Paradise 21 by Aubrie Dionne and Good Aliens vs Bad

rom Entangled Publishing comes a new sci fi romance by Aubrie Dionne! Aubrie's been holding a virtual blog tour all month to celebrate her new release.

Aries has lived her entire life aboard mankind's last hope, the New Dawn, a spaceship traveling toward a planet where humanity can begin anew — a planet that won't be reached in Aries' lifetime. As one of the last genetically desirable women in the universe, she must marry her designated genetic match and produce the next generation for this centuries-long voyage.

But Aries has other plans.

When her desperate escape from the New Dawn strands her on a desert planet, Aries discovers the rumors about pirates — humans who escaped Earth before its demise — are true. Handsome, genetically imperfect Striker possesses the freedom Aries envies, and the two connect on a level she never thought possible. But pursued by her match from above and hunted by the planet's native inhabitants, Aries quickly learns her freedom will come at a hefty price.

The life of the man she loves.

What about good aliens vs bad? Here's what Aubrie has to say:

I've always wanted to meet aliens. Real aliens from another planet. But as I get older (and after watching several episodes of Ancient Aliens on the History Channel, and going to a lecture by a real life contactee), I'm not so sure I want them to show up in my lifetime, or even at all.

Sure they could befriend us, or even teach us advanced technology, but they could also want to control us, steal our planet, or ignite natural disasters. They could probe us with their strange experimentations, or change us into pod people.

Do I really want to take the risk that aliens will be good and not evil?

For fun, I've come up with movies that portray aliens in both veins.

Let's talk about the movies with "good" aliens first:

1. E.T. - Although E.T. scared the heebeegeebees out of me, I knew deep down he was a good alien. He helped the kids out and healed them, and all he really wanted was to go home. So yes, I'd meet him if I could help him out. As long as he doesn't appear in my closet one night!

2. The Last Starfighter - Who wouldn't want to win a video game and be recruited to fight an intergalactic war? Centauri was the best. He looked like an average old man, but when you checked the rear view mirror, he was actually an alien recruiter in disguise. A good alien, to be exact, one that believed in Alex's abilities. I'd shake Centauri's hand any day.

3. Enemy Mine – Even though the alien was the enemy in the beginning of this movie, I was touched by how he developed a friendship with Willis (Dennis Quaid). Willis loved him so much, he raised the alien's son as his own. I'd play a game of football with this alien boy any time.

4. Starman - (With the famous Jeff Bridges) I loved this romantic sci fi movie! Not only did the Starman befriend and love Jenny, he also provided her with an unborn son with the DNA of her long dead husband. How cool is that? Yeah, I wouldn't be afraid of the Starman.

Okay, now for the baddies:

1. Alien/Aliens - Probably the worst and nastiest of the aliens in the movies, EVER. I would never want to meet one of these guys. This movie gave me nightmares growing up, yet I watched it over and over again! (Go, Ripley!)

2. Invasion of the Body Snatchers - This movie made me think. The alien pods created a society of people without emotions, and as a flute teacher, my job would probably be obsolete. That's the scariest thing of all!

3. Predator - When the hunter becomes the hunted! Only Arnold can beat these guys. Not only are they more technologically advanced, but they are bigger and stronger (but not prettier) than us. And all they want to do is save our skulls for their alien ship mantle. No way. If real aliens are anything like these guys, then stay away!

4. Mars Attacks - My favorite part of this movie was when they had an announcement saying they came in peace going, as they blasted everyone to smithereens. These aliens were only out to conquer, and they had no concern for human life.

In conclusion, if there really are aliens out there, would you take the risk to meet them?

An excerpt from Paradise 21!

"Might as well stay here and make camp for the night."
His casual tone stung her composure. How could he talk of such mundane things when they'd almost been captured, when she'd touched him so tenderly?
"We'll let them get farther away," Striker explained, reasonable as always. "We're going in their direction tomorrow."
The sting of rejection grew, burning a hole in her heart. "Why?"
"Why what?"
Her lips trembled. "Why not kiss me like you did before?"
"I can't." He shook his head, and the air cooled between them; so much so, Aries wondered if the desert had turned into deep space.
He'd teased her with such affection before, it was cruel to take it away. "I don’t understand," she said, wishing she didn't care, wishing she could stop all the emotions he'd started in her heart.
Aries caught a glimpse of pain etched in the wrinkles around his eyes. Striker turned away and started pulling supplies out of his backpack. "I can't do this."
"Do what?"
Striker shook his head and Aries prompted, "Can't kiss me, can't trust me? What?"
"I can't allow myself to get tangled up with someone. Not again."
The thoughts of Striker with another woman confused her. On the New Dawn, everyone had one lifemate and that was it. "You mean you loved someone before?"
Striker's hand tightened on the backpack. "I trusted someone a long time ago, allowed myself to love, if you will. She hurt me so much I lost my entire life and ended up here. I can't experience that kind of pain again."
Aries clasped her hand over her heart. "I'm so sorry."
He waved her apology off as if it meant nothing. "It's a tough world, Aries. And it's dangerous to love. If I were you, I'd keep my heart well-guarded, because you never know when it will affect your decisions, when it will make you weak."
Aries couldn't take his advice. Watching him talk about his past made her realize she'd already given up her heart.
He had it.

Want to know what happens next? Paradise 21 is out now!