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Guardsmen #2.5
Mismatched
The Cynic and the Dreamer - can they make their Valentine’s Day dreams come true?
Taye Walker feels like an outsider. Ever since he was identified as a Handler and whisked away from the home and the family he loved to the reclusive, exclusive world of the Guardsmen, he’s known that he doesn’t belong. He stopped trying to belong a long time ago and he doesn’t even plan on bonding with a Protector, knowing it’s all just romantic claptrap. ...isn’t it?
Brandon McCleod is an all-star Protector at the Guardsmen Institute of the Americas. He’s popular, smart, athletic, and beloved by everyone. He’s where he belongs, and all he ever wanted to be was a great Protector, to live in service to others, and to find the perfect Handler to be his true bond-mate. He’s dreamed of that day for years, and as Valentine’s Day looms, he knows in his heart that this year it’s going to happen. He’s going to find his ideal match, they will fall in love, and spend the rest of their lives in perfect harmony. ...won’t they?
It’s a rocky holiday romance for these Guardsmen as their instinct to bond wrestles with their mismatched personalities!
Taye Walker feels like an outsider. Ever since he was identified as a Handler and whisked away from the home and the family he loved to the reclusive, exclusive world of the Guardsmen, he’s known that he doesn’t belong. He stopped trying to belong a long time ago and he doesn’t even plan on bonding with a Protector, knowing it’s all just romantic claptrap. ...isn’t it?
Brandon McCleod is an all-star Protector at the Guardsmen Institute of the Americas. He’s popular, smart, athletic, and beloved by everyone. He’s where he belongs, and all he ever wanted to be was a great Protector, to live in service to others, and to find the perfect Handler to be his true bond-mate. He’s dreamed of that day for years, and as Valentine’s Day looms, he knows in his heart that this year it’s going to happen. He’s going to find his ideal match, they will fall in love, and spend the rest of their lives in perfect harmony. ...won’t they?
It’s a rocky holiday romance for these Guardsmen as their instinct to bond wrestles with their mismatched personalities!
Welcome to the world of Guardsmen, bonded pairs of weredogs and their partners who live on the edges of society. Worshipped and feared in turn, sheltered as much as they are shunned, Guardsmen mates live, love, and die together.
61 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2019
9 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Cooper West
16 books84 followersCooper West is the pen name of KimBoo York, who is a GenX elder-goth whose main life purpose is to provide a good life for her rescue mutt, Keely-Boo, who is perfect and beyond reproach in every way. She is also a librarian, former project manager, and a professional author who wears too many hats and crosses too many genres including romance, fantasy, and non-fiction. She is a bit grumpy, especially in the morning.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 18, 2022
Cute Valentines story where an obviously mismatched bonding turns out to be the best for both guys. So far so good and in every other AU I would have enjoyed it while it lasts and then move to the next book but in this Guardsmen universe I start to feel a bit uneasy.
You see, I really liked the prologue introducing both guys because it shows some of the effects of how this society is dealing with guardsmen. There are some bad effects for Handlers but it's much worse for Protectors. They are hardly treated like people but more like dogs who are able to speak and look like humans and while book 1 at least acknowledged that fact and seems to promise that this will become a bigger part of the story line, book 2 still only mentioned some "disadvantages" for Protectors but had a tendency to focus on Eli's dog personality and now here in this short story the repression is made obvious in the prologue, mentioned on a by-the-way base but then it puts the spotlight on those biological weaknesses that might be the reason for making Protectors less than 2nd-class citizens. I'm starting to believe the author is not being able to decide if she finds those doggy characteristics too cute to disturb the overall picture or if she wants one of her couples eventually fight for justice.
So while I become pessimistic for the series as the stand-alone Valentine read it's still just fine.
You see, I really liked the prologue introducing both guys because it shows some of the effects of how this society is dealing with guardsmen. There are some bad effects for Handlers but it's much worse for Protectors. They are hardly treated like people but more like dogs who are able to speak and look like humans and while book 1 at least acknowledged that fact and seems to promise that this will become a bigger part of the story line, book 2 still only mentioned some "disadvantages" for Protectors but had a tendency to focus on Eli's dog personality and now here in this short story the repression is made obvious in the prologue, mentioned on a by-the-way base but then it puts the spotlight on those biological weaknesses that might be the reason for making Protectors less than 2nd-class citizens. I'm starting to believe the author is not being able to decide if she finds those doggy characteristics too cute to disturb the overall picture or if she wants one of her couples eventually fight for justice.
So while I become pessimistic for the series as the stand-alone Valentine read it's still just fine.
February 17, 2019
So I'm going to be honest. I was really disappointed with this short. That's not to say that I disliked the story, characters, or even the telling. There was enough here to be a full book.
I really enjoy the guardsman universe, I want to know more about the institute, and the school. You get a glimpse but that's about it.
If anything, this short felt like a cash grab. A not so well written cash grab.
I still look forward to cooper wests next full guardsman book.
I really enjoy the guardsman universe, I want to know more about the institute, and the school. You get a glimpse but that's about it.
If anything, this short felt like a cash grab. A not so well written cash grab.
I still look forward to cooper wests next full guardsman book.
January 14, 2021
This was a Guardmen Novella
This was a decent read short but sweet I'm really liking this series although I still think that this Author is in love with DRAMA . But I get it that sometimes you need a little something to get your book going and this Author does a great job at it I'm looking forward too more from this Author .
This was a decent read short but sweet I'm really liking this series although I still think that this Author is in love with DRAMA . But I get it that sometimes you need a little something to get your book going and this Author does a great job at it I'm looking forward too more from this Author .
March 3, 2019
Really?
You have read it before over and and over again and it was lousy then. Cooper West thinks she can write and she can---just not well.
No spoilers--- noting to spoil except an hour reading this
You have read it before over and and over again and it was lousy then. Cooper West thinks she can write and she can---just not well.
No spoilers--- noting to spoil except an hour reading this
June 28, 2023
An Enjoyable Quick Read
If you love the universe Cooper West has created of Handlers and Protectors, you’ll love this little morsel of a story on the apparently mismatched bonding of Brandon and Taye.
If you love the universe Cooper West has created of Handlers and Protectors, you’ll love this little morsel of a story on the apparently mismatched bonding of Brandon and Taye.
February 13, 2019
Awesome world
I really love the Guardsman universe that Cooper West created. Anyone who loves adventure, love and hot MM sex should check this out.
I really love the Guardsman universe that Cooper West created. Anyone who loves adventure, love and hot MM sex should check this out.
February 16, 2019
Puppy loved it, even if it was too short. I want so much more guardsmanverus. Tail wags all around.
April 7, 2019
Fun
Dislike having to write reviews just to give stars. Blech. This short story feels longer than it is. It’s also a cute slice of Guardsmen life. Two thumb up.
Dislike having to write reviews just to give stars. Blech. This short story feels longer than it is. It’s also a cute slice of Guardsmen life. Two thumb up.
September 9, 2020
Great
A great novella from the guardsmen series I loved this the guys were great and who doesn’t love an HEA ending. Highly recommended series
A great novella from the guardsmen series I loved this the guys were great and who doesn’t love an HEA ending. Highly recommended series
September 30, 2020
Too short to have much impact.
December 9, 2021
I enjoyed the different take on the shifter/bond theme. Found the series to be intriguing, sexy and very entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews