Regine AbelI Married a Minotaur: Prime Mating Agency

I love this book. In a previous book the Zurus were barbaric and out of control never living in peace. In this book we find out why and learn the newest Chieftain wants something different. He understands why his species needs to fight but also understands it’s destructive. When he meets his mate they work together for a better life and future for everyone I love these stories and look forward to the next ones.

This was a wonderfully written story of overcoming generational curses and traditions to forge a better life of hope and promise. The characters were engaging and entertaining. Set in plausible situations and brilliantly developed making an exciting and quick read. Onto my next "I married Wonjin"

<em>Well, well, well…</em>I’m so glad I looked up minotaur romances.In this book, we have our two leads, a smuggler/bounty hunter with ethics and a looming sentence (Rihanna - h) and an albino peacekeeping Great Chieftain of war-bred half-orch half-minotaurs (Zatruk - H). When h latches onto a year long marriage with H to get her out of twenty to life in a horrific prison, our “badass” black lead and her (literally) white male take to each other and cultivate new understandings and solutions for their people.This book hit all the right places, from a leas who looks like me to protagonists who make smart choices to external drama rather than internal strife. Little miscommunication, no OM/OW heresy—just two beings who have an insta-lust attraction and breaking ground in politics and in romance.Prose was easy to follow, but I admit that there was a lot of political jargon and long speeches. But the dialogue and the characters were still crafted beautifully. I cringed when there were recycled words like “badass” and “bash their skulls”. Admittedly, I wish the author had expanded the characters’ vocabulary passed those.Thankfully, it seemed like that only existed in the first two chapters and a blip in the back half.I have to reiterate that this couple stood together in much better ways than many other couples in human romances. There is a trust built and they understand when to push and pull each other. Rather than storming off in a huff or seeking immediate violence of the opposite sex should they breathe in H or h’s direction, this couple is given mature topics to speak about and work out.The reason this isn’t my 5 ⭐️ read is solely because of the reused words and then the HEA <em>inserts children</em>. I understand <em>why</em> children were brought in, but as someone so excited to see a protagonist who looks like me only to get the “American Dream” at the end was a downer.The timekeeping in this story needed a bit of proofreading. The mode of time was inconsistency stressed for plot points, but it left a confusing impression on me of how much time went by.I’m not alien, PNR connoisseur, but from the Zoe Draven <em><strong>Horde King</strong></em> series, I think the little world building of having the humans and non-humans with different vocabulary, grammar, and expressions was much needed here.It’s told and shown to us the cultural differences between humans and our main lead’s race, so it bugged me that we get very few vocabulary world building and some things said are very westerner (in my opinion). And the angle of “English is Universal” is a very…common take I wish would die.I speak English. I also speak Spanish, a bit of Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Russian, and I sign ASL (and I’m not even Dutch). I hate how English is considered a “standard” to learn, though I reluctantly understand it. But since this is a galactic romance novel, why would a Terran language be a Universal language, especially when most PNR/AR stories emphasize how primitive and weak humans are?Honestly, I’d expect Chinese or Arabic if we go the human language route. I await the day when alien romances say Chinese is the Universal language. I will be ready for an alien invasion if they speak Korean or Mandarin. Kinda ready if they speak Arabic.But all in all, outside my nitpicking, this book was a great lead and felt empowering to me as a Black woman. I wish more PNR/AR had black and brown leads. I’m very tired of authors always putting in blonde or red-headed white women who are snarky or naïve or doormats.Give me more Black leads who are strong and intelligent without monologuing how strong and intelligent they are (like our h in this story).As for any warnings, nothing I could think of. There are not explicitly gory scenes. I do wish the spice had been turned up, <em>however</em> because this story is politically focused, I think if there were more steam scenes, it would have detracted from the plot and would have looked like they were shoehorned in rather than naturally occurring.Regine, if you ever see this, thank you for this story, truly. 🙏🏾 I will be taking a look at your back list in a few (once I finish watching the new <em>Tyler and Todd</em> video) and I’ll make sure to recommend this book when (not if) I see recommendations for those in MGMF hangovers.💜

What a fantastic next book of the Prime Mating Agency !!!!!In this story , the Yurus from the ," I married a Bird man ....." , book , the great chieftain Zatruk. His people of the warrior species Yuras on the planet of Cibbos who were trying to enslave the peace loving humans of the village of Kastan . Zatruk knows that his people are extremely war like , and every Great war ends in more males with the killing rage..... Which in turn , leaves more casualties for all. He , as Great Chieftain is trying to tone down the killing rage, even if he had to knock a few heads to do it !!!Not finding a mate from his own people , he has agreed to participate in the Prime Mating Agency , and Master Kayog's empathic abilities are famous throughout the galaxy for great success with matching mates.Rihanna is a woman accused of a crime that she didn't commit. The only thing standing between her and a horrible prison planet , is Kayog's suggestion of a match between her and a Yurus from Cibbos. Rihanna knows of the Temern Kayog's abilities and track record, so she knows that if he says it's a good match , then she should listen . And this would be a great option then a prison planet !!!As Rihanna and Zatruk meet and get to know each other , their story becomes a romantic story filled with great beginnings and we get to see much more of Cibbos , its inhabitants , as well as see many old friends, and what they are up to now . As the Yuras , and Zelconians and the humans learn to get along , there are many surprises and smiles and laughter along the way. I love how Rihanna and Zatruk were with each other soon as they met. Also enjoyed the beautiful descriptive scenery, and the mystical, magical way everything comes together !!! Especially with the under- the- radar help from a certain Temren !!! Another winner far as I'm concerned !!!!

I enjoy the variety of settings, situations, & characters. I especially enjoy the care the couple takes with each other, listening, communicating, & respecting each other across very different cultures.

I love this series!! I wish Rihanna and Zatruk got more relationship-building time in the beginning of the book (ie more steamy and sweet scenes!), but I love how the stories of the previous books intersected in this one. We also get to see a new side of the Yurus which countered my previous assumptions of them. The chemistry and banter between Rihanna and Zatruk had me laughing out loud! Really loved this book, especially the epilogue! I hope there is another one!

Rihanna is a smuggler and bounty hunter and is sentenced while being innocent to twenty years on a prison planet. By interference of the Prime Mating Agency she can marry the Yurus Zatruk instead. The Yurus are a people whose genetics and hormones dictate them violence which makes them suffer. As a solution Zatruk wants to build a gladiator arena, where his people can have their fights in a safe environment. And Rihanna uses all her resourcefulness to make it happen.I loved to read the book. The characters are strong, empathic and resourceful. The story is a pageturner. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next installment in this series.

I've read every book in this series so far (hoping for another) but loved how this one was connected to Birdman and continued the story of the co-operation between the three communities on the planet. Connecting the thread through a previous book in this way is lovely, we got to see how life has progressed for the various people (?Beings) we met before. Minotaur ... and the previous books ... are all well written, entertaining and engaging books and I can't recommend them enough for a relatively easy read and always a Very Happy Ever After!!

This is a fun, romantic alien romance. Rihanna is a great character, strong and resourceful. I like the variety of aliens in this series and the plot of fixing a warlike species is excellent. I really enjoyed this book.

I love this series. They are mostly light hearted and happy with just enough challenges to overcome to make them interesting. They build and improve the lives of the people. I love stories like that.I love how the characters are determined to make it work and be honest and respect each other.I loved how this book tied in with the birdman one and mentioned the people from the first one.This book is definitely a keeper. Way to go Regine!