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The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson – Review & Giveaway

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The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Two wolf shifters agree to be fake mates but unexpectedly find something real in this steamy paranormal romantic comedy by Lana Ferguson.

Mackenzie Carter has had some very bad dates lately. Model train experts, mansplainers, guys weirdly obsessed with her tail—she hasn’t had a successful date in months. Only a year out of residency, her grandmother’s obsession with Mackenzie finding the perfect mate to settle down with threatens to drive Mackenzie barking mad. Out of options, it feels like a small thing to tell her grandmother that she’s met someone. That is, until she blurts out the name of the first man she sees and the last man she would ever date: Noah Taylor, the big bad wolf of Denver General.

Noah Taylor, interventional cardiologist and all around grump, has spent his entire life hiding what he is. With outdated stigmas surrounding unmated alphas that have people wondering if they still howl at the moon, Noah has been careful to keep his designation under wraps. It’s worked for years, until an anonymous tip has everything coming to light. Noah is left with two options: come clean to the board and risk his career—or find himself a mate. The chatty, overly friendly ER doctor asking him to be her fake boyfriend on the same day he’s called to meet the board has to be kismet, right?

Mackenzie will keep her grandmother off her back, and Noah will get a chance to prove he can continue to work without a real mate—a mutually beneficial business transaction, they both rationalize. But when the fake-mate act turns into a very real friends-with-benefits arrangement, lines start to blur, and they quickly realize love is a whole different kind of animal.

 

 

Review:

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson is a standalone steamy romantic novel.  We meet Mackenzie (Mack) Carter, our heroine, who is an ER doctor at Denver General; she is a wolf shifter (Omega).  Mackenzie has not had any successful dates recently, and is pressured by her grandmother, who wants her to find a mate to settle down. To get her grandmother off her back, she tells her she that she has met someone, though still in early stages. While in the lunch room, Mackensie is desperate and looks for the first man who walked in the room.

Noah Taylor, our hero, is a top cardiologist, who is the one in charge at the hospital; he is also a wolf shifter (Alpha). To his surprise, he is approached by Mackensie, if he would take a picture of her and him, to send to her grandmother, as a fake boyfriend.  At first Noah tries to ignore Mack, but he comes back to her with another deal.  Seems that Noah is being summoned to the board, regarding a tip that he is an Alpha (who might have violent tendencies), an identity that he has kept secret. Noah needs to convince the board that he has a mate, who keeps him in control.  Mack agrees to be Noah’s fake mate, if she will be able to tell her grandmother that he is her boyfriend. 

 People at the hospital are shocked to learn about Noah and Mack being mated; especially with Noah being very private, intimidating, and keeps to himself. Mack is the opposite, as she is sweet, friendly, and very outgoing, with friends throughout. Together, they both make appearances to show that they are mated, with Noah meeting Mack’s friends Priya, Parker and she meeting a friend of his (Peter), as well as Noah’s nasty coworker, Dennis.  

In a short period, slowly Mack and Noah become attracted to each other, with Mack being the one to get Noah to open up; as they were so perfect together.  The chemistry between them was sizzling and very steamy, as the fake mate does turn into friends with benefits; and soon they will find themselves inseparable falling in love. But Noah will be threatened by the nasty Dennis, promising to tell the board that he is not mated, and Noah will do anything to protect Mack, including breaking things off with her, as she could lose her job.  After being broken hearted, Mack with help from Parker, will discover about what truly happened, and finds proof to win Noah back, and stop the evil Dennis.

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson was a fun, entertaining and very steamy romantic story line. I really liked both Mack and Noah, and rooted for them to stay together.  I will say, I thought the steamy sex scenes were a bit too many.  The Fake Mate was very well written by Lana Ferguson.  If you like romance, shifters, steamy sex, then you should read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

BERKLEY ROMANCE is graciously offering a paper copy of THE FAKE MATE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.    

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9. Giveaway runs from December 7 to December 11, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

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Alpha (Dark Water 3) by JL Drake-review tour

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Alpha (Dark Water 3) by JL Drake-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 15, 2023

Major Ty Beckett

The unthinkable has happened.
We will not stand by while one of our own is in the enemy’s grasp.

Ivy and I are part of the house now, and their family is our family. Together, we will fight to get her back.

This mission nearly brings Blackstone down. We missed our mark, and now it’s
Code Red.

Though our families are prepared for the unthinkable, we will not take this lying down.

Dr. Ivy Knight

Ty and I have a good connection, until he makes a decision that sends me into a tailspin.

Regardless of my personal struggles, I know one thing is true.
The house is in disarray, and it’s up to me to keep everyone on point.

But deep inside, I’m slowly unraveling. I need to find a way to get my life back.

Shadows has a mixture of light and laughter, but there’s a level of danger that comes with living here. I just hope I’m strong enough to endure.

••••

REVIEW:ALPHA is the third instalment in JL Drake’s contemporary, adult DARK WATER romantic suspense series, a spin off series, interconnected with the author’s BLACKSTONE and BROKEN worlds. This is the continuing story of Major Ty Beckett, and psychiatrist Dr. Ivy Knight. ALPHA should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events of book two WHISKEY, referencing numerous past missions and plot lines, as well as focusing on the embattled relationship between Lexi and Keith (ESCAPE: Blackstone series 2).

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from three first person perspectives (Ty, Ivy and Eric) ALPHA follows in the aftermath of the abduction of one of their own, and the return of Major Ty Beckett to the team at Blackstone at the Shadows. Dr. Ivy Knight is working temporarily with the Blackstone Special Ops team, at one of their safehouses known as the Shadows but her relationship with Major Ty Beckett is struggling in the face of his inability to let go of the past, a past that wants something more from our story line hero. Meanwhile, a Code Red has been activated, one of their own is missing, and the team is struggling to get information on the who, why or how. The Mexican Cartel is once again taking aim at the Blackstone Operatives, abducting and threatening anyone who gets in the way.

The world building continues to focus on the previous missions, sins of the past, and a need for vengeance against the Blackstone team. I would strongly recommend reading the previous two books in the Dark Water series, and if able, reading ESCAPE (Blackstone 2) and the author’s BROKEN trilogy. Several of the events in the current timelines are as of a direct result from the events in the aforementioned books/series .

The relationship between Ivy and Ty is one of second chances, of a sort. At any given point Ty Beckett is on the run, into danger and precarious situations, often forgetting about the people he has left behind. Ivy continues to struggle with Ty’s need to save everyone else, a need that is a constant pressure to save our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and dynamic characters most of whom were introduced and played a significant role in both the BLACKSTONE series and BROKEN trilogy. The past refuses to let go; vengeance is an obsession; betrayal may come at the cost of someone’s life.

ALPHA is a complex, detailed and dramatic story of secrets and lies, power and control, obsession and vengeance, understanding and love. The premise is edgy and intense; the romance is seductive but struggles in the face of mistrust; the characters are desperate and broken. ALPHA ends on a cliff hanger-there is no happily ever after at this point in the series.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

J.L. Drake is a bestselling author with multiple series published in several different countries. The Broken Trilogy is her best seller, and her next series, Quiet Mafia, has the same kind of homey feel sprinkled with some yummy darkness. 

She was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, later moving to southern California. Though she loves the weather in Cali, she would sell her left kidney for a good rainstorm. Jodi’s love of the seasons back home in Canada definitely put in an appearance in her books.

When she’s not writing, you can often find her sitting somewhere along the coast of Huntington Beach, reading, or at home curled up on a couch with her two children and husband, binge watching Marvel movies.  

SOCIAL MEDIA: Website / Goodreads / Facebook /  Instagram/

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Alpha by Madisyn Ashmore-a review

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ALPHA by Madisyn Ashmore-a review

Alpha

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: RELEASE DATE February 19, 2017

He’ll melt you from the inside out…

Aidan Channing is an alpha wolf shifter. He’s a ripped and protective male who knows exactly what he wants. And what he wants is the sexy young lawyer, Olivia Ryan, who just showed up in his small Alaskan town.

When a young woman winds up murdered in the ice, Olivia must defend the innocent shifter who’s been framed for murder. Olivia enlists Aidan, the pack’s alpha, to find the real killer. With explosive chemistry, their passion is unbound.

But Olivia is in danger. Not all shifters approve of humans, and some are out for blood. Will Aidan be able to protect his new mate before she ends up dead…or worse?

•••••

REVIEW: ALPHA by Madisyn Ashmore is a contemporary adult, paranormal romance story line focusing on Bond, Alaska alpha wolf shifter Aidan Channing, and human, female attorney Olivia Ryan.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Olivia and Aidan) ALPHA follows human attorney Olivia Ryan as she struggles with her first legal defense case for Alaskan wolf shifter Chase Reynolds. Chase has been charged with the murder of his human girlfriend Charlotte Smith, and Olivia will be Chase’s attorney for the upcoming trial. Enter Aidan Channing, the Bond Wolf Pack Alpha, and the man with whom Olivia would fall in love. What ensues is the quick building but forbidden relationship between Aidan and Olivia, the struggle for Olivia to be accepted by the Pack, and the search for the truth when as someone tries to prevent Olivia from defending Chase Reynolds.

Aidan Channing is the Bond Pack Alpha but battles the shifter hierarchy at every turn. Aidan does not have a mate and finding his forever in a human female does nothing to ingratiate the Alpha with the members of his Pack. Olivia’s presence in Bond, Alaska has awakened Aidan’s need to mate but the old laws are meant to prevent the mixing of shifters and humans much to the chagrin of our leading couple. The $ex scenes are seductive and intense.

We are introduced to a large number of secondary and supporting characters including Aidan’s brother Jameson Channing ; polar bear shifter and head of the shifter council Dominic Holmes; as well as several local shifters and their families.

ALPHA is an entertaining story line about the prejudice between human and shifters, specieism, and the love between two people that breaks through boundaries and walls. The premise is imaginative; the characters are colorful and animated; the romance is fated and passionate. ALPHA is an energetic tale with a lively cast of characters and a happily ever after.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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