I received this book for free from the author as a free story in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the author as a free story
"Baubles & Ben"
by
Nalini Singh
It is part of the Psy-Changeling #15.2 series and is a paranormal romance in a PDF edition that was published by the author on November 27, 2017 and has 7 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Must Love Hellhounds, Kiss of Snow, An Enchanted Season, Archangel's Blade, Angels of Darkness, Lord of the Abyss, Desert Warrior, Angels' Flight, Tangle of Need, Play of Passion, Archangel's Storm, Wild Invitation, Heart of Obsidian, Archangel's Legion, "Hide and Seek", "Making Dinner", Shield of Winter, "A Conversation", "Home", Angels' Pawn, "New Year's Kisses", Night Shift, "Weapons Training", "Zoë's Workshop", "Wild Night", Archangel's Shadows, Archangel’s Enigma, Shards of Hope, “Fairy Balloons”, “An Unexpected Guest”, Allegiance of Honor, "The Song of the Wolf", Silver Silence, Archangel’s Heart, Archangel’s Viper, Ocean Light, "Elena's School of Horror", Cherish Hard, "Ain’t No Party Like A Bear Party", Archangel's Prophecy, "One Night At The Refuge", "Secret Things", Rebel Hard, Rock Hard, Wolf Rain, "Clean and Dirty", "Wolf School", "Naya’s Most Important Visitors", "Grocery Shopping", "The Cannibal Princess", "A Gift for Kit", "Movie Night", "Kaleb and Sahara’s Meeting with Sascha and Lucas", "Housewarming at the Orchard", "Christmas in the Kitchen", "Stalking Hawke", "Romancing Drew", "Sunday Morning", "Rowan", Wild Embrace, Love Hard, Rock Addiction, "Music Awards", Rock Courtship, "Rock Courtship Memo"s, Rock Redemption, "Sunshine", Rock Wedding, "With This Memo", "That Lip Ring…", A Madness of Sunshine, "Beary Tiny Ghosts", Alpha Night, "A Wedding Breakfast", "Poker Night", "Knives and Sheaths", "Seedlings", "Star Kissed", "A Walk on the Cliffs", "Wild Cat Blues", Slave to Sensation, Caressed by Ice, Visions of Heat, Kiss Hard, Angels' Blood, Archangel's Kiss, Archangel's War, Archangel's Sun, Archangel's Light, Archangel's Resurrection, Last Guard, “A Perfect Moment”, "Music in the Rain", Storm Echo, Resonance Surge, "Mate", “New Year’s Eve”, Archangel's Lineage, Visions of Heat, Mine to Possess, Hostage to Pleasure, Branded by Fire, Blaze of Memory
A free short story, 15.2 in the Psy-Changeling paranormal romance series, revolving around three primary groups: the two strong Changeling packs in North America — the DarkRiver Leopards who control the San Francisco area and the SnowDancer Wolves who control the rest of California; the icy, emotionless Psy who see themselves as superior to everyone; and, the humans who are tired of being pushed around. The focus is on young Marlee Lauren.
If you’re interested, there is a chronological listing of the Psy-Changeling books on my website.
My Take
While “Baubles & Ben” doesn’t have the same emotional depth as most of Singh’s short stories, it still tugs at my heartstrings.
In spite of the title, the focus is actually on Marlee, one of the Psy who managed to escape the PsyNet with that amazing young Ben as the “inciting incident” that allows Singh to concentrate on emotion, the feelings the Psy are not allowed.
It’s a beautiful peek in at family and love. The love and support of the wolf pack for their children. Of Marlee’s appreciation for emotion through Singh’s use of third person protagonist point-of-view. Of Ben’s love for his mom.
The Story
A precious gift. Broken.
The Characters
Marlee Lauren is a young girl and part of a renegade group of Psy who escaped the PsyNet. Lara, a wolf changeling, is Marlee’s stepmom, mated to Walker Lauren, Marlee’s father and Judd’s brother. Judd Lauren had been an Arrow, a Tk-Cell +9 and Tp +9, and is now a lieutenant with SnowDancer (he was mated to Brenna Kincaid, part of the den’s tech team, Caressed by Ice, 3).
Ben is a young, sunny wolf pup. Ava is his mom — at last we find out his mom’s name! Elodie is Ben’s younger sister.
SnowDancer is…
…a pack of wolf changelings, and Hawke Snow is their alpha mated to Sienna Walker, a deadly cardinal X and Walker’s daughter (Kiss of Snow, 10).
A lieutenant, Indigo Riviere is Marlee’s aunt because she’s mated to Drew Kincaid (Play of Passion, 9) whose sister Brenna is mated to Judd Lauren.
The Psy are humans who evolved into psychically gifted people who see themselves as superior to everyone. The PsyNet is a psychic network that is both an “encyclopedia” of all Psy knowledge and links them, keeping them sane.
The Title
The title is what brings out Marlee’s introspection, for “Baubles & Ben” is all about Ben’s love for his mother.
