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Vanguard Elite #2

A Taste of Shifter Geekdom: Shifter Romance (Vanguard Elite) (Volume 2) by Annie Nicholas

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Darrell is a weapons geek. Guns, knives, nunchakus, throwing stars, he’s deadly with all of them. While all seems set for him to pass his upcoming boot camp armory exam, life quickly becomes complicated when curvy, outspoken Julia invades his personal space. If she doesn’t pass the weapons test, she’ll be sent home and forced into an arranged mating. That will happen over his dead body. He has three days to teach her, but she can’t hit the side of a barn in broad daylight with a laser guided missile. To make matters worse, her intended mate makes an unannounced visit. He’s rich and suave. Everything Darrell isn’t. Pity Darrell is determined to get in the way of his plans.

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About the author

Annie Nicholas

73 books1,134 followers
Annie Nicholas hibernates in the rural, green mountains of Vermont where she dreams of different worlds, heroes, and heroines. When spring arrives the stories pour from her, in hopes to share them with the masses one day.

Mother, daughter, wife are some of the hats she happily wears while trudging after her cubs through the hills and dales. The four seasons an inspiration and muse.

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5 stars
247 (40%)
4 stars
212 (34%)
3 stars
127 (20%)
2 stars
27 (4%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews116 followers
Want to read
July 14, 2020
🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (7/14/2020)! 🎁
Profile Image for Alyrica.
555 reviews17 followers
January 7, 2018
Meh

2.5 rating.

After reading the blurb, I was excited to read this book. I don't care for short stories because there is almost never enough development in character or plot to make it worth the time spent. Per Amazon, the page count was just over 200 pages which is my limit. This book felt much shorter. There was no meat to the story and everything happened without any build up or tension. Without the proper development, I just didn't care. Additionally, there were grammar issues which were blatant enough to pull me out of what little story there was. I still gave this a 2.5 because there seems to be a large audience for short, shallow stories that can be read quickly.
Profile Image for Kristy.
680 reviews
January 8, 2016
I received an ARC of 'A Taste of Shifter Geekdom' from Annie Nicholas, in exchange for an honest review.

There was just something about the description for this book/series that drew me in, it could have been 1 of many things... Vampires, shifters, the millitary aspect?? maybe all of them. So I jumped at the chance to read this, even though I hadn't read the first book in the series, I hope to change that soon. 'A Taste of Shifter Geekdom' is book 2 in Annie's "Vanguard Elite" series, although you can read this book as a stand-alone, I highly suggest you read this series in order.

Darrell is a weapons geek who comes a very poor pack, he's using his time at the bootcamp to broaden his chances of changing his & his packs lives for the better. Julia ran to the bootcamp, escaping her pack, father & alpha. Excelling in everything at the bootcamp except target practice Julia finds herself asking Darrell for help...

LOVED this so bad, life at the bootcamp for misfits isn't easy as you quickly learn, but somehow the shifters within find themselves in the type of family, pack they don't have in their own. I enjoyed the action, tension, kinship, steamy scenes... everything just came together, especially when Pallus was on the scene. I can't wait to read the next books in the series.
Profile Image for Natalie.
4,806 reviews13 followers
September 5, 2016
A Taste of Shifter Geekdom

I've never read of a vampire training camp for shifters, this was just epic. I think the Sheriff has the host for Pallas and he would love a taste of her.
Profile Image for Jane.
Author 6 books88 followers
July 20, 2018
Darrell, a wolf shifter from a poor pack has joined the Vanguard Elite Bootcamp to learn skills to help him protect his pack. He is part of a small pack of misfit wolves taking the course in learning fighting skills made up of misfits from packs all over the country. They face hard physical training and weapons training, plus learning to work together to depend on each other for the good of the pack. This is a tough bootcamp run by a vampire, Pallus. They also need to pass weapons tests and physical endurance tests to stay in the camp.

The last thing he expected was to meet his fated mate, Julia from a large and rich pack; Julia has a problem hitting targets with guns and the upcoming rifle range test will be a challenge for her. She helped him and he had helped her in the 'Fit to Win' endurance test in A Taste of Shifter Geekdom in the strange training school in the New York mountains.
Profile Image for Cindy Caron.
1,375 reviews4 followers
July 24, 2018
Another great series that will not only keep you on the edge of your seat, but brings the heat as well as the suspense to new levels. Ms. Nicholas has done an awesome job with the series so far. I am looking forward to reading the next one, as we learn what will happen to the "pack of misfits" as Pallas continues to take the participants of the training to new and exciting levels.
Even though "frolicking" is forbidden, will it be enough to keep the fated pair of Darrell and Julia from each other? Or will Fate have a stronger arm than Pallas where love is involved. I am looking forward to finding out who we will meet next. Yet another great read!
3,536 reviews14 followers
August 15, 2018
A Taste Of Shifter Geekdom is my first book by Annie Nicholas. This is a fairly quick read, a great choice for paranormal fans with limited reading time. Ms. Nicholas has delivered a book that is entertaining and includes a great cast of characters. Julia ran away from her pack to go to a shifter boot camp to learn how to defend herself. Darrell is a boot camp to become a warrior so he can defend his pack. Julia and Darrell's story is full of action, drama and sizzle. A Taste Of Shifter Geekdom is book 2 of the Vanguard Elite Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
218 reviews4 followers
July 3, 2019
The misfit wolves at the Boot camp are pairing off

And unfortunately, that's about all that is happening with this series so far. These are short reads, which hurts the character development as well as the romance. Adult reads due to language and sexual scenes.

I do like the characters, but I keep waiting for the overall plotline (such as it is thus far) to actually get somewhere. There is frequently awkward sentence structure and dialogue, which tends to jar me out of the story. I thought that it was basically an OK read, and I may consider continuing the series just to see if it goes anywhere.
994 reviews8 followers
July 15, 2018
BETTER TO BE A WARRIOR ELITE BECAUSE WHO THEN REALLY CONTROLS TRUE WARRIORS!

4 STARS to Annie Nicholas for Book 2 of the well written series of a Vampire from an Ancient Clan of Vampires who is in charge of a Bootcamp for Werewolves! A very exciting series that is a pleasure to read and the ones that are the main ones in Book 2 were mentioned in Book 1. If you love reading about the paranormal, vampires and werewolves ( and to be clear I don't mean Interview With A Vampire, seriousness) then you can't go wrong with this book or book 1.
WARNING: 18&Up SEXUAL CONTENT Yes
Profile Image for Symone.
299 reviews
December 15, 2017

We continue our story with this ragtag group of shifters. Clare and Ian are in charge of the pack but training is strict and in the hands of the Master Vampire.

Shifters begin to leave camp as they fail the training tasks.

Darrell is concerned with helping Julia pass the marksmanship test.

This is another fun and sassy instalment of the vanguard elite.
A lighthearted but still very good paranormal romance.
Profile Image for Tina.
784 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2019
Really good story. It was quick and I felt for the characters, even the secondary ones. I can't wait to read the next book.

That said, this book could use a good editing. There's copious amounts of mistakes like with the first book in the series. It's laughable how stupid it is and someone should have caught them. Take pride in your work. If it's your "baby", then treat it as such. That's the only reason I didn't rate a 5... because really, I loved this book.
Profile Image for Patrice Einsel.
22 reviews2 followers
March 27, 2019
Adventurous and romantic

I thought it ws a fun read and had a lot of interesting characters that blended very well together. Pallas on the other hand is a totally different kettle of something. And I have a feeling he has a whole lot of secrets that we might find out in later books. I loved this book and that Julie finally got her shot right. The author certainly makes this book well worth reading the plot was unique and novel with just the right tough of humor and steam.
132 reviews
July 24, 2019
I've enjoyed a number of Annie Nicholas' books. Normally I give her *****. I like the characters and the plots in this book, but I got disgusted having leap over pages to get past the explicit sex scenes. Don't authors realize that it can be MUCH more tantalizing WITHOUT the details.

Other the sex scenes I did enjoy the book, but because of them no book in this series is going to get than a *** from me.
Profile Image for Cheri.
416 reviews
May 19, 2017
Not as good as book one, I think I would have liked it better if the author had stuck with the Alphas and the reason they are in the boot camp .. The reason got lost in this book. I also felt like there was no growing the pack bonds. everyone felt separated this time around. I still enjoy the series I love the concept of the misfits becoming a pack and learning how to defend themselves.
Profile Image for Judi.
1,885 reviews14 followers
July 18, 2018
I love to root for an underdog...

But these two underdogs really grab your heart. Julia and Darrell's story is hopeful and thought provoking as they try to better their lives and learn that a pack is so much better together than as individuals. This short tale is a sweet summer read.
Profile Image for Becki.
539 reviews
August 5, 2018
A Taste of Shifter Geekdom

This is the second book in the series that I have read. The characters are a little young in age for me, but they are older in spirit which makes it not so “young”. This book has a strong hero and a heroine with lots of character learning how tough she actually is.
414 reviews1 follower
August 27, 2018
Can gun werewolf expert teach his mate to shoot straight?

Werewolf Darrell is an expert marksman when it comes to guns. Julia is a pack princess that can do anything with a gun except hit the target. Can Darrell teach her to hit the target and choose him as her mate?

Book II deals with believing in yourself and not over think a situation.

Jo-Ann Doyle
1,343 reviews4 followers
January 24, 2019
He's a gun expert from a small poor pack, she's hiding from a rich, super controlling pack.

She came to the school wanting her freedom, he came to learn how to protect his pack better. She can't hit the broad side of a barn, he's a sharpshooter, but together they are both greater than alone.
Profile Image for Darchelle.
80 reviews
February 2, 2019
Quick Read

This novella was an enjoyable and quick read. The characters are an interesting mix of misfits attempting to finish the elite training program from hell. Intrigue and romance ensues to a satisfying conclusion. This is the first novel I've read by this author and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
1,312 reviews8 followers
August 26, 2017
Annie Nicholas as have not disappointed me with this series

I have a feeling that Darrell may become Ian Beta. Julie has a secret that she finest want anyone to know. The closer she gets to Darrell the more she wants to tell him. But she may wait to long. Read the book
266 reviews1 follower
August 4, 2018
Very Enjoyable

This was another excellent book in the series, I love the fully developed characters and the strong females fighting for what they want. You get some action, romance and a bit of sexy time.
An excellent short read !
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,347 reviews14 followers
September 1, 2018
💘💘💘 Loved It!!

Fated Mates? Or Mating for status? A great addition to the series. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next and whether or not the sheriff softens to Pallas.
Profile Image for Lynn.
1,494 reviews12 followers
March 1, 2019
I’m apparently on an Annie Nicholas bender right now. Loving ever moment. Going to be a sad, sad day when I finish her books.

Only thing to add is that this book ended too soon. I would have really liked to see how Darrell and Julia blend their very different upbringings together.
Profile Image for JB.
2,175 reviews9 followers
May 11, 2020
Great read

I don’t like to give spoilers on the books that I read. I believe the blurb on the back is enough for you to decide if you will read the book or not. If you choose to read, enjoy!
Author 6 books17 followers
December 13, 2017
Enjoyed the story! The series is a great one so far. Very Good Read! on to the next book!
353 reviews1 follower
December 21, 2017
The Shifter

This Book has the same Story line as the last one tweaked in diffrent ways. It is a good story line. It is worthy of my Three Stars!
Profile Image for Shaly.
1,198 reviews
January 7, 2018
This was a cute fast paced read, with many comedic moments mainly involving Pallas and how he tortures these poor wolves....
Profile Image for Rose Kvalsvig.
12 reviews
May 1, 2018
Awesome series

Once u start u can't stop, a few spell mistakes nothing big, I've already bought the next to see wat will happen next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews

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