Working together has forged a strong friendship between Melinda York and Mary Muller. So much so, they’re more like sisters. When two men burst into their diner with murder on their minds, Mel doesn’t hesitate to act. She’ll do anything to protect her friend, as well as their New Species customers…especially the one she’s been crushing on for months.A single act of bravery sparks a series of … a series of events that result in Snow getting to know the waitress he’s been obsessively thinking about. He just wants to keep Mel safe. And convince her he’s the male for her.
Mary is the brunt of jokes because of her extreme fear of animals. Phobias aren’t funny. Is she the only one who understands that? When Mel’s actions link them both to New Species, she’d like to hide from those scary men with fangs. That would make her a crappy best friend, though. She’ll try to be brave…right up until the moment she comes face to face with a lion man named Lash. He’ll make her confront her fears in the most unexpected ways possible.
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This duo are going to steal your hearts
What an amazing pair of stories! Both of them are full length and perfect together. I really don’t think I would have made it if the author had chosen to break up the books. These couples were meant to have their stories told together. Isn’t that what best friends want? I can’t wait to read the next book by this author.
Snow
Thankful for a farm girl
I love that Snow finally finds his mate. We didn’t see too much of Snow before this book, but each time He seemed a little lost and searching for his place. I enjoyed how the author brought these two together and gave Mel such a strong, funny personality. This book held all of the danger and emotions this author is famous for and gave us that little bit of extra when she made Mary have her set of issues. I hope Mary finds a Species that is worth conquering her phobia. I can’t wait to read the next story!
5 stars
Lash
Dropping in on love
Poor Mary, she just can’t escape her fear of all things furry. Too bad her phobia can’t tell the difference between part human and all animal. While trying to overcome her fears, she ends up falling into the wrong place at just the right time leading her into a HEA that is sure to make you smile. This book was a perfect addition to the New Species family and I can’t wait to see who finds their mate next.
5 stars
So I have to be upfront that I absolutely love this series of Lauren Dohner , so I was excited to see a new one called Best Friends. I enjoyed it getting to see old characters and new in this fascinating world, its not as well paced as some of the older books that leave you page turning but this is still good. So if after a sexy male alpha book boyfriend with a paranormal edge enjoy…….u2060
I’ve been waiting so long for these stories, but didn’t love them as much as the previous. I didn’t feel that I knew some of these characters. The first couple were pretty much same as other books and the second story, well plenty of action, but sorry I saw the opening as rape.
Much of it entertained me but I don’t see a reread happening.
Two great stories in the same book!!!! Mel & Mary are best friends working together at a small town diner – near the Reservation where many Species live. Mel who’s not afraid of anything & Mary who’s afraid of most things! Mel steps up & saves them at the diner one day – & the adventures begin!! In Mary’s story her timidity gets her into a situation where she discovers something to not be afraid of!! Both stories have lots of action and really smoking hot sex to light the pages on fire!
Woo hoo…another New Species book. Oh and it’s a two for one deal, which made me doubly giddy. And yes, giddy. I think I speak for all New Species fans when I say, we have been “patiently” waiting for this book *shakes head*. Almost broke my finger on the pre-order…just sayin.
Snow & Mel
The first book is our sweet Snow aka Mr. Blue Eyes, and his badass female, Melinda. Snow and other New Species have been coming into the diner that Melinda aka Mel works in for awhile. She has a huge crush on him and always gets a bit shy around him. The very first chapter, right at the beginning, some guys come in to harm the New Species, Mel being the badass she is, takes matters into her own hands and defends them. This starts out their hea journey. I also want to say that Mel is so funny, her little theory about men and cable had me laughing so hard.
This was a safe read. A little suspense, a badass female & a nice ass’d male. Great chemistry, great secondary characters, her bestie, Mary with her huge fear of animals, and our favorite New Species characters. The cafeteria scene with her and the New Species had me laughing so hard….along with her men and cable theory. Baby batter and an hea.
Lash & Mary
For all of us Valiant fans, we now have Lash to fawn over too. He definitely gives Valiant a run for his money in the top OTT New Species. This guy, such a handful in the best possible ways. Ok, so her bestie Mary, that is very, very afraid of animals. Yeah, she drops, and I mean literally drops into Lash’s domain. Did I mention that Lash is from the Wild Zone…yup, hot as hell and has the best theory of why Mary has problems with animals. So, she drops in, he seduces her and has his wicked way with her….oh and refuses to let them take her from him. Don’t get me wrong she wants to stay, but she’s not having his bossiness. These two cracked me up so much. At first she thinks he can’t talk, so she was not very happy to find out he can…and well. Honestly, I laughed my ass off at this whole scene, it really was funny. Probably shouldn’t assume…know what I’m saying. They have a shit ton of chemistry, with all their back and forth. They literally can’t keep their hands off each other. He is the only New Species she is completely comfortable with, which is good, because he’s also one of the toughest. He helps her with her fear and she helps him with his manners…or lack of them.
This was a safe read with some suspense. Sensual, sexy and a ton of chemistry. A wild Tarzan style male and his prey female….lol…sorry, couldn’t resist that one. We get to see lots of our favorite New Species. Baby batter, an epilogue and an hea.
This is one of my all time favorite series ever. I have re-read it many times and love them all every time. I cannot wait until the next book. Psst…hopefully it will be a twofer too, made me so damn happy.
I really don’t know what to say about this book. I honestly feel like we have waited for years and maybe that’s part of my issue. I built it up so much in my head that I was a little disappointed.
First I still love New Species and I really loved both of them. The female characters weren’t annoying or unbearable I think I was just expecting too much because I was looking forward to it for so long. All that said I am still going to be impatiently waiting for the next one.
Amazing read
Okay. I’m going to be blunt here. I LOVED the New Species books, but most of the rest of this author’s series is only okay. So many of her books have potential but get completely ruined by a horrible heroine or hero or lackluster plot, but this has never happened in the New Species books… until now.
The first book with Snow and Mel was okay. Nothing spectacular, but nothing horrible either.
As for Mary and Lash… WTH? First, Mary apparently was replaced by a pod person as she, a person scared of animals, ends up sleeping with a very animal-like New Species in seconds! During a near rape scene! First, I could buy the animal phobia. But to have that directed at HUMAN people (at least in appearance) smacked too much of prejudice. I could see if she was scared of those like Lash as they appear as if animals. But all of them? That basically means Mary thinks they are animals and severely bigoted. Then the whole lost her mind scene… what? What moron would be demanding to go into save their parents with no training, no weapons, no plans, ALONE. I’d be scared to do anything in case I screwed up and got my parents killed because I am not an experienced law enforcement officer, DUH!! I’d be begging the New Species and cops to help them and stay the hell out of the way, probably crying in a corner while I waited. Mary turned into an unstable harpy!!
Supposedly, you should never judge people when they are at their best, but instead at their worst as that’s when you see a person’s true colors. I’m sorry to say, but Mary was a bigot, an idiot, and a selfish witch. I HATED her.
So the book only gets 3 stars. I feel like this one is just like the rest of the series I don’t love by this author. Like the story conflicts are seriously forced and don’t make sense all the time, the characters lack depth or even human decency in some cases.
I hope that the next one is better.
Mary and Mel are best friends and when an attack happens in the diner they work in by Reservation, this changes their entire life. Mel has had an attraction to one new species who keeps coming to her work but isn’t brave enough to approach him. One event leads her in the arms of that very male who wants nothing but to claim her. Mel just isn’t sure that she can trust what she is feeling so fast. Then we have Mary who is scared to death of all animals, but when Mel asks her for a favor that puts her in contact with many new species she must overcome her fear. Then when she takes a wrong turn and lands herself in Lash’s domain and he doesn’t want to give her back. Wow these stories are amazing and I love how the two friends stories blend into each other. Amazing story and loved having more new species. Amazing author and amazing characters!!!
Have enjoyed many books by this author, she never fails to produce good books
They now seem to have the same story. Need to expand story line. This series could go in so many good directions even be a television series
I love this author’s books. I love New Species because it was a new take on a series. This one Mel and Mary find their mates. Mel defends Species in the diner where she works. Snow takes her for medical treatment when she is shot. She falls in love with him. Mary is scared of all animals, but she goes to Reservation for Mel’s wedding. Mary gets spooked an falls out of an air duct into Lash’s domain. He immediately claims her, and manages to get her to fall in love with him. I love these stories! I can’t wait for more.
As much as I love, love, love the New Species series, this book with two minor New Species characters is not what I was hoping for.
I am just really wondering when will Flame, Torrent, Jericho, Harley, Brass and some of the other older/original characters get their stories?
Flame met his mate in Wrath’s story back in 2012 and still does not have his mate or HEA?
Moon, Harley and Brass were great characters in book 2 back in 2011 and I have waited for these characters stories since meeting them.
There were also quite a few missing and misplaced words that should have been picked up by whoever proofread this book.
I just have to say I felt this skimmed over the New Species back story as a whole. We get small bits of time/glimpses of other characters and New Species themselves as a whole but apart from that it could have been any PNR book available.
Will think long and hard about purchasing the next book if it is not any of the characters I want to read about.
SNOW
Not disappointed per se in this story we have waited years to get; but it was very simplistic in plot and lacking the depth of earlier books.
Yes, I know it is a short story, but that does not mean the author cannot make it full of connection and feeling.
Starts of really well with some great action and reactions, then tapers off.
Snow is wonderful and sweet to his lady love Melanie, as are all New Species and I liked Mel and how sensible and unafraid she is.
Though I felt everything was rush, rush, rush. They are mated and married within one week, leaving no real feeling of connection between them.
Why is Mel not wearing something sensible? Anyone with a bad/hurt arm in a sling knows you cannot pull a top over your head. You wear a button up shirt/top.
There were quite a few missing words that should have been picked up by proofreading which kept jerking the flow of the story.
LASH
Though I enjoyed this story it was too rushed at the very start.
After a slightly unrealistic beginning, the rest of the story was really a fun read, though I hated the use of that disgusting C**T word.
If Mary’s animal phobia had not been made out to be so completely and utterly OTT in Snow’s story, I could have accepted her behaviour easier. It just didn’t work that phobic, terrified of animals Mary, is suddenly way too accepting of a connection with Lash, a wild zone resident. Where is the hysteria, the anxiety and panic she exhibited in Snow’s story?
I really expected Lash to have to work to calm her down and earn her trust.
Lash, with his lack of manners and Mary telling him off was funny cute.
Loved Lash and how he was behaviour wise and once again felt sad at their treatment by Mercile Industries.
Lash was a little bit like Valiant but not as adorably loveable as Valiant is.
Did enjoy getting time in, no matter how brief, with some older characters, maybe exempting Kit.
Not sure about getting all these new New Species names/characters thrown at us.
As I stated above, I really have some old favourites whose stories I want to read and as it has been four years since the last New Species book, I am not expecting to get theirs for a long time, if ever.
Also has errors, missing words in this story though not as bad as in Snow.
Mel & Snow
I actually like how this one started out. It was sweet that they were attracted to each other from the beginning and didn’t know it. Their attraction turns into something more, and Snow does such a good job of holding back until Mel is ready. But there were things that were missing in this story. I didn’t find the depth I have with the other NS stories. And I was surprised she was *small spoiler alert* able to leave the compound alone while Snow was out of town. That is not something the NS would ever have allowed in the past, and I’m not sure why it was something they suddenly would now. To me, that was an inconsistency, and there were other little things that also bothered me. That being said, I thought this was a good story but just needed more depth and consistency.
Mary & Lash
This one should come with a trigger warning. I’m all about the NS and the human females getting it on. That’s one of the things about these novels that makes them fun – a momentary lapse in judgment or a little fun that turns into more. But it doesn’t matter how wild Lash is or how much he “doesn’t play well with others.” Rape is rape in my book. There were threatening and coercion, and I had trouble getting through that first half of the story. Not only that, but the woman has an aversion to animals, yet it took her no time to overlook the fact that she was sleeping with a New Species who resembled an animal much more than some of the others. I just felt it was too over the top and was missing some key elements. And the rape at the wedding reception was just too much. I didn’t think it made much sense. Was he angry that she was human and wanted to punish her for it, and that’s why he pushed her into a sexual situation immediately after she dropped in? Or was he sure she was his mate and pushed her because he wanted to make sure no one else claimed her? I guess I just don’t understand how this didn’t look like rape to the author. The NS claim they would never hurt a female, but it seems that’s exactly what Lash did. Talk about a case of Stockholm syndrome. I really would have like to have seen him be more gentle. And I can’t believe she got over her fear of animals almost instantly. It just crossed a boundary I can’t abide.
Maybe it’s just me, but I think these could have been such good stories with more development. Perhaps each would have been better as separate stories that delved a bit deeper and gave us something more to relate to. And especially concerning the second story, I would have liked to see Lash have more consideration for Mary than he initially did. And contrary to some of the other reviewers, I didn’t think Lash was a bit like Valiant. If I remember correctly, Valiant practically bent over backward to gain the trust and love of his mate. Lash demanded ownership immediately and was not about to let Mary think things could be otherwise. I don’t know. I’m just a bit disappointed and miss the depth of the stories and the soft hearts these NS usually have. I saw some of it with Snow, but not so much with Lash. And I’m just heartbroken because the last thing I want to do is give a New Species book something lower than 4 stars.