What do you think?
Rate this book
Psy-Changeling #15.2
Baubles and Ben
A short story featuring Marlee & Ben from the SnowDancer pack.
Timeline: Takes place around the same time as Allegiance of Honor.
This story can be found on Nalini Singh's official website.
Timeline: Takes place around the same time as Allegiance of Honor.
This story can be found on Nalini Singh's official website.
4 pages, ebook
First published November 27, 2017
11 people are currently reading
718 people want to read
About the author
Nalini Singh
252 books26.8k followersI've been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There's no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
August 4, 2018
Esta escena fue adorable. Me encanta la amistad que hay entre Ben y Marlee, es tan sincera y tierna que tengo esperanzas de que algun dia se conviertan en algo mas, espero que Nalini Singh escriba su historia cuando sean un poco mas mayores.
3 Estrellas!
March 23, 2018
Sweet and heart-warming. Who knows what will happen when these two grow up? ^_^
March 10, 2021
This little morsel focuses on Ben and Marlee.
Ben is adorable looking forward to a book when he's all grown up.
Available via: https://nalinisingh.com/extras/psycha...
Freebie on amazon.
Ben is adorable looking forward to a book when he's all grown up.
Available via: https://nalinisingh.com/extras/psycha...
Freebie on amazon.
September 22, 2021
Ben and Marlee are ridiculously cute together and I always love any chance to catch a glimpse of uncle Judd. Such a cute little holiday story.
You can read it online here: http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/20...
You can read it online here: http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/20...
January 5, 2018
C'était tout mignon !
Sympa d'avoir un POV de Marlee.
Sympa d'avoir un POV de Marlee.
February 14, 2022
I wonder if Ben and Marlee are Mates, I do hope so!!
December 30, 2017
OMG this melted my old shriveled heart. Now I'm thinking of Marlee and Ben when they grow up.
There are so many stories to be written in this world and Nalini is so good at it.
There are so many stories to be written in this world and Nalini is so good at it.
February 7, 2020
A free short story, 15.2 in the Psy-Changeling paranormal romance series, revolving around three primary groups: the two strong Changeling packs in North America — the DarkRiver Leopards who control the San Francisco area and the SnowDancer Wolves who control the rest of California; the icy, emotionless Psy who see themselves as superior to everyone; and, the humans who are tired of being pushed around. The focus is on young Marlee Lauren.
If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Psy-Changeling books on my website.
My Take
While "Baubles & Ben" doesn't have the same emotional depth as most of Singh's short stories, it still tugs at my heartstrings.
In spite of the title, the focus is actually on Marlee, one of the Psy who managed to escape the PsyNet with that amazing young Ben as the "inciting incident" that allows Singh to concentrate on emotion, the feelings the Psy are not allowed.
It's a beautiful peek in at family and love. The love and support of the wolf pack for their children. Of Marlee's appreciation for emotion through Singh's use of third person protagonist point-of-view. Of Ben's love for his mom.
The Story
A precious gift. Broken.
The Characters
Marlee Lauren is a young girl and part of a renegade group of Psy who escaped the PsyNet. Lara, a wolf changeling, is Marlee's stepmom, mated to Walker Lauren, Marlee's father and Judd's brother. Judd Lauren had been an Arrow, a Tk-Cell +9 and Tp +9, and is now a lieutenant with SnowDancer (he was mated to Brenna Kincaid, part of the den’s tech team, Caressed by Ice , 3).
Ben is a young, sunny wolf pup. Ava is his mom — at last we find out his mom's name! Elodie is Ben's younger sister.
SnowDancer is...
...a pack of wolf changelings, and Hawke Snow is their alpha mated to Sienna Walker, a deadly cardinal X and Walker's daughter ( Kiss of Snow , 10).
A lieutenant, Indigo Riviere is Marlee's aunt because she's mated to Drew Kincaid ( Play of Passion , 9) whose sister Brenna is mated to Judd Lauren.
The Psy are humans who evolved into psychically gifted people who see themselves as superior to everyone. The PsyNet is a psychic network that is both an "encyclopedia" of all Psy knowledge and links them, keeping them sane.
The Title
The title is what brings out Marlee's introspection, for "Baubles & Ben" is all about Ben's love for his mother.
If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Psy-Changeling books on my website.
My Take
While "Baubles & Ben" doesn't have the same emotional depth as most of Singh's short stories, it still tugs at my heartstrings.
In spite of the title, the focus is actually on Marlee, one of the Psy who managed to escape the PsyNet with that amazing young Ben as the "inciting incident" that allows Singh to concentrate on emotion, the feelings the Psy are not allowed.
It's a beautiful peek in at family and love. The love and support of the wolf pack for their children. Of Marlee's appreciation for emotion through Singh's use of third person protagonist point-of-view. Of Ben's love for his mom.
The Story
A precious gift. Broken.
The Characters
Marlee Lauren is a young girl and part of a renegade group of Psy who escaped the PsyNet. Lara, a wolf changeling, is Marlee's stepmom, mated to Walker Lauren, Marlee's father and Judd's brother. Judd Lauren had been an Arrow, a Tk-Cell +9 and Tp +9, and is now a lieutenant with SnowDancer (he was mated to Brenna Kincaid, part of the den’s tech team, Caressed by Ice , 3).
Ben is a young, sunny wolf pup. Ava is his mom — at last we find out his mom's name! Elodie is Ben's younger sister.
SnowDancer is...
...a pack of wolf changelings, and Hawke Snow is their alpha mated to Sienna Walker, a deadly cardinal X and Walker's daughter ( Kiss of Snow , 10).
A lieutenant, Indigo Riviere is Marlee's aunt because she's mated to Drew Kincaid ( Play of Passion , 9) whose sister Brenna is mated to Judd Lauren.
The Psy are humans who evolved into psychically gifted people who see themselves as superior to everyone. The PsyNet is a psychic network that is both an "encyclopedia" of all Psy knowledge and links them, keeping them sane.
The Title
The title is what brings out Marlee's introspection, for "Baubles & Ben" is all about Ben's love for his mother.
December 2, 2017
A cute little short story
Ben has always been my favourite SnowDancers's pup :) As for Marlee, it warmed my heart
Ben has always been my favourite SnowDancers's pup :) As for Marlee, it warmed my heart
May 9, 2021
se lleva el premio a la historia más corta, tierna y hermosa del mundo
September 18, 2022
So freaking cute!
January 1, 2020
Pequeño Ben es tan tierno!
Solo espero que Nalini sea compasiva y nos de una historia de él y Marley cuando crezcan.
Solo espero que Nalini sea compasiva y nos de una historia de él y Marley cuando crezcan.
December 28, 2017
I love Ben, love how mischievous he is and how everyone in the Snow Dancer Den seems to view him as their pet/mascot/favorite member. I especially like the friendship between Ben and Marlee. This short story really tugs at your heart, I hope that these 2 friends always stay like this! I loved how Judd was able to help Ben out.
December 26, 2017
Sweet short story of a party at the wolf den. Marlee tells how she sought out her younger friend Ben and discovers him with a broken 'bauble' ornament he planned to give his mother. Marlee has an idea how to get the bauble fixed and cheer up Ben.
Adorable story!
Adorable story!
Read
November 10, 2018Ben and Marlee are so adorable together. I know they’re just kids, but their bond and friendship is strong. I’d love to see a glimpse into their adult life.
Free story: https://nalinisingh.com/extras/psycha...
Free story: https://nalinisingh.com/extras/psycha...
November 29, 2017
Cute short story with Ben and Marlee!
December 5, 2017
Heart. Melted. *is puddle*
January 2, 2018
4 stars.
Ben is such a cute boy. I'm not sure I want either him or Marlee to grow up too soon. I quite enjoy them as children.
Ben is such a cute boy. I'm not sure I want either him or Marlee to grow up too soon. I quite enjoy them as children.
December 28, 2017
a short but cute sweet story about Ben and Marlee
April 7, 2018
Free in Nalini's newsletter November 2017.
Young Marlee is a Psy child, best friends with Ben, a changeling.
A beautiful vignette which encapsulates the way in which the psy and the changelings can help each other.
Young Marlee is a Psy child, best friends with Ben, a changeling.
A beautiful vignette which encapsulates the way in which the psy and the changelings can help each other.
August 25, 2018
Oh, my freaking word. So freaking cute. And any story with Judd is even better! But seriously cuteness overload.
November 7, 2021
These short stories are a wonderful addition to the series.
January 5, 2019
I love my precious children.
January 9, 2018
Marlee and Ben are adorable together! Makes me wonder if they are going to be mates when they grow up.
December 1, 2018
Ben is one of the most adorable characters ever. There's a promise of a wonderful story when he grows up.
February 21, 2023
"She’d learned to laugh with Ben. Before, where her family had lived, in the PsyNet, she hadn’t been allowed to laugh or feel any emotions and so she hadn’t known how when she’d come to live with the wolves. But then Ben had just decided to be her friend and he’d kept on laughing until one day, she’d laughed too."
Ugh, I actually cried reading this. I can't cope with this level of cute! I have wondered about the age difference between this and how their friendship would develop but that quote tells us just how important their friendship and even if they go in different directions for a while I think they'll find their way back to each other!
"She wondered suddenly what Ben would be like as a grown up. But then he laughed and kissed his mama on the cheek and the thought flew away."
I really hope we get an answer to this question someday!
May 2, 2024
Man, I loved Judd & Ben before but this just melted my heart into a pile of goo!
It is Marlee's birthday but her best friend was missing. She managed to find Ben near one of the waterfalls in SnowDancer territory, crying. The ornament he had handmade was broken and he wanted to give it his mum but now it was broken he couldn't give it to her, crushing his heart. But Marlee took him to my second favorite character in this whole series, Judd Lauren, her uncle, who used his abilities to fix the ornament and then teleported them to Ben's mum for Ben to give it to her.
It was just a sweet scene but it definitely cements an idea that I have had for a while. When Marlee & Ben grow up, those two are so going to be mates. Or at least I really, really, REALLY hope they do.
I LOVE JUDD LAUREN!!!
It is Marlee's birthday but her best friend was missing. She managed to find Ben near one of the waterfalls in SnowDancer territory, crying. The ornament he had handmade was broken and he wanted to give it his mum but now it was broken he couldn't give it to her, crushing his heart. But Marlee took him to my second favorite character in this whole series, Judd Lauren, her uncle, who used his abilities to fix the ornament and then teleported them to Ben's mum for Ben to give it to her.
It was just a sweet scene but it definitely cements an idea that I have had for a while. When Marlee & Ben grow up, those two are so going to be mates. Or at least I really, really, REALLY hope they do.
I LOVE JUDD LAUREN!!!
June 1, 2019
This is a short vignette with Marlee and Ben. Ben has broken the Christmas bauble he made for his mother. This is a sweet little story and readers get to see some of the SnowDancer people, especially Judd who is a hero here. This is one of the free short vignettes that happen around the books of the series where readers get to see the characters just being happy and living their lives. I enjoyed this one because we really get to see Marlee and Ben's relationship which is peripheral to the series books, but is incredible sweet.
February 15, 2021
This is just beyond adorable and helps to highlight kids can and should be kids, regardless of if they are changeling or psy in this series. Marlee and Ben are the best of friends, and it's adorable how they stick together. We even get to see a bit of Jude's softer side that is often harder to spot with his Arrow background.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews