Rating: 4.25 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | All Romance | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Poor Brian Townsend. It’s not been his week. He came out to his parents, and not only were they mortified, they went to the pack Alpha and the Alpha banished Brian from the pack. He had to leave with only the clothes on his back, his wallet, and his phone. Along the way, Brian got a flat tire, which took up most of the money he had, and then, the axle on his truck broke pretty much in the middle of nowhere…at night…in the dark.
Marcus Holland is a detective with the town of Leyburn, Australia. His week isn’t much better than Brian’s. Stacey, the woman he’s been sleeping with (not his mate), tried to manipulate him into biting her during sex. That’s a HUGE no no! Marcus believes in true love and fated mates. He was just having some fun with Stacey, and he thought she knew that’s all it was. His parents are clamoring for grandcubs, and he’s their last hope because his brothers are all gay. He’s tired and wants to go home, but he gets a call about a stranded motorist on the side of the road. When Marcus gets to the truck, the driver blurts that they’re mates. That driver is a man, and well…Marcus isn’t gay. Right?
What follows is a short, sweet, and to the point shifter romance. Marcus tries to deny Brian is his fated mate. He’s never imagined himself as other than straight. When he pushes Brian away, he breaks Brian’s heart. Once Marcus finally realizes Brian is, indeed, his mate, he spends a little time trying to win him back. He woos him, and it’s adorable. Dinner? Check! Balloons? Check! A teddy bear? Check and double check! And when they finally come together? Oh my goodness, but it was wonderful! Very hot and sexy, but so tender and sweet, I melted into a puddle of happy.
One of the things I really loved about Unexpected Mate is the low angst factor. There is a bit, but it’s not overwhelming. It’s not glossed over, by any means. The small amount of it is taken care of rather quickly, so we could get on with the romance between Brian and Marcus and their HEA.
I also enjoyed the background characters (Marcus’s family). He lives in a huge house with his three brothers, and they get on exactly like brothers should. They love each other, but tease each other mercilessly. Marcus’s parents, the ones he thought he’d be disappointing if he falls for a man, are wonderful and supportive. Brian has a best friend, Jase, from his old pack, and they’re there for each other even though Brian was banished from the pack. Expect more from Jase because the ending was a set up for the next Holland Brothers novel…and that’s a good thing.
I thought this was a great book. I read it in one sitting. It’s not very long, but it is a sweet, sexy read. If you’re a sucker for a strong handsome Alpha and his loving mate, this is for you. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
This review is part of our September Reading Challenge Month for Around the World Challenge Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win a fabulous prize from Riptide Publishing. One lucky winner will receive a selection of print Advanced Review Copies of Riptide books before they are even released (non-US winners will get ebook copies upon release instead). Commenters will also be entered to win our amazing grand prize sponsored by Dreamspinner Press (a loaded Kindle fire filled with DSP books!). You can get more information on our Challenge Month here, and more details on Around the World Challenge Week here. And be sure to check out our prize post for more about the awesome prizes!
This sounds like a fun read from an author who is new to me. Thanks for the review, Kenna.
I think I read this, but for some reason the series didn’t stick with me (I think it’s because as a whole, everything felt too similar). I’ll have to give this installment another chance!
This one doesn’t call to me, but I’m always happy for a reader to find a book that works for them. Thanks for sharing it with us, Kenna, as I’m sure there are others who’ll be happy to learn about this one!
This sounds like the kind of book I would read and re-read. I think I read a book by this author in an anthology…I’ll have to look it up, but something tells me I like her writing. I’m really looking forward to reading this one after reading your glowing review. Thanks! 🙂
Thanks for the review. Â Have had this on my TBR list for a while, so appreciate your thoughts.
This sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the review!
Thanks for the review! I read anything and everything by Toni Griffin. She was one of my first mm authors and this series is still one of my favorite.. I re-reead it when the new editions were released.
I liked this book but I always felt Marcus accepted that he was gay too easily. But low angst is always a plus.
This sounds lovely – and I can never resist a good shifter story! I’ve never read anything by Toni Griffin so will definitely check this one out.
Thanks for the review — low angst can make a book more enjoyable for sure.
Great review. I have read i think one book by this author and i liked that one 🙂 I’m in the mood to read something sweet and sexy, so after reading your review i deceided that i ‘m going to buy Unexpected Mate.
I really like the sound of this one, as shifter stories are amongst my favourite ones. It is a new author to me, but after reading your excellent review I’ll certainly add it to my TBR list. Thank you, Kenna
Definitely a reread for me, I think this is my personal favourite book in this series. If you haven’t read the rest, do be aware some are a bit darker but all are well worth reading.
This sounds like a light and happy read 🙂
I love this series! I just finished book 4 not too long ago. Well worth continuing! 😉
Thanks for your review. I have this one on my wishlist already, it sounds like a fun read!
Thanks for the review- it does sound like a fun read. Sometimes, no angst is a good thing when you are in the mood for an uncomplicated read. I’ll check this one out.