despite initial concerns about the owner/pet elements.
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