The Mating

What a piece of crap! The whole book turns on a "romance" between two people who don't trust each other, are forced together and barely like each other. Their first time having sex is a page and a half of "please, NO! Don't!" yet it's "alright" because they're married and he feels bad afterwords. How is rape romantic?
Not only that but the characters were weak, cookie-cutter protagonists and antagonists, the plot was predictable, and the storytelling was erratic and moved veeerrrryyy slllooowwwlllyyy...

I'm a bit of a tough reviewer, but keep in mind I went back to B&N to actually BUY the next book in the series to find out what happens to Ryne (who I assume is the next story due to the epilogue) throughout my critique and was pleasantly surprised it is being offered for free. I provide feedback other than 'that's nice' so the author can improve their craft.

This book gripped me from the beginning and sucked me in. The dialogue flowed, there was just enough werewolf history to make it believable the protagonist would allow herself to be mated to a man she had just met because her alpha-father so ordered it. The chemistry between the two main characters unfolded in a believable manner, and there was a nice balance for this day and age show more between character development and hot, steamy sex (this -is- after all a romance). Many of the minor characters, such as Helen, were also very nicely developed, and added texture to the story without either over- or under-whelming it. I am a fan of another werewolf author, Kelly Armstrong, and found myself comparing this work favorably. The only plot-hole I found incredulous was the fact the werewolves can shapeshift including their clothing ... the 'worldbuilding' the werewolves were painted into was not a supernatural one so this tiny detail really bugged me for some reason.

I -would- have given this book 4 stars. Why the lost star? Villian development started out well enough, but the big reveal towards the end was just too much information all at once. Bad guys don't brag and brag and brag with no action when suddenly revealed, nor do they wander off to 'come back later' to finish killing the person they're plotting against. Especially if they know their victim is 'bonded' and has most likely summonsed their mate. A cold, calculating murderer knows the most -important- thing is leave no witnesses and then try to clean up the crime scene later, while a heat-of-passion murderer would have simply picked up a rock and bashed in their skull. The surprise insertion of a second villian might have worked, but there were not enough clues peppered early enough in the novel to make you go 'aha! of course!' The three chapters I found myself skimming through asking 'what happened ... but it was so GOOD until now?' really detracted from the book.

In the end, things got back on track. I enjoyed it enough to come back for more as most authors improve their craft over time and this author has phenomenal promise. This was written as a romance with a mystery background, but as a mystery novel it fell flat. I would suggest she do some research on creating believable villians and also read a few dozen classic murder-suspense novels (Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett) as I believe this author has the capability to bring her writing to the next level ... a novel that balances mystery and romance. The verdict BUY. Or as in this case, dowload every book you can get your hands on offered by this author for free and say thank you for the enjoyable ride! show less

Werewolves, intrigue, and a peculiar message

This story wasn't too poorly written, although the author seemed to drive the point home and repeat a bit too often (rather than allowing the reader to draw conclusions from events, desired conclusions would be recapped, as though we couldn't have understood). The characterization was excellent, and Elise was believable. I want to make it clear that this is not 'a bad book' in that sense.

Unfortunately, this story just drips with misogyny. The werewolf culture described isn't just 'backward,' socially; it's medieval. The 'alpha,' and all of the others in charge, are male. The 'alpha female's' job is to cook and arrange gatherings (no joke). Arranged marriages are still a norm. Females are show more expected to be virgins until they're married (mated), and proof of their virginity is actually examined on their wedding night.

Despite having access to the internet and presumably a modern education, the main character acknowledges the 'backward' traditions, but then goes on to NOT REALLY QUESTION THEM. She goes along with an arranged marriage because she's too timid to leave the pack. At one point, her mate actually rapes her (she said no, very clearly, regardless of any bodily reactions), and afterward, she's worried about HIS feelings - that he didn't like her. Ugh...

The intrigue and murder mystery were okay, but the primary issue I had with them was the fact that I already knew who was responsible for the problems, less than halfway through the book.
Not a poorly written book. Good worldbuilding. Good characterization. Just not the type of culture or mentality that I enjoy seeing portrayed as normal or okay. (You can't blame it on their being wolves, either - 60% of wild wolf packs are led by females, so all that sexual segregation and misogyny is purely human). show less

Once you start this book you can't stop reading it!The story follows Elise a 19 year old she-wolf who is forced by her father to mate with Kane a male wolf and alpha of another clan as an alliance.She doesn't want to cause she is in love with Bryan(or so she thinks).During the book we see how she understands that she never were truly in love with Bryan and that she loves Kane.The story has happy ending but there 're many problems before that.We only see Kanes POV once but is enough to see how much he loves Elise though we didn't really needed that since his actions were showing his personallity clearly(and Elise was reading him very good,though she was wrong after their bonding) When Ryne arrives I was a little woried that he would hurt show more Elise and Kane's relationship but I was happy to see that it didn't happed.The story never gets boring and has the ability to make you stay focus and want for more.The plot was original and the characters even the minor ones had personallity.I would reccoment this book without any doubt and If I could I would buy it too.

I din't mind the spelling which was Canadian(Americans are so fucking assholes about even thinking to complain about the spelling or the grammar since they have fucked up the language long ago).
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What would it be like to be in an arranged marriage? Most people can only make guesses or judgments to what that may be. The Mating gives us a look at what some might say an antiquated custom, might be like for someone, it's shown from the woman's point of view and weaved into a paranormal story at that. Elise found out she was to be mated to Alpha Kane in an alliance between her father's pack and Kane's pack on the same it will take place. And then has to consummate their bonding immediately for proof of the alliance. Stuck in a confusing situation she want's no part of, Elise decides to put a brave foot forward because of tradition. Not wanting to embarrass or anger her father Elise tries to make the best she can of the situation and show more make her and Kane's mating work. Elise has to leave everyone she knows to live with a man she doesn't know anything about and total strangers. It was interesting to hear Elise's internal monologue about her feelings, thoughts and adjustments to her new life.

Kane is the typical Alpha male. However, I liked that Kane had the awareness to not be too overbearing with Elise and his pack, he tries to marry the traditional with the modern rules of pack leadership. I also liked that he was gentle and dare I say romantic with Elise, he definitely made the intimate part of their relationship work, no problem there whatsoever.

In the first half of the story I had no problems with Elise's voice but later I was getting really pissed off with her constant ruminations about what to do about a situation. She continually over thinks herself out of doing what needs to be done and in turn make things worse. Sometimes I forgot that she was very young maybe because of the mature material in the book, she was slow with putting things glaring her in the face together, and a little naive. Her antagonists, Marla comes across a lot older and was able to get one, maybe ten over on her many times.

The writing and story in this book was up there, especially for a entirely free series and new author. The feelings and thoughts Elise had about her suddenly arranged marriage seems on par to what a person might experience. The other side stories weaved into to this book did a lot for the story, especially the environmental science subject, I can tell it was thoroughly researched, I learned a lot. show less

4 Unbelievable Rogue Stars

Joined by an alliance, leaving everything you have known and submitting to an Alpha was the life Elise seemed destined too. Wow she proved me wrong she was a strong willed werewolf with an attitude to show her man that she was not about to take shit laying down.

This was a brilliant read. Elise was amazing free read and I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series. I loved Kane and while I understood his relationship with Marla I hated it. I loved that he seemed to fight for what he loved but what I did learn was that things are not always what they seem. While I knew Marla was horrible I had no clue and the author sent me in directions that I loved.

I couldn't put this book down! I loved the show more relationship as it developed and I think Nicky Charles is the next BIG author. show less

What would it be like to be in an arranged marriage? Most people can only make guesses or judgments to what that may be. The Mating gives us a look at what some might say an antiquated custom, might be like for someone, it's shown from the woman's point of view and weaved into a paranormal story at that. Elise found out she was to be mated to Alpha Kane in an alliance between her father's pack and Kane's pack on the same it will take place. And then has to consummate their bonding immediately for proof of the alliance. Stuck in a confusing situation she want's no part of, Elise decides to put a brave foot forward because of tradition. Not wanting to embarrass or anger her father Elise tries to make the best she can of the situation and show more make her and Kane's mating work. Elise has to leave everyone she knows to live with a man she doesn't know anything about and total strangers. It was interesting to hear Elise's internal monologue about her feelings, thoughts and adjustments to her new life.

Kane is the typical Alpha male. However, I liked that Kane had the awareness to not be too overbearing with Elise and his pack, he tries to marry the traditional with the modern rules of pack leadership. I also liked that he was gentle and dare I say romantic with Elise, he definitely made the intimate part of their relationship work, no problem there whatsoever.

In the first half of the story I had no problems with Elise's voice but later I was getting really pissed off with her constant ruminations about what to do about a situation. She continually over thinks herself out of doing what needs to be done and in turn make things worse. Sometimes I forgot that she was very young maybe because of the mature material in the book, she was slow with putting things glaring her in the face together, and a little naive. Her antagonists, Marla comes across a lot older and was able to get one, maybe ten over on her many times.

The writing and story in this book was up there, especially for a entirely free series and new author. The feelings and thoughts Elise had about her suddenly arranged marriage seems on par to what a person might experience. The other side stories weaved into to this book did a lot for the story, especially the environmental science subject, I can tell it was thoroughly researched, I learned a lot. show less