Rating: 3 stars
After reading Touched by an Alien and Alien Tango, I can trust Gini Koch to give me a fun, wacky and out of this world (yes, the pun is intended) story. With Alien in the Family, Gini has done it again. This is one story that’s comparable to a tilt-o-whirl ride. The characters are a loopy, and at times, insane bunch.
The story itself is so ridiculous that it shouldn’t work, but in Gini’s hands it does. Kitty Kat and her hunky alien lover Jeff Martini have become one of my favorite couples in recent years; and, their attraction—or for a better word, insane lust—they have for one another makes for great reading. If you’re a smut fan, look no further than this couple.
Alien in the Family is all about Vegas. Kitty, Martini and crew end up there, and not for Kitty’s wedding, but because that’s where they’re fighting the Alpha Centauri and other strange looking intergalactic species. The Centauri feel Kitty isn’t good enough to marry Martini because he’s royalty and she is a commoner and human. Not only does Kitty have the stress of planning a wedding, but having to put up with these nose-in-the-air aliens who want her out of the picture.
Alien in the Family shows side to Kitty we haven’t seen before. First, she has to put Martini at ease, especially when it comes to her best friend Chuckie. Kitty never knew that Chuckie was in love with her and wanted to marry her; but, Kitty knows how to handle Martini, and Chuckie as well. Fans of Reader will be in heaven since he has more a main role. Kitty relies on Reader to keep her sanity in check as he takes care of the wedding preparations Kitty has no time for since she’s trying to save the world.
Gini Koch never ceases to entertain. In Touched by an Alien she had Kitty flying a fighter jet with no prior experience, then in Alien Tango she used alligators as weapons, now Ms. Koch gives us Poofs to stun the reader and make them break down into giggles. A Poof is exactly what you think it is. A purring, adorable fuzz ball that at any moment can get into attack mode and eat a person if it’s so inclined.
Even though Alien in the Family may seem like a straight up comedy, there’s more here than meets the eye. Gini Koch makes sure to get a message across about acceptance in all forms, whether it’s someone religion, gender or sexual preference; and, it’s done in such a way where it’s not forced down your throat.
I had so much fun reading Alien in the Family. I had more than enough chuckles, including a nice amount of sexy times between Martini and Kitty. These two are each other’s soul mates in every sense of the word and watching them strengthen their bond together is everything I love about this couple.
Alien in the Family is my favorite book of the series to date. I can’t wait to see what else Ms. Koch has in store for Kitty and Jeff.
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Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: DAW (April 5, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-0756406684