Schooling the Alien by Ava Ross

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Do I dare give my broken heart to an alien as wounded as me?

When I took a nanny job in a distant colony caring for two young boys who recently lost their mother, I expected I’d grow to love them. Having experienced loss myself, I knew how hard it was to heal. What I didn’t expect was to fall for their father, a big, burly alien with scars on his body that mirror those in my soul.

Between teaching the boys and bringing fun back into their lives, I get to know Firoh, a guy I sense needs love as much as I do. It isn’t long before I can see myself living in this alien colony forever, as long as I can be with Firoh and his sons.

When the boys’ past threatens everything Firoh and I are building together, we’ll have to expose our hearts to each other to fight off the threat.

Schooling the Alien is book eight in the Beastly Alien Boss series of interconnected standalones. Expect strong women and heroes who will do anything to be with their fated mates.

Finding Family Light‑Years From Home

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

Audiobook Review: Schooling the Alien (Beastly Alien Boss, #8)

Author: Ava Ross
Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Narrators: Patrick Zeller and Holly Jackson

Characters and Plot

Molly’s life has unraveled in the most brutal way possible: a divorce, the loss of her baby girl, and the gut‑punch discovery that her ex-husband is already expecting a child with someone new—and moving her into the home Molly just left behind. Nearly broke and desperate for a fresh start far from the wreckage of her old life, Molly makes an impulsive stop at the Intergalactic Employment Agency. If she can’t rebuild on Earth, maybe another planet will give her the clean slate she needs.

Firoh, meanwhile, is a former spy, pilot, and chef whose life takes an unexpected turn when he learns that the anonymous human recipient of his donation six years ago has died—leaving him the single father of twin half-human, half-alien boys. Telsar and Curron are grieving, chaotic, and absolutely uninterested in accepting a new caregiver. They don’t want a nanny. They want their mom back. And Molly, walking into this emotional minefield, has no idea what she’s in for.

Highlights

• The nanny/single dad dynamic is one of my favorite tropes, and this story leans into it beautifully. Watching Molly slowly earn the trust of two deeply hurt little boys—especially the more withdrawn twin—was genuinely heartwarming.
• The custody conflict with the boys’ aunt adds real tension and stakes. It forces Firoh to confront his own insecurities as a father and gives Molly a chance to prove her loyalty to the family she’s beginning to care about.

Limitations

• While the romance is enjoyable and the steamy moments are solid, I found myself wishing for a deeper emotional connection between Molly and Firoh. Their chemistry is there, but it doesn’t always rise to the level of intensity or vulnerability that the setup promises.

Narration

The dual POV structure works well in audio, and Patrick Zeller and Hollie Jackson are both seasoned pros in the sci-fi romance space. Jackson’s voice skews a bit older than Molly’s character, but her energy and emotional clarity more than make up for it. Zeller delivers a fantastic performance as Firoh, capturing that slightly formal, alien cadence without ever sounding stiff. Together, they elevate the story and give the characters real presence.

Final Assessment

This audiobook blends heartfelt family moments, light sci-fi adventure, and a slow-burn romance that’s easy to root for. While I wanted a bit more emotional heat between the leads, the charming kids, engaging worldbuilding, and strong narration make it a satisfying, feel-good listen—especially if you enjoy nanny/single dad stories with a cosmic twist.

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