Taking Out the Trash

Black Ops Fated Mates #1

by Zoey Indiana

When I inherited my hoarder mother's crumbling estate, I thought that saving it from foreclosure by investing every penny was the toughest challenge I'd face. Boy, was I wrong. One night, after too many shots and an online chat led me to a startling wake-up six impossibly spicy veteran shifter cleaners stood on my doorstep. Shifters? As in, creatures of legends and lore? More bewildering was their insistence on calling me their "mate." The world I once knew shattered. I was irresistibly drawn to each shifter, with emotions running wild and deep. But my falling estate and a menacing demon hungry for my soul made everything chaotic. Can I truly embrace being the destined mate of my fated mates? As love, peril, and the supernatural intertwine, I'm thrust into a realm I never imagined. I must defend my heart and those I've grown to love. With danger lurking and the stakes higher than ever, the question can I conquer the odds with my six shifter mates by my side? Taking Out the Trash is the first riveting tale in a series featuring rugged, tattooed, veteran shifter polyam romances. If you're a fan of diverse pairings (MMMFFMM), suspense, spice, and heart-thumping adventure ending in a cliffhanger, dive into this story. Experience my journey as a bi woman venturing into new passionate territories in Taking Out the Trash today!

Genres: Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Romance, Audiobook, Fantasy, Military Fiction, Demons

202 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2023

About the author

Want to get notifications when USA Today Bestselling author Zoey Indiana has a new release? Sign up for Zoey's Zine https://www.zoeyindiana.com/subscribe for a free Dystopian Rebels ebook, new releases, giveaways and contests, exclusive content, and your eyes only sneak peeks.

Zoey Indiana was inspired by the idea that everyone deserves love and their own happily ever after, she loves to write about heroic heroines who go on amazing adventures while finding the love they deserve. After creating her first fictional planet where amazing creatures roamed at age ten, she was determined to prove love could be found in the stars. In addition to writing, she listens to eclectic music, practices Krav Maga, and takes on home improvement projects just for the fun of it.

Zoey loves to hear from her readers. You can find her here:
Website: https://www.zoeyindiana.com/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoeyindiana
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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/zoey-...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Zoey-Indiana/e...

Reviews

[Sarah Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've now read a few of Zoey's books and I must say that for story line this has to be one of her best ones.
Lone female, no idea she is not fully human and 6 mates.
Great fun, crazy father, new pet dog (with three heads) and a few steamy scenes.
I don't give spoilers, just read the book ok?
Not for under 18's nor those of a sensitive nature.
Zoey has really used her fertile imagination for this new series of books. I can't wait to read the next one.

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker is definitely in for a bit of a shock (with these sexy veteran shifters). It sounds like a nice surprise though. She gets a major course correction to navigate through. This is a great kick-off for this Fated Mates (Why Choose Polyam Romance) series.

[Tammy Nitschke Sokol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness

A new series, and I can't believe its stopped at this part!!!! I can't wait for the next one!!!! Lets hope Parker is back with her mates, soon!!!

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh yeah! Fantastic book with wonderful characters and adventures like no other. Parker gets more then she expected and then some. Loved it!!! ❤️❤️❤️📚👍

[Micky Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look at this first book as the intro to the story where you meet the quirky cast of characters and are introduced to the major conflict. The inner dialogue of the main female character is a fun addition to help you get to know her character better. The 6 mates that appear are interesting to get to know as the main character has face blindness, so she has to find alternative ways to identify them. Their personalities are as unique as their skills. The spice is slow to heat up and she doesn't end up mating with all of her mates yet. Beware the book drops off in a cliffhanger that is midstory so be ready with the next book on deck so you can just keep going! Overall, I think the story will be entertaining, but you'll have to buy it in bite sized pieces so I'd recommend purchasing all the books so you can slide from one to the next.

[Raina · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the title I had no idea what to expect but I always love this authors books. And this one was great. I found it unique from the start. This is the first book of the series. It is a why choose where are main female character has several men and one woman as her possible mates. Unfortunately for Parker, she had no idea that shifters or anything magical really existed. Parker is a fun character that is learning about herself and the world from a paranormal perspective. Too bad she isn’t going to have time and will be tossed, dumped, thrown and pulled right into it. I did have some confusion at the beginning of the book but it all gets explained as the book goes on. Can’t wait for book two and there are so many things going on.

[Amber K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had tons of funny bits throughout . The quirky characters were charming, and I found the storyline unique!
Fated mates, demons, and shifters. The FMC, Parker, finds out how much her world is about to take a crazy turn.
Huge cliffy of an ending, but overall, I liked this book, and I am looking forward to the next one!

[Librarian Jessie (BibliophileRoses) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fast paced with a lot of sped up scenes. I felt like the story was too short partially due to this fact. I didn’t get to truly delve deep into the characters, but all that being said the plot is enjoyable and I think it has a strong chance since there are more books.

[Kimmylongtime]

DNF at 65% this was extremely interesting and involved but it’s difficult for certain things to catch my interest these days. I love the drama and the powers and even the background but the story could not keep me engaged.

[Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant] · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️ I'm not sure if I'll continue on with the next book...

[Leslie Twitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker is great. Waking up, finding she has mates and how they are all willing to help her. Such a great why choose read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Renée Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome storyteller, Zoey weaves the tale with the characters that are likeable, intelligent, funny and engaging.
If you like Shifter novels you'll love this one. If you're looking to start reading them, start with Taking Out The Trash!!!!!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story

This a fun read that's also quick. The storyline is interesting. The characters are too. I like the fated mate aspect. Parker's story is getting good and I can't wait for the next book.

[Aimee Lombardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Loved everything about this story. The characters and the plot had me engrossed in it from the very beginning.

I devoured this treasure in one sitting and can't wait for part two.

[Zoey Indiana]

🦝ARC SIGNUPS OPEN🦝 (Book 3)
Zoey Indiana is currently accepting ARC signups for the third book in her Paranormal Black Ops Fated Mates Why Choose Polyam Romance series!
Books 1 & 2 can be provided if you have not yet read them.
Sweeping Away the Syndicate is the third riveting tale in a series featuring rugged, tattooed, veteran shifter polyam romances. If you're a fan of diverse pairings (MMMFFMM), suspense, spice, and heart-thumping adventure ending in a cliffhanger, dive into this story.
Limited PR boxes (complete with physical ARC) and Swag Mailer + E-Book ARCs are available. We do have several of each earmarked for international shipping, so everyone is welcome to apply!
ARC sign ups close April 30th.
Signup here: https://forms.gle/VC566ED2nXiZuFxz5

[Natasha Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

After her mothers death Parker discovers she not only that she has a demon father but also 6 fated mates. It’s all confusing and a bit unreal to her. Fast paced, action packed story that very disappointingly ended on a cliffhanger that I wasn’t expecting!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though it has a cliffhanger ending, this book was highly entertaining. Parker wakes after her very first blackout drunk to find herself buried in the trash of her deceased hoarder mother's home. So that's why you shouldn't drink so much. Huh. Fortunately, she apparently also did some drunk dialing last night and a group of unusual cleaners show up in time to dig her out. It seems they are all her mates - whatever that means. Five of them. Four men and one women. Is she still drunk? On top of that, they are all shifters and she is not. But that is not the only strange things Parker is going to learn about today. It seems her mother had a few secrets that are about to come out and bite Parker in the butt. One of them is the identity of her dear old dad. Suddenly, learning she has five mates seems like only a small shock. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alyx Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my first Zoey book, but it might be my favorite to date. I LOVE the Shifter Speed Dating Books, they’re fun, steamy, sexy, with just the right amount of danger and suspense, I kind of expected the same with this. But I got so much more. Parker our FMC inherits a house she’s not sure she really wants, and after a blackout drunk, she wakes up trapped under a pile of garbage, only to be saved by her SIX, that’s right, SIX fated mates.

Taking out the trash is just as witty, sexy and thrilling as her other books, Zoey is ridiculous at creating characters that mesh and have electric chemistry. Her world building and stories are phenomenal and this one is probably one of her best. I cannot wait for the next book. I mean literally, I cannot wait, she left me hanging, and THAT is the only spoiler you get from me. Go buy this book, you will not regret it.

[Kimberley Fairchild · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hard one for me to review. I usually love fated mates and reverse harem tropes, and this one even had some ff scenes. Unfortunately I just could not get into this book. Namely Parker. I think she was suppsed to be quirky and innocent but I just found her too annoying, over dramatic and too clueless. The fact she couldn't remember anyone's names and gave them all descriptive just made the characters hard to follow. What her fated mates saw in her I don't understand.

Everything went from 0-100 way too quickly and the linking steps were missing to make the story flow. Parker gets her powers and suddenly is supposedly super badass but I didn't buy it. She didn't actually do anything 🤷‍♀️

I wanted to love this book, I really did, and I absolutely hate giving 3 star reviews because I feel awful, but I just couldn't rate it any higher Unfortunately.

[loubie bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my lord! The first thing you need to know is that this book ends on a cliffhanger! It’s a brilliant one but it left me shouting at my kindle as if it would actually reply to my demands of “what the hell just happened?!” It took me a few pages in the beginning of the book to figure out what was going on but then I totally lost myself in the book. I was hooked. It’s very fast paced and holy cow it’s got some seriously hot scenes!
I’m literally about to start the second book right now. Can’t wait to see what happens next. It’s 12.15 am now, who needs sleep when you can read this series? Though I do admit i will be stuck after I finish reading that one until the next book is published.
You will honestly love this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars is being EXTREMELY generous, but it's my own fault for continuing to see ads on Instagram and then give the books a try. I spent five entire dollars for this book, too.
This book is a disaster. One of the main guys is called Trux, short for Truxten, another one is named Rhiot. RHIOT.
The main woman is so god damned useless, it's amazing she made it to thirty (almost forty if this takes place in the year it was written...) Nothing in this book makes any sense, nothing is explained, and there are way too many people in the fucking pack for the amount of time each of them are given to be introduced in.
I really, truly could not give less of a shit about what happens to them in the next books. Please, instagram algorithm, bless me with something with a coherent plot next time.

[Marty Hamrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually had an ad for this months ago on social media and added the sample to my TBR list, but hadn't gotten around to it. When I read the ARC description I thought "that feels familiar" and was delighted to find that I'd already decided I wanted to read this story; and I'm glad I did. It was well-written, and delightfully weird. I enjoyed the characters and the world Zoey created. I wasn't thrilled with the cliffhanger ending, but I do look forward to reading book 2. Definitely a recommended read if you love quirky characters and complex world building stories with a lot of humor and sexy fated mates content.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marissa Engel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kept me reading,but glaring mistakes

I will say this book kept me reading and it's been a while that I've been able to finish something without getting distracted. I mostly like the main character, though the immediate mates thing is a little off-putting for me sometimes.

Within the first chapter or chapter and a half there is an odd transition from " we need to take you somewhere else for your safety" to a BDSM-ish sex scene that doesn't make any sense based on the context. The next thing that I really didn't like is the book is extraordinarily short. This is more of a short story than a book. While I'm invested in the story, I'm not interested in paying for the rest of the series if they are all this short.

[Linda Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best things happen unexpectedly...

I will never drink again is Parker's new mantra. She woke up hungover and completely flabbergasted to find not one but 6 shifters claiming to be her mate. Doesn't that just happen in books? From there it gets even more insane, if that's at all possible. Apparently her parents, especially her father, are not who she thought they were.

It was entertaining to see Parker try and maneuver her way through all the unknown twists of fate that have been dropped in her lap. Taking Out the Trash is innovative with a touch of action and steam. A very entertaining read. Can't wait to see what happens next.

[Jennifer Goliash · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this& just didn't.

To say I hated this book would be too much but a strong dislike that bordered on hate?! That sounds right. I waited months for this book to.come to the regular Kindle & not that stupid Vella. I had read the first chapter & expected something completely different. This was a let down & they lost me at the demon crap. Mostly, I couldn't stand Parker. She was annoying to the point that acted hate or not, they shouldn't want to be with her. There is a difference between a strong willed character & a bitchy brat & she was definitely a bitchy brat. I found it almost unreadable because if my dislike of Parker. I'm so disappointed.

[Dee Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Parker has so much to deal with.
After her crazy mother’s death she’s left with a hoarders house to clear, six strangers turn up claiming they’re shifters (which aren’t real) are her fated mates (what now?), her father is a demon so she’s got “powers” (also can’t be real, right?).
But….. strange things start to happen and the stuff from the romance novels she reads is starting to be more possible than she thought
Fast paced, action packed, steamy, fun and drama filled.
Can’t wait for the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Felicia Seay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing

This is a genuinely unique shifter romance story, unlike any other that I've read. And I've read a ton of Supernatural and Paranormal Romance stories. The creativity in this story is unprecedented. However... It was highly disappointing. There is entirely too much inner monologue from the main character's traumatized mind, that ruins the story. Nothing gets resolved, and this is not a standalone story. This story is merely the beginning of a book, not a book itself. Just another example of quantity over quality. I won't be continuing this "series" and I wouldn't recommend anyone read this one by itself.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!, interesting, a bit confusing, I feel like I'm missing a few chapters? Just like a Lays potato chip, you can't have just one... here you can't stop with just one chapter, ya gotta read 'em all!
A quick introduction to the players, not quite sure how they all met but they sure have some crazy chemistry! Ro is a big douche bag, but like he keeps saying a demon gets what a demon wants. Looking forward to more episodes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker inherits an old house, meets six shifters that say she is their mate and the adventure begins. The storyline was intriguing as the drama, danger, secrets and revelations come out. A whole new world opens up for her as they let her know they are shifters. Entertaining situations and steamy moments highlight a good portion of the story and they start to work together toward a better ending, although it is an ongoing story so there is a cliff hanger.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Zee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book just felt very incomplete. It felt like it started out in the middle of the story instead of the beginning. And instead of giving a back story to let the reader know what actually happened, we are giving a whole bunch of different information that leaves trying to figure out where it all ties in.
Ive read many of the authors books, and they were wonderful, so I was not expecting to feel so disappointed with this one at all.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.