My Primal Mate

Iriduan Universe Love Stories

De: Susan Trombley

Narrado por: Gabriel De Leon, Reagan West

Ariyah

My new next-door neighbor looks like a demon—and acts like one too!

Most of the Akrellians now living on Earth after saving humanity from an alien invasion are super polite. The red-scaled, black-quilled behemoth living next door is a notable exception, and he doesn't bother to return my enthusiastic greeting with anything more than an impatient growl.

But I know the secret to making friends, and that secret is a dozen red velvet cupcakes with cute monster faces on them, just in time for Halloween. The grumpy, smoldering volcano of a male might pretend he's not interested in my offering, but he can't resist my sweet treats for long.

Of course, he might just be too hot to handle, because this Akrellian serves a darker Dancer, and the drumbeats from his primal song draw me to the domineering and demanding male while his wild howl thrills my blood—even as it sends me fleeing. When he gives chase, I try not to reveal how eager I am to be caught.

It's just too bad that he believes I'm an assassin who tried to poison him.

Contains mature themes.

©2022 Susan Trombley (P)2025 Tantor Media

Quick fun alien romcom

I think of all the audiobooks out so far for the series, I've liked Regan West the most in this one. She just makes Ariyah come to life and her voice just really fits the character.

For the book itself, it's a good light-hearted romcom. Why is she never in her bakery? Obviously because she has a sexy reverse Shadow the hedgehog next door. Just don't think about those things too closely and instead think more about what nightmare inducing sound the howl is.

It's probably my second favorite book in this series, touching lightly on how societies can erase a culture while also baking cakes to break your soulmate out of prison. I'm probably not selling it really well, but if you liked any of the above it's probably your jam.

Cupcakes & Cosmic Misunderstandings

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️🤎
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋🙂☺️😘🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

🦸🏼‍♀️ Heroine: Ariyah

Years after Earth’s near-collapse under the brutal invasion of the Menops—a parasitic alien race that conquers worlds and leaves devastation in its wake—humanity survives thanks to the intervention of the Akrelians. These alien allies now live among us, forming tight-knit communities. Ariyah, a resilient baker with a tragic past, hasn’t felt drawn to anyone since losing her childhood sweetheart in the apocalypse. But when a solitary Akrelian male moves in next door, her curiosity—and attraction—spark something she thought long buried.

🦸🏻‍♂️ Hero: Zernogal

Zernogal is the last surviving member of the Blood Rising tribe, a faction of Akrelians who refused to abandon their ancient, blood-soaked rituals. Imprisoned for years by the cosmic syndicate, Zern was supposed to be executed. Instead, he was quietly exiled to Earth, shunned by his own kind and forced into isolation. Grumpy, guarded, and steeped in a religion that feels suspiciously like devil worship, Zern is not your average neighbor. He’s also not prepared for Ariyah’s cupcakes—or her kindness.

🔥 Plot Snapshot

Ariyah’s welcome gift of Halloween-themed red velvet cupcakes sets off a hilarious misunderstanding. Zern, who routinely drinks poison and survives, devours the entire batch and promptly falls ill. Convinced Ariyah is a hired assassin; he launches a paranoid investigation into who sent her. Meanwhile, Ariyah just wants to flirt with the hot alien next door. The result? A delightfully absurd slow-burn romance with murder accusations, cultural confusion, and unexpected emotional depth.

❤️‍🔥 What Hit Home

• The tone is unapologetically silly, but the character work is stellar. I usually struggle with overtly alien heroes, but Zern’s personality won me over fast.
• Zern’s bafflement at human customs adds layers of humor and heart.
• His conviction that Ariyah is trying to kill him? Comedy gold.
• Ariyah’s attraction—partly fueled by Akrelian adult content—is oddly endearing and refreshingly honest.
• Zern’s bloodthirsty religious beliefs are played for laughs, and his inner monologue is hands-down the highlight of the book.

🤨 Room to Grow

• Honestly, not much to critique. It’s silly, yes, but in a way that works.
• The next book features an ant-like alien hero, which normally wouldn’t appeal to me—I prefer my leading men less… exoskeletal. But this story charmed me so thoroughly I might just give it a shot anyway.

🎧 Narration Vibes

Told in dual POV, the narration by Gabriel de Leon and Reagan West is pitch-perfect. Gabriel’s deep, deliberate cadence suits Zern’s alien formality and linguistic awkwardness. Reagan West, one of my favorite female narrators, brings warmth and expressiveness to Ariyah, sounding age-appropriate and emotionally grounded.

📝 Final Thoughts

This audiobook is a chaotic, charming blend of post-apocalyptic grief, alien absurdity, and unexpected tenderness. If you like your sci-fi romance with a side of poisoned cupcakes and misunderstood seduction, this one’s for you.

Love the grumpy shunshine vibe!!!!

Great narration! So much sheenanegans ongoing in this book😂 a good lighthearted read. Very heartfelt and fun. Recomend to you on the highest if you like scifi romance

I love this series it’s sweet and spicy 🌶️ and a pleasure to listen to 💕💕

Susan Trombley writes an amazing stormy and these sweet and spicy tales set in her Iriduan universe are some of my favorites. Ariyah is a sweet human female who lost her husband to the alien invasion 12 years ago she got a fiery temper and a sassy sense of humor and the owns best bakery 🧁 in town. Cern is a red scaled Akrellian warrior that’s moved in next door he’s the smexy volcano 🌋 she’s been waiting for since her husband died the one male that has made her feel again. He leads her on a merry chase especially after he eats 12 cupcakes and decides she’s has tried to kill him. Omg the banter is so quick, and funny. Reagan west and Gabriel DeLeon do a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. I loved it and I look 👀 forward to more books in this series. Highly recommend ♥️♥️🔥🔥🔥

Our burning volcano and warming hearts

This book was intriguing and so heartwarming, our fierce male and his sweet song mate 🤗🤗🤗. As always Susan..... Amazing story ✨❤✨.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

This series is so enjoyable that I had to listen to all three of the available books a second time before writing a review. Just the right amount spicy 🩲 melting scenes 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Great story enhanced by the narrators who brought it to life.