Origins A Science Fiction Alien Romance

We're going back in time to see where the concept for TerraMates began. Sophie is from Earth and from a time when the planet was horribly overpopulated, polluted and the verge of collapse. She works for Single for Life, which promotes non procreation, to give the Earth a chance to save itself from overpopulation. After getting a promotion she uses her bonus and mandatory holiday leave to finally visit her inter-galactic penpal, Khellen. He lives on Biyaha and as excited as she is to finally meet him, having an actual water based shower comes a close 2nd! Biyaha's has the exact opposite problem of Earth. They have a declining population and their government is all about having them procreate! Bad things seem to happen to those who have not married by 25 and they just...disappear. Khellen is nearing his 25th birthday and the pressure is mounting for him to marry. But shock horror he doesn't want a marriage to only save him from disappearing, he actually wants to love the woman he marries! When his mother sets him up with Morda, he realises he may not get what he wants after all. But when Sophie arrives in time for the wedding, the poor sod feels himself pulled in all kinds of directions! You're not supposed to lust after your best friend when you're about to get married! Good grief, these two just about set themselves up for failure! Both trying to not admit their feelings for one another. Mrs Lynch is also a bit of a cold fish and I really struggled to like her but Morda is definitely the one to watch! I loved finding out what actually happens to the Disappeared and I was gobsmacked! Great read!