Suckered

by Teshelle Combs

Alexei Vladel is…the worst. Worse than that, really, since even the vamps don’t want him. As the Prince of Vampires, he was supposed to choose a life mate but decided love isn’t real instead. As punishment he’s been banished and forced to work in the human resources department of LoveBubble—a dating app for people who want long term relationships. Will one of his coworkers make Alexei believe in love at last?

A short story from the Holiday Haters Collection. From the world of Jack Frost’s "Frosted: A Christmas Story"

Genres: Vampires

65 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 10, 2024

About the author

Teshelle Combs is the award-winning author of books like The Underglow and the First Collection.

She's well known for her fantasy romance standalones like The First Dryad, The First Stone, The First Nymph, and The First Flame. (Read in any order, listed in order of writing).

Tropes include enemies-to-lovers, forbidden love, arranged marriage, twists & turns, and more.

Find TC @booksarebrightstars on TikTok.

Reviews

[Daliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good for being such a short read. I absolutely love both main characters. Their banter was perfect!! I enjoyed reading this one. It was fun & quick! I kinda hope they get a longer story eventually! I wanna see more of the MC’s. I also loved the side characters!! Thank you for this arc! 🤭 I loved it & I will definitely read it again.
5 ⭐️'s from me ◡̈

[Tiffany aka Chai Tea And Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, I’m pretty sure I laughed through this entire short story. That was a bit awkward because I was at work when I read it, but what can you do. I was entertained by the main characters and was constantly surprised by what happened next. There wasn’t really much spice in this story, but it is short enough that I feel like it would have felt out of place and rushed. This was my first Teshelle Combs read and I can’t wait to read some more of her work!

❤️ Tropes ❤️
💋 instalove
💋 he falls first
💋 two villain MC
💋 vampires + paranormal

Alexei may be the Prince of Vampires, but he is pretty sure he is in hell. Yeah, his family banished him but to make him work at a place called LoveBubbles? Answering the phone? With nothing but positivity and niceness around him? Top notch evil plan. But when an auditor shows up, she is nasty and villainous and he is immediately hooked. But love clearly doesn’t exist, so he will settle for helping her bring pain to his insufferable coworkers.

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad. Don’t judge me. Got it from the author at a book event. Deeply regret it.

[Bevany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this short story. It's dark and twisted and amazing. The main characters are so moody and brooding that you have to love them. An anti valentines day story is a perfect read.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novella, good characters an nice storyline hoping we will have a story containing all the characters from these holiday specials.

[Brittney Perry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC to read and review before publishing.

Sorry, Teshelle, but I didn't really like this one at all. 😓

Like others, I thought it was a bit too rushed. I get that a book this small has to be fast to a degree, but I thought everything was moving way too quickly. The relationships, the reveals, the character development. Alexei went from 0 to 100 in one scene.

I didn't like Kat whatsoever. I thought she was a walking ick. I hated her nicknames for everyone (bagel bitch, coffincake, bat daddy, etc). I couldn't stand her personality or habits. I don't really have the words to properly describe how much I didn't like her. And her name is Kitten? What is this, Discord?

Alexei was okay. He wasn't really much different from Jack Frost in the last one.

Felicity was also okay. Annoying at times, but alright I suppose.

Damian was confusing. I get this is a fantasy world, but he wouldn't be able to do anything that he did at 10 years old (buying, working, etc).

I liked Keif and how she connected the two worlds, but not by much because I wasn't a big fan of Jack either.

[Lauren Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suckered by Teshelle Combs had me laughing out loud and unable to finish the 66 page novella fast enough. Every word I try to think of to describe Suckered and the Holiday Haters series doesn’t begin to cover how amazing and hilarious it is. Valentine’s Day is my absolute least favorite holiday and this book made me love it. The main character, a vampire, Alexei, is a brooding, morally black, love hating, angsty man banished to a life of customer service at a dating app company in the human world until he chooses a mate. The FMC is an absolute icon, but I won’t say anything more than what’s on the description. The ending had me DYING with laughter. I highly recommend reading Suckered (and the entire Holiday Haters Series).

[Bre · Rating 3 out of 5]

•ARC Book Review•
Suckered: A Valentine’s Story by Teshelle Combs
Rating: ★ ★ ★

This was a super fun and entertaining novella! I really enjoyed the characters and found that it was a quick read in between heavier books I’ve been reading lately. My one “ehh” with the book was-yes it’s a novella- BUT it was super fast paced and came off a little choppy and random. I liked the humorous aspect, but there was a few times I found myself going “…huh?”.

Overall, I did enjoy though and would recommend if you’re looking for a cleanser book or a short v-day book!

[Olga Ayon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buahahaha the curse of love 🤍🤍

Tess stories are like fine wine, they get better and better.

This story is sarcasm and spice and everything deliciously nice. Ish.

Seeing Valentine’s Day and love through the eyes of the Prince of Vamps is everything I didn’t know I needed. It’s funny and full of sarcasm and fits the Love day aesthetic in the perfect non-traditional way.

It’s laugh out loud funny and with the way that Alexei speaks with reader will immerse you in the story in a very unique way.

Recommend this story through time immortal.

[Kara Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Valentines Short Story you didn’t know you needed! Fall in love with Alexei the Prince of Vampires as he is doomed to work for a dating app company. He chooses to not pick a mate until Kat walks in with her schemes and piggy-tails.
A short story packed full of love and humor. I sunk my teeth into this short story and fell in love with the characters!
Can not wait for Tess to come out with more holiday short stories!

[Jesica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so loved reading this story. The characters are so rich in personality and quirkiness. I love the tie in with Jack Frost. We’re all so different in this world and Tess does such a great job of showing that we can all find our person. Kat is probably one of my favorite book characters right now.

[Nicole (book_drake on IG) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Perfect Valentine's Treat - 5 Stars!

"Suckered: A Valentine's Story" by Teshelle Combs is an absolute gem of a short story that provides readers with a delightful and unique take on the theme of love and redemption. In this Valentine's tale, Combs introduces us to the charmingly cynical character of Alexei Vladel, the Prince of Vampires who is, the worst!

The premise of the story is as intriguing as it is amusing. Alexei, who was supposed to choose a life mate but decided that love doesn't exist, is handed a peculiar punishment. Banished from his royal duties, he finds himself working in the human resources department of LoveBubble, a dating app specifically designed for those seeking long-term relationships. The irony couldn't be more delicious.

Teshelle Combs' storytelling prowess shines through in her ability to craft a witty, entertaining, and fast-paced narrative that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Despite its brevity, "Suckered" manages to pack in a lot of character development and humor. Alexei's transformation from a love skeptic to someone who may just find love himself is a heartwarming journey. (But don't tell him that!) ;)

What sets this story apart is its seamless incorporation into the broader universe of Jack Frost's "Frosted: A Christmas Story." Combs skillfully weaves her characters and settings into a cohesive narrative, allowing fans of her previous work to feel right at home while welcoming new readers with open arms.

"Suckered: A Valentine's Story" is a testament to Teshelle Combs' talent in crafting engaging and imaginative stories. If you're looking for a quick yet immensely satisfying Valentine's Day read, this short story is an excellent choice. It's a perfect blend of humor, romance, and fantasy that will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart. Don't miss out on this delightful addition to the Holiday Haters Collection; it's a true five-star treat!

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

so i loved "Frosted" by this author. if you haven't read it, you can find it in "Tales of Christmas Villains" where several authors compiled a series of short stories. i recommend reading "Frosted", not bcuz it's required for this book, but because it's hilarious and so so good! it will also give some context to a certain scene in this book.

anyways, now about Suckered. Alexei is a broody & perpetually grumpy Prince of Vampires. his coworkers are all rays of sunshine and it irks him, especially Felicity (who made me giggle in all the ways she drove him bonkers). Alexei doesn't believe in love... and then a woman (Kat) draws in his attention & matches his energy.

this is a short story. read it in under 2hrs, but could've been less. i've read several of this author's work, and she has never ceased to amaze me with her story telling. for such a short read, she's able to take you on a whole rollercoaster ride. it's fun, hilarious, crazy, shocking, exciting, and cute. i want & need more of Frosted and Suckered.

i received this book as an ARC and leave my honest review voluntarily.

[Tiffany Ewald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexi is one who doesn't care for paper hearts, confectionery goodies, or the stereotypical love crap going around. Lamenting in his punishment at LoveBubble to help those that believe in "love" doesn't prepare Alexi for his greatest challenge yet. Kat is anything but bubbly, she's not into this love crap either, and she's here to stir up trouble! Intrigued in another's distaste in humanity and enjoyment of making people cry - like himself - Alexi finds himself slowly being ensnared by this temptress - but he's the vamp prince - he cannot let this happen. He's found himself in quite the position and falls back on someone who will know what to do - but that person is in a predicament of their own and he's no help! Full of dark broody comedy and witty banter with an unexpected twist makes for the perfect short holiday hating romcom you need!

[The Devon Book Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ARC Review ✨

“If I could dig a grave and ceremoniously shove the entirety of Cedarburg, Wisconsin into that grave and then cover it with a fresh layer of manure and then light the entire planet on fire…it still wouldn’t be enough to soothe the loathing in my heartless corpse of an existence. But please, sir, go on. Tell me about your new love connection.”

Cute and quirky anti-valentines novella! I really liked the idea of this old school traditional Prince of the vampires being banished in the mundane human world full of overly friendly chirpy people who didn’t take him seriously.
I would really love a longer version of this from before he was banished to after his return. It could be amazing and hilarious!

But still, it was a fun and quick read that made me laugh out loud to myself throughout 🥰

[Sin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so I don't even know where to start I guess introducing this book. I'm a ARC for TC (Teshelle Combs) and man I've been drinking in as many books from her as I can (did you get the Pun?) Anyway, so this book lets just start out is fricken hilarious now if you have a bad sense of humor and scoff at cheesy lines well I'd still say read it but you may not like the jokes. I really liked this book and truly I loved how we got everything from the MMC (Main Male Character) point of view it was a nice change and wonderfully written. If you really like sometimes cheesy lines, a darkly good male, and a slightly insane female, and some amazing humor this is for you! The only complaint ... Its not long enough I really want more of them and can't wait to see what Teshelle Combs comes up with next!

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a comical, short anti-Valentine read!

Oh Kat! A girl after my own heart with her nothing can stop me, do what I want, I hate everyone attitude. The moment that she walked in with her pigtails, pierced nose, black lips, and attitude of a cranky old man I knew it was a match.
Alexei the cranky, death is better than humans, determined to never love immortal. He abhors his punishment and everything surrounding it until Kat walks through the door with her bubblegum popping sassiness. A pair made from hell itself. This short story had me cracking up through the entire read!
I absolutely loved the back and forth banter between our resident Prince of Vampires and Feline Goddess and their comical nicknames that rotate like a carousel of sweet darkness!

[Tabetha Slade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a review copy of this book, my review is honest and voluntary.

Tess Combs has this ability to add so much to such a short story. Of course it leaves you wanting more, but because it's so good and you want to know everything about the characters you've been given a brief introduction to. In fact, I think we need to forbid Tess from writing short stories, just make them all full-length novels (with bonus chapters too).
From the world (and author) that brought us Jack and Summer, we now meet Alexei, Prince of Vampires, and Kat. As well as some other characters that you can't help but fall in love with (assuming love exists).

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I chose to read this as a quick little palette cleanser in between a longer, heavier read. This was a quick, cute short anti-Valentine’s story with some laughs thrown in. Both main characters are broody which adds a layer of adorable to their story. This was a short story, the plot progressed quickly almost too quickly at times with shifts between story and dialogue being a little choppy in places. While the dialogue between characters remained simple, I did enjoy how the author broke the fourth wall. Overall I did enjoy this short story and would check out another from the author.

[CAVE5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short, funny, dark humour and banter in this Valentine's Day with a twist. Alexei the Prince of Vampires is stuck in a human resources for love app Love bubble where he filled with dread until he finds love. In walks, a lady who is going to audit their finances. But there's something that's just twisted enough to peak his interest in her, whether he raises or not. Nicknames like Sweets and Bat Daddy, he says so many dark things and none of his colleagues bat an eyelid. Think all the things you wish you could say at a job you hate, he fulfills that moment for you.
I was gifted this and reviewing it because I like to review books I read

[Jennifer Livingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great! Its a short read of Alexei the prince of Vampires bound to work with humans in a work place he despises with people he despises. A office for a dating app where everyone believes in love except him..Then que Kat.. An auditor that threatens to shut it all down. Alexei decides to help Kat.. intrigued for the first time in hundreds of years...

It is an absolute read from the holiday haters collection from Teshelle Combs. This story sucks you in almost immediately. I found myself giggling out loud like a little girl..

Thank You Tess for another great and wonderful adventure! That i definitely need to sink into again!

[Shernina Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love the Holiday Haters short stories. They are really fun to read! Alexei and Kay are perfect for each other, but Alexei is trying to ignore the attraction. Kat had him whipped from the day she entered the office🫠This is a NSFW set in the workplace. The spice is 🌶️ to 🌶️🌶️ like 1.5. The humor is 3/5. It has just enough to not be corny. There is not much emotional damage unless you consider love whipped damage. The plot is great! I love how easy it flowed. I did want more from the characters as far as the background go. There’s a twist in the story that could use more character information. That part is huge, but rushed. Overall, I would recommend it!

[Never · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is based on the ARC I received from the author.

I generally avoid novellas, but I read anything with Teshelle Combs' name on it because she is amazing. Suckered is a fantastic quick read that gives grumpy/definitely not sunshine but maybe a nuclear bomb vibes. Alexei gives all the glowers you could want, and Kat is the heroine I always want and never completely get unless I'm reading one of Ms. Combs' books. Here, you get your woman who can get it all on her own, thank you very much, and doesn't need the man to get it done for her.

The banter though. The sarcasm. It's all perfect.

Read this!

[Aniesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so good! Literally my only “complaint” (if you can call it that) is that I am desperate for more Alexei! He was so lovable and SO funny every time he basically pouted. I loved it. The story also had such fun moments and even a little hint of spice. I adored Alexei and Kat was so funny and unique in her own way.

I also enjoyed the little cameo we got to see! ;)

Trust me when I say you want to give this story a try. It’s short, well written, and will give you an even bigger reason to start reading Teshelle Combs! She is a GENIUS!

[Christine Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect short Valentines based novella.

The prince of Vampires, Alexei, is forced to work at LoveBubble in the human resource department as punishment. LoveBubble is a dating app, but Alexei doesn’t believe in love. However, is it possible for the Vamp that despises all things love related to be swept off his feet unexpectedly?

There is one thing I do know- sweets and darkness are the perfect blend for Valentines.

Teshelle Combs know just how to suck you in and keep you hooked until the very last page.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep in mind this is a short story on purpose, but don't let the length fool you! This story has the same amazing world build and character development of any full length novel! TC pulls you in from the beginning and makes you feel as if you are the main characters going through this day to day life of believing love isnt real until its found.

This story is about a vampire prince who hates connections, and is rather a spoiled brat. But finds out anyone can be "suckered" into love.

Take the time to read this story and enjoy a good laugh. A little love and a couple of surprises!

[Queen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book from Teshelle and lets just say I am ready to read more! This story was very well written and even made me laugh! I enjoyed the story line and fell in love with the characters throughout this book. I could not put the book down and I even felt like I was in the story and not just reading a fiction book! If you like vampires, and Rom coms then I highly reccomend you read thid book! You will not be dissapointed. The only con I have is that I wish it was longer. I need more of Alexei and Kat!

[Angel Hawks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The length was both one of my favorite and least favorite things about "Suckered", just as it was with "Frosted". It happened to come at a time that I needed something that I could get through quickly because of reasons. Haha But at the same time I was so sucked into the story (see what I did there?), I didn't want it to end, and over 24 hours later I still want more. Tess has a real knack for humor, and I really, really want her to write more of it because I will read every single word of every one she writes. Especially if Felicity makes an appearance. IYKYK

[Φερειπείν · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suckered a valentine's story the holiday haters).

Ένα βαμπίρ που δεν πιστεύει στον έρωτα, λιγάκι αυτάρεσκο, αφόρητα ειλικρινές με αυτοσαρκαστική διάθεση που φαίνεται να απολαμβάνει την ύπαρξή του ως έχει, και μια θνητή (;?????;;;;;) που ο μόνος χαρακτηρισμός που μου έρχεται στο μυαλό είναι αδιαπραγμάτευτα θαρραλέα και ξεκάθαρα ένα πλασμα που ενώ φαίνεται "αναντάμ παπαντάμ" ,αν με καταλαβαίνετε, είναι πανούργο!!!

Υπ��ρχαν φορές που χαμογέλασα αμήχανα γιατί δεν ήξερα πώς να αντιληφθώ όσα συνέβαιναν και άλλες γέλασα παραδομένη στην πρωτογενή τρέλα αυτής της ιστορίας.

[Tasha Emm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sold 3.5. It's a super quick novella that can be read in one sitting.

Suckered is another installment of the "Holiday Haters" series.


Alexei Vladel is the Prince of Vampires, and he lets you know right off the bat how much he's currently hating life. He hasn't chosen a life mate, so his parents have him banished, and he's living out his punishment as HR for LoveBubble, a dating app for people who want long term relationships. He is so disgusted 🤣🤣🤣. Alexei also doesn't believe in love, so he knows he's doomed to spend forever stuck at this job.

Enter Kat. A woman who would rather set a building on fire than save them. She quickly decides that she wants Alexei to be her partner in crime.

So the question is, will Alexei let this happen.

I WAS NOT prepared for the amount of SASS Alexei was spewing. I was so tickled. It was rushed, and a couple of parts didn't REALLY make sense, but it's like a 100 page novella 🤷🏾‍♀️. It's still a cute read and doesn't have to be read in order