Review: Aliens Abroad - Gini Koch

With the human population growing and alien refugees pouring in from around the galaxy, Earth is becoming too overcrowded to sustain itself--and the solar system is filling up with the alien overflow. Advanced technology from the Alpha Centauri and Vatusan systems offers one possible solution. It's time to explore new planets and see if any uninhabited ones can be claimed.

The President and First Lady, aka Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini, aren't supposed to be on this mission, but what looks like a snafu during a political photo op on the newly christened Distant Voyager spaceship turns out to be a call for help from a planet that might be Earth's salvation...or its destruction.

The discovery of a world at the opposite end of the galaxy that seems like it could be a twin to Earth creates the usual issues for Kitty & Company. It also raises questions of Z'porrah and Ancient influence--not to mention cloning, the multiverse, and, scariest of all, whether or not the Black Hole Universe Police are starting to take too much of an interest in this particular universe.

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
With more and more alien refugees arriving in our solar system Kitty and her crew have quite a lot of work on their hands keeping the peace and finding everyone suitable homes. That would be more than enough to keep them busy on its own but when they receive a distress call from the other side of the galaxy they suddenly find themselves on an intergalactic mission that could either save the universe, or end it.

There aren't many series that are still going this strong by the time they reach book 16 but Gini Koch never fails me and this book has all her trademark humour, fantastic characters and fast paced action. Not only do we get to spend time with many of our favourite characters (lets face it there are now too many for all of them to have a starring role in every book!) but we get to meet a whole host of new ones who I'm sure we'll be seeing more of in the future. I absolutely love seeing Kitty and Jeff back in the thick of the action again, things slowed down a little for a few books when they were the ambassadors but now they seem to have more freedom to go on adventures again and that's when they're really at their best - when they're coming up with crazy schemes to save the day.

I'm not going to say too much more because fans of this series will already know exactly what to expect from this book. Instead I'll just confirm that you're in for one hell of a treat and let you get on with enjoying the ride!

Source: Received from DAW books in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Alien Education - Gini Koch

It's a typical day of bureaucracy and stress for President and First Lady Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini, in part because kitty's been tapped to represent Earth in the Galactic Council. Kitty feels that's a bad idea, and she might be right.

When her first official TV morning show goes awry, it's only the quick thinking of the actor determined to make the "Code Name: First Lady" movie a reality that saves the day. It also forces Kitty to work with Hollywood.

Meanwhile, the Embassy Daycare kids are all about to enter "real school" - and none of them want to go. They may have grounds to be concerned because many of the other students and their families seem shady, and everyone seems to have an evil agenda.

Dealing with the assimilation of the aliens who have come to Earth, while fending off advances from a variety of Hollywood types, seems like Kitty's biggest challenge. But then she and Jeff discover that Stephanie Valentino - Jeff's niece and the true Heir Apparent to the original Mastermind - is back.

Can Jeff and Kitty thwart the most insidious attacks yet, while keeping tenuous peace on Earth and goodwill towards all sentient species going? And can they also find time to be part of the most truly terrifying organisation they've ever encountered - the school's parent-teacher association?

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
It's hard to believe that we're 15 books into this series now but I'm very happy to say that its still just as much fun to read as it was in the very beginning. Gini Koch has created such a unique world populated with a giant cast of regular characters and an ever growing variety of alien species always ready to either cause trouble or save the day. Picking up one of these books is like going to visit old friends and it always amazes me how easily I'm able to slip back into this world and remember exactly who all the main players are.

As usual the story is full of action pretty much from the first page and there is plenty of Gini's trademark humour to make you giggle alone the way. Kitty and Jeff are trying to help the various alien refugees settle into their new home on earth while trying to figure out who is behind the latest robot doubles that keep crawling out of the woodwork. As if running a country and trying to help smooth Earth's entry into the Galactic Council wasn't enough they're also facing every parent's biggest nightmare when Jamie and some of the other embassy kids have their first day at school - the parent-teacher association. Truly if you thought the superbeings from the early books were bad just wait until you come across the head of the PTA!

We're back to the good old days where Kitty is right there in the middle of all the action, from food fights at the school bake sale to dance-fighting on ice at a fundraising hockey match Kitty is fighting to protect her family and friends from their enemies. It's no wonder Hollywood are so excited about the idea of turning her life story into movie "Code Name: First Lady", along the lines of mission impossible it has box office hit written all over it! Of course Kitty has never been one to crave the limelight and she'd much rather be left in peace to get on with her life but the public have never been so keen to see more of the First Lady and the President.

I don't want to say too much more but if you're a fan of this series then you're in for a real treat with Alien Education. It's everything you could want and then some and I'm so happy that the series is still going strong. I can't get hold of the next five books fast enough!

Source: Received from DAW books in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Alien Nation - Gini Koch

It's a typical day of bureaucracy and stress for President and First Lady Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini, made more stressful when alien spacecraft are spotted making a beeline for Earth, none of them from the Alpha Centauri system.

Then a cryptic request from an old adversary pulls Kitty out of the White House and into an explosion - and an even more explosive situation. Not only is the Mastermind back in the game, influencing the Club 51 True Believers to find and destroy all Centaurion bases, but he's also found a dangerous benefactor and created some frightening new cloning abilities. And, just to make things a little more challenging, those alien spacecraft are coming to as Kitty for protection, and asylum on Earth.

Police stations being blown up and war helicopters in play aren't enough to keep Kitty down, especially when she's got some new alien friends helping out. But what these aliens share will rock the world - the other aliens on their way to Earth are fleeing an enemy so terrifying that even a Z'porrah ship is trying to get to Earth for safety and protection. And if Earth isn't able to stop this threat, there may not be anything left of humanity.

Now Kitty and Company have to figure out where the Mastermind is and stop him before any new aliens land. And then they have to save the world from a deadly invasion. Or, as Kitty calls it, Thursday.

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
14 books in and this series is stronger than ever! Once again Gini Koch has managed to up the stakes, this time bringing in a whole host of new alien species who are all headed to earth seeking sanctuary from a terrifying new enemy. I don't know where Gini gets her ideas from but you can look forward to meeting some fun new characters in Alien Nation.

This series never has a chance to grow stale because it's constantly evolving and I honestly don't know how Gini manages to create such intricate plots that have spanned over so many books. We've known who the Mastermind is for a couple of books now but Kitty and co finally get a chance to take out their enemy once and for all, if only they can stop him before he kills Jeff and the rest of the world leaders in one fell swoop that is.

I'm so glad we're back to seeing Kitty do what she does best, she has a unique way of looking at every situation and she's brilliant at finding new allies but more than anything she is able to kick ass with the best of them. There is just no stopping our girl when people she cares about are in danger and since she has such a huge heart that includes a massive circle of friends and adopted family members. This series has such a huge cast of characters but they're all so well drawn out that I never have any problems keeping track of who everyone is and I just have so many favourites whose stories I'm invested in.

None more than Kitty and Jeff though, they're such a brilliant couple and I love spending time with them. I'm so pleased that this series is still going strong and I'm looking forward to lots more future adventures in this world.

Source: Received from DAW books in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Camp Alien - Gini Koch

The President and First Lady, aka Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini, don't get any downtime once the Mastermind has been revealed to the world. Not only do they have myriad high-level government positions to fill, but the scrutiny and pressure on this Administration has gone into overdrive.

The sudden reappearance of a long-forgotten adversary turns out to be the tip of the iceberg. New robots and androids attacking, old enemies making new alliances, and new aliens with interesting abilities almost overshadow the fact that the U.S. still has to host a peace summit at Camp David between Israel and Iraq. It's clear that while the Mastermind may be down, there are plenty of others ready to take his place - and all that stands between them and success are Kitty and Company.

Kidnappings, rescues, creepy hideouts, a hidden black site, and a domestic dispute that could end Jeff and Kitty's marriage are nothing compared to find not one but two hidden labs where dangerous and deadly things are brewing.

But when the President and his entourage finally get to the peace talks, things are no better. Mossad rightly suspects something's wrong with both their Prime Minister and the President of Iraq. A hidden in-control superbeing, an android replacement, and an army of Fem-Bots turn the peace talks into a Battle Royale that the team might not actually survive. And if they don't make it, Earth won't make it, either.

But no pressure.

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
You know a series is special when the author still manages to make the story fresh and exciting when you're 13 books in! Gini Koch somehow manages to up the stakes in every new instalment and she definitely excels at flinging her characters into some crazy situations. Luckily Kitty is the queen of crazy and she has a pretty badass team of people on her side to help her.

The shocking ending of Alien in Chief left Jeff and Kitty reluctantly stepping into the roles of President and First Lady and now it's time to deal with the fallout. The Mastermind's plots left them with slots to fill in a lot of key government roles and now it's up to Kitty and Jeff to try and build a strong and trustworthy administration around them. They have the Planetary Council around to lend a hand but it's fairly safe to say they have their own motives for being on Earth in the first place and if that wasn't enough to think about Jeff is also supposed to be presiding over peace talks between Israel and Iraq. Throw in a few kidnapping attempts, the fact that half of the airborne team are still missing, the discovery of a new species of alien who has been hiding in plain sight for months, various key people being replaced by androids and the appearance of a new superbeing and you could say that Kitty and co have their hands full.

Kitty and Jeff never stagnate as a couple, juggling their jobs and their family keeps them on their toes and Jeff makes a pretty big mistake here that could cost him everything he cares about but no matter what is going on around them I have faith that they'll deal with things together and they have plenty of friends on hand to help shoulder the load. If you were nervous that them becoming one of the most politically powerful couples on the planet would slow them down you needn't be, Kitty is never going to settle for being a stay at home wife no matter how supportive she is of Jeff's career advancements and it's quite clear that there are still a lot of exciting challenges ahead for one of my favourite fictional couples.

As with any book in this series the plot is fast paced and well plotted, it's full of twists, there are several different enemies each with complex and well thought out plans in motion, add in fun banter between all our favourite characters, Kitty treating us to her usual wide array of musical inspiration and plenty of flying by the seat of her pants problem solving and you know you're in for a fun time. I don't think I'll ever tire of this world and these characters, I don't know anyone who can keep as many different balls in the air as Gini Koch does and the further you get in the series the more you start to realise how far in advance she must have planned things. Camp Alien is helping to kick off a whole new story arc and I'm incredibly excited to see what happens from here onwards. This series is nowhere close to done and I'm incredibly glad about that.

Source: Received from DAW books in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Alien in Chief - Gini Koch

The Mastermind has upped his game . . .

As Kitty can tell you, it's not easy being the wife of the vice president - especially not when he's an alien fom the Alpha Centauri system. And being a parent of preternaturally talented children, don't even go there. But she and her A-C husband, Jeff, have learned how to roll with whatever life and the bad guys throw at them - they think.

Kitty & Company have been savouring a few months of quiet since they got back from Beta Eight. But suddenly their peace is shattered by the arrival of a mysterious female assassin - who might be Jeff's missing niece, Stephanie. And that's just the beginning of the fun.

When the Alpha Centuri Planetary Council requests a visit with the president and vice president, things look politically dicey. When the most dangerous prisoners in the most secure supermax prison escape with ease, things look bad. But when the Mastermind releases a virus that kills people in a week, things go to Defcon Worse fast.

Now it's up to Kitty to save everyone important in the U.S. government - including her mother, her husband, and herself - before the virus spreads through the rest of the country, and then the world. Plus she's facing invisible attackers, crazed assassins, a teenager in hiding, the most dangerous train ride ever, the disappearance of her beloved flyboys, and a mysterious alien who could be an enemy or the ally she needs.

And this time, the Mastermind's made it very personal. Either he's going down . . . or Kitty is.

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
It's not often you can reach book 12 in a series and still have an author surprise you with the direction the story takes. There aren't many authors out there like Gini Koch though and not only is she an expert at creating action packed stories that are full of sub plots upon sub plots run by a huge cast of wonderful supporting characters but she also fills her books with so much humour that they never fail to make me laugh out loud. Kitty is undoubtedly one of my favourite characters, she comes up with such hair-brained schemes and you can honestly never guess what she'll try next but you know for sure she'll come out fighting and that any bad guys in the vicinity had better watch out.

We have been watching the Mastermind pulling the strings for a long time now, he's done a lot of despicable things and caused the deaths of some much loved characters but now Kittye and crew are onto him and they're working hard to bring him down. Unfortunately it's not quite as simple as calling him out since they have absolutely no evidence to use against him and they're pretty sure he has several back up plans in place in case anything happens to him. It's no use cutting off the head if the hydra is just going to grow a few more replacements so this really does need to be done carefully. Unfortunately the Mastermind has a few more tricks up his sleeve and when he kicks off one of his Doomsday plans Kitty realises that the people she cares most about are in more danger than they've ever faced before.

You're in for a crazy journey in Alien in Chief so you should just sit back and enjoy the ride. Crazy fight scenes, snake attacks, a deadly virus, alien visitors, invisible armies, old enemies finally getting what they deserve, new allies found, old allies lost and so much more can be found in these pages. The fun never stops but you should also be prepared for a few tears because not everyone makes it to the end of the book. Things have also taken a really interesting turn and the future is about to get extremely interesting for Jeff and Kitty as the series continues. I can't wait for Camp Alien!

Source: Received from DAW books in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Alien Separation - Gini Koch

Life's never easy . . .

The Mastermind has finally been identified, but before Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini can take him down, they, their daughter Jamie, Charles Reynolds, Paul Gower, Christopher White, and several others are zappe out of their solar system and into another.

Landing in scattered groups on various areas of Beta Eight in the Alpha Centauri system means getting the team back together will be a major issue. But it's only one of the challenges they'll face. Kitty and Company have to forge alliances with the wide variety of sentient natives on the planet while plotting to create a civil war and overthrow the king - who just may be a clone of one of their bitterest enemies, Ronaldo Al Dejahl.

Of course, to do this, they have to overcome an assortment of dangerous obstacles, protect a group of refugees, take mind reading lessons, and seek out unexpected new allies as they journey to the Centerpoint of the world.

And once they reach the All Seeing Mountain, new issues and surprises await. Because there's more than a small war going on - they're in the midst of the Alpha Centauri Civil War!

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
I've been a huge fan of this series since the very beginning and one of the things I love most about it is that you never know what crazy kind of situation Gini Koch is going to dream up next. She is brilliant building complex and compelling plots that evolve masterfully across the entire series but she also has the most amazing imagination and I really never know what to expect when I pick up one of her books. What I can guarantee is that it will always be hilariously funny, full of action and crazy antics and introduce us to a whole host of fabulous new characters.

If you're reading this review I'm going to assume you're up to date with the series so if you aren't please be aware that there may be spoilers for previous books. For a long time now we have known that there was a Mastermind at play, someone who was orchestrating everything that has gone wrong for Kitty and the rest of her team, but it wasn't until Universal Alien that we finally discovered who that Mastermind was. I have to admit I fully expected Alien Separation to be all about Kitty revealing the news to the rest of her allies and them coming up with a plan to take the Mastermind down so I was a little surprised with the way things turned out. Not because I didn't love the story but because once again Gini Koch managed to drop me down a rabbit hole completely unprepared!

I'm actually going to be deliberately vague when I talk about Alien Separation, I picked it up and started reading without even reading the blurb (this series gets an automatic jump to the top of my to read pile no matter what the description says) and I think I enjoyed it even more because I had no clue what to expect. What I will say is that Kitty and her usual sidekicks are all on top form, they're in the middle of several conspiracies, they make some surprising new allies, kick the butts of some old foes and generally bring peace to the galaxy. It's all in a day's work for these guys! Things are definitely building to a head though, the Mastermind's days are numbered and I can't wait to see how Kitty and co manage to bring them down. I'm completely addicted to this series and I'm just thankful that Gini Koch is such a prolific writer and so I won't have to wait too long for the next instalment.

Source: Received from DAW books in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Universal Alien - Gini Koch

Being the wife of the Vice President isn’t easy. Especially when your talents lie in kicking butt and rocking out . . .

Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini find out just how easy it is for the wife of the Vice President of the United States to unintentionally insult an ally. Now they have to smooth things over with the Australian Prime Minister, pronto, or risk creating an international incident the worldwide anti-alien coalitions will be able to use to force Jeff to resign and the A-Cs to leave the planet.

But before Kitty can make things worse, a cosmic congruence and a little help from some powerful beings shoves her into another world -- one where she’s been married to Charles Reynolds for years and aliens don’t exist. She’s also landed in the middle of a huge conspiracy and is marked for death . . . but at least that’s business as usual.

Kitty’s not the only one confused, because the Kitty from that world has taken her place in this one. Now Alpha Team and the Diplomatic Corps have to make sure that no one spots that there’s been a switch, while keeping World War III from happening. And they have to do so while keeping this new Kitty in line, because she has views about what to do and how to it, and time is running out.

Can both Kittys save their respective days before it’s too late to go home to the universes they belong to? Or will one Kitty decide to keep the other’s life . . . forever?

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
I've been a huge fan of this series since I first discovered Touched by an Alien and every time I think it can't get any better Gini Koch throws something completely new into the mix and makes me love it even more. In fact I think Universal Alien might just be my new favourite instalment of the series! I could not put this book down so make sure you clear your diary for the day before you start it.

Kitty's day starts off badly when she's forced to sit through an incredibly long cricket match, it gets even worse when she manages to unintentionally insult the Australian Prime Minister starting off an international incident that could have a major effect on the future of all of the ACs on the planet, but things really go downhill when she suddenly finds herself in an alternative reality. A reality where she's never met Jeff but is instead married to Chuckie and everything about her life is completely different. Not only are there no aliens on the planet but her alternate self knows nothing about Chuckie's secret life working for the CIA and has no idea of the danger that has placed her and her family in. While our Kitty is struggling to figure out what is going on in her new life her alternate has taken her place and suddenly finds herself faced with aliens, conspiracy theories and the fact that her husband is now her best friend and she is married to a complete stranger.

I can't tell you how much fun this story was to read, both universes are completely different and Kitty doesn't have her usual gang of friends and allies to rely on for help. There are some familiar faces though and I found it really interesting to see how different their lives are without the ACs in the mix. I actually found myself loving both Kittys and enjoying seeing how they coped with their new circumstances, both have a different role to play and are desperately needed to help resolve problems occurring in the alternative universe. What I found really interesting was that even though things look so different on the surface when you look a little deeper there are a lot of similarities. Is there a chance that a different Kitty will give insight into what is really going on and be able to help uncover the Mastermind? I'm not going to give you that answer so you'll have to read the book to find out but I will say that two Kittys means twice the action, twice the humour and twice the fun of normal.

This is a series that gets better and better with each instalment, my love for these characters continues to grow and I'm already desperate to get my hands on the next book. I don't think I'll ever get tired of reading about Kitty's adventures and I'm definitely excited to see how events from this book have a knock on effect in the next one. Universal Alien is a book that fans are going to love, once again Gini Koch has taken us on an action packed adventure that is nothing short of fantastic.

Source: Received from DAW books in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Alien Collective - Gini Koch

Despite not having run for office, nor wanting to remain in office, Representative Jeff Martini is being wooed as the vice presidential running mate for Senator Vincent Armstrong. They're up against a virulent anti-alien ticket supported by the Church of Intolerance, Clun 51, and a host of other enemies. Plus an influential gossip columnist called the Tastemaker has them in his sights.

While the Diplomatic Corps has to deal with a political campaign that is sure to uncover secrets they don't want shared with the world, Ambassador Kitty Katt-Martini has additional worries.

Tracking down the hidden Yates Offspring before their enemies can find them has been hindered by the devastating damage done to Centaurion Division's data and personnel during Operation Infiltration. But they need to find these hybrids and super-talented A-Cs to have any hope of fighting what's coming.

Bio-weapon attacks that force the evacuation of the American Centaurion, Bahraini, and Israeli embassies, along with bombs exploding all over D.C. and at major U.S. Centaurion Division Bases are bad news. But a little old lady in deadly danger because she knows much more than she realises and the emergence of the bad guys' Patient Zero complicate the mix even more. And the arrival of a new superconsciousness determined to find ACE guilty of the crime of interference sets the stakes way too high - and the coming confrontation could expose Algar, too!

Kitty's in the middle of a Battle Royale that will decide more than just the next president of the United States - it's going to decide the fate of the world . . . and possibly the galaxy.

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
It's no secret that I'm a HUGE fan of Gini Koch's alien series, I love how fast paced these stories are and the fact that they are so full of humour and crazy antics! Alien Collective is once again a fabulous instalment to the series and I loved every minute of it. It always amazes me that Gini Koch continues to come up with so many hilarious ways to challenge (or should that be torture?) her characters, we've seen the superbeings, alligators, poofs and peregrines to name a few but I'm just going to leave it for you to discover what she throws at them in this book.

Even though Alien Collective sees Jeff running for vice president the focus is still very much on the action and Kitty is given plenty of chances to kick ass and take names. The story is set about a year on from Alien Research but the A-Cs are still struggling to recover the data that was stolen by the hacker Chernobog. With years worth of research completely lost they are scrambling to catch up and their enemies are at a distinct advantage. Kitty knows it is vital to track down the remaining Yates offspring before their enemies do, the hybrids all seem to have unusual and very strong abilities and the last thing Kitty needs is them allying with the mastermind, but finding them is easier said than done.

The blows just never stop coming at them in this book, what with attacks on their embassy as well as those of their allies and multiple bombing attempts in strategic locations worldwide Kitty and the team have a lot on their hands. Add in an alien visitor who has come to put ACE on trial along with some very unusual attacks on Kitty herself and things are about to get even more complicated. Luckily Kitty has some powerful friends and her "uncles" are a great source of useful information for her. She is getting closer to discovering who the real mastermind is and it's looking more and more like it is someone in her close circle, someone she considers not just a friend but part of her family. I'm actually kind of terrified to discover who the mastermind is, I have a feeling it's going to shock us all and I'm nervous that it's going to end up being a character that I love. I would hate to even make a guess at who it is though, the court is just wide open at this point and it really could turn out to be anyone.

I can't get enough of this series and I'm sure fans are going to love this latest instalment, it has everything you'd expect from Gini Koch and is just as addictive as the other books. It's unusual for a series to still be going strong after 9 books but I can't see myself ever getting bored of Kitty and crew so I can't tell you how excited I am to know there will be at least 4 more books. Each new release just can't come fast enough!

Source: Received from the DAW Books in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Alien Research - Gini Koch

When rumours of a new super-drug surface, the FBI comes to Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini for help. It soon becomes apparent that the drug is merely the tip of a deadly iceberg and a much more insidious plan is underway involving Titan Security, Gaultier Enterprises, and YatesCorp.

As newly discovered A-Cs and hybrids begin to surface, each with expanded dangerous talents, more and more signs point to a new evil genius who's using both the A-Cs and their enemies as guinea pigs.

Then Area 51 and the Dulce Science Centre go silent while Alpha Team, Airborne, and most of the worldwide A-C Security team are there for training. And if that's not bad enough, Centurion Division is hit with more terrible news: Chernobog the Ultimate isn't a hacker myth, he's a real person - and he's on the bad guy's side.

Now Kitty and company must find the real Dr. Feelgood and stop him or her before the latest version of Surcenthumain hits the streets and more people they love are harmed - or worse.

But when the inconceivable happens, Kitty's focused on only two things: reviving the ACE entity before their enemies realise Earth's best protection isn't actually active . . . and revenge.

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
I absolutely love this series so I couldn't wait to read Alien Research and yet again Gini Koch has delivered a fun and action packed story full of my favourite characters. One of the things I loved most about this book was seeing Kitty and Jeff get to take a step away from Washington politics and back into their role as joint heads of operations. When both Area 51 and the Dulce Science Centre are taken offline with pretty much the entire security staff inside Kitty and Jeff don't have much choice but to get back into the thick of things and try to discover what is happening. As much as I love this series I have missed them taking a more active role so it was great to see them getting back to what they do best.

As always Gini Koch has woven this story in an intricate pattern using multiple plot threads and huge cast of characters we're already familiar with along with a few new faces too. She throws in so many twists and the way she ties everything together in the end is nothing short of masterful. You just never know what she is going to throw at Kitty and the gang next and in this book they are definitely in for heartbreak. There are some really shocking and emotional events that I would never have predicted and I was on the edge of my seat dreading what else she could do. There were actually a couple of occasions I was in tears so this is the first time I'm going to warn you to have tissues on hand for this series.

I love all of these characters and considering how many of them there are I'm always surprised by how quickly I can slip back into this world and just know who everyone is. With a lot of series I find I struggle to remember who the main players are or how everyone is connected but I don't tend to have that problem here. I would really like a family tree though to remind me quite how everyone is related, especially now we have so many marriages and children amongst the group. I love that the animals play such important roles in the series too, the poofs and peregrines add so much humour to the story - I just wish they were real and I could adopt some!

If you're a fan of this series you won't want to miss Alien Research, it really is another fabulous instalment. If you haven't discovered these books yet but are looking for a fast paced, action packed series full of humour and sexy aliens then I can't recommend it highly enough - you really do need to read the books in order though so make sure you start with Touched by an Alien.

Source: Received from DAW Books in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Review: Alien in the House - Gini Koch

Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini have learned the ins and outs of Washington politics, not to mention how to prevail in intergalactic war and foil dangerous plots. But, in the aftermath of Operation Destruction, the Gower girls' powers are burned out, the entire A-C population has been "outed" as the aliens living on Earth that they are, and, worst of all, ACE is nowhere to be found.

Then murder and mayhem are served up at an important dinner party at the American Centaurion Embassy, and when the dust settles, Alpha Team and the Diplomatic Corps have more problems than just a dead Congressman.

Is there a single criminal mastermind - or multiple enemies - behind all the conspiracies that want Kitty dead and the A-Cs gone or co-opted to become the War Division?

The return of the best assassins in the business, the reappearance of two individuals long-presumed dead, Agent Malcolm Buchanan felled by something no one can identify or cure, and new technology that can block even the most powerful empath on Earth . . . all this means the game's officially afoot. Then Vance Beaumont comes to Kitty with a wild theory that someone is systematically killing off the House of Representatives . . .

It's up to Kitty and the rest of the gang to find out what's really going on and why. But will they be able to stop the killer or killers before the rest of the U.S. House of Representatives become casualties? And will the replacement Representative for New Mexico's 2nd District, who happens to be Jeff Martini, be the next to die?

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
I'm going to start this review by telling you that this is a series that needs to be read in order, it is one of my all time favourite series though and it is well worth picking up a copy of Touched by an Alien if you haven't come across it yet. While this review won't contain spoilers for Alien in the House it will contain information about previous books so I wouldn't recommend reading further unless you have read up to Alien vs. Alien.

Just when Kitty and Jeff are settling into their roles as Diplomats things are all set to change again when Jeff takes on a completely new job. Becoming the Representative for New Mexico wasn't exactly his life goal though, especially when the last 2 candidates were murdered and it looks like he is next on the hit list. Jeff isn't the only target though and there have been multiple deaths in Washington over the last few months, each has been made to look like natural causes but the sheer number of bodies is too high to be a coincidence. It is up to Kitty to figure out why each of them were targeted and who is behind their deaths. Is it an anti A-C plot or is something deeper going on?

I'm a huge fan of this series, it's one of my favourites and I Kitty and Jeff are one of my most loved fictional couples. I love the humour that Gini Koch infuses throughout these books and there hasn't been an instalment yet that hasn't had me laughing out loud as I was reading it. The series has changed somewhat over the last couple of books with the focus more on politics than on the gang fighting superbeings like they did in the earlier stories but that doesn't mean that there isn't plenty of action. Kitty always manages to get herself right in the middle of things and Alien in the House isn't an exception to that, the stakes are higher than ever before and she isn't going to make it through without losing some friends and allies along the way. Nobody is safe and Kitty makes some surprising discoveries along the way, what with the appearance of both old friends and enemies previously presumed dead it is hard to know who she can trust.

I have to admit that I was a bit worried when Kitty and Jeff first took the jobs as Diplomats, I was worried that the series would become boring to read and I'll confess that there are times when I miss seeing Kitty out kicking butt with airborne and the rest of her team but there is always way too much going on for me to be bored for even a single second. Kitty and Jeff may not be leading the fight against superbeings but we still see plenty of the faces that we know and love and it is great to see how they are all getting on. I love spending time with Kitty and Jeff but it's also nice to see so many other characters developing their own relationships as the series continues. The series now has so many familiar faces that I do sometimes end up having trouble keeping all the names straight in my head but it doesn't take long to be pulled back into this world each time I pick up a new book. I might have to start writing myself a character list though just to help me remember how everyone is linked together, particularly as we now have more characters hooking up and joining to become one huge family.

Alien in the House has a few heartbreaking moments, ones where I was close to tears seeing what Kitty has to deal with, but it is also chocked full of humour and I chuckled all the time as I was reading it. The story has even more twists and shocking revelations than I've come to expect from the series and although some of our questions have been answered things have been very nicely set up to carry on into the next book. I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on Alien Research to see Kitty and Jeff both settling into their new roles hopefully uncover who is behind the latest plots against the A-Cs. I just can't get enough of these books and I hope this is a series that will continue for a long time to come.

Source: Received from DAW Books in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Alien vs. Alien - Gini Koch

Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini and the rest of the American Centaurion Diplomatic Corps are still recovering from their introduction to Washington D.C. politics, parties, and conspiracies. So when compromising pictures arrive, no one's too surprised. They're also the least of anyone's worries.

Evil androids running amok, birds of all kinds and from all places creating havoc, a senator trapped in an ever-tightening web of intrigue, and escalating international tensions all seem tough but manageable. But the disappearance of Jeff Martini and Charles Reynolds during the International One World Festival signals more than the usual nastiness - and it looks like even ACE can't help them.

Then new trouble arrives in old packages and even with the best hackers in the world, beings from near and far, the full might of Earth's military, and the Wonder Twins on their side, Centaurion Division's outmanned and outgunned.

Now Kitty's racing against the clock to find not only Jeff and Chuckie, but to keep the peace between Middle Eastern countries, all while searching for the bases of supersoldier operations - to stop them or die trying.

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
Kitty and Jeff have started to settle into their new roles as the Alpha Centaurion Diplomats, a career in Washington politics may not have been something Kitty has always dreamed of but she can fake it with the best of them and she's becoming an expert at dealing with both politicians and reporters. If they were normal diplomats then photos showing Kitty in a compromising position with her best friend Chuckie might spell out disaster but they're actually the least of Kitty & Jeff's worries. What with android attacks, more superbeings than they can reasonably cope with and an interesting arrival giving the Poofs a run for their money tension levels in the embassy are high. And that was before Jeff and Chuckie vanish without a trace! Kitty must juggle crooked senators, blackmail attempts, an impending alien invasion and keeping her baby safe while at the same time tracking down the two most important men in her life before their kidnappers can do them irreparable harm. Pretty much a normal day then, but this time she has to do it without the help of Jeff and Chuckie.

I've been a massive fan of Gini Koch's Katherine "Kitty" Katt series ever since I picked up Touched by an Alien last year. In fact it is one of my favourites - one of those series that I pre-order each instalment as soon as it becomes available on Amazon and one that I drop everything else to read as soon as I have the book in my hands. So I can't tell you how excited I was when Gini offered to send me and advanced review copy of Alien vs. Alien, I literally could not wait to start reading it! I had incredibly high expectations for the sixth book in the series but I'm happy to say that Gini not only met them - she surpassed them.

Fans of the series will know exactly what to expect when picking up one of Gini Koch's books. Her trademark humour, action packed story lines and shocking twists make for an edge of the seat thrill ride that will leave you breathless. Alien vs. Alien has all of that and then some and picking up any book in this series like sitting down with old friends for a catch up. I'm immediately sucked into Kitty's world and I'm irritated when real life gets in the way and stops me from reading. I was worried that Kitty and Jeff would have less drama and action in their lives now they're working as diplomats rather than heading up operations but if anything their lives have just got even more complicated. The threats are coming from so many different directions that it is hard to tell which enemy poses the greatest danger to them.

It was strange to see Kitty without Jeff by her side but I really enjoyed watching her prove herself a force to be reckoned with. Nobody is going to get away with taking Jeff from her and she is just as protective of her best friend Chuckie. Thankfully she still has plenty of people she can rely on, I love her working partnership with Richard but of course she still has Chris, Reader and the flyboys to back her up as needed. Without a doubt it is Kitty's wacky way of looking at things that is going to save the day though. I have been a fan of the Poofs since they were first introduced to the series but all I'm going to say is watch out for the latest delivery from Alpha Centaurion, it's guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. That and the new "woman" who is competing with Kitty for Jeff's affection! Alien vs. Alien is a fab instalment to a fantastic series and I'm already dying to get my hands on Alien in the House for my next Martini fix. If you're already a fan of the series then you need to get hold of this book immediately - if you haven't started reading it yet then you really don't know what you're missing.

Source: Received from DAW Books in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Alien Diplomacy - Gini Koch

Being newlyweds and new parents is challenging enough. But nothing's ever easy for Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini, particularly not when they have to switch from being super-being exterminators and Commanders in Centaurion Division to mastering the political landscape as the new heads of American Centaurion's Diplomatic Corps.

Kitty's brand of diplomacy and lobbying isn't quite as smooth as Jeff's - Washington parties, lobbyists of all stripes, and politicians from all states and countries present challenges a well-stocked iPod and quirky sense of humour aren't always up to handling. But when a shadowy assassination plot and a new set of anti-alien conspirators are identified, Kitty's the diplomat for the job - in between "Mommy and Me," "Diplomacy for Beginners," and the dreaded "Washington Wife" classes.

As explosions, assassination attempts, and murders pile up, the question shifts from "who's the target" to "will we all survive to see next week"?

Armed with only their wits, and dressed to kill, it's up to Kitty and the Diplomatic Corps to stop the bad guys from unleashing mayhem on all the world's leaders. But will Kitty trust the right people, at the right times, or will going her own way prove deadly - not just to her, but to her daughter, Jamie?

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
It's all change for the Alpha team since Kitty gave birth to her baby daughter. With Jeff, Kitty and Christopher now working in Washington heading up the American Centaurion Diplomatic Corps it has left Reader, Gower and the others to take over the role of hunting down the super-beings. Kitty has never been the most diplomatic character so her new job doesn't come naturally - in fact she has been signed up to multiple classes just to learn how to behave around the other ambassadors. Luckily Jeff is coping a little better but no matter which way you look at it the transition isn't going smoothly. Throw in an assassination attempt, Washington politics and the usual plots against the AC's and they're going to be in for a bumpy ride.

It's no secret that I'm a massive fan girl when it comes to this series - I can't get enough of Kitty, Jeff and the Alpha Centaurion crew! I love the humour, the snark, the action and the romance not to mention all the hot men - both the alien and human ones. I love the way Kitty has built up such a loyal team of men and women, the banter between the various human and alien agencies and the way they all work together to battle the big bad fuglies. Without a doubt this is one of my favourite series and one that I can't recommend highly enough.

It pains me to say it but I didn't enjoy Alien Diplomacy quite as much as the first four books. Don't get me wrong, it's still an awesome read and a must for any fan of the series, it just didn't quite live up to my (admittedly high) expectations. I don't think it helped that it has been a few months since I read Alien Proliferation, when a series has as many characters as this one does it can be hard to remember exactly who everyone is - especially the more minor players. It didn't take me too long to settle back into Kitty's world and I enjoyed the fact that some of the people we have met previously now have a more important role to play but I have to confess to finding myself confused by the number of new characters. I kept finding myself having to backtrack to figure out who was who, especially when it came to members of Kitty's Washington Wives class and their respective spouses.

I also found having Kitty and the team based in Washington was a big change of pace, particularly in the earlier part of the book where everyone is trying to settle into their new roles and figure out how things work in the world of the diplomats. The action really picked up in the second half of the book but I missed watching Kitty and Jeff out battling super-beings. The plot was still incredibly complex though, if you've read any of this series then you'll already know that Gini Koch is an expert at weaving multiple layers into her books. I don't think I've ever read a series as complex as this one and I never manage to fully figure out all of the plots that are going on. Alien Diplomacy is no exception and as usual Kitty and the gang have to put together the clues to figure out how many different factions they are up against this time around.

Please don't be put off by the fact that this isn't my favourite book in the series. These books are still outstanding and they're ones I have and will continue to recommend heartily. I have already pre-ordered my copy of Alien vs. Alien and I can't wait to get my hands on my next Jeff and Kitty fix!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Alien Proliferation - Gini Koch

After the wildest wedding ever, Katherine "Kitty" Katt-Martini and her Alpha Centaurion husband Jeff are hoping life will settle down.  But alien attacks are on the increase, and someone is testing a dangerous new drug on unwilling subjects within their group.  As if that's not enough, Kitty and a number of the A-C women are expecting their first babies.

No one is certain what this baby boom will lead to, but after almost losing Kitty in childbirth, they discover that their newborn's talents are off the charts - and potentially dangerous.  And just to add to their worries - the bad guys want their baby.

The last thing anyone in Centaurion Division needs after that is a conspiracy to kill the heads of the C.I.A's Extra-Terrestrial Division and the Presidential Terrorism Control Unit, otherwise known as Charles Reynolds and Kitty's mother, Angela Katt.

Then suddenly, key members of Alpha and Airborne start vanishing.  Can Kitty, her remaining team members, friends old and new, and a totally unexpected new partner rescue everyone and figure out how and why Kitty's become a superhuman?  Most importantly, can they pull it all off before the event Kitty dreads most - her Alpha Centaurion baby shower?

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
Alien Proliferation picks up the story several months after the ending of Alien in the Family with Kitty heavily pregnant and about to give birth to her first child.  Being pregnant with an alien / human hybrid has really taken it out of our heroine though so she is stuck on bed rest and feeling rather cranky, luckily she has superdad-to-be and empath Jeff on hand to anticipate her every need.  The bad guys aren't going to wait until after the happy event to start causing trouble though and things are going downhill fast.  What with a plot to kill both Kitty's best friend and her mother, team members disappearing, a potential mole and some unexpected drugs testing they are in for a bumpy ride.  Can Kitty figure out who is behind it all so she can relax and enjoy being a new mum?

It's official, I'm an addict!  I literally can't get enough of this series and I don't know how I'm going to survive the four month wait for Alien Diplomacy (yes I have already pre-ordered my copy!).  This has become an all time favourite series and now I've finished reading Alien Proliferation all I really want to do is pick up Touched by an Alien and start re-reading the books again from the beginning.  If you haven't started this series yet you really don't know what you're missing.

I absolutely love Kitty, she may be heavily pregnant and going slightly insane from an abundance of hormones but she is still top of the witty banter and she has managed to surround herself with the hottest and most supportive team ever.  Seriously, I can't imagine what she'd do without these guys.  If you've read any of my other reviews for this series then you'll know I'm absolutely crazy about Jeff, I didn't think I could love him more but scenes with him, Kitty and the baby melted me into a puddle.  Even his jealousy is hot and that would normally be a complete turn off for me.  My heart both broke and jumped for joy for Christopher, I'm so pleased with how things are turning out for him.  Chuckie had me in stitches when he was bantering with Jeff (especially one particular scene where he was trying to get Jeff to come home for Kitty) but he also had an incredibly sweet moment with Kitty that brought a tear to my eye.  Reader, Gower and ACE - love, love and love some more along with the fly boys and the rest of team Alpha.  Not forgetting Kitty's new partner who came as a complete shock to me but an absolutely wonderful one.

Alien Proliferation has everything you'd expect from Gini Koch and this series - romance, action, comedy, shocking twists, swoon worthy hunks (both alien and human), a kick ass heroine, great friendships, an ever increasing cast of fabulous characters (some of them even come with uniforms!), witty banter, an adorable baby (so that's a new one but the baby boom is well and truly on it's way), awesome pet poofies and so much more.  OK there may be a little less sex that you'd expect but Kitty has just given birth so even she has to take a bit of a break lol.  A fabulous installment to a fabulous series and one I can't wait to continue!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.