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Supernatural Selection #2
Vampire With Benefits
A match between a vampire and shifter could be deadly—but this broken beaver doesn’t give a dam.
Silent film actor Casimir Moreau had imagined that life as a vampire would be freewheeling and glamorous. Instead, he’s plunged into a restrictive society whose rules he runs afoul of at every turn. To “rehabilitate” him, the vampire council orders him mated to an incubus with impeccable breeding who’ll mold Cas into the upstanding vampire he ought to be. Or else.
As an inactive beaver shifter, construction engineer Rusty Johnson has fought—and overcome—bias and disrespect his entire life. But when his longtime boyfriend leaves him for political reasons, Rusty is ready to call it a day. Next stop? Supernatural Selection and his guaranteed perfect mate, a bear shifter living far away from Rusty’s disapproving clan.
But then a spell snafu at Supernatural Selection robs both men of their intended husbands. Rusty can’t face returning to his clan, and Cas needs somebody on his arm to keep the council happy, so they agree to pretend to be married. Nobody needs to know their relationship is fake—especially since it’s starting to feel suspiciously like the real thing.
Word count: 80,000; page count: 300
Silent film actor Casimir Moreau had imagined that life as a vampire would be freewheeling and glamorous. Instead, he’s plunged into a restrictive society whose rules he runs afoul of at every turn. To “rehabilitate” him, the vampire council orders him mated to an incubus with impeccable breeding who’ll mold Cas into the upstanding vampire he ought to be. Or else.
As an inactive beaver shifter, construction engineer Rusty Johnson has fought—and overcome—bias and disrespect his entire life. But when his longtime boyfriend leaves him for political reasons, Rusty is ready to call it a day. Next stop? Supernatural Selection and his guaranteed perfect mate, a bear shifter living far away from Rusty’s disapproving clan.
But then a spell snafu at Supernatural Selection robs both men of their intended husbands. Rusty can’t face returning to his clan, and Cas needs somebody on his arm to keep the council happy, so they agree to pretend to be married. Nobody needs to know their relationship is fake—especially since it’s starting to feel suspiciously like the real thing.
Word count: 80,000; page count: 300
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 26, 2018
119 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Russell
54 books385 followersE.J. Russell –grace, mother of three, recovering actor–writes romance in a rainbow of flavors. Count on high snark, low angst and happy endings.
Reality? Eh, not so much.
Reality? Eh, not so much.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
March 1, 2019
*4.25 stars*
Vampire with Benefits by E.J. Russell is my absolute favorite book by her to date!
I have a mixed history with E.J. Russell, but she really pulled this story off. While you certainly could read this as a stand-alone, I enjoyed having some of the backstory from Single White Incubus first.
Cas and Rusty were adorable together. I loved their lighthearted banter and the way that they really stood up for each other. They were such a good couple.
I also dug the plot of the story. E.J. Russell can tend to be long-winded and get caught up in tangents, but this story really worked. The plot had some twists and turns, but I think it all ended up flowing well and feeling well-paced.
And that ending!! I love when a book leaves me swooning at the end. I actually left the story wanting more (maybe a short story that takes place in their future?!) or a glimpse of them in an upcoming book. I'm attached to these MCs!
A very good, light supernatural book that will make you smile. The best work yet from this author.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
Vampire with Benefits by E.J. Russell is my absolute favorite book by her to date!
I have a mixed history with E.J. Russell, but she really pulled this story off. While you certainly could read this as a stand-alone, I enjoyed having some of the backstory from Single White Incubus first.
Cas and Rusty were adorable together. I loved their lighthearted banter and the way that they really stood up for each other. They were such a good couple.
I also dug the plot of the story. E.J. Russell can tend to be long-winded and get caught up in tangents, but this story really worked. The plot had some twists and turns, but I think it all ended up flowing well and feeling well-paced.
And that ending!! I love when a book leaves me swooning at the end. I actually left the story wanting more (maybe a short story that takes place in their future?!) or a glimpse of them in an upcoming book. I'm attached to these MCs!
A very good, light supernatural book that will make you smile. The best work yet from this author.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
freebie
May 13, 2021Currently *FREE* on Amazon, 2021-05-12:
https://smile.amazon.com/Vampire-Bene...
August 2, 2024
Casimir Moreau toes the vampire community's rules one too many times and he's force to marry a suitable mate, lest he wished to walk into the sunlight. Inactive beaver shifter Rusty Johnson needs a husband post-haste to get even with his ex, who jilted him for a less "faulty" mate.
Unfortunately the matchmaking agency make a huge mess, and ends up binding the two protagonists' mates to each other. To somehow atone for their mistake, they agree to help Cass and Rusty enter into a temporary bond, to "tide them over" until the initial mishap is fixed.
As cheesy as the premise sounded, the execution somehow turned out surprisingly well. To be fair, I do generally appreciate the enemies-to-lovers trope, and despite the overall cliché-filled plot devices, there is also a bit of je ne sais quoi that keeps pulling me back to this series. Add to that the protagonists' great chemistry... and I was hooked.
I'd be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy all the Bryant and Mal cameos, especially in the beginning, but the whole time-travelling subplot felt kinda forced. On the one hand, I liked the character development that it gave Bryant, but its role in the current plot turned into too much of a convenient fix-it-all. It almost seemed like the author got to a point where she didn't know how else to turn things towards a happy ending, so she resorted to resetting things via time-travel.
Score: 3.3/5 stars
You know how most trilogies tend to deliver flops in book 2? Well, E.J. Russel seems to have gone the complete opposite way, by giving us really good middle books amid a lukewarm start and ending. Not a huge complaint, but rather an interesting observation.
If you're looking for a supernatural romance featuring an unlikely pairing with brilliant chemistry and several heart-warming moments, this is your book.
================================
Review of book 1: Single White Incubus
Review of book 3: Demon on the Down-Low
Other books set in the Mythmatched World:
--------------------------------------
Review of Cutie and the Beast
Review of The Druid Next Door
Review of Bad Boy's Bard
Unfortunately the matchmaking agency make a huge mess, and ends up binding the two protagonists' mates to each other. To somehow atone for their mistake, they agree to help Cass and Rusty enter into a temporary bond, to "tide them over" until the initial mishap is fixed.
As cheesy as the premise sounded, the execution somehow turned out surprisingly well. To be fair, I do generally appreciate the enemies-to-lovers trope, and despite the overall cliché-filled plot devices, there is also a bit of je ne sais quoi that keeps pulling me back to this series. Add to that the protagonists' great chemistry... and I was hooked.
I'd be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy all the Bryant and Mal cameos, especially in the beginning, but the whole time-travelling subplot felt kinda forced. On the one hand, I liked the character development that it gave Bryant, but its role in the current plot turned into too much of a convenient fix-it-all. It almost seemed like the author got to a point where she didn't know how else to turn things towards a happy ending, so she resorted to resetting things via time-travel.
Score: 3.3/5 stars
You know how most trilogies tend to deliver flops in book 2? Well, E.J. Russel seems to have gone the complete opposite way, by giving us really good middle books amid a lukewarm start and ending. Not a huge complaint, but rather an interesting observation.
If you're looking for a supernatural romance featuring an unlikely pairing with brilliant chemistry and several heart-warming moments, this is your book.
================================
Review of book 1: Single White Incubus
Review of book 3: Demon on the Down-Low
Other books set in the Mythmatched World:
--------------------------------------
Review of Cutie and the Beast
Review of The Druid Next Door
Review of Bad Boy's Bard
November 18, 2018
Even better than book one in the series, this one's funnier and also has a whole new mystery element to take into account in this supernatural world.
I didn't think I was going to like Casimir originally but he actually ended up being a real gem of a character - vampire with a sort of conscience and a penchant for getting into trouble.
Rusty, on the other hand, was awesome from the start and I was so glad when he started to kick back at how his dickhead ex was treating him.
The whole plot twists around in a direction I'd never have guessed and it works really well.
I'm eagerly awaiting book three now to find out just why things went so dreadfully wrong with the arranged marriages and just what hold that hovering creepy angel in its pillar of light has on our erstwhile demon clerk.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I didn't think I was going to like Casimir originally but he actually ended up being a real gem of a character - vampire with a sort of conscience and a penchant for getting into trouble.
Rusty, on the other hand, was awesome from the start and I was so glad when he started to kick back at how his dickhead ex was treating him.
The whole plot twists around in a direction I'd never have guessed and it works really well.
I'm eagerly awaiting book three now to find out just why things went so dreadfully wrong with the arranged marriages and just what hold that hovering creepy angel in its pillar of light has on our erstwhile demon clerk.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
December 2, 2018
Utterly delightful. Snarky, charming, clever twist. I can hardly wait for the next one!
June 11, 2021
This was so good. Like, really, really good. Will come back to this review when it's not in the middle of the night.
November 19, 2018
I loved this one just as much as the first book in the series! I LOVE what the author is doing here, both books have been fun, snarky, emotional, sexy, and just lovely to read. There is some nice world building with shifter politics and history, and plenty of romance. This one does follow alongside the events from the first book - Ted and Q-Bert were Rusty and Cas's intended husbands respectively - so this one follows Rusty and Casimir during the same two weeks, but I think you might be OK reading out of order.
Rusty is a beaver shifter - although he can't shift, so he is called an Inactive shifter. He's a bit fed up with love after his loser of an ex-boyfriend treats him like trash, so he signs up for the SPN Selection. Casimir is a vampire on the cusp of being in serious trouble with the vampire council, so they force him into an arranged marriage. Of course, their intendeds are perfect matches for each other - so could it be that these two are perfect matches, as well? :D
I loved their story, how it progressed and the snark and banter becoming teasing and endearing. Rusty and Cas had great chemistry and tons of emotion as they fell for each other. I especially loved them swimming together, and then when they had to go to Rusty's ex's wedding? Loved them! I loved how sweet they were with each other, how Rusty was so protective and caring for him, and how Cas wanted to stand up for Rusty and make him see what a good man he is.
Of course, things happen and catch up to them - and I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that I never would have expected what happened to happen, but thought it was brilliant. A bit...timey-wimey, if you get that reference, but so creative and now I just want to read MORE of Cas and Rusty, because they could totally have another story lol.
I cannot wait for the next story in this series/(trilogy?). I'm very happy I discovered this author as I really enjoy her blend of humor with the paranormal and romance. It's refreshing!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Rusty is a beaver shifter - although he can't shift, so he is called an Inactive shifter. He's a bit fed up with love after his loser of an ex-boyfriend treats him like trash, so he signs up for the SPN Selection. Casimir is a vampire on the cusp of being in serious trouble with the vampire council, so they force him into an arranged marriage. Of course, their intendeds are perfect matches for each other - so could it be that these two are perfect matches, as well? :D
I loved their story, how it progressed and the snark and banter becoming teasing and endearing. Rusty and Cas had great chemistry and tons of emotion as they fell for each other. I especially loved them swimming together, and then when they had to go to Rusty's ex's wedding? Loved them! I loved how sweet they were with each other, how Rusty was so protective and caring for him, and how Cas wanted to stand up for Rusty and make him see what a good man he is.
Of course, things happen and catch up to them - and I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that I never would have expected what happened to happen, but thought it was brilliant. A bit...timey-wimey, if you get that reference, but so creative and now I just want to read MORE of Cas and Rusty, because they could totally have another story lol.
I cannot wait for the next story in this series/(trilogy?). I'm very happy I discovered this author as I really enjoy her blend of humor with the paranormal and romance. It's refreshing!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2022
3-3.5 stars
Didn’t love it as much as book one which is a unpopular opinion.. but to me the ending was abrupt, but I can see it being cute.. but I wanted something more hahaha
Greg Boudreaux you made this book, honestly I was thinking about DNF’ing around the 65% mark, but pushed through, glad I did but ehh for some reason this book hold my attention as much as the first book… 🤷🏽♀️
Didn’t love it as much as book one which is a unpopular opinion.. but to me the ending was abrupt, but I can see it being cute.. but I wanted something more hahaha
Greg Boudreaux you made this book, honestly I was thinking about DNF’ing around the 65% mark, but pushed through, glad I did but ehh for some reason this book hold my attention as much as the first book… 🤷🏽♀️
November 28, 2024
Review for the entire series. (no spoilers)
Every book has a different couple, but the stories are all linked together through characters and events, and there is a very loose arc that starts in book 1 and has its resolution only at the end of book 3.
This series is also linked to another series by the same author (Fae Out of Water), and there are spoilers about it, so take that into account if you want to follow the chronological order and are bothered by spoilers. Otherwise, it’s possible to read this series without getting lost, since the author provided enough backstory about characters from the previous series whenever it was needed.
As for this series, it was my first read by this author and it was pretty much what I expected, cute and uncomplicated, with a premise (a matchmaking service for supernatural beings) and some unusual pairings that made it more original than the “usual” shifter/paranormal stories I’ve read so far.
There were a few instances (especially in book 2) of miscommunication and/or the characters making stupid choices, and (again in book 2) , but in general I found it an entertaining and light read.
The world building was very interesting, with lots of species and realms, and I liked how the supernatural politics were woven with the romances. Despite that, the world building had at least one obvious failing. It was never explained how everyone was so worried about protecting the secret of the supernatural world’s existence and yet a band of supernatural musicians had been touring for decades without anyone noticing that they weren’t getting older. Or how a bear shifter could plan on living the rest of his (much longer than usual) life in the same place, while interacting on a regular basis with humans living nearby. Humans that, supposedly, in the future couldn’t fail to notice that he won't be getting any older. Same thing for the beaver shifter who owns a construction business. What’s the long-term strategy?
None of these issues were ever addressed, even though the necessity of keeping the existence of non-human species a secret was repeated constantly throughout the series.
Every book has a different couple, but the stories are all linked together through characters and events, and there is a very loose arc that starts in book 1 and has its resolution only at the end of book 3.
This series is also linked to another series by the same author (Fae Out of Water), and there are spoilers about it, so take that into account if you want to follow the chronological order and are bothered by spoilers. Otherwise, it’s possible to read this series without getting lost, since the author provided enough backstory about characters from the previous series whenever it was needed.
As for this series, it was my first read by this author and it was pretty much what I expected, cute and uncomplicated, with a premise (a matchmaking service for supernatural beings) and some unusual pairings that made it more original than the “usual” shifter/paranormal stories I’ve read so far.
There were a few instances (especially in book 2) of miscommunication and/or the characters making stupid choices, and (again in book 2) , but in general I found it an entertaining and light read.
The world building was very interesting, with lots of species and realms, and I liked how the supernatural politics were woven with the romances. Despite that, the world building had at least one obvious failing. It was never explained how everyone was so worried about protecting the secret of the supernatural world’s existence and yet a band of supernatural musicians had been touring for decades without anyone noticing that they weren’t getting older. Or how a bear shifter could plan on living the rest of his (much longer than usual) life in the same place, while interacting on a regular basis with humans living nearby. Humans that, supposedly, in the future couldn’t fail to notice that he won't be getting any older. Same thing for the beaver shifter who owns a construction business. What’s the long-term strategy?
None of these issues were ever addressed, even though the necessity of keeping the existence of non-human species a secret was repeated constantly throughout the series.
May 18, 2021
This is not my usual kind of read. I’m not much for vampire stories and usually don’t care for paranormal comedies, but this was a lot of fun. I started out not caring much for Cus and Rusty, but they quickly grew on me. The plot was clever and very different. This was my first book by E. J. Russell and I thought it was a really sweet book. I loved the ending even though I just wish there had been an epilogue.
April 8, 2022
You know how you buy a book and you have high hopes? Sometimes the book can let you down in spite of the cover and synopsis, and sometimes it can exceed your expectations. This really fits into the last category, I had high hopes and they were exceeded.
Vampire With Benefits really is a delightful and thoroughly enjoyable story. The MCs are different and charming. They are like some other characters I've read but just better written and more charismatic. I was more than pleasantly surprised at just how much I hung on every word about this pair and their world. It really is a delight. I didn't read book #1 in the series but I'll definitely be reading book #3.
Blog review.
Vampire With Benefits really is a delightful and thoroughly enjoyable story. The MCs are different and charming. They are like some other characters I've read but just better written and more charismatic. I was more than pleasantly surprised at just how much I hung on every word about this pair and their world. It really is a delight. I didn't read book #1 in the series but I'll definitely be reading book #3.
Blog review.
October 6, 2024
Awwww! That was just, well, it was just such a delight!
So, this series and its predecessor certainly has a formula and it normally drives me just bit crazy, but this book took that formula and I feel did it just right. I smiled, laughed and ugh, I swooned.
I could have probably done without the Turned fledgling part of the story, but appreciated its necessity in the end. I just would have taken more time with Cas and Rusty over any other side stories honestly.
The pacing was great and the conversations were so much fun.
I just really enjoyed this one.
**ARC provided by the author via A Novel Take Promotions in exchange for an honest review.**
So, this series and its predecessor certainly has a formula and it normally drives me just bit crazy, but this book took that formula and I feel did it just right. I smiled, laughed and ugh, I swooned.
I could have probably done without the Turned fledgling part of the story, but appreciated its necessity in the end. I just would have taken more time with Cas and Rusty over any other side stories honestly.
The pacing was great and the conversations were so much fun.
I just really enjoyed this one.
**ARC provided by the author via A Novel Take Promotions in exchange for an honest review.**
May 30, 2019
I'm going to preface this by saying that I like silly, comedic books. I remembered that the last book was silly and comedic (although I apparently didn't rate it as highly as I remembered), but this book wasn't silly and comedic in the right ways.
Namely, the characters were idiots. Mainly this was Cas, but it wasn't just Cas. Rusty did it, too. This should have gotten Cas killed multiple times. I don't understand how he lived to see this book, and if his survival abilities are representative of vampires in general, I don't see how vampires manage to survive to be long-lived. It's baffling. Why do they not die sooner than humans in general? I don't get it.
I still overall thought it was a reasonable book, but the fact that the characters were such nitwits was a serious issue for me. Bad decision (that should have killed someone) after bad decision after bad decision. I wanted to throw something at them.
They should be thankful for magic and that not everyone in the book is such an utter fool, or they wouldn't have made it to the end of the book even with plot armor.
I did like the book's originality, though, like what was going on with Rusty. That was nice.
Oh, and I think you'll like this book a lot more if you've read and remember The Druid Next Door (Fae Out of Water, #2). I read it, but a while ago, so I forgot a chunk, and I felt the lack. Having read the first book in the series (Single White Incubus (Supernatural Selection, #1)) would probably also be a good idea.
Namely, the characters were idiots. Mainly this was Cas, but it wasn't just Cas. Rusty did it, too. This should have gotten Cas killed multiple times. I don't understand how he lived to see this book, and if his survival abilities are representative of vampires in general, I don't see how vampires manage to survive to be long-lived. It's baffling. Why do they not die sooner than humans in general? I don't get it.
I still overall thought it was a reasonable book, but the fact that the characters were such nitwits was a serious issue for me. Bad decision (that should have killed someone) after bad decision after bad decision. I wanted to throw something at them.
They should be thankful for magic and that not everyone in the book is such an utter fool, or they wouldn't have made it to the end of the book even with plot armor.
I did like the book's originality, though, like what was going on with Rusty. That was nice.
Oh, and I think you'll like this book a lot more if you've read and remember The Druid Next Door (Fae Out of Water, #2). I read it, but a while ago, so I forgot a chunk, and I felt the lack. Having read the first book in the series (Single White Incubus (Supernatural Selection, #1)) would probably also be a good idea.
March 21, 2022
Oh my gosh, adorable! What a fantastic story.
Vampire with Benefits, the second book in E.J. Russell's Supernatural Selection series, is about as opposites-attract as it's possible to be. And these two guys end up making the perfect couple. Funny banter, and wonderful chemistry between the MC's, plus E.J. Russell's incredibly clever universe, made me happy from beginning to end.
Icing on the cake? Greg Boudreaux's absolutely spectacular narration! Simply perfect.
an audiobook copy of Vampire with Benefits was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
Vampire with Benefits, the second book in E.J. Russell's Supernatural Selection series, is about as opposites-attract as it's possible to be. And these two guys end up making the perfect couple. Funny banter, and wonderful chemistry between the MC's, plus E.J. Russell's incredibly clever universe, made me happy from beginning to end.
Icing on the cake? Greg Boudreaux's absolutely spectacular narration! Simply perfect.
an audiobook copy of Vampire with Benefits was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
March 12, 2022
Loved this. Even more than book 1, and I loved the crossover between the other series characters. Casimir was pretty much everything.
March 19, 2020
This is another tragic example of how time travel can ruin an excellent book.
June 16, 2025
Seriously enjoyed reading this. Though I liked the first book (Single White Incubus) in the series a lot, this one is even more fun. Casimer is an interesting guy who'd I love to interact with, especially to hear his stories about old Hollywood. Rusty (aka Elmer) is just a sweetheart. The time surfing idea is a cool one (though I do think running around in your birthday suit is just a tad too gratuitous on the author's part, it's great to get to see Bryce again [from ([book:The Druid Next Door|34857549]).
Next up is Demon on the Down Low when poor Zeke Oz has to work to fix his "mistakes" in the first two books ...
Next up is Demon on the Down Low when poor Zeke Oz has to work to fix his "mistakes" in the first two books ...
May 30, 2021
A cute fluffy read about two mismatched guys who need to get married for outside reasons, and who undertake a temporary contract. They find they really get along well together despite being vampire and non-shifting shifter, and the threatening vampire council and obnoxious ex aren't the only things pushing these guys together. Some of the plot premises were a bit thin, but the story was a warm romp I enjoyed.
October 11, 2021
3.25 stars
Competent & pleasant opposites-attract story.
I'm being picky in objecting to far-fetched plot devices when one of the MCs is a beaver-shifter and the other a vampire pining for the 1920s. Sue me.
Competent & pleasant opposites-attract story.
I'm being picky in objecting to far-fetched plot devices when one of the MCs is a beaver-shifter and the other a vampire pining for the 1920s. Sue me.
March 29, 2019
4.5 stars
February 15, 2022
Vampire with Benefits is the second book in E.J. Russell’s Supernatural Selection series, yet it can be read perfectly fine as a standalone. I have not read the first book and had no trouble in understanding this one, although it was clear when we were interacting with the characters from the prior book. I certainly feel it would have helped a little bit, but it’s not a necessity.
I’ll be honest and say I have mixed feelings about Vampire with Benefits. Although it was a quick and easy read, I never truly connected with the story. There were certainly many interesting elements throughout, yet I never felt a connection to the characters – and without that connection I wasn’t as sucked in as I wanted to be. It entertained and had me wanting to see how things came together, but without an investment in the romance it felt like I was missing something. Many clearly adored this one, though, so I’m thinking this was just a case of me failing to connect.
All in all, an enjoyable enjoy read, although it did not wow.
I’ll be honest and say I have mixed feelings about Vampire with Benefits. Although it was a quick and easy read, I never truly connected with the story. There were certainly many interesting elements throughout, yet I never felt a connection to the characters – and without that connection I wasn’t as sucked in as I wanted to be. It entertained and had me wanting to see how things came together, but without an investment in the romance it felt like I was missing something. Many clearly adored this one, though, so I’m thinking this was just a case of me failing to connect.
All in all, an enjoyable enjoy read, although it did not wow.
March 6, 2019
Received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
I found this to be a really sweet story. I really liked the whole "finding love by accident while making the best of the worst circumstances" plot. Both Cas and Rusty have outside factors trying their best to screw them over, this is where the plot fails for me. I do not like the ending resolution at all. I like the twist that happens (you'll know it when you read it) but I feel cheated. Everything happens off page and I'm left feeling incomplete because of it. I'm confused on what prompts Cas to do what he does, given the circumstances. I feel let down that Rusty never gets to have a real showdown with his ex, and "win". This is what keeps it from being 5 stars, because I really loved the romance between Cas/Rusty. They balance each other out so well. They were really sweet together and I believe their romance. So that part is well done and even with the way it ends, I'm happy with it. I'd put this slightly above the first book but only sliiiiiiiiiiiightly.
I found this to be a really sweet story. I really liked the whole "finding love by accident while making the best of the worst circumstances" plot. Both Cas and Rusty have outside factors trying their best to screw them over, this is where the plot fails for me. I do not like the ending resolution at all. I like the twist that happens (you'll know it when you read it) but I feel cheated. Everything happens off page and I'm left feeling incomplete because of it. I'm confused on what prompts Cas to do what he does, given the circumstances. I feel let down that Rusty never gets to have a real showdown with his ex, and "win". This is what keeps it from being 5 stars, because I really loved the romance between Cas/Rusty. They balance each other out so well. They were really sweet together and I believe their romance. So that part is well done and even with the way it ends, I'm happy with it. I'd put this slightly above the first book but only sliiiiiiiiiiiightly.
April 4, 2021
Another win!
This series has been awesome!! Lots of new and different directions. It’s very exciting and also very romantic. Love it so much!! 😍
This series has been awesome!! Lots of new and different directions. It’s very exciting and also very romantic. Love it so much!! 😍
March 13, 2022
5 Stars!
This is the second book in the Supernatural Selection series and while it can be read as a standalone, I suggest you at least read book 2 in EJ Russell's Fae Out of Water series, The Druid Next Door first.
I loved, loved, LOVED Cas and Rusty. It was a bit of a slow burn, although you could nearly feel the attraction sizzling between them through the pages. I loved that they became friends and even if they, okay, Rusty, had misgivings about hooking up with Cas, there was a point where he just couldn't not give into him. And wow, just wow! They were just perfect for each other in every sense of the word.
It was awesome catching up with Brice and have him be such an integral part of the story. And the bit about Brice and Mal was amazing!!! The villains were hateful and I was happy they got what they deserved. Perhaps, Fletcher not that much, but at least Henryk did, so that's good enough for me.
All in all, a fantastic, fun, sexy, captivating read. I loved how it tied in with the previous book/series and how it all played out. Cas and Rusty are easily one of the most lovable couples I've had the pleasure of reading and that last chapter was everything!
*** Copy provided to the reviewer by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
ETA: I read this book when it first came out and loved it, and listening to Greg Boudreaux narrating it made me love it even more. He has such a pleasant voice, with lots of nuances and emotion, and damn, if he didn't make me fall in love with Cas and Rusty even more. Super recommendable!
This is the second book in the Supernatural Selection series and while it can be read as a standalone, I suggest you at least read book 2 in EJ Russell's Fae Out of Water series, The Druid Next Door first.
I loved, loved, LOVED Cas and Rusty. It was a bit of a slow burn, although you could nearly feel the attraction sizzling between them through the pages. I loved that they became friends and even if they, okay, Rusty, had misgivings about hooking up with Cas, there was a point where he just couldn't not give into him. And wow, just wow! They were just perfect for each other in every sense of the word.
It was awesome catching up with Brice and have him be such an integral part of the story. And the bit about Brice and Mal was amazing!!! The villains were hateful and I was happy they got what they deserved. Perhaps, Fletcher not that much, but at least Henryk did, so that's good enough for me.
All in all, a fantastic, fun, sexy, captivating read. I loved how it tied in with the previous book/series and how it all played out. Cas and Rusty are easily one of the most lovable couples I've had the pleasure of reading and that last chapter was everything!
*** Copy provided to the reviewer by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
ETA: I read this book when it first came out and loved it, and listening to Greg Boudreaux narrating it made me love it even more. He has such a pleasant voice, with lots of nuances and emotion, and damn, if he didn't make me fall in love with Cas and Rusty even more. Super recommendable!
November 21, 2018
While I don’t think it’s a requirement, reading the first book in Russell’s Supernatural Selection series would probably be a good idea before tackling this one. In the previous book, bear shifter Ted and incubus Quentin accidentally got married to each other rather than the men who were magically selected as their perfect matches. Vampire with Benefits explains how their rejected husbands, vampire Cas and beaver shifter Rusty, wind up together, too.
As with Single White Incubus, part of the plot revolves around the fact that neither Rusty nor Cas fits in with the supernatural community they belong to. Rusty is an inactive beaver shifter, which means he shares some shifter traits but can’t turn into a beaver. Cas really hates being a vampire because of all the things he misses—not being able to see the sun, not being able to eat or drink or smell anything but blood, etc. Vampires and shifters aren’t supposed to be able to get along, but Rusty and Cas wind up being good for each other in unexpected ways.
The one thing that bothered me is the inclusion of time travel in the storyline. Introducing timey-wimey stuff into a book is tricky, and I’m not entirely sure what’s described makes sense if you think about it too hard. It also feels a bit like taking the easy way out when it comes to resolving the complications of the plot.
If you like paranormal romances that are mostly light-hearted and sweet, though, I’d recommend giving this one a try.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
As with Single White Incubus, part of the plot revolves around the fact that neither Rusty nor Cas fits in with the supernatural community they belong to. Rusty is an inactive beaver shifter, which means he shares some shifter traits but can’t turn into a beaver. Cas really hates being a vampire because of all the things he misses—not being able to see the sun, not being able to eat or drink or smell anything but blood, etc. Vampires and shifters aren’t supposed to be able to get along, but Rusty and Cas wind up being good for each other in unexpected ways.
The one thing that bothered me is the inclusion of time travel in the storyline. Introducing timey-wimey stuff into a book is tricky, and I’m not entirely sure what’s described makes sense if you think about it too hard. It also feels a bit like taking the easy way out when it comes to resolving the complications of the plot.
If you like paranormal romances that are mostly light-hearted and sweet, though, I’d recommend giving this one a try.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
April 20, 2019
Pretend-boyfriends are one thing, and a trope I love, but this second volume in the ‘Supernatural Selection’ series takes it all a step further and introduces the idea of a pretend-marriage. Not for financial or social gain, mind you. Rather it is the best way for Casimir, a vampire disappointed by the less-than-glamorous reality of living by Vampire Council rules, and Rusty, an inactive beaver shifter, to deal with the mess thy find themselves in. It’s convoluted chaos of the first order and has been created by things going awfully awry at the Supernatural Selections Agency because Casimir and Rusty’s intended partners got married to other people instead of Casimir and Rusty, respectively. The witches responsible call it a “spell snafu” (which made me laugh) but I couldn’t help thinking that, based on how the first volume ended with demon Quentin and bear shifter Ted happily married against all expectations, there may be a “higher power” behind all the supposed errors.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 30, 2018
Very nicely done and so enjoyable!
August 31, 2025
5 stars for the narration, 4 for the story.
An enjoyable romance between Rusty, an (inactive) Beaver shifter, and Cas(imir), a former silent movie actor who is now relatively 'young' vampire, and who has, over the years, realised that eternal life isn't all it's cracked up to be.
In the first book in the series Single White Incubus: A Mythmatched story, Rusty was supposed to marry bear shifter, Ted, designated his perfect match by the Supernatural Selections matchmaking agency, while Cas was being forced to marry Quentin, an incubus, by the vampire council, who are tired of his being something of a loose cannon and believe that settling down will clip his wings (so to speak). I haven't listened to that book yet, so I don't know how it happens that Ted and Quentin end up marrying each other instead - but when this one begins, Cas and Rusty are in the waiting room while they, well, wait for their respective matches to show up for the weddings - and neither makes a great impression on the other.
Cas and Rusty end up making a temporary contract - Rusty needs someone to go with him to his shitty ex's wedding in a week or so, and Cas needs to convince the council he's going along with them - and of course, they end up falling for each other. Neither Rusty's clan nor the vampire council is happy with their choice of mates - vampires and shifters are supposed to be a no-no as shifter blood is poisonous to vampires and vampires can't stand the stink of shifters - but something about Rusty is different - perhaps because he can't shift? Whatever it is, there's something about his blood and, er, other bodily fluids that has a very unexpected effect on Cas.
There are a couple of subplots here, one about Rusty's fuckhead (as he's dubbed by Cas) ex, who Rusty now sees was a selfish arsehole, and another to do with a crime Cas is accused of but did not commit; I found it a bit frustrating that he kept refusing to explain the full circumstances to Rusty, even though he desperately wanted to help, and I admit that the solution smacks somewhat of a deus ex machina (points for the Doctor Who reference though!). It makes the ending somewhat bittersweet and maybe a bit abrupt, but it works.
Greg Boudreaux's narration is excellent of course, with excellent pacing and characterisation (complete with a consistent French-ish accent for Cas!) and a careful attention to all the emotional beats of the story.
Despite my quibbles with the ending, I enjoyed this one and will definitely be listening to the other books in the series.
An enjoyable romance between Rusty, an (inactive) Beaver shifter, and Cas(imir), a former silent movie actor who is now relatively 'young' vampire, and who has, over the years, realised that eternal life isn't all it's cracked up to be.
In the first book in the series Single White Incubus: A Mythmatched story, Rusty was supposed to marry bear shifter, Ted, designated his perfect match by the Supernatural Selections matchmaking agency, while Cas was being forced to marry Quentin, an incubus, by the vampire council, who are tired of his being something of a loose cannon and believe that settling down will clip his wings (so to speak). I haven't listened to that book yet, so I don't know how it happens that Ted and Quentin end up marrying each other instead - but when this one begins, Cas and Rusty are in the waiting room while they, well, wait for their respective matches to show up for the weddings - and neither makes a great impression on the other.
Cas and Rusty end up making a temporary contract - Rusty needs someone to go with him to his shitty ex's wedding in a week or so, and Cas needs to convince the council he's going along with them - and of course, they end up falling for each other. Neither Rusty's clan nor the vampire council is happy with their choice of mates - vampires and shifters are supposed to be a no-no as shifter blood is poisonous to vampires and vampires can't stand the stink of shifters - but something about Rusty is different - perhaps because he can't shift? Whatever it is, there's something about his blood and, er, other bodily fluids that has a very unexpected effect on Cas.
There are a couple of subplots here, one about Rusty's fuckhead (as he's dubbed by Cas) ex, who Rusty now sees was a selfish arsehole, and another to do with a crime Cas is accused of but did not commit; I found it a bit frustrating that he kept refusing to explain the full circumstances to Rusty, even though he desperately wanted to help, and I admit that the solution smacks somewhat of a deus ex machina (points for the Doctor Who reference though!). It makes the ending somewhat bittersweet and maybe a bit abrupt, but it works.
Greg Boudreaux's narration is excellent of course, with excellent pacing and characterisation (complete with a consistent French-ish accent for Cas!) and a careful attention to all the emotional beats of the story.
Despite my quibbles with the ending, I enjoyed this one and will definitely be listening to the other books in the series.
June 7, 2021
Rusty Johnson is a Beaver Shifter whose ex is marrying someone else "for the good of the clan" but doesn't tell him until the engagement party. He's a house builder and has spent months building what he thought would be his house, to find out no. So he goes to a supernatural matchmaking agency and gets paired with Ted. On the day of his wedding to Ted, he arrives and finds out there has been an issue and Ted is now married to someone else.
Casimir Moreau is a new vampire at age 119 years and a troublemaker according to his clan council. To help keep him in line, the council arranges a marriage with a supernatural matchmaking agency. When he arrives at the agency to get married, he meets Rusty in the waiting room and they do not hit it off. Cas eventually finds out that his intended married Rusty's intended and because of that he proposes a fake marriage between him and Rusty.
Vampires and Shifters do not get a long in this world and this arrangement should not work, but somehow it does. I really enjoyed this story, but wish it was a bit longer so that we could see more of them getting back together (because of course there is a breakup in a fake arrangement).
The story was well-written, but felt like it just ended. All the points were there, leadup, climax, resolutions, but it felt a bit flat to me.
Casimir Moreau is a new vampire at age 119 years and a troublemaker according to his clan council. To help keep him in line, the council arranges a marriage with a supernatural matchmaking agency. When he arrives at the agency to get married, he meets Rusty in the waiting room and they do not hit it off. Cas eventually finds out that his intended married Rusty's intended and because of that he proposes a fake marriage between him and Rusty.
Vampires and Shifters do not get a long in this world and this arrangement should not work, but somehow it does. I really enjoyed this story, but wish it was a bit longer so that we could see more of them getting back together (because of course there is a breakup in a fake arrangement).
The story was well-written, but felt like it just ended. All the points were there, leadup, climax, resolutions, but it felt a bit flat to me.
August 2, 2019
Different from the first book in the series, but some lovely twists and complications that have nothing to do with Ted and Quentin's situation. Very nice to have a completely different madcap adventure, instead of following the craziness of the first book! Now I'm even more interested to see what happens in the next book, although I hope that all the mix-ups !
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