UnexpectedMateRating: 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?

challenge month 2016What 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!

kenna sig