On war-torn Earth, former interstellar translator Aubrey struggles to raise her late sister's three young boys. It's not easy when resources are scarce, her hometown is embroiled in civil unrest, and her ex-fiancé keeps causing trouble. But she's determined to make a happy life for her nephews. Whatever it takes, she'll keep them safe and fed and ensure they feel loved. She also hopes to make the upcoming holiday season as magical as possible.
Vaxxlian warrior Claus is on a mission to find a human wife. He signs up for Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides and travels to Earth, only to learn his assigned mate has tragically passed away. The petite female who delivers this news is the sister of his intended mate, and Claus is quick to propose a marriage of convenience between Aubrey and himself. He promises to always take care of her and the children. Unfortunately, the stubborn human woman is suspicious of his motives. She's also reluctant to leave Earth.
Sue Mercury writes sci-fi romance. She lives in Maryland with her husband and children, where she hopes one day she'll turn on the television to find a breaking news report about sentient alien beings contacting Earth. She also writes romance of the much kinkier variety under the name Sue Lyndon.
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Gleeful Goblin Review: I really dig the FMC Aubrey in this book because she's super practical and savvy even though she's under a ton of pressure raising her sister's three children after the sister passed away. She pivoted her whole life to take care of her nephews and that's a huge shift to make for sure. While she still has thoughts about a different and better life she's no nonsense about her reality, even when we get some foreshadowing about her future: "But instead of another scary news program, a lineup of over a dozen hunky (and shirtless) Vaxxlian males appeared on the screen, and a cheerful female voice started gushing about the benefits of becoming a Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Bride. Aubrey snorted and rolled her eyes, but then the voiceover began listing some sound reasons to become a Vaxxlian’s bride. She found herself listening closely. “That’s right, ladies. Once you become the bride of a strong Vaxxlian warrior, you’ll live on the beautiful and peaceful planet of New Vaxx. Your $exy and sweet husband will have eyes for you and you alone. Vaxxlians mate for life and take their m@ting vows very seriously. I assure you, cheating is not an issue on New Vaxx. You’ll be utterly adored, worshiped, and respected by your handsome alien husband. Imagine having the relationship of your dreams with a partner who delights in helping you raise the children.” With a dramatic sigh, Aubrey turned the television off. She hadn’t been born yesterday. If something sounded too good to be true, then it probably was. She’d heard about Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides before, which was organized by the Intergalactic Dating Agency. She occasionally translated documents from Vaxxlian to Galactic Common or other languages, so she was more familiar with their culture than most humans, but she’d always suspected there must be a catch to the whole mail order bride thing. Vaxxlians m@ted for life. It was a fact everyone knew, and while it sounded romantic on the surface, in Aubrey’s opinion it also represented a potential lifelong prison sentence. If a woman m@ted with a Vaxxlian and the male wasn’t as nice and wonderful as the commercials promised, she would be stuck on planet New Vaxx with no way to escape an unhappy marriage."
Now, blessedly Claus is basically an alien golden retriever of a man who just wants to be part of a family and show love and affection to others even while feeling undeserving of those things being reciprocated. This snippet was what sealed the deal for me feeling him as a Golden Retriever Boyfriend: "How should he go about wooing the reluctant human female? He immediately began researching human dating practices, pulling up information from various Earth libraries. He also studied interactions between romantic partners on several television shows and movies. It seemed very common for human males to attempt to make their females laugh, and he regretted that he was not good at telling jokes. But flowers, candy, jewelry, and other gifts… he could provide Aubrey with vast amounts of material things. And even though he planned to whisk her away from McHenry as soon as she agreed, he could also try to prove himself helpful by making repairs to her home." Honestly, the thought of a man caring enough to study how to woo his potential partner like this is peak adorability for me so watching how these two grow together and towards each other is so sweet it's almost gross. 5/5 Stars.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
“Claus: Intergalactic Dating Agency” is the seventh book in the Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides series. All the stories are stand alone, they share a common Sci-Fi thread but they are all amazingly different and entice the reader from page one!! I look forward to each book and NONE have disappointed me!
In this story, we meet Aubrey, who needed to leave her career to raise her late sister's three young boys. It is not easy, someone stole the money she saved as an interstellar translator and life on Earth is dangerous and resources are scarce. In walks Claus, a Vaxxlian Warrior, who was a prisoner of war for two years during the Vaxxlian/Irrcon war and upon his return learns is family has perished. He grieved and overcame this tragedy. Now, he is eagerly looking forward to meeting his new bride, her three sons and becoming a family. Problem is Aubrey had no idea her sister had agreed to be a Vaxxlian Mail Order Bride or that she had been matched to a Vaxxlian male. So, when the huge male shows up looking for her sister, she is shocked!
Sue Mercury has us curious and intrigued from the start!! The characters have depth and one cares deeply about them and worries if, they will get their Happy Ever After. The road is never straight or assured. Together these characters give us a push-pull excitement, as they interact with one another. They need to overcome and work out past obstacles before they can be a happy couple. They have amazing chemistry and I loved their interaction and the intrigue, suspense and warm, sexy scenes and a beautiful romance. A very enjoyable read that kept my interest from beginning to end. Thank you Sue Mercury.
Aubrey has taken on the care of her three young nephews who she dearly loved since her sister died Claus had finally arrived on Earth to meet the woman he is going to take as his mate along with her three young boys and he was going to mate with her and they would leave the now dangerous Earth and travel to the beautiful planet of New Vaxx. Claus was shocked when he had discovered that his prospective mate had died from the flu only weeks prior to him reaching her home. He had been looking forward to taking her and her three boys to his home on the beautiful planet of New Vaxx, they would be the family he had dreamed of. Aubrey had been shocked that her sister had agreed to becoming an intergalactic bride however, the violence every night by the armies running riot in the streets urged her to find a way to get her brothers away from earth as quickly as she was able. As she spent time with the Vaxxlian warrior she realised that he would die to protect her and the three boys, he had such a tender heart and Aurey could tell that he would be a lowing and caring father and she also knew she was falling in love with him. This is a wonderful read and I guarantee that other readers will love this book as much as myself. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the wonderful writing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Interstellar translator Aubrey (H) struggles to raise her lates sister Emily's three sons, Marcus, Wyatt, and Finn, amidst the chaos and violence of their deteriorating hometown, McHenry. She's shocked to answer her door one morning, and find Claus, a massive Vaxxlian warrior, who mistakenly believes Aubrey is his arranged mate, originally intended for her deceased sister, Emily. Despite the mix-up, Claus offers Aubrey and the boys a chance to escape Earth's dangers and start anew on his planet, New Vaxx. As Aubrey contemplates this proposal, Claus integrates himself into her family, providing comfort and stability while grappling with his own traumatic past from the Vaxxlian-Irrcon War. Aubrey wrestles with the choice between her fiercely independent life and the promise of a peaceful future on an alien planet. But when Aubrey's past crashes back into her life, Claus's warrior instincts kick in to keep Aubrey and the boys safe. He's so sweet as to how far he'll go to convince her that they're meant to be together, from his protective actions to his dressing as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, bringing gifts and joy to the household. Sweet and steamy Christmastime alien-human romance, exploring love, connection, family, security, cultural integration, new beginnings, and taking chances.
“How should he go about wooing the reluctant human female?”
Claus came to Earth expecting to find his promised mate and her three sons, ready to embrace a new life with him on New Vaxx. He found three boys and a guardian who had no idea he was coming — but just as much need for him, or so he believes, the question is can he convince them to take a leap of faith and embrace the life that he and Emily had been planning.
Aubrey has been burned by men, and seen enough of the galaxy to no longer be a naive fool — at least she hopes she’s moved past that phase of life. She has taken responsibility for her three nephews and is determined to do right by them, but is determination alone enough to make it happen.
This done in one story mixes a little holiday joy with a lot of learning to trust, and remembering the joy of coming together as a family. Claus has lost his entire family to war, and these four humans represent a chance at more than they might realize as they gradually accept him at their dinner table and in to their lives.
One of the things I truly enjoyed in this book was the dynamic between Claus and Marcus, Wyatt, and Finn. The boys vibrate with energy and curiosity and Claus, from start to finish, cherishes them as his own sons, knowing he needs to build a relationship with them- and clearly wanting to do so.
Aubrey is trying to raise her three nephews after her sister passed away. Things are tight, after someone stole most of the money she saved as an interstellar translator. She had no idea her sister had agreed to be a Vaxxlian Mail Order Bride or that she had been matched to a Vaxxlian male. So, when the huge male shows up looking for her sister, she is shocked!
Clause, who was a prisoner of war for two years during the Vaxxlian/Irrcon war, is looking forward to meeting his new bride and her three sons and becoming a family. But when another woman opens the door he gets a really bad feeling. When he learns her sister Emily has passed, he is crushed, but is not deterred after he meets the boys and decides that he and Aubrey should mate and raise the boys together. Aubrey is not interested in the least, knowing that Vaxxlian’s mate for life. No way is she going to get stuck in a loveless marriage with no way out!
These two are so cute together. The boys love Claus and Claus is determined to win Aubrey over, no matter how long it takes. So, when danger comes calling, Claus is there 100% to protect his new family. Very fun and touching story!
Claus suffered as a POW for a couple of years, lost his entire family, and secluded himself from others for a while, but he pulled himself together and built a new life for himself. His next step is to claim the mate he has found through the Intergalactic Dating Agency. When he arrives on Earth to claim his bride, he is saddened to learn that she has died. He meets her sister and the three boys he planned to be father to. Aubrey has come back to Earth from her traveling translator job to care for her three nephews. There is a definite draw between Claus and Aubrey. He becomes quite protective of her and the boys. Maybe Claus and Aubrey can become mates and with the boys a family. He and Aubrey might disagree about that. Claus decides that he will woo Aubrey. He is quite exuberant about it, and her reaction is priceless. Will he win her over? This is a fun story with some danger (almost disaster), a crazed ex (Aubrey’s), a determined Alien suitor, a reluctant lady, and three adorable little boys. What better Christmas gift can there be than a new family? I received a special copy of this book via BookSprout and voluntarily reviewed it.
'Claus' is entertaining, a page-turner and easy to read. The world building is fascinating and detailed. Earth has become war torn and dangerous. One way to get off the planet is to become a bride for a Vaxxlian Warrior, then move to New Vaxx, a safe and peaceful planet. Aubrey, an intergalactic interpreter, has become responsible for her three nephews since her sister died a couple of months before. Little does she know that her sister had applied to be a bride for the Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Bride service. She is contemplating how to raise the money to transport herself and her nephews safely to another planet, when a Vaxxlian warrior rings her doorbell. Claus is strong, hunky, kind and honourable. Who wouldn't want a mate like him?? He has to work a bit to convince Aubrey to accept him and it's so sweet how he goes about it. There's some danger from her ex, but Claus has vowed to protect the family. They are determined to celebrate one last Christmas in their home before leaving Earth. This is easily read and enjoyed as a standalone. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Aubrey is responsible for her three little nephews. Her sister Emily has passed and now she must find a way to give them what they need. When a Vaxxlian comes knocking on her door, she is surprised. Claus couldn’t wait to meet his mate, Emily. When he is greeted by her sister, he doesn’t know what to think till he is told that his to-be mate has passed. He wants a family. When he offers Aubrey a chance at a new life on New Vaxx with her nephews, he is surprised she refuses. Now he has to win her over. I do love that Aubrey is a hard-working woman that secured her home and gave all that she has for her nephews. That’s tough taking care of three little boys. Marcus, Wyatt, and Fin are all she has left of family. Claus had patience and woo’d her. He learned what he needed to in order to let her know that he truly wanted her. The Vaxxlian are all sweet. And you knew this would be around Christmas. They all had the best time.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Holiday stories can’t get any sweeter than Claus by author Sue Mercury. Aubrey became the caretaker of her three young nephews after her sisters passing and nothing is more important to her than those boys. But nothing comes easy on a war torn Earth and with the upcoming holiday season she is going to have to become creative and maybe with a little holiday magic it will all work out. Claus is a lonely Vaxxlian warrior in need of a mate and with that in mind applied for one through the Alien Mail Order Brides program, only arriving on Earth to find his match Emily has passed away, the tragic news delivered by her sister, Aubrey. Claus offers Aubrey a surprising proposal which sets the stories course and paints a picture of love found, family, spice, a little ex drama, and nice writing supported by engaging characters. Truly a charming Sci-Fi romance that embodies the holiday spirit as it also transports the reader into a very entertaining read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have been a fan of the Vaxxlians since the very first series. During the war the Vaxxlians lost almost everything, but losing their families and their precious females almost ended them. Finding the compatible human females gave them hope for the future and with each new mated pair, the Vaxxlians are rebuilding their civilization on New Vaxx.
Claus has become one of my favorite Vaxxlians. Even though he was matched to Aubrey's sister, he is attracted to Aubrey the moment he meets her. Claus' determination to take care of Aubrey and the boys (that were to be his new family) makes for an enjoyable read. Aubrey was a little too determined to do everything herself and unwilling to accept help even though she needed it. Claus' patience and caring is seen throughout the story. I really enjoyed this story and I hope to see Claus again the next time we visit New Vaxx.
I have a lot of admiration for the MMC. His decision to stay and protect the FMC and the children, even after being rejected, truly demonstrates his character and commitment. He clearly understood the seriousness of their situation and took proactive steps to ensure their safety.
On the other hand, I have some reservations about the FMC's choices. While I commend her for stepping up and caring for the children, I feel that her reasons for remaining in a dangerous situation could have been influenced by her pride. It’s important to consider the potential risks involved, as staying could be seen as a bit self-serving. If they hadn't been in danger, we could only speculate about the outcome of her decisions.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Aubrey is taking care of her nephews that she has now gained custody of Due to her sister‘s death. But clause has come to find his wife/mate. But she is not there. But he is offered to have Aubrey instead he travel to Galaxy to come get her. They are not a match, but is that true? He is willing to woo her. he wants to be with her because it seems like she is meant for him. He had not been able to make a connection with her sister but an almost instant connection with her. Touching warrior Christmas story. One of the keeping her nephew safe but she of course has a reservations. There was like two things. I didn’t like in the story but it’s only an opinion. Good read. And Klaus was very clever, especially when he challenged the villain in the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Well written novella, full of new found love and aliens. Aubrey is a human who is now raising her 3 nephews. She has a home that is built to protect them all with the wars going on. Claus is an alien who has come to collect his new bride and her children but finds that she has died. So he talks to Aubrey and offers her the bride spot. He feels the connection between them and wants to be her mate. He stays and protects them plus pays special attention to her. He evens plays Santa Claus for them all. Has some steamy scenes between them. A very merry Christmas love for them and their new family. Would strongly recommend. I received this story and leave this unbiased, honest review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Claus is a huge Vaxxlian warrior who has spent time as a prisoner of war. He is no stranger to loss and now wants a chance at peace and family. Unfortunately his match has passed away without him knowing and it is her sister, Aubrey, who has to tell him of it. She's having to look after her 3 nephews and trying to make a life for them as well. He has a plan to win Aubrey over though and it seems that he might just be the only determined cinnamon roll who could get through to her. This is a truly sweet story, one where everyone has lost so much and if they can just hang on in there, trust in someone then it will not have been for nothing. I just love how Sue writes these warriors. The dialogue is always able to pull you in and you can't help but want them to get together. Loved it!
This is a great addition to the Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides series by Sue Mercury. Claus heads to Earth to pickup his human bride and her 3 boys only to find out she has passed away and her sister, Aubrey, has custody of the boys, But Claus is surprised to find he isattarcted to Aubrey and makes her an offer, but she is hesitant. But when she gets to know him and sees how he is with the boys, she sees him for the man for her. The book is well paced, the characters compelling, there's some sizzle, steam, and more. A solid 4 1/2 star read from me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
"He radiated kindness, and it didn't seem like an act."
Quick steamy-sweet Christmas romance with an alien named Claus.
This story was short, only about 125 pages, but I felt like I got a good feel for the characters and the story was complete. I loved Claus. He was so sweet and lonely. All he wanted was love and a family. Fate brought him Aubrey and her three orphan nephews which was basically a dream come true for him. He was such a great guy I don't know how she held out as long as she did.
The story takes place at Christmas, which made it even sweeter and I loved watching Claus learn about and embrace the holiday he was practically named for. Ho, ho, ho! I haven't read any other books in the series but easily understood what was happening so don't hesitate getting this book that's seventh in the series.
Finally another book in the Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Bride series!! This story centres around Claus, a Vaxxlian alien warrior who falls in love instantly with Aubrey, a human female who doesn’t sign up to be the bride that Claus comes to Earth to claim. Aubrey’s sister and her there boys were to become the family that Claus longs for but doesn’t think he even deserves. This book is centered around Christmas, which is perfect for this time of year. There are some spicy and sweet moments between Claus and Aubrey. I loved this book so much but I love all of Sue Mercury’s books!!
Claus is Book 7 of Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides series by Sue Mercury and part of the Intergalactic Dating Agency multiauthor series. This is a sweet alien romance between Claus and Aubrey. Aubrey who is raising her nephews on war torn Earth meets Claus who was matched with her late sister, but he steps up and helps Aubrey and the boys. Sue Mercury spins a complicated tale of family, loss, drama, love and a bit of spice and does it so well. Highly recommend!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A sweet alien romance full of bravery and fear and 3 cute little boys to make your heart melt. A violent life on a world falling to ruin or a peaceful life with everything she could want ... Unfortunately past experiences affect all our decisions and this one more than most . A gentle ( ish ) and loving romance story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sweet Alien Romance Another HEA through the IDA with lovable characters, a strong, caring FMC who gave up her career for her three orphaned nephews and a sweet, protective Vaxxlian MMC who was matched through the agency with her sister. Their romance develops sweetly and steadily with some special occurrences through Christmas. Enjoyable short read. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was excited to see a new book for this series and having it set around the holidays made it a 'must read' for me ;D The characters were all fun but Claus took the prize for me as he worked hard to figure out what Aubrey needed to believe in his feelings, but he also fully engaged with her three nephews, making my heart melt. There is danger and drama, though, but thankfully, Claus was up to the task of protecting them so they could have their HEA. So fun and I can't wait for more :D
It has been an enjoyable journey reading all these books and meeting the characters as they come together. Aubrey has it tough and has lost so much. Struggling to have a happy home for her sister's boys. Vaxxlian has arrived to meet his 'bride' but finds her stubborn sister instead. It was a quick read for me and enjoyed this couple coming together. :D I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I want one! Claus is set to woo Aubrey and her nephews, so she'll agree to be his mate. It's so sweet! Audrey's been burned before and she's skittish, but finds it hard to fight against how thoughtful and wonderful he is to her and the boys. Not to mention protective. Great storyline, awesome world building, with terrific character development. Loved it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sci-fi is not my favourite genre but I just couldn’t resist the blurb of this story and I’m so glad that I did. This easy to read, quick story is fun from start to finish. I love the characters, Claus, Aubrey and the boys, and found this unusual take on a Christmas story charming. I haven’t read any of the other stories in the series, not that it made any difference to my enjoyment. If you’re after a fun, light and enjoyable read, I can recommend Claus.
This story was ok. But there was something missing. The character named claus was too mushy and not believable enough to make it really interesting enough to want to continue with reading more in this series. The scenes didn't feel as though they were complete and they jumped from one idea to another without enough information to finish it. If you want a quick read without alot of character development then this is the one.
This is a quick read that was well written and entertaining. Both Aubrey and Claus are well developed characters who extremely likable and make a great couple. Add three little boys to the mix and it makes for great reading with a some spicy humor. Definitely worth reading. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and are voluntarily leaving a review.
Claus by Sue Mercury is a wonderful Christmas novella from the Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides series. Aubrey is an intergalactic interpreter who is raising her nephews after her sister’s death. One evening a handsome Vaxxlian male arrives to take her sister Emily and the boys away to New Vaxx as part of the bride program. He is sad his bride is dead but determined to save Aubrey and boys, offering marriage. Aubrey is afraid of a life long commitment but gives in over the next few weeks as Claus plays baseball with the boys, plays Santa, and protects them all from her ex-fiancé and the tanks brought to the neighborhood. What an amazing story! I’d love to know more about the sweet new family!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked this story featuring Claus and Aubrey. They are not destined to be a couple but fate works in mysterious ways. Claus is a sensitive protector who just wants the best for and her orphaned nephews. A lovely story that sees good prevail over bad.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Aubrey is suddenly a litter to her three nephews. She’s barely making it. When Claus shows up. He’s there to claim Emily, her sister, who died nine weeks ago of the flu.
Claus is an alien, lonely who just found out Emily died. He blames himself and really shows up for Aubrey and her nephew and protects her from her ex, the mayor of McHenry. Recommend.