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Mudden Men #1
Match Found
Kay vows to escape the planet Mudden and her "match." All she has to do? Not fall in love with him.
Kay is kidnapped, taken to the planet Mudden, and forced to marry a stranger. Griff is supposed to be perfect for her, but that doesn't mean she wants to be married to him. She refuses to give in to the Mudden men’s master plan and vows to be the first woman to escape the planet. All she has to do is not fall for Griff for a year. Sounds easy, right?
Well…Kay soon discovers she has a hard time keeping her hands off of Griff, but just because she shares her body doesn’t mean she has to share her heart. No, she doesn't want to give in.
But all is not well within the Glaerus clan, and as political unrest escalates, more than her freedom is at stake. She has to decide if proving them wrong is more important than doing what’s right. For herself. For Griff. And for the planet.
Kay is kidnapped, taken to the planet Mudden, and forced to marry a stranger. Griff is supposed to be perfect for her, but that doesn't mean she wants to be married to him. She refuses to give in to the Mudden men’s master plan and vows to be the first woman to escape the planet. All she has to do is not fall for Griff for a year. Sounds easy, right?
Well…Kay soon discovers she has a hard time keeping her hands off of Griff, but just because she shares her body doesn’t mean she has to share her heart. No, she doesn't want to give in.
But all is not well within the Glaerus clan, and as political unrest escalates, more than her freedom is at stake. She has to decide if proving them wrong is more important than doing what’s right. For herself. For Griff. And for the planet.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2020
98 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 19, 2020
3.5 Better than I Expected; Less Steam than I Usually Enjoy Stars
This book has an interesting take on the "captured and sold to another planet bride" trope.... not that I have read many of these (a handful), but most involve aliens, and in this case, all of the individuals in the story are humans; it's more a "futuristic, we've expanded settlements to various planets" situation.
Kay is a woman who is mostly satisfied in her life - she has a sister with whom she is close, parents who love her, and a promising new career. One thing she hasn't found is the right guy, but she isn't in a rush. After going to a routine doctor's visit, she awakens to discover she is on a space craft headed to parts unknown and for reasons she hasn't a clue about. When she and 2 other equally puzzled women arrive on the mostly desolate and secretive planet Mudden, they are shocked to find themselves placed in a cage and taken to what appears to be a marketplace for auction. Terrified but determined to find a way out, Kay spots a man in the crowd who seems different - he has a kind expression and isn't as intimidating as the other men that have come to claim the dozens of women on display. When she makes eye contact with him, she is happy to see him push his way to the front and open her cage to take her and the other 2 women she arrived with, but then he shocks her with the claim that she belongs to him now.
When Griff sees the woman that he has been matched with seek him out in the crowd and lock eyes with him, he is floored. While he has seen many of the matches work well for his family and friends, he is now certain that he has finally found his perfect woman. At 36 years old, he has tried to be matched for many years now, so it was almost like a miracle when he got the news that his time had come. Now, he just has to be patient and convince the very angry and hostile woman he has been paired with that they are meant to be.
Kay isn't angry; she's furious! She learns that the reason Mudden is so secretive is because for whatever reason, their population only produce sons, so women have to be brought to the planet for the men. But the ones that are sought are ones that aren't missed: orphans, friendless, jobless women who aren't happy in their lives as they are. That does NOT describe Kay at all! How dare the doctor that she trusted (another woman, no less!) drug her and drag her away from a life she was just starting to truly enjoy?! Sure, she hasn't had a boyfriend in awhile, and maybe none of her previous ones really did it or her, but she will most certainly be missed by her family. Okay, so maybe Griff volunteering to sleep on the floor and not make any unwanted moves on her was decent of him. And maybe, though he isn't that much to look at, she finds herself becoming more and more attracted to him. His encouragement of her using her skills and willingness to help her find her place in the new society is pretty nice too. But when he agrees to help her escape if she is not happy the next time he can (1 year), she knows he is probably the nicest guy she could have hoped for... on any planet. And when she gives in to the temptation to sample some of his kisses, she justifies it in her mind that she's here for a year and may as well enjoy it, as long as he knows there are no strings attached. Because she can't have him fall in love with her.... after all, there is no way she will fall in love with him, right?
What I liked:
--- The plot had more to it than I thought it would - there is some political unrest and some solid action happening through most of the story to keep it moving
--- Griff grew on me - he was a decent guy who waited a long time for his match and was still super patient knowing what she must be going through
--- Kay was mostly likeable (she did give in a little easy after all of her huffing and puffing)
--- The steamy goodness that was there was good!
What I didn't like as much:
--- There were some parts that seemed to drag, so I skimmed a little through the middle
--- There were 2 dissenting groups that opposed the main government: rebels and socials - I got a decent idea about the goals of the 1st group, but the second's explanation/involvement was rushed and felt a little incomplete
--- My pet peeve: COVER MODEL DOES NOT MATCH STORY (Griff was supposed to be about the same height as Kay, though much broader, and he was described as not someone you'd pick out of a crowd in terms of first impression attractiveness - I would definitely pick the cover model for this edition out of a room!)
--- Only 1 full sex scene (some jr high grinding and a 3rd base hit but not as much as I usually like in a steamy romance)
Overall, it was a good first in a series story understanding that there is more to the background that couldn't all be revealed in an opening act. I liked the characters and the basic premise. Could have used more steaminess, but that's a personal preference.
Plot --- 3.5/5
Main Characters --- 3.5/5
Supporting Cast --- 3/5
Steam Level* --- 2.5/5
Violence --- nothing graphic (some descriptions of executions and putting people in what sounded like a stockade but nothing detailed)
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild (nothing descriptive); 2/5 - 3rd base action/1 home run; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere (a couple of full-on steamy scenes); 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
This book has an interesting take on the "captured and sold to another planet bride" trope.... not that I have read many of these (a handful), but most involve aliens, and in this case, all of the individuals in the story are humans; it's more a "futuristic, we've expanded settlements to various planets" situation.
Kay is a woman who is mostly satisfied in her life - she has a sister with whom she is close, parents who love her, and a promising new career. One thing she hasn't found is the right guy, but she isn't in a rush. After going to a routine doctor's visit, she awakens to discover she is on a space craft headed to parts unknown and for reasons she hasn't a clue about. When she and 2 other equally puzzled women arrive on the mostly desolate and secretive planet Mudden, they are shocked to find themselves placed in a cage and taken to what appears to be a marketplace for auction. Terrified but determined to find a way out, Kay spots a man in the crowd who seems different - he has a kind expression and isn't as intimidating as the other men that have come to claim the dozens of women on display. When she makes eye contact with him, she is happy to see him push his way to the front and open her cage to take her and the other 2 women she arrived with, but then he shocks her with the claim that she belongs to him now.
When Griff sees the woman that he has been matched with seek him out in the crowd and lock eyes with him, he is floored. While he has seen many of the matches work well for his family and friends, he is now certain that he has finally found his perfect woman. At 36 years old, he has tried to be matched for many years now, so it was almost like a miracle when he got the news that his time had come. Now, he just has to be patient and convince the very angry and hostile woman he has been paired with that they are meant to be.
Kay isn't angry; she's furious! She learns that the reason Mudden is so secretive is because for whatever reason, their population only produce sons, so women have to be brought to the planet for the men. But the ones that are sought are ones that aren't missed: orphans, friendless, jobless women who aren't happy in their lives as they are. That does NOT describe Kay at all! How dare the doctor that she trusted (another woman, no less!) drug her and drag her away from a life she was just starting to truly enjoy?! Sure, she hasn't had a boyfriend in awhile, and maybe none of her previous ones really did it or her, but she will most certainly be missed by her family. Okay, so maybe Griff volunteering to sleep on the floor and not make any unwanted moves on her was decent of him. And maybe, though he isn't that much to look at, she finds herself becoming more and more attracted to him. His encouragement of her using her skills and willingness to help her find her place in the new society is pretty nice too. But when he agrees to help her escape if she is not happy the next time he can (1 year), she knows he is probably the nicest guy she could have hoped for... on any planet. And when she gives in to the temptation to sample some of his kisses, she justifies it in her mind that she's here for a year and may as well enjoy it, as long as he knows there are no strings attached. Because she can't have him fall in love with her.... after all, there is no way she will fall in love with him, right?
What I liked:
--- The plot had more to it than I thought it would - there is some political unrest and some solid action happening through most of the story to keep it moving
--- Griff grew on me - he was a decent guy who waited a long time for his match and was still super patient knowing what she must be going through
--- Kay was mostly likeable (she did give in a little easy after all of her huffing and puffing)
--- The steamy goodness that was there was good!
What I didn't like as much:
--- There were some parts that seemed to drag, so I skimmed a little through the middle
--- There were 2 dissenting groups that opposed the main government: rebels and socials - I got a decent idea about the goals of the 1st group, but the second's explanation/involvement was rushed and felt a little incomplete
--- My pet peeve: COVER MODEL DOES NOT MATCH STORY (Griff was supposed to be about the same height as Kay, though much broader, and he was described as not someone you'd pick out of a crowd in terms of first impression attractiveness - I would definitely pick the cover model for this edition out of a room!)
--- Only 1 full sex scene (some jr high grinding and a 3rd base hit but not as much as I usually like in a steamy romance)
Overall, it was a good first in a series story understanding that there is more to the background that couldn't all be revealed in an opening act. I liked the characters and the basic premise. Could have used more steaminess, but that's a personal preference.
Plot --- 3.5/5
Main Characters --- 3.5/5
Supporting Cast --- 3/5
Steam Level* --- 2.5/5
Violence --- nothing graphic (some descriptions of executions and putting people in what sounded like a stockade but nothing detailed)
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild (nothing descriptive); 2/5 - 3rd base action/1 home run; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere (a couple of full-on steamy scenes); 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
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June 12, 2020
This is a new author to me & I was pleasantly surprised at how well this Sci-Fi romance was written. The plot is well-paced & interesting with some deep undercurrents of political unease. The characters are portrayed with realistic flaws & emotional feelings.
It is about: a female attorney (Kay) who is abducted & taken to another planet (Mudden) & forced to marry a complete stranger (Griff) who is apparently her perfect match but Kay is not too impressed with this idea & tries to the best of her ability to avoid him at all costs.
There is: a conniving woman (Dr. Wells), Mudden Military, traitors, greed, political intrigue, council meetings, adventure, some action, twists & turns, drama, intrigue, suspense, attempted escape, compromises, dissatisfaction, warnings, defiance, emotional turmoil, intimidation, devious plans, manipulations, love, contentment, mild sensual scenes & a satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed reading this Sci-Fi romance & look forward to future books from this author.
It is about: a female attorney (Kay) who is abducted & taken to another planet (Mudden) & forced to marry a complete stranger (Griff) who is apparently her perfect match but Kay is not too impressed with this idea & tries to the best of her ability to avoid him at all costs.
There is: a conniving woman (Dr. Wells), Mudden Military, traitors, greed, political intrigue, council meetings, adventure, some action, twists & turns, drama, intrigue, suspense, attempted escape, compromises, dissatisfaction, warnings, defiance, emotional turmoil, intimidation, devious plans, manipulations, love, contentment, mild sensual scenes & a satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed reading this Sci-Fi romance & look forward to future books from this author.
November 17, 2020
The most common flavours of science fiction are the ones where a woman signs up for a interplanetary match making service (often because she's in pretty dire circumstances) or is just plain abducted and hooks up with between one and four surprisingly humanoid aliens. Because apparently Mars Needs Women. Match Found is a bit of a blend as the men of the alluringly named world of Mudden, who are mysteriously incapable of fathering girls have taken to abducting women but have an improbably effective match making program that can determine exactly what man is the most ideal marital partner for each woman.
And yet...
The author who is clearly into the "abducted by a hot alien" genre looked at the concept she came up with and realized two things. The first is that she needed a source of conflict. The second is that even allowing for the near perfect matchmaking program, people who went about things this way would have to be assholes. The women would have to be disenfranchised and denied rights. They would have to pretend that their near-perfect program is actually perfect and discount the matches that go wrong.
Thus we get deconstructive science fiction romance where the match made soul mates end up teaming up to fight against the very system that brought them together. It's cute.
And yet...
The author who is clearly into the "abducted by a hot alien" genre looked at the concept she came up with and realized two things. The first is that she needed a source of conflict. The second is that even allowing for the near perfect matchmaking program, people who went about things this way would have to be assholes. The women would have to be disenfranchised and denied rights. They would have to pretend that their near-perfect program is actually perfect and discount the matches that go wrong.
Thus we get deconstructive science fiction romance where the match made soul mates end up teaming up to fight against the very system that brought them together. It's cute.
November 29, 2020
Kidnapped
A very thought provoking plot! How could men find a mate on a planet without women! The only way to get their future wife is kidnapping her, which is a cruelty even if they were matched perfectly! You feel the emotions, the hope of the men, the terror of the women! The desperation, the betrayal, the anguish these people suffer just to survive! It shows both sides of the problem.
The need to change, but how? It also shows the cruelty of men who want power and the evil they are willing to do to get it!
A very thought provoking plot! How could men find a mate on a planet without women! The only way to get their future wife is kidnapping her, which is a cruelty even if they were matched perfectly! You feel the emotions, the hope of the men, the terror of the women! The desperation, the betrayal, the anguish these people suffer just to survive! It shows both sides of the problem.
The need to change, but how? It also shows the cruelty of men who want power and the evil they are willing to do to get it!
July 16, 2021
Such a tired old trope of Stockholm syndrome dressed up as “I had no choice” sex, rather sick. Adding to the reprehensible theme was a colorless and featureless planet and society, so much effort at world building an unredeemable universe. The interactions and motivations were shallow and repetitive. I purchased the series by mistake thinking I was using the Kindle Unlimited. I would hope the profit from the sales would allow the author to explore some writing workshops to develop her interest in writing and perhaps create something worthy of her passion.
June 8, 2020
Round two of the Mudden Men is even better than the first one. It is a completely different set of people. This time, she is a lawyer with a drive for women's rights. It is well written and wonderfully complete. I loved it!
There are adult situations, though all tastefully written.
I received a free copy from the author in return for an honest review.
There are adult situations, though all tastefully written.
I received a free copy from the author in return for an honest review.
June 22, 2020
Ladies beware of men from Mudden!
I thoroughly enjoyed this interstellar romance. She lives for her job just as he does his. When her boss all of a sudden says she has to take a mandatory vacation. Her life changes, for the good or bad? This is a wonderful book with a twist. I can’t wait for next tale like this one one.
I thoroughly enjoyed this interstellar romance. She lives for her job just as he does his. When her boss all of a sudden says she has to take a mandatory vacation. Her life changes, for the good or bad? This is a wonderful book with a twist. I can’t wait for next tale like this one one.
November 15, 2020
Match Found
Holy shiznet!!! This story is gr8. It's not your typical alien abduction or the falling in love either. I cried at one point It was so sad. It really is a gr8 read. I recommend this read. 5 Thumbs up
Holy shiznet!!! This story is gr8. It's not your typical alien abduction or the falling in love either. I cried at one point It was so sad. It really is a gr8 read. I recommend this read. 5 Thumbs up
August 8, 2020
Found
She's his but she fights everytime he gets close. She wants to go him back to her own planet but rules state she can never leave.
She's his but she fights everytime he gets close. She wants to go him back to her own planet but rules state she can never leave.
August 23, 2020
Medieval planet
What can you do? No power, no support and no freedom. Good story, a bit dark, but good will triumph over evil, thank goodness.
What can you do? No power, no support and no freedom. Good story, a bit dark, but good will triumph over evil, thank goodness.
November 28, 2020
Mudden
The book is about a planet that has set the fight for equality back into the dark ages . The romance between the couple is tame
The book is about a planet that has set the fight for equality back into the dark ages . The romance between the couple is tame
December 28, 2020
one and done for me, I kept waiting for this to get better but the plot pissed me off.
June 8, 2020
Wow! Reading this, your emotions will run high. It’s so well written you can feel the fear, the pain and the frustration of all involved. What was once started to save a planet has been changed by greed and the need to control all others. It just took one person to convince the others that they could be stronger together than alone.
June 29, 2022
Kidnapping
The Mudden men only produce males.The solution for this planet where no one leaves is to use an algorithm for women on other planets to match men.Then they bring her home.
The Mudden men only produce males.The solution for this planet where no one leaves is to use an algorithm for women on other planets to match men.Then they bring her home.
July 29, 2021
Strong-willed Kay Williams of Minas wakes to find herself, along with two others, abducted and taken to Mudden to join the Glaerus Clan. Kay recently finished law school, where she studied women's rights law and is outraged at becoming a victim at the hands of none other than Dr. Wells.
Once Kay arrives in Mudden and a slap to Dr. Wells's face (a right hook would have been better) with fellow abductees Sarah and Jane, Kay looks for help in the crowd and spots a man who seems to hold the same disgust she does for what is happening. Little does Kay know that the man is her betrothed. Later after the ride to Glaerus Village, the trio are paired up and a string placed around their wrists ("With this string, you are bonded together forever." YIKES!) to marry them in a public ceremony. Kay to Griff, Sarah to Iwan, and Jane to Cadwell in short order.
Kay doesn't go down quickly or quietly, but when she realizes Griff's life is in danger, the lawyer in her and her heart come to his rescue.
Once Kay arrives in Mudden and a slap to Dr. Wells's face (a right hook would have been better) with fellow abductees Sarah and Jane, Kay looks for help in the crowd and spots a man who seems to hold the same disgust she does for what is happening. Little does Kay know that the man is her betrothed. Later after the ride to Glaerus Village, the trio are paired up and a string placed around their wrists ("With this string, you are bonded together forever." YIKES!) to marry them in a public ceremony. Kay to Griff, Sarah to Iwan, and Jane to Cadwell in short order.
Kay doesn't go down quickly or quietly, but when she realizes Griff's life is in danger, the lawyer in her and her heart come to his rescue.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews