At 116, Casimir Moreau is the second-youngest vampire in existence, and he’s continually making mistakes the vampire council is tired of cleaning up. In an effort to “civilize” Cas to vampire ways, he has been…required to wed an incubus of good breeding, Quentin Bertrand-Harrington. This match has been wrought through the complicated spellwork of witches at the Supernatural Selection Agency, and guaranteed to be a perfect match. Not that Cas wants this–at all. He’s not eager to be married to a man he’s never met and has no faith he’d be a good partner. It was the Council that filled out all the paperwork, and Cas is barely able to contain his frustration when he learns his “fated mate” Quentin has been inexplicably married to a bear shifter.

Rusty Johnson is a big broad inactive beaver shifter who owns a successful construction business. He’s heartbroken that his longtime friend, and boyfriend, recently broke everything off to announce an engagement to a female beaver shifter. So, Rusty has signed up with Supernatural Selection to find a true mate who could also serve as a date for his ex’s wedding. He was matched with Ted Farnsworth, an affable bear shifter, but he’s dang mad to learn Ted was somehow married to a bougie incubus.

While Cas and Rusty wait for their intended’s marriage to be annulled, they agree to a temporary marriage to one another. Cas is pleased to learn that Rusty’s inactive shifter blood isn’t toxic to him–which also makes his odor palatable, too. Rusty likes Cas’s forthrightness, and won’t stand-by when he learns that Cas NOT being immediately wed is tantamount to a death sentence.

Through the shenanigans they endure for one another, Rusty and Cas develop a rapport. Instead of Rusty’s shifter blood killing him, Cas is energized in unimaginable ways. Instead of Rusty feeling down about the loss of his first love, he’s intrigued by his handsome vamp husband. There are a couple of subplots involved with power structures straining within the vampire community–and some romps through time with a naked Druid. Cas is definitely in immortal danger, and Rusty comes to his rescue more than once.

This is a charming odd-couple romance, with all sorts of zany characters, and fun adventures. I liked how these guys fit each other so perfectly, both helping the other through the hard parts of their lives. While they originally thought it was imperative to weather a temporary marriage, they soon fall for one another. Should they still honor the original match? Or, did the magic make a last-second switch for all the right reasons? Their choices sway the situation in favor of true love, and it works out to a very happy ending. As this book is connected to the larger Fae Out of Water series, there are some fun callbacks to THE DRUID NEXT-DOOR, with Dr. Bryce MacLeod making some daring appearances.

I read Vampire with Benefits right after Single White Incubus as I was approved for both of them on NetGalley and while I reviewed the Single White Incubus, I never got around to reviewing this book. Normally I love the fake boyfriend trope and vampire-shifter relationships as well, it's just that I wasn't totally a fan of the story overall and I didn't like the ending. When I compare this with Single White Incubus Vampire with Benefits definitely fell through, the first book was more my style, maybe because vamp-shifter stories are plenty out there but not many incubus stories.
I still liked it enough to finish it though, there were quite some humourous scenes and I liked Rusty and Cas.

Rating: 3 stars

This was even better than the first in the series. I loved Cas and Rusty together. Cas was a rebel and a bit of a risk-taker, so he helped pull Rusty out of his comfort zone. Rusty was loyal and caring and gave Cas a bit more stability and a better sense of right and wrong. All around, they were sweet together, having a great balance between being their own men and changing their ways just enough to make the other in their partnership secure. About the only thing I had a niggle with was Cas "forgetting" their time together due to the time jump. I could see other points where they could have changed things to bring about the happy ending, rather than having their entire relationship be erased (to be "rebuilt" after the end of the book) except for in Rusty's head.

On the whole, this series is light, fun, and satisfying. Should you need something to cheer you up while revving you up, this fits the bill admirably! On to Demon on the Down-Low (Supernatural Selection, #3) by E.J. Russell!

Vampire With Benefits is a book about outcasts. Neither Cas nor Rusty fit in with the other of their kind. Cas is a vampire bored of his immortality, Rusty is an inactive shifter. They don’t meet in the best of circumstances, but they make the best of it for their situations.
I love the fake relationship, forced proximity type of relationship. While they don’t have to be together, it is best for the both of them if they do. Pretending to care for one another and then having that to leading to read feelings is fun.
This book is fun, it’s flirty, and it’s well written. I enjoyed reading how these two different characters came together and not only made what was best for them as individuals, but learned how to be there for each other. They learned each other, they grew as people together and apart and that is always a good things. When characters learn about themselves and choose to make a difference in themselves.
I was entertained by Cas and Rusty. Some of the things they said or did were fun to read about. EJ Russell is writing a great series about mismatched characters who just might be perfect for each other.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it to everyone.

4.5 - 5 stars. I fell in love with Cas & Rusty ;)

I knew that I was going to love Supernatural Selection not long after I started Single White Incubus. No surprise since I may have mentioned once or twice that EJ Russell’s quirky characters are some of my favorites. I fell in love with the series just a little bit more after spending time with Cas and Rusty. (Don’t tell Ted & Quentin but I think I liked Cas & Rusty even more…)

Most of this book runs parallel to the the events in Single White Incubus, which was fun because readers kind of knew what was coming for Cas and Rusty while they didn’t have a clue. They also had more in common than they realized. Both of their “governing bodies” wanted to control them in an attempt to do what was best for them and their species as a whole.

The Supernatural Selection agency got Cas and Rusty caught up in the same snafu that brought Ted and Quentin together. I was kind of disappointed that we didn’t get to see as much of Zeke in Vampire with Benefits, but I loved the appearance of Bryce and Mal from The Druid Next Door as well as the roll they played. The connection between this series and Fae Out of Water makes Supernatural Selection even more fun. 😉

Demon Down-Low is next in the Supernatural Selection series and since this is Zeke’s book, things are sure to get more than a little interesting.

I received Vampire with Benefits in exchange for a fair and honest review.

4.5 Stars

Following directly on the heels of the first novel in E.J. Russell’s Supernatural Selection series, Vampire With Benefits, tells the story of the two jilted fiancés who were left at the proverbial altar by their so called perfect mates and then fell in love with each other rather than those selected for them. If you have not read the previous story, Single White Incubus, I encourage you to do so not only for context when it comes to the characters in this latest release but also for the sheer enjoyment of meeting the creatures that author E.J. Russell cleverly creates.

This novel drops us into the ongoing saga at Supernatural Selection HQ, with Rusty Johnson waiting to meet his perfect mate, having been thrown aside by his smarmy boyfriend who has put pack business and marriage to a suitable female member above his supposed love for Rusty. The guy is a real piece of work and while Rusty knows he is well rid of him, he is still hurt and even more painfully aware of how he is viewed as a blight on the beaver community due to his inability to shift, making him an inactive. Aside from being his ex-boyfriend’s dirty little secret, Rusty is actually quite a successful businessman and well loved by his human construction crew. Rusty is kindhearted, considerate, and really everything a mate could want. If only he could find someone who chose to be with him despite his inactive status.

Casimir Moreau never made the shift to talkies but was a fairly successful silent screen actor. With a penchant for the dramatic and a decidedly bad habit of pushing against authority, Cas has found himself ordered to get a mate or else face real punishment that could result in death. If that weren’t enough, a former prank gone awry has left him in the position of being blackmailed by his arch enemy and fellow prankster. His latest faux pas has left a Grindr hookup in a hospital bed recovering from an unwanted turn to vampire status, and Cas being blamed for doing it—a move that is illegal and most definitely frowned upon, with dire consequences. But Cas is innocent and strongly suspects it was his nemesis who did the job, setting it up to be seen as Cas who committed the crime.

When Rusty and Cas meet at the selection agency, it is to find that their contracted spouses are tied up in a legal snafu and their prospective weddings will be on hold for a few weeks. Cas has to produce a spouse within twenty-four hours or take a walk into the sun, so he suggests a temporary marriage to Rusty with an end date two weeks hence, and Rusty agrees. What neither of them foresaw was an increasingly dangerous attraction—particularly so for Cas, as any mingling of bodily fluids with a shifter, active or inactive, should be deadly to him. Despite their resolve to remain platonic, lust takes the forefront, and the condom breaks and the result is far from deadly. In fact, it is nearly miraculous.

I will tell you right now that I am thoroughly enjoying this series by E.J. Russell. Refreshingly original, this author takes the paranormal genre out of the angsty, alpha-laden realm it normally gravitates toward, into a humorous and romantically satisfying arena. Her characters are not your normal wolves and vamps but rather, the most incongruent of couplings, this time a beaver and a vampire who wishes he had never been turned. Although among the youngest of vamps, Cas has a sense of ennui that makes him rather careless when it comes to self-preservation. He hates most other vampires and just wants to live his life on his own terms. When he meets the wounded and fragile Rusty, the sarcastic and flippant Cas begins to change. For the first time, he finds himself drawn to someone who he cannot or dares not have. Rusty, who is trying to put the pieces of his life back together after having his own heart trampled, knows he should be the more responsible one. But Cas is just so alluring.

The two weeks these men have together are just packed with craziness and a bit of danger. Drawing once again from her other series, Russell brings past characters into play and even toys with time travel in this action packed novel. Despite there being some fairly intricate passages describing how some can travel back in time, the story rocks along without a hitch and never ceases to be captivating and interesting. But the real star here is the growing attraction and affection between Rusty and Cas, and the shadow that hangs over them due to their impending nuptials with two other men. When all appears lost and their love hangs in the balance, the novel makes a surprising turn and hope is reborn.

Vampire With Benefits is a delightfully droll romance with just enough suspense and plot twists to keep the reader fully engaged. It is a highly entertaining novel in a series that continues to break new ground in a genre that can often be too much of the same.

*4.25 stars*

Vampire with Benefits by E.J. Russell is my absolute favorite book by her to date!

I have a mixed history with E.J. Russell, but she really pulled this story off. While you certainly could read this as a stand-alone, I enjoyed having some of the backstory from Single White Incubus first.

Cas and Rusty were adorable together. I loved their lighthearted banter and the way that they really stood up for each other. They were such a good couple.

I also dug the plot of the story. E.J. Russell can tend to be long-winded and get caught up in tangents, but this story really worked. The plot had some twists and turns, but I think it all ended up flowing well and feeling well-paced.

And that ending!! I love when a book leaves me swooning at the end. I actually left the story wanting more (maybe a short story that takes place in their future?!) or a glimpse of them in an upcoming book. I'm attached to these MCs!

A very good, light supernatural book that will make you smile. The best work yet from this author.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

Holy Moly!! E.J. Russell weaves an interesting tale in this Supernatural Selection installment! Vampire with Benefits is book two in the series and although it could be read as a standalone, I think reading book one, Single White Incubus, would be a huge benefit!
Casimir is a vampire who is frustrated with being one. He thought it would be glamorous-always being one ready to party-but instead he finds it so restrictive because of supe rules that he feels empty. He acts out just to feel something, but end up being poor choices! His council head demands that he marry an incubus to reign him in and tote the vampire line so to speak. He is less than happy about it, but they are giving him no choice.
Rusty is an inactive beaver shifter who has essentially be shunned his whole life by his clan. When his boyfriend ups and marries for political gain within the clan, Rusty is livid and hurt. Not wanting to be alone any longer, he signs up for Supernatural Selection, and they guarantee a perfect match. Being matched to a bear shifter that lives far from his disapproving clan, Rusty is looking forward to his new life!
Then WHAM! There's a problem at Supernatural Selection and both men's matches are otherwise matched. Rusty can't go to his ex's wedding alone, and Cas needs somebody at his celebration to show the council he followed their mandate. They agree to a pretend marriage until their real matches are free from the mix-up. No body needs to know its only temporary....
This was so well written I was enthralled with Cas and Rusty! Unlikely mates who find out they have much more in common than you would have thought. Rusty is so very caring, it was in his nature. He always put Cas first and that was endearing. Cas never had that before and was surprised by how it made him feel. Cas looked at Rusty in a new light. He had Rusty's back when he needed someone too. Rusty had never had that kind of unwavering acceptance before. As the end of their temporary agreement is on the doorstep, they realize how ever unconventional their pairing is, it is the one they both want. Only other forces are in play and it takes a real mastermind to figure out how to unravel it all! How can they make it work??
Brilliant story! I loved the first book, and now this was like WOW! So well written, these characters weave themselves around your heart! There was always something intriguing going on. I was interested from the get go and didn't want to put it down! If PNR is your thing, then this series is something different than the norm! I definitely will be reading more books in the series and diving into E.J. Russell's back series too!

reviewed by Deb

This was a fun and entertaining book and I liked it even more than the first one. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about Casimir when this book started but I ended up really liking him. Rusty of course is a great character that was easy to fall for. I enjoyed the mystery and although the time travel part was a bit OTT it was light hearted and fun. Plenty of humor, some sexy times and a romance I was routing for. I'm looking forward to see what happens next with poor Oz.

A copy of this book was provided to me by Net Galley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion

5 Stars!

This is the second book in the Supernatural Selection series and while it can be read as a standalone, I suggest you at least read book 2 in EJ Russell's Fae Out of Water series, The Druid Next Door first.

I loved, loved, LOVED Cas and Rusty. It was a bit of a slow burn, although you could nearly feel the attraction sizzling between them through the pages. I loved that they became friends and even if they, okay, Rusty, had misgivings about hooking up with Cas, there was a point where he just couldn't not give into him. And wow, just wow! They were just perfect for each other in every sense of the word.

It was awesome catching up with Brice and have him be such an integral part of the story. And the bit about Brice and Mal was amazing!!! The villains were hateful and I was happy they got what they deserved. Perhaps, Fletcher not that much, but at least Henryk did, so that's good enough for me.

All in all, a fantastic, fun, sexy, captivating read. I loved how it tied in with the previous book/series and how it all played out. Cas and Rusty are easily one of the most lovable couples I've had the pleasure of reading and that last chapter was everything!

*** Copy provided to the reviewer by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

I laughed through out this book. Cas is a vampire who hates what he is, but he needs someone. Rusty is a beaver shifter who doesn't shift. When they are accidentally paired together by Supernatural Selection, it should be good. They only match perfect candidates. Shifters and vampires are not compatible. I mean, somebody could die. Loved this story. Didn't care so much about the time travel aspect. Hot sex. This is my first book by this author and I didn't have any problems keeping up with the story. Fun story. I received this book from Net Galley and Riptide Publishing n For a honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

This is the second installment in the Supernatural Selection Series, which is a paranormal MM romance. This book contains many twist and turns and a few surprises at the end. The main characters are opposites and this is truly an opposites attract book. The characters are well developed. The authors also brought in some of the Fae Out of Water series characters, which was an added treat. The pace of this book is great. Though this is the second in the series it can be read as a stand-alone book.

Holy Moly!! E.J. Russell weaves an interesting tale in this Supernatural Selection installment! Vampire with Benefits is book two in the series and although it could be read as a standalone, I think reading book one, Single White Incubus, would be a huge benefit!
Casimir is a vampire who is frustrated with being one. He thought it would be glamorous-always being one ready to party-but instead he finds it so restrictive because of supe rules that he feels empty. He acts out just to feel something, but end up being poor choices! His council head demands that he marry an incubus to reign him in and tote the vampire line so to speak. He is less than happy about it, but they are giving him no choice.
Rusty is an inactive beaver shifter who has essentially be shunned his whole life by his clan. When his boyfriend ups and marries for political gain within the clan, Rusty is livid and hurt. Not wanting to be alone any longer, he signs up for Supernatural Selection, and they guarantee a perfect match. Being matched to a bear shifter that lives far from his disapproving clan, Rusty is looking forward to his new life!
Then WHAM! There's a problem at Supernatural Selection and both men's matches are otherwise matched. Rusty can't go to his ex's wedding alone, and Cas needs somebody at his celebration to show the council he followed their mandate. They agree to a pretend marriage until their real matches are free from the mix-up. No body needs to know its only temporary....
This was so well written I was enthralled with Cas and Rusty! Unlikely mates who find out they have much more in common than you would have thought. Rusty is so very caring, it was in his nature. He always put Cas first and that was endearing. Cas never had that before and was surprised by how it made him feel. Cas looked at Rusty in a new light. He had Rusty's back when he needed someone too. Rusty had never had that kind of unwavering acceptance before. As the end of their temporary agreement is on the doorstep, they realize how ever unconventional their pairing is, it is the one they both want. Only other forces are in play and it takes a real mastermind to figure out how to unravel it all! How can they make it work??
Brilliant story! I loved the first book, and now this was like WOW! So well written, these characters weave themselves around your heart! There was always something intriguing going on. I was interested from the get go and didn't want to put it down! If PNR is your thing, then this series is something different than the norm! I definitely will be reading more books in the series and diving into E.J. Russell's back series too!

I haven't read the first book, but it sounds interesting. I love the arranged/fake marriage trope so this was right up my alley. The lore was interesting, as I'd never heard of beaver or bear shifters, but all the explanation is really in the name beaver shifter itself. Vampires were cool, I liked that there was world building about them migrating to America, and limits placed on their feeding and converting others. It felt in line with modern pop culture vampires. The relationship between Cas and Rusty was fun, and felt believable.
The plot builds up to tragedy and betrayal that seems insurmountable, and I guess it actually is, since time travel is needed to fix it. I'm not a big fan of using time travel to get around a sticky plot unless you are in Doctor Who where that is expected, and the ending where things are just meant to be so certain events are triggered regardless was a little lazy.
The lore and world building is interesting, and introduces shifters I'd never thought of, while the romance is pretty enjoyable. The ending, and use of time travel I could do without. Overall, it was a decent read that lost a bit of points for the end.

While I don’t think it’s a requirement, reading the first book in Russell’s Supernatural Selection series would probably be a good idea before tackling this one. In the previous book, bear shifter Ted and incubus Quentin accidentally got married to each other rather than the men who were magically selected as their perfect matches. Vampire with Benefits explains how their rejected husbands, vampire Cas and beaver shifter Rusty, wind up together, too.

As with Single White Incubus, part of the plot revolves around the fact that neither Rusty nor Cas fits in with the supernatural community they belong to. Rusty is an inactive beaver shifter, which means he shares some shifter traits but can’t turn into a beaver. Cas really hates being a vampire because of all the things he misses—not being able to see the sun, not being able to eat or drink or smell anything but blood, etc. Vampires and shifters aren’t supposed to be able to get along, but Rusty and Cas wind up being good for each other in unexpected ways.

The one thing that bothered me is the inclusion of time travel in the storyline. Introducing timey-wimey stuff into a book is tricky, and I’m not entirely sure what’s described makes sense if you think about it too hard. It also feels a bit like taking the easy way out when it comes to resolving the complications of the plot.

If you like paranormal romances that are mostly light-hearted and sweet, though, I’d recommend giving this one a try.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

What a great series this has turned into! Loving the characters and the mash up of supernatural beings in each of the books.
We meet Casimir, a vampire, and Rusty, an Inactive beaver shifter. The two come together due to the snaffu with their intended husbands (see book one) and come together to make the best out of the situation for each others respective problems.
The characters are well developed with strong personalities that I found very enjoyable. The two together are hilarious as their first meeting is disastrous with the second not being much better. They have a clash of personalities but when they relax enough to let their true selves come through, it's great reading their interactions and the developments between the two.
All of the secondary characters and the world in which the story takes place brings so much to the story, helping to bring our MC's together as well as cause strife. We have several issues going on for both men at the same time but I never felt overloaded with information or trying to track the goings on. Everything flowed smoothly and was paced out really well.
To me the end was quite the surprise and made for an even more heart warming HEA.
I highly recommend this book and series to fans of E.J. Russell paranormal love stories.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and am happily giving a review.

Casimir and Rusty were the potential matches for Quentin and Ted in book #1. Names, potential jilted matches, nothing more, but it was enough to pique our interest. While Ted and Q-Bert were off dealing with their own misadventures, Casimir and Rusty were helping each other deal with the fall-out from this matchmaking error.

With Casimir's very life in jeopardy, he convinces Rusty that they should have a temporary pretend marriage to satisfy the council's demand. Only things aren't so pretend and as feelings grow, the lines blur, and the stakes rise. Falling in love wasn't part of the plan, but once Rusty's in, he's willing to battle even time itself to keep his vampire safe so they can have their happily ever after.

This was another home run in an amazing series. Fun, flirty, and highly entertaining.

m/m
Life just isn’t fair. Beaver shifter, construction engineer Rusty Johnson can’t shift. Undead life isn’t what Silent film actor Casimir Moreau thought it would be. Neither of them was supposed to ever meet but the guys they were supposed to meet ended up married to each other (see Single White Incubus Supernatural Selection #1). But they need each other and as time goes by they find that maybe opposites do attract. Despite a slow start this story gets funnier and sweeter with each page. I ended up really liking it.
Though this is part of a series I think it can be read stand alone.

Supernatural Selection is a such a fun series! Rusty and Cas' characters were fun, their backgrounds interesting, and the drama delightful. Really, really enjoyed this and can't wait for Zeke's story. Definitely recommend for a light-hearted but fuzzy feels read.