Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Gypsum Vereen , second of the Amarillo coven of vampires, is tasked to transporting a group of Angus cattle shifters to their new lodgings., They are headed toward a diverse pack filled with displaced and abused shifters who are trying to assimilate to a world without abusive alphas and pack members. When they arrive on pack land, Gypsum is invited to lunch
Lucius and his half brothers have been staying at the pack for rehabilitating shifters since their rescue from their former alpha. Kept as sexual slaves in cages, they are just now getting around to a normal life. However, the damage done psychologically is still being healed. After coming home from a pack run, Lucius goes through the dining room to get to the staircase leading to his room. He notices the tall blond stranger who smells incredibly good to him. When this man, who turns out to be Gypsum the vampire, informs Lucius that he is Gypsum’s beloved, Lucius goes into a panic as claiming a mate involves sex, which he has sworn off.
Gypsum must go about wooing his beloved. First Gypsum must convince Lucius that the sex between them will be nothing like the past sexual abuse he suffered from his previous pack. He must also explain to Lucius that a vampire needs his beloved to survive. The next obstacle would be convincing Lucius that the vampire master (the vampire’s alpha equivalent) is nothing like his former alpha. And knowing how close the brothers are, he has to show Lucius that the brothers will come with them back to his coven. Just as things begin to go Gypsum’s way, the former leaders of the Angus cattle pack escape and head toward the rescue shifter pack. Will they interfere with this new mating?
I enjoyed this seventh book in the Loving Nip series. Lucius and his brothers have been beaten down for most of their lives. The three have relied on each other in order to survive their ordeal. I could understand Lucius’ reluctance to mate given all that he has been through. I was glad to see that Gypsum took his time (at least in shifter mating terms) to convince Lucius that mates are nothing like what was done to him. Seeing Lucius protect his packs brought home the fact that this man is a survivor.
The cover art by Carmen Waters depicts the blond Gypsum standing in front of a bonfire. It is a serviceable cover for the story.
Sales Links: eXtasy Books | Amazon | 
Book Details
ebook, 85 pages
Published November 1st 2015 by Extasy Books
ISBN139781487405502
edition languageEnglish
Series: A Loving Nip
A Nip of Good Cheer (A Loving Nip #1)
A Rose for Paul’s Protector (A Loving Nip #2)
An Unforgettable Bite (A Loving Nip #3)
More than Patient (A Loving Nip #4)
Sharing a Demon’s Blood (A Loving Nip #5)
Not a Line of Bull (A Loving Nip #6)
Curling Up with His Critter (A Loving Nip #7)
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 