Book Review -- True Believers

Something is killing off immortals, one by one.

Taelen Jessit is an alien emissary on a mission sanctioned by the U.S. government to search for ancient gods. His hunt leads him to a dig headed by archaeologist Rachel Cruz. When his military entourage forces Rachel's team out of the cave they were exploring, a flash flood hits the riverbed and threatens to tear them through the ravine.

In the aftermath of the flood, Taelen witnesses the incredible healing of Rachel's broken ankle and believes his gods have blessed her. He is inexplicably drawn to her, and she to him.

What Taelen doesn't know is that Rachel is Nephilim—a descendant of the gods his people worship—masquerading as a human to find the god-killer and destroy it. Rachel needs help to bring down the tech that is manipulating the Earth's magnetosphere and frying her people alive. She's given Taelen her heart, but can she trust him with her secret?

My friend Maria Zannini latest release is True Believers,and while I'm likely bias, she didn't give this to me as a review copy -- bought it with Mark's hard earned money, LOL.  Maria called this her red-headed step-child :snort: how could I not read it?

True Believers is a strong traditional sci-fi mixed with a unique romance based in our near future. Aliens have lived on earth for years masquerading as humans. So not a lot of world building needed yet what was needed for the alien culture, etc. was neatly woven into the story becoming a facet of the plot more than actual world building or back story. Kudos!

This was a thrilling, fast-paced read that engrossed me from the first page.  An epic tale blending sci-fi technology, military and political one-upmanship, aliens, and romance.  I re-read it to write this review and I'm still not sure how Zannini pulled it all off but she did!  She even had me cheering on the aliens to grind the humans to dust. 

Zannini's characters are strong -- not a doormat among them, male or female -- motivations and fears are clear.  Even the computers were fully developed characters (hope you plan to bring Bubba back Maria!).  Rachel and Taelen have a wonderful chemistry.  Their romance has the usual conflicts:  meddling family, demanding job, secrets that threatened their budding romance, extra appendages...  ;)  In the end, they overcome the obstacles, grow, learn to trust each other, becoming partners -- equals.

A must read for sci-fi, fantasy, and/or romance fans.  You can't go wrong with a Maria Zannini book, of course, I'm bias.