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Vandalar Concubines #5

Press Pound for Refund

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I crash-landed with a strange alien on an even stranger planet.

Our escape pod is busted, the food sucks, and the weather in this place is even worse. The kicker? The alien I crashed with says he knows two million ways to please a woman—but not how to make fire, hunt us food, or get us off this planet. Looks like I'm going to die out here. Preferably post-coital...

Press Pound for Refund is a novella set in the Vandalar Concubines universe, previously published in the Claimed Among the Stars Anthology.

93 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2022

75 people are currently reading
195 people want to read

About the author

V.K. Ludwig

32 books729 followers

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5 stars
256 (38%)
4 stars
234 (34%)
3 stars
142 (21%)
2 stars
31 (4%)
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7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for Poppy || Monster Lover.
1,826 reviews516 followers
April 25, 2023
OMG so adorable and sexy

This book was so funny and witty, with plenty of spice mixed in. I loved that both characters were older and that the FMC was child-free. It’s a valid way to live and child-free women need their child free loves (unless they’re aromantic of course). But seriously - the dirty talk was on point. And if you like praise - this book is for you!

Spice: 4.5/5

Triggers: mild survival scenario
Profile Image for Heather_Readsalot.
739 reviews
November 6, 2022
4.5 stars

“It’s a truth universally acknowledged, that every woman in possession of common sense, is in want of a saikh…”

Soooo true! I loved Jero. He was so sweet, so romantic, and so relatable with his internal crises and insecurities.

I loved Dani's take charge attitude and confidence in her abilities, as well as secret dream and insecurities.

I also really loved that when his biological clock started ticking it wasn't for making mini-Jeros, it was taking a hard look at his life and realizing he had trained countless males and helped them fulfill his own dream of finding a life partner and may have missed the chance for himself.

And the way he phrases his ideal partner: “Someone who takes care of me the way I take care of her. Someone who travels with me, explores life with me and everything it has to offer. I want to try all the food with her. Fall to sleep in a million different places, but one thing always has to be the same… That I wake up with her in my arms.”

Dani's response was "Swoon," and all I can say is: Saaaame, girl, same!
Profile Image for Bailey.
413 reviews37 followers
July 26, 2024
I mean, not my favorite in this series by far, but still a fun little romp in the universe.
Slightly more mature characters than the rest of the series (I think like mid 30s-40s?) which was refreshing!

I loved that each of these stories have completely different settings. It keeps what could have been a monotonous storyline exciting and new with each new couple. This one in particular was a crash landing on a seemingly uninhabited planet, so the H and h had to work together to survive.

Anyways, it was pretty short and definitely insta-love but I enjoyed it nonetheless! I’m hoping this isn’t the end to the series though— would love to read more about the saikhs finding partners on Earth!
Profile Image for Brittany (Brit.tea.reads).
1,475 reviews436 followers
June 18, 2023
Dani is my kind of girl. She crash-lands on a strange planet with Jero, a hot, grumpy, pierced alien. They need to find shelter to protect them from the elements and a source of water.

𝐼'𝓂 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒶 𝓅𝑒𝓇𝓋𝑒, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓃𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓁𝓎 𝒶 𝓎𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟, 𝐼'𝓂 𝒶 𝒸𝑒𝓇𝓉𝒾𝒻𝒾𝑒𝒹 𝒸𝓇𝑜𝓉𝒸𝒽-𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓇.

Jero tells her he knows 2 million ways to please a woman, and since these two have nothing better to do, she tells him, "Let’s test that theory out." She sees how confused he is, so she tells him that they should just f—k.

𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝑜𝓊𝓉𝒽 𝑜𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝓂𝑒 𝒶𝒹𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓃𝑜𝓌.

Dani doesn’t realize that Jero is about to rock her world and show her just how much he knows about pleasing a woman, but Jero doesn’t know that Dani also knows how to please a man. 😉

When she swallowed his 💦 and he asked her, where did it go? LOL, oh man, this book had me cackling so hard.

They are interrupted by a rescue team, and Jero wants to continue whatever this is that is blossoming between them, but Dani is hesitant and pushes him away. Will these two be able to work things out?

𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉'𝓈 𝒾𝓉, 𝒷𝒶𝒷𝓎, 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝑜𝒻𝒻 𝑜𝓃 𝓂𝑒. 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓅𝒶𝓃𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝓈𝑜 𝒹𝓇𝑒𝓃𝒸𝒽𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓉'𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝑜𝒶𝓀 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝓎 𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓁. 𝒞𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝑜𝓃, 𝒹𝑜𝓃'𝓉 𝒷𝑒 𝓈𝒽𝓎 𝓃𝑜𝓌.

Press Pound for Refund is a hot quick, steamy, and fun read, so if you love alien romance, I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for KM’s Bookshelf.
209 reviews7 followers
January 17, 2023
I read this novella as part of the Claimed Among the Stars alien anthology.

A FMC who is scared of commitment and an alien MMC who wants to settle down wind up stranded on an uninhabited planet together. What could possibly go wrong as these two fight to survive... while also trying to fight their growing attraction to one another?

If this sounds like a classic romantic comedy set-up to you, then you've hit the nail on the head. This short and sweet novella definitely falls into the category of sci-fi-rom-com. It is delightful and funny with a HEA that actually had me tearing up.

I also appreciate how the FMC, Dani, was the one with the survival skills out of the pair! Usually, with this kind of "stranded in the middle of nowhere" prompt, the MMC is written as some kind of super-warrior Bear Grylls-wannabe who can kill a rhino wth his bare hands or some shit. But not in Press Pound for Refund. Poor, sweet Jero's areas of expertise are rather useless for surviving in the wilderness... Unless you count the skills he can offer for passing the time... while waiting out a storm... in a tent? *Winks*

Tropes: stuck together, sharing a tent, later-life love, dirty talk.
Profile Image for Ciru.
1,724 reviews
June 9, 2024
Short. Funny. Light hearted. Hot. Then most importantly Child Free happily ever after.

I loved Jero+Dani. I was laughing through his more than a quarter life crisis. I loved that it showed Dani with her neice+nephew.

I'll be continuing with the series in reverse.
Profile Image for TaylorReads.
205 reviews12 followers
May 21, 2023
Yet another banger from VK Ludwig. I’m not surprised. It’s super steamy, cute, and cozy. Love.
Profile Image for Natasha Books.
1,580 reviews95 followers
July 25, 2025
Me gustó mucho, extraño leer libros ligeros y cómicos.
Profile Image for Dru.
607 reviews41 followers
February 16, 2024
This was a short cute alien book that didn't revolve around 20 year olds, but actual grown adults. Even the alien is considered a DILF. Just a refreshing read (not that the normal 20 something in alien books is bad, but I also like seeing FMC's in their 30's as well).

I will say I really appreciate when an FMC is not into creating kids, and the story ends in a HEA where it does not involve kids by the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for girlwithhearteyes.
1,712 reviews227 followers
November 3, 2022
4.75 stars. Nawwww this is ridiculously sweet for a book with a ton of steamy scenes. Jero is just a total romantic who happens to know 2 million ways to please a woman... while cooking. What a dream.

“Then I’d hypothetically take you on a date in a week from now, assuming we make it to Earth.” His voice lowers to a whisper, so charged with tension, it zaps the air between us. “But at my place. First, I’d cook you something delicious. Then, we’d clean the kitchen together. And while you wiped down the counters, I’d drop to my knees and lick your sweet little pussy out like a treat.”

My thighs clench together on instinct. “That went from romantic to filthy real fast.”
Profile Image for Audriza Banerjee.
625 reviews10 followers
November 6, 2022
Reasons why you SHOULD read this

t’s a truth universally acknowledged, that every woman in possession of common sense, is in want of a saikh…” I read from the brochure the matchmaking agency sent me, along with my immigration paperwork, all while my tail twitches nervously behind me. “… an alien concubine trained in one million ways to please his female.” Except for me. I know two million. “I’m a master saikh,”

Board-approved, with honors for my body condition, culinary skills, and advanced bodyworks credentials

I spent nearly two decades at that place, studying and helping young saikhs find a female of their own—nearly forgetting to find one for myself. What can I say? Buried in studies, time kinda slipped away

DILF. That’s the category they put me in based on my profile. Not sure what it stands for. Probably reserved for only the best saikhs, with a stellar grade average and an impressive skill-set.

Braided like this, I can’t even see that white hair— Veking shit, there’s a new one. Right above my temple. No, worse. Right beside this fine wrinkle at the corner of my eye. “Relax. She won’t even notice.

I’m a certified crotch-starer.

Master saikh. Extra squirt points.

Now you know two-million-and-one ways to please a female. You’re welcome

Everyone knows DILFs are the best.” “Oh yeah, how’s that?” “Because we know that, if we send you to get us tampons, you come home with the right size and chocolate. If you hear us squeal, you show up with a shoe and ask what needs killing. And you don’t mind holing up on Friday nights with microwave popcorn and a movie, because you started hating people long ago, anyway.”

“Catching feelings is like catching a cold, you know… Doesn’t matter where you run, it’ll get you

I insist on that tail-fuck
Profile Image for Nevena.
928 reviews27 followers
January 18, 2023
🖤 “You have no idea the things I can be, the things I can do… to my female.”
~~~
Jero is a saikh. But not just any saikh, he’s the Master saikh - a trainer in the Vandar school who’s spent years helping young sikhs find a female. Now, all he wants is to settle down with a mate of his own. Jero is so sweet, romantic and kind. And he’s dealing with some very relatable insecurities. He’s a wonderful male and I absolutely loved him!

Dani is a reporter for Doctors Beyond Galaxies. She’s confident, feisty, direct and strong. And, being burned before, she’s scared of commitment. But I loved that she knows what she wants and is not afraid to ask for it. Dani is so awesome and I loved her so much!

I loved everything that happened between Jero and Dani. They met in less than perfect circumstances crash landing on an unknown planet. But from the moment they met, their attraction was so strong. And their chemistry was fantastic and I had so much fun with their banters and teasing. Even more, I loved that their roles were reversed and Dani was the one who knew how to survive in the wild. But Jero, on the other hand, knows two million ways to please a woman. And he cooks. And he has some very, very interesting piercings. And he talks dirty. YUM! Those two were so perfect for each other and the passionate moments they shared were off-the-charts hot. Those Vandalar males definitely know how to please a lady!

Overall, the story is a short, fun, sweet and smoking-hot read and another fantastic addition to the series!

I loved it!
Profile Image for Kelly.
5,712 reviews228 followers
July 29, 2025
Oh, yeah. A quick and sex-ay story about a master saikh who's realized he's spent the last twenty years teaching his students how to excel in the art of pleasuring a female and hasn't taken the time to attempt to attract one of his own. Fortunately, Earth women are MORE than willing to let him try to hand at adoring them. So Jero is heading to Earth to get himself a lady.

Things do not go as planned however. A shipboard fire has him squeezing into an escape pod with Dani and a series of unfortunate occurrences has them crash landing on an unknown planet. Dani knows a little about survival and she's more then willing to let Jero practice his lady-loving skills on her (for research. Probably.), but Jero is...not unwilling, but he wants more than a quick hook up. He wants the real deal with Dani. Even though he has a potential partner waiting to meet him back on Earth. And Dani isn't interested in long term.

Let's just say that these two have a few speedbumps they need to navigate over. Plus, you know, the whole getting off this unknown planet thing. Oh, and hopefully they won't get washed away in a freak rainstorm. You know, for a short story, there was a lot going on. *thumbs up*

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
727 reviews7 followers
February 6, 2024
This one was short and sweet with just a hint of vanilla spice. Dirty talk is the main draw here, and although the MMC has piercings, I am not convinced that constitutes a whole kink. No acrobatics, at any rate.

The plot isn’t too deep. The MCs accidentally end up stranded on an alien planet together. FMC has insecurities about being childfree, and MMC has insecurities about aging. They talk about it a bit, but the book’s timeframe is really too short for them to get into deeper conversations about that type of stuff. They are rescued far too soon in my opinion; I could’ve read about weeks of surviving, trying out all of the MMC’s “training,” and just the two of them being adorable together. The MMC likes head skritches! Super cute.
Profile Image for Courtney.
902 reviews44 followers
March 23, 2024
This was a cute addition to the series. Quite different from the others, and more of a quickie than a full story.

Jeros is a master saikh who is traveling to Earth in hopes of finding a woman of his own. He's spent his life training other saikh, but now that he's sporting his first grey hair, he's worried it might be too late for him.

On his ride over, the spaceship runs into problems, and when he gets to his escape pod, he finds Dani there and they end up traveling together and crash landing on another planet. Dani is all for giving Jeros a little test drive, but he wants a relationship and she's afraid to be in one....

This was a fun read. I got a little annoyed with Jeros at the end, but they do get their HEA. Not my favorite of the series, but I enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Bianca.
424 reviews
April 16, 2023
4.5 stars 🌟

This was really short and sweet!!! I love how they were literally in the middle of nowhere and Jero had nothing to contribute 😂 Well he was able to help eventually but the whole interaction was hilarious. Dani was hoping he was some sort of soldier but he’s an alien concubine so we know how it goes 😂

Also love how the characters are a bit older!!! They’re both in their mid to late thirties.

Dani doesn’t want children and Jero was more than okay with that. Hard to come by alien romance books with the dying population trope without any children or impregnating involved lol but here you go!!

Last note: JACOB’S LADDER!!
Profile Image for DemetraP.
5,902 reviews
February 22, 2023
I preferred the earlier Vandalar books. In those books, the heroes are very eager to please the woman. In this book, heroine throws herself at him (repeatedly and hero says he is looking for a wife) she says she doesn't want kids. He says he just wants a woman, if she wants kids ok, if she doesn't want kids, also ok.

He has never had a woman who wanted to be his. He is a master saikh and keeps talking about how he found gray hairs and a wrinkle. She talks about how she's over 30 and has a sagging ass so men don't want her. They were both way too negative for me.
Profile Image for Shyan Parker.
91 reviews5 followers
August 14, 2025
Half a star.
This is a short story, around 90 pages, so I wasn’t exactly expecting alot from this one.
Yet even with low expectations, I was still disappointed.
There’s no plot.
They know each other for less than 24 hours before they bang each other and it’s supposed to be believable that they fall for eachother in 2 days.

This tried and failed at the whole ‘stranded together’ trope.
Also want to point out that ‘DILF’ is a label given to a DAD. You know, a man with offspring?
MMC is NOT a dad and thus, the DILF shmick used in this story is inaccurate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,394 reviews7 followers
November 30, 2022
The two main characters meet under the most stressful situation. Neither are impressed with the other. But the tension surrounding them soon turns to increasing interest. She’s not afraid to ask for what she does and doesn’t want. And while she wants a fling, she’s definitely not interested in commitment.
Profile Image for Emily Lindsey.
Author 4 books21 followers
January 30, 2023
A fun, flirty adventure love story

I loved it all! The characters were adorably mismatched, the crash survival sexual tension was hot, and her commitment phobia was a cute twist on something that is usually a guy thing! I enjoyed the whole thing, it was fun to read, cover to cover!
Profile Image for Carmen.
2,078 reviews11 followers
February 28, 2023
Wishy Washy

I thought this was a funny and fun book to read. Stranded on a planet with an alien that’s a master at all things sexy but Dani is a commitment phob and almost runs away from true happiness. I’m glad Jero knew just how to handle her. Great world building, characters and sexy times.
Profile Image for Sara.
299 reviews147 followers
April 7, 2023
😈 I liked that the FMC was unabashedly horny for the MMC

😈 Is this what you call a soft brunch daddy? With some praise kink for the FMC? Not super my kinks but it was still hot and sweet. I like that the men in this series a very focused on pleasing. While it's not directly a service sub, i can still sorta get into it.
20 reviews
November 23, 2025
I loved it!

I can be tough to win over sometimes, but I loved everything about this book! Jero had me swooning the whole time and while they both had their insecurities, they were written in a way that felt real and not annoying. They didn't feel like characters, they felt like real people. Plus the spice, absolute chefs kiss. Give this book a try, trust me!
Profile Image for Lady Grimm.
210 reviews3 followers
January 19, 2026
This one was a really fun, quick read

I'd just like to reiterate that I read all 5 books of this series in 2.5 days, and I regret nothing, except that there are no more books in the series 😂 loved them all, and they all very much had their own plots. A lot of series like these tend to have like a formula, but this one really didnt. GOLD.
Author 18 books9 followers
November 6, 2022
This had me cracking up! Love this couple and their growing relationship. The story pacing was steady and well written, for anyone concerned about a love story happening in 95 pages. I hope Ludwig writes more from this world!
Profile Image for Shannon Cameron.
855 reviews6 followers
January 1, 2023
I just love this series so much! It’s so damn hot. I mean, who wouldn’t want to have a sexy guy trained to please you. Damn!
This one was great as it featured an older guy who wasn’t just some fresh faced newbie.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews

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