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 With outdated stigmas surrounding unmated alphas that have people wondering if they still howl at the moon, Noah has been careful to keep his designation under wraps.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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