Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Only the Clonely by Ruby Dixon Narrator: Todd McLaren, Rebecca Estrella
Series: Sunrise Cantina #1
Published by Tantor Audio on October 15, 2024
Genres: Romance, Science Fiction
Length: 8 hours, 15 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm
The crew of the Scarlet Gaze are figuring out what they want to do now that Lord Straik sa'Rin is no longer running a corsair ship. Some of the a'ani crew want to run a cantina on Risda III.
Kazex just wants Ruthie.
Ruthie just wants to have a nervous breakdown.
Well, she wants Kazex, too. The delicious a'ani chief of security has been a steady, protective, delicious presence ever since she joined the crew. He's made it clear that he loves Ruthie as she is, nervous wreck and all. But Ruthie's afraid of what will happen to their easy friendship if she asks for more. What if kissing his tattoos and touching his sinful body changes things? It's too late for flirting-now it's time for forever. And forever terrifies her.
The only thing more terrifying? Missing her chance with Kazex entirely.
Only the Cloney is the first book in Sunrise Cantina, a spin off series set in the Risdaverse on Risda III, a sanctuary planet for some of the humans that have been abducted in saved over the years. While this is a new series, I think to really have a good foundation you will need to have read at least a few of the other books in the Risdaverse to really enjoy it.
Kazex is a clone and part of the crew of Lord Straik sa’Rin’s corsair ship. He fell for Ruthie at first sight when she was brought aboard the ship, saved from a slaver market. She has the face of Lord Straik sa’Rin’s mate Ruth and it was established in some of the other books that the original Ruth was captured from Earth and used to be split into multiple clones. It is not clear they are clones though, as it was done of the black market and they didn’t get the required red skin marker. Ruthie, our story’s clone has a serious case of PTSD and Kazex has decided he is her champion and will be patient as she gets her feet under her.
I loved Kazex in this. He is adorable and sometimes like a teenager with his biological urges since he was on suppressants for that most of his life. He is sweet, kind, patient and absolutely committed to Ruthie. He is also completely oblivious to when other women try to hit on him, and it is adorable. Ruthie on the other hand is a mess. She is in the middle of an identity crisis with two of her sisters (clones) on the ship she keeps trying to figure out who she is. Both Ruth and Ruthanne seem to have it all together and know exactly who they are, while Ruthie can’t seem to make some simple decisions.
Kazex is very patient with Ruthie, maybe too patient, but one they figure out they are going to move forward with the relationship it gets a little more interesting. To help Ruthie take charge they find a way to give her a safe word to use when she is feeling overwhelmed. Some of this is really adorable, but Ruthie wasn’t a heroine I ever connected with. She is such a limp ‘noodle’ in so many ways and I just wanted her to take control of her life a little. There are multiple sex scenes in this, but the beginning ones are a bit strange with two very inexperienced people.
The other clones from the ship are trying to figure out what to do since Lord Straik isn’t going to be pirating anymore in the near future anyway. One of them has a dream to set up a cantina on the planet. I loved the differences between our little gaggle of clones as they try to figure out how to strike out on their own. Those were some of the funniest moments in the book as they try to decide how to get the cantina and what to call it.
I have read a lot of books by Ruby Dixon and usually enjoy them a lot. This was not a favorite, but that probably had a lot to do with not connecting with the heroine who was setting the pace of the romance. I really wanted Kazex to just take control of the wooing, while we did get that later in the book with a safety word, it was later in the story. Overall I think the enjoyment of the story is going to depend on if you like Ruthie and connect to her.
“I wanted to call it ‘A Very Safe Cantina For Human Females Only.'”
“Get it all on the sign,” Jerzec agrees.
“Make sure they know this is a place for them.” Aithar nods.
“You might as well roll up with a white van and offer candy,” Ruthie says between giggles.
“You think we should offer candy?” Aithar asks. Ruthie only laughs harder.
“Sounds…like…a trap,” Ruthie manages between wheezing laughs.
Narration:
Todd McLaren and Rebecca Estrella take on the dual PoV in this book. I’m used to Mason Lloyd and Hollie Jackson for most of the books by Ruby Dixon set in this universe with a few exceptions but I think they did a good job. I normally listen at 1.5x speed but found I needed to bump it up a little due to the different pacing of their performance and listened at 1.75x speed. The switch from PoVs was clear and each narrator captured the vulnerability and innocence of the characters they were performing. Clear voices and diction rounded out their performances.
Listen to a clip HERE.
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I still haven’t read any of Ruby Dixon’s books, but when I do I don’t think I’ll start with this one. Which books (or series) of hers did you like best?
I started with Ice Planet Barbarians which surprised me with how much I loved big blue horned and tailed aliens with a special spur for her pleasure, I think is the best entry point. The Corsair’s Captive would be okay for entry too.
Interesting! I think I might struggle a hair with this one especially if I don’t connect with the main.
yeah two Beta’s is sometimes a struggle for me. Most of the books have had a strong alpha to lead the romance.