Guarded by the Yeti

Monster Security Agency #11

by Cara Wylde

A mute girl and a furry beast once got snowed in at the North Pole.

Ysella is a mafia princess. I saved her and her brother when a rival family tried to wipe them out, and now her brother wants me to take her far away, somewhere no one will find her. The farthest place I know is my cabin in Alaska. But is this a good idea? Absolutely not.

I shouldn’t have accepted the job in the first place. When my MSA handler insisted, I should’ve admitted I’m not the right man for it. It’s not that I can’t protect Ysella from her family’s enemies. It’s that…

I’m afraid I won’t be able to protect her from myself.

You see, as a Yeti, I have one a woman’s pheromones can make me go berserk.

Genres: Monsters, Monster Romance, Novella, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal

77 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 28, 2024

About the author

Cara Wylde loves to write about strong, feisty women and their hot Alphas who will do anything to make them happy. Her books are filled with romance and just a dash of mystery, suspense, and that eerie atmosphere she fell in love with reading too many gothic novels. With a master's degree in Comparative Literature, she can't help but play with tropes and themes from various genres, trying to come up with fresh perspectives on the paranormal characters her readers love so much. Vampires, shape-shifters, demons, witches... Cara will always make sure they get their own twists.

When she's not writing, Cara is reading, planning her next story, or daydreaming. Her idea of pure heaven is a day filled with nothing but her laptop, a huge coffee pot, relaxing music, and a new, exciting project.

Reviews

[april ♡ probably reading smut - safety reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 I didn’t like this as much as I thought I would.

TROPES:
-human heroine/Yeti hero
-bodyguard
-mute heroine
-novella

The hero is hired to take the heroine away to a safe place after something traumatic happened. He tries to fight his feelings, but she doesn’t let him. Things get heated up!

I didn’t enjoy this. There wasn’t any chemistry.. at all. I really wanted to like it too 😭

SAFETY:
no virgins
no OM/OW
no cheating/sharing
HEA

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very cute and I loved it. Comes with a little spice and a small plot twist. I struggle getting into stories with less than 200 pages, but this book tied everything off well.

[Noel Kjosness · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's just OK

I'm loving reading the MSA books, but this one has been my least favorite. Kaelthor was an excellent character, but he could have been so much more. Ysella was too strange to be able to care about. The relationship between the two of them was weak at best. Layla Faye's contribution to this series is so much better.

[Savannah Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wish this novella was a little longer. It was so cute I didn’t want it to end.
Without giving spoilers the twist was good, I didn’t see it coming. Kaelthar is a sweetie who tries his best. I also liked how he was too long for her and so he had to find a workaround to not hurt her. Most of the books I read have the fmc able to take all of the mmc despite it going against human anatomy.
Overall it was a cute, but bloody, read that is quite typical for monster lover books.
I will definitely check out the other books in this series.

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

[Lady Tea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: So and...um / 5

This story kind of sucked.

Like, the cover itself it gorgeous, but the story wasn't good. Like, at all. It wasn't long, I grant you, so things like insta-lust/romance are expected, but...

...it was just kinda gross.

And no, I don't mean the monster sex. Well, not the idea of monster sex anyway, because what's a basilisk, werewolf, or yeti here and there, y'know?

NOPE.

What I was actually against was how vivid the imagery was of how said yeti-sex involved blood, and that apparently this is a thing to get someone "hot".

Ew.

Also, similarly to Wed to the Ice Giant, it seems that this author has decided to accurately represent said monster's, um....anatomy accurately, which of course means that it's large in a not-hawt way, but an "ouch, it's painful" way! There literal only time that this has semi-worked was in A Soul to Keep, where at least the author goes out of her way to have the monster literally reshape the woman's anatomy to fit him.

In here though, we have no such luck, and I'm really not rooting for these two as much as tempted to separate them for their own safety.

Hero was sweet, heroine was psycho.

Ew again, and NEXT please!

[Kaylee Read Rant Review · Rating 2 out of 5]

im in Alaska, of course I read an Alaskan Yeti romance. RRR video coming as soon as the video loads 🩵

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silent Night, Hole-y Night
Ysella has just seen her mafia parents brutally killed in front of her when Kaelthar and the rest of his Monster Security Agency team bust in to rescue them. Ysella’s brother requests that Kaelthar get Ysella to safety, so he reluctantly does. While this story has dual points of view, I found it interesting that we don’t hear Ysella’s POV until half way through the story because she’s temporarily mute. The viscerally dramatic ending was on point for these two, and I loved the tender Christmas morning. An exciting read.

[Guiovanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ojalá esta novela corta fuera un poco más larga. Era tan tierna que no quería que terminara.

[Rainbow Carbucle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. Usually, it's a fun bodyguard romp.

This one...YIKES. Spoilers up for disturbing themes.

TW: Sexual assault by the FMC against the MMC, MMC's race are outright stated to be "driven" to sexually assault women by their instincts. He is in therapy to try to prevent this.

Actual Review:

They do say this right on the tin, but Kaelthor, the MMC, is a Yeti who's hired to guard Ysella, the FMC. Her family runs (ran) one of two big mafia groups in the same city as Kaelthor's division of the Monster Security Agency.

This is all fine and good.

Here's where we get to the bad stuff.

Yetis in this world apparently go crazy when they smell female-anything. This is specifically a male Yeti issue, and Kaelthor was in therapy to deal with those instincts. Yes, this is instinctual. The book even had Ysella caught between two other horny-berserk Yetis and Kaelthor, the only one who miraculously ISN'T trying to rape her, has to figure out how to get her away so THEY DON'T ACCIDENTALLY TEAR HER IN HALF TUGGING ON HER.

This feeds into a lovely stereotype that men have used for ages to justify why they sexually assault women-- their "male instincts": that a woman is so sexually desirable that they are physically incapable of resisting the urge to rape her. Kaelthor is portrayed as a hero because he is in therapy to NOT DO THIS.

I expected there might be a rape in this book, or a near thing, probably something that Kaelthor rescued Ysella from, and that would have been enough of an ick.

Sadly, there was a romanticized "but it's okay because I eventually said yes" rape: Kaelthor is raped by Ysella.

In the first sex scene of the book, Kaelthor tells Ysella "no" repeatedly, and she still initiates sex and keeps going until he says yes. This is never addressed as what it is: rape. Just because Kaelthor didn't throw Ysella off of him (and potentially kill her because HE'S A MASSIVE YETI) does not mean he gave consent.

This book was ruined for me. Writing it out, I feel sick to my stomach.

There are other issues-- pacing, zero sexual or romantic chemistry, it felt like Ysella and Kaelthor got together because...reasons???-- but all of those pale in comparison to what I noted above.

[Gleeful Goblin Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gleeful Goblin Review: Man, even if bodyguard stuff or mafia stories aren't my typical jam I gotta admit this series has me hooked. There's references to mafia actions and consequences that made a bodyguard necessary but it's definitely not graphic or prolonged. Which for me is great because I get to focus on the relationship dynamics between protector/protected, how trust gets built, and finally how love blooms.

I feel like the initial scene and how our MMC views himself is spelled out so beautifully early on during an... unusual meet cute to say the least. "Artie is on the phone, and I can tell he’s talking to my handler, Lucia. I pace around for a bit, trying to gather my thoughts. But Ysella is still being ignored in the corner, and that just doesn’t sit right with me. I go back to her and crouch to her level again, severely hunching. “Are you okay?” I ask. What a stupid question. Of course she’s not okay, and I want to ríp the throats of those who splashed her parents’ bl00d onto her baby blue dress. She looks at me with so much emotion in her eyes but doesn’t answer. I reach my hand toward her – my big, fat, furry paw – and she doesn’t flinch, but she doesn’t have to. I know it’s not appropriate for me to touch her, even if all I want is to squeeze her shoulder and comfort her. I pull away and sigh. I feel the frustration building inside me. My nostrils flare, and underneath the odor of d3@th, I can smell her unique scent. Something fruity. Something luxuriant. I need to turn away, because now I can smell her skin, her hair, the most hidden secrets of her beautiful, strong, young body. Her very fertíle body. I’m an animal, in the end. I won’t say an ape, because I don’t talk to myself like that, but the truth is the truth. I am an animal, and I have animalistic urges. For years, my kind has been struggling and learning how to contain and control them. If a Yeti gets too close to a female – a female of any species – then that Yeti might just go... berserk. And that is why I cannot take beautiful Ysella away. I would have to guard her from myself." Needless to say it's a wild ride for these two from start to finish. 5/5 Stars.

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

[Laura Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Carvassi crime family was almost wiped out in one night, by the Draganetti crime family. The Carvassi father had paid Monster Security Agency to protect them, but by the time the Alert went out and Kaelthar, a Yeti, and his team got together and got there, only the adult children were alive. Artie Carvassi and his sister Ysella, survived. Lucia, Kaelthar’s handler agrees to Artie’s demands and K has to take the woman to safety and no one is to know where. Learning about Yeti’s and that they have a berserker problem regarding women was fascinating. Kaelthar is wonderful and I totally fell for him, immediately. He was trying to protect Ysella from himself as well as from everything else, right away. There are some shockers in the book, that I didn’t see coming. Hoo boy. Totally needed my AC on immediately. Ysella is very surprising. I love her and Kaelthar. The book was awesome and I can’t wait to see if there are books about the rest of Kaelthar’s team. K and Ysella are drawn to each other and he is just amazing with her from the beginning. Finding out about her past and what happened, broke my heart.

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

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read at les than 100 pages and I wanted to pick this up because of the disability rep as I heard that heroine is mute. It turns out she is mute because of trauma. Ysella is rescued from a rival mafia family’s attack that kills her parents and leaves her brother and her tied up watching. Kaelther is a yeti who leaves the Himalayas and is trying to integrate into human society. He works at the Monster Security Agency. He feels an instant connection to Ysella even though she does not speak. He agrees to take her away to protect her on her brother’s request and against his better judgement as Yetis becomes feral and can become a berserker if a fertile female appears in their presence. He takes her away to his remote cabin in Alaska and takes care of her. There is some plot because the first half is only told from his pov and he discerns what ahe is thinking through her reactions and expressions. Her pov comes in later and while it is pretty instalovey, I did like that he just wants to care for her. She is pretty dark herself with her family. I was wondering why she coloured her hair and whether there is a significance.

Tropes: Insta love, size difference (big hero-small heroine)

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaelthar is from Monster Security Agency. He was hired by a mafia family but got there too late to save the parents. There are two survivors of the massacre, the son and his sister. The son hires him to guard his sister. He tries his best to get out of it. He has one pecular oddity...what he calls “berserker problem”. If he scents a female he goes berserk. Now he and Ysella are in a helicopter heading to Alaska where he has a hidden cabin.
Ysella is silent. She isn't talking. Kaelthar thinks she's mute so she goes with it. They get to his cabin in Alaska and settle in. It's the long long night and it's always dark. They settle into the cabin. Only he is having issues with her being so near him. He calls his friend and therapist who's a Sasquatch. He tells him his issues and listens as he gives him advice. Then he goes back into the cabin. A few days later they are found and now he needs to protect his female again. But who he needs to protect her from is shocking.
A beautiful but really chilly book. Just the description of the cold had me cold!!!.

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

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute short short story

There isn't a lot, so don't go in expecting lots of details or an epic story. This is a cute, short story.

Kaelthar is a golden retriever/cinnamon roll type for Ysela. While they are cute, there really isn't a whole lot going on because she doesn't speak. He gives her a note pad, but really, not too much communication. They don't really create any cute memories together, and it lacks "aweee" or swoonworthy moments. The MMC mainly spends time caretaking (protecting, taking care of, doing things for her).

Guess we didn't solve the yeti "condition" in this book? Never came back around to this, but author detailed how Sasquatches had learned to manage it and Yeti's hoped to achieve the same.

HOWEVER. The bones of this story was good and I feel like with more time, and maybe extending it a bit, it would have been a huge hit. Hopefully the author creates more books like this but with a bit more depth and detail to it, because otherwise it was good.

[Laure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ysella and her brother are the only members of her family to survive an attack by a rival mafia family. Her brother, now in charge, demands that Kaelthar take his sister into hiding to protect her from any future attacks. When his Monster Security Agency handler insists that Kaelthar accept the assignment he reluctantly agrees, but he has to wonder how he will be able to protect Ysella from himself.
This is a very short but steamy read with a surprising twist, bloody violence, and wonderfully unique main characters. I really enjoyed the fact that while this is a shorter novella the world building didn't leave me trying to fill in some blanks for myself. I happened to love this book, and I recommend it to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC copy of this book that I received from Book Sprout.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guarded by the Yeti is a Monster Security Agency series entry by author Cara Wylde and a sweetly delicious one.
MFC Ysella is a mafia princess who has just been witness to the demise of her parents by their enemies. The only other survivor is her brother who insists that Yeti Kaelthar who led the MSA force that rescued them become his sisters guard and get her far away from the war that will soon be forthcoming, and where no one will find her.
Though Kaelthar tried to get out of the assignment he had no choice but to accept because some secrets about his kind he would never reveal.
A very entertaining and well written story soon emerges of romance, intrigue, spice, and characters that delivered a very captivating read.

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

[Alex Silver · Rating 1 out of 5]

0.5/5

Oh my god. Skip it. This is pure garbage, even for Cara.


The MMCs internal monologue did not match with the image of him as a big time security guard. It was cringy and childish at best. For example:

“I know for a fact that cold water works better than hot water at removing blood stains. It’s science or something, but I know from experience. And experience is better than science. Or are they the same?”

He’s also a moron. He can’t process even a basic understanding of a trauma response (which was poorly depicted anyway) and knowingly sets himself up to harm his charge (who is badly traumatized after witnessing her parents murder) via mating frenzy. So. Rape.
And why does he do this? Because his boss is hard to say no to …


Also it turns out she is the evil mastermind 🙄 and then he proposes to her.

Barf. Double barf. Barf forever.

[Mima · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mute mafia princess and a pheromone-sensitive Yeti snowed in together in the Alaskan wilderness? Yes, it's as wild as it sounds—and surprisingly heartfelt. Ysella’s silence speaks volumes, and the chemistry between her and her reluctant protector crackles despite the subzero temperatures. The tension (both romantic and otherwise) is off the charts, especially as the Yeti wrestles with instincts he barely controls. The plot delivers a good mix of danger, heat, and emotional stakes, though a few moments veer into the melodramatic. Still, it’s a captivating ride with a unique premise that definitely stands out in the monster romance genre. If you’re into gruff guardians, mafia drama, and primal urges in icy cabins, this one’s for you.

[Barbara Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this story, but was pleasantly surprised.
Kaelthar is a Yeti. He works for the Monster Security Agency. His team was hired by a mafia boss for protection.
Most of the family is murdered before the team can get there.
Ysella is a mafia princess who Kaelthar is hired to protect. However her sent makes him go wild and unable to control himself.
This was an interesting read. I love the chemistry between these two characters and how fierce a protector Kaelthar is.
Ysella has her own secrets and not the fragile princess everyone believes she is.
Secrets are revealed and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another wonderful addition to the series. This one is a shorter read but it's still packing action, drama, angst, a massive twist and steamy monster romance ;D I really loved how honourable Kaelthar was, and how restrained he was from his natural impulses towards Ysella. Their chemistry was hot but with the trauma she was exposed to and her resulting muteness, he was very sure he should keep his distance. Ha! She was determined and when the twist hit, my jaw dropped and then I cheered ;P You really need to dive into this fun read as these two work their way to a fab HEA. So fun!

[Sara Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaelthar goes in to save whoever is still alive after a hit on Ysella’s family but the only ones alive were her and her brother Artie. Artie told Kaelthar to take her somewhere safe so he takes her to his home in Alaska, Ysella wasn’t speaking. She writes down that she loves to play the piano a merchant tells him about one in a different town buys the electric keyboard. Then Artie shows up to kill her and he gets shot has to take care of the two yetis that had come with Artie. Then later Ysella tells him the whole truth and then there is no one left to come after her.

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

[Chantal · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ The plot was good, but the romance fell flat. There was no chemistry and everything happened too fast. I get that this was a short novella, but it would have been easy to add something like “we stayed in the cabin for a couple of weeks while I took care of her, blah blah blah.”

Mild spoiler below.

The whole thing happened in less than a week. Oh and what happened to him going berserk? That didn’t even happen. He was able to control himself rather well compared to what the story let us believe. Towards the end he said the word soulmate, is that why he was able to control himself with her? The whole thing just didn’t make sense.

[May · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little disappointing

I usually love this series. And I am usually a fan of short spicy novellas. But this was just missing something in their relationship for me.
Whether it was because they don't communicate for 50% of the book, or just because there was really no building of a bond between them it just felt fake.
I love a monster romance and I feel this touched on what could have been some really fun lore and culture for yetis, and it was all just rushed over because other things needed to happen.
Again, all good ideas and if this was even 50 pages more I think it could have been really good. But it felt rushed and the relationship fell flat

[Lyndsay L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. For a short, steamy read the story was very well written and you were not left lost as to how each character ended up where they were or why they had the emotions they had. There is nothing better with a well written story with the chemistry being hot and steamy between the two characters as well being thrown a twist you did not see coming. I am definitely going to be following this authors future books as I have enjoyed this one from start to finish.

[Trixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the cover because it effectively showcases the main characters! The story features some intense moments, which are fitting since the female lead is a mafia princess. As we approach the ending, there's a twist that completely surprised me! The female main character's choices are complex and not merely black and white. The same can be said for the male main character, as his actions, driven by love, are intended to ensure her safety.

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

[Patricia Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story. Although I would like to have started from the beginning to understand how monsters are running around and no one seems to know about them. A mafia take down, a mafia princess in shock and not speaking after the massacre. And a Yeti ordered to be her protector because no one knows what his kind feel and do when in close proximity to any species of female. The love in this is sweet and but the female protagonist has a few secrets of her own.

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

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaelthar and Ysella
Ysella is a mafia princess. Her family is murdered infront of her. Her brother and only surviver of her family hires Kaelthar to protect her. Kaelthar whiskey Her away to his Alaskan cabin in between two small yeti communities. Kaelthar is very attracted to Ysella. He fights his attraction until he can't do anymore.
Mafia, betrayal, Christmas time, dysfunctional, monster/human love, instalove, and happily-ever-after.

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

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of monster romances, and this one did not disappoint me. Kaelthar is a Yeti working for Monster Security Agency when he meets Ysella. Her crime family is attacked, and Kaelthar is sent to rescue them. Ysella's brother demands she be taken away and guarded by Kaelthar, where no one can find her. I love this plot; some surprises make the book fantastic. And don't forget the spice and an excellent HEA.

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

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaelthar is a yeti and works at the Monster Security Agency where he gets assigned to protect Ysella a Mafia princess. Ysella's parents get taken out and the only survivors are her and her brother. This quick monster romance has a great storyline, danger, ott steam, and unexpected twists, making this a great read. My only complaint is that I wish it had been longer. Guarded by the Yeti is a steamy addition to the multi-author Monster Security Agency series. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I have enjoyed every book I have read by this author. The writing flows so well, and I did not want to put it down. The characters were good; I especially liked the idea that the MMC was trying so hard not to let his “monster” side hurt the FMC.

Now, for the why I gave it three stars: I felt the book was too short. The concept was good, but I felt that it was not completely executed. The first half of the novella was very rushed, and had barely fleshed-out content. The second half contained more of the FMC’s back story. So, overall, good, but was just not enough.