I actually really enjoyed this! I read the authors other book, The Nanny, & liked it but didn’t love so I was unsure how I’d feel about this one. But I loved it! Such a sweet romance, easy to read, both characters were very likable & I loved their banter. I loved the shifter world & the spice was… really good. 10/10 for that part!

Whelp I guess this is why you read a plot synopsis before requesting a book and not judge it based off the cover and author’s previous work.

I opened this expecting a steamy rom com like The Nanny (which I loved), and while the steam was there, and about 70% of the plot, I am still unsure about what the point of the story was. Maybe it’s because I knew nothing about werewolves going in?! But even being extremely open to the paranormal piece, I found myself going down the Google rabbit hole many times because the author did not provide great background info for those not familiar with “shifter romances.” I also found the conflict to come out of left field and just added in for the sake of a third act break up and not because it developed the story.

Still, there are so many positive reviews for this, so it is likely I am not the right audience! If you like paranormal romances, werewolves and learning about their sex lives, then def give this a try!

This story was slightly different from the books I usually read but dang I really enjoyed this one! Like wolf shifters?!? SO COO AND FUN! Lana Ferguson's writing is so funny and oh so spicy! The romance was done very well and I had a great time reading this.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5

Let me just say, if Lana writes it, I’m going to read it! So when she announced that her next book was a shifter romance, I was a little nervous but obviously intrigued. Did I have to ask for a Shifter 101 glossary of terms, yes! 😅 Was I still on board after having my eyes OPENED, yeah duh! 😍

The Fake Mate was one of the most fun fake dating romances that I have read this year! Just like Mack, I too fell for the Boogeyman of Denver General. Noah was sweet, and caring, and I couldn’t help but love him all the more when his Alpha side reared its head.

It’s no mystery that in the midst of the fake dating trope, our two main characters start to inevitably fall for one another. I absolutely loved watching this play out. Both grow so much and learn that they too can be loved despite how they might have thought their lives were set to pan out. It truly warmed my heart! 🥰

I hope you take a chance and give this paranormal rom-com a read! You will not be disappointed! Be prepared for some laugh out loud moments and MANY steamy scenes that have you shifting in your seat… You’ll love it! 😈

Read if you love:
Fake dating… I mean, mating, with a side of FWB 😏🥵
Grumpy/sunshine 😠😊
FATED MATES *swoon* 🐺🥰
He falls first 🤭❤️
Grey’s Anatomy? 🥼🩺

I’M SORRY THAT YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER TO READ THIS!! The Fake Mate will be published on December 5, 2023.

Thank you to Lana Ferguson, Berkley Romance (@berkleyromance), and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A captivating story that had me rooting for the characters to be together. It was well written, to the point that I could not put this down.

I adore Noah & Mackenzie, his grumpiness and her witty jokes will melt you. I will say that I'm not a fan of the "knot" but after reading this I'm definitely into it now. It was so hot and the way it was written..... chef's kiss. This was utterly amazing, a fun fake dating omegaverse that will have you obsessing over Lana's books.

Lana Ferguson is officially an auto-read author of mine! This is your official warning to only start one of her books if you have adequate time in your schedule and don't need sleep anytime soon because I needed, not wanted, needed, to binge both of her books in one sitting, I cannot put them down!!

The Fake Mate is absolute grumpy sunshine, workplace romance, fake dating, shifter romance perfection!! Now to be honest I am usually not a fan of the fake dating trope, I find it it be difficult to read sometimes because it usually comes with the dreaded miscommunication trope. But I trusted in Lana Ferguson and her incredibly clever writing and my goodness did she deliver!! The way that she handled this trope was so amazing, I have now been converted!

Lana Ferguson's writing style is witty and intriguing, she will have you laughing out loud and then blushing like a teenager all in one chapter, the way she writes spice is unmatched! She has a knack for writing relatable and interesting characters, the plot starts off right from the first page and the chemistry from Mack and Noah is incredibly apparent throughout the entire book.

I will now sit waiting impatiently for her next book that I already know will be another hit!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC!

A very short love letter to Lana Ferguson, from a humble bookseller.

I’ve been waiting for this book since reading The Nanny. With bated breath, and high strung anticipation.

Lana? You just seem to be out on this earth to make my romance novel dreams come true. The 16 year old fanfic addict I used to be would never have dared hope for an original omegaverse aka wolf-shifter romcom, but here we are! So, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for writing wonderfully weird romance for wonderfully weird people. You have a devoted fan in me ❤️

In all seriousness though. I honestly, wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves love stories, spice, and laughter. One of the easiest reviews I’ve written this year! Mack and Noah felt drawn together in the most chaotic but believable way. As a sucker for a good fake dating trope, The Fake Mate raised the bar with undeniable humor and great chemistry!

This book is thigh clenching sensational! I think this might be my first omega verse romance and holy shit someone get me an alpha please!!! This book had fake dating, grumpy sunshine, let’s just do it one time to get it out of our systems, and so many steamy scenes!

This shifter romance is everything you need in your life. The banter is hilarious, the sexual tension is hornyyyyy, and the omega verse of it all was chefs kiss. I read this in one sitting and was not able to put it down.

The way Noah turns all alpha for Mackenzie and they both drive each other wild will warm your hearts and your bits.

Lana Ferguson delivers another great romance in her sophomore novel. You will not want to miss this!

The fake dating that dreams were made of... Mack/Mackenzie Carter and Noah Taylor, doctors at the same hospital, are desperate for a last minute fake dating/mating partnership to clear up some drama in their lives. And so of course we get the inevitable fake dating with benefits that dreams are made of...

I ATE THIS UP. This was my first shifter/omegaverse and now I'm writing lists of what to try next. If Lana Ferguson writes it, I'm reading it. The banter/humor is top notch, the story was enthralling, and the spice made me feel as though I was the one going into heat. I am always so hard to please with third act drama and once again Lana Ferguson kills it. As with The Nanny, The Fake Mate is the perfect mix of humor, swoon worthy moments and hotness.

READ THIS!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: death of parents (past, briefly mentioned), racism (briefly mentioned), blackmailing, workplace tensions

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f omega verse romance
-idiots to lovers
-fake dating
-workplace romance
-grumpy/sunshine
-alpha in the sheets simp in the streets
-just a hookup
-horrrrrny

One of my favorite things about romance is the escapism it provides and this book was just the perfect escapist, fun, horny romp that had me screaming. Mack is an omega and sick of having everyone try to set her up with her perfect mate. Stoic grump Noah is discovered to be an alpha and needs a mate of his own, so of course these two fall into a fake dating relationship and I was here for every minute of it. Whether you're new to omega verse or not I really think you'll enjoy this one as it just leans so hard into tropes.

Every time Noah had to scent Mack so their relationship was believable was just so horny as these two tried to pretend they weren't ridiculously attracted to the other. Noah was just so soft on Mack immediately before he even realized it. Ready to do anything, give her anything. This was idiots to lovers goodness as both of these two were in such denial trying to pretend it was all the hormones and not their feelings. This was just the perfect feast of low angst, high steam and just watching these two hornsters fall of reach other.

Mack was so fiercely independent I loved that she had zero need for a relationship but falls into one with Noah, being the one to take care of him and use help advocate for him. Their dynamic was so fun. While Noah was an alpha (and gosh those bedroom scenes yummm) it was Mack who was really topping from the bottom asking for what she needed. I was just screaming as these two took care of the other both in their personal lives and of course when Mack went into her heat (IYKYK).

This was so much fun and Lana Ferguson is just an auto read author for me.

Steam: 4.25

If you loved THE NANNY, you will adore this one. It was a huge treat and just reaffirmed that I will blindly read whatever Lana Ferguson writes forever.

This was my first Omegaverse book and oh lord, I need more now. Noah and Mack were so hot together. With big opposite personalities, they had never paid attention to each other until a fake mate arrangement benefits them both. What I love the most in opposite attracts romances is how the most unlikely pair works so perfectly because they balance each other's personalities in the best way. Mack saw things in Noah that no one else saw because he let himself just be around her. Being an Alpha and an Omega, their sexual chemistry was bound to be more than explosive... and it was. IT WAS. You can always trust Lana to deliver the best steam.

As I said, it was my first book with shifters! Whenever I've read supernatural romances I have stuck to witches, but I think I have to explore the subgenre more because I loved the alpha/omega dynamic so much. I think this is a great book to get started, like me, because it introduces the main terms and dynamics but it still reads mostly as a contemporary romance. It's the perfect type of supernatural romance for me.

I loved THE NANNY, and now I've loved THE FAKE MATE. Lana is now one of my favorite authors, and she's an amazing person as well.

Also, that teaser at the end... can we time travel to 2024 please please please?

Rating: 5/5
Steam level: Open door, +5 scenes, high level of detail

ARC provided by Lana Ferguson, Berkley and NetGalley. Opinions are my own!

Lana comes back with a bang. Literally and figuratively. I loved The Nanny and I was extremely excited for The Fake Mate. It’s a contemporary and fluffy take on Omegaverse. It’s very steamy, it’s funny, and it’s so hooking. She knows how to write amazing characters that you can’t help but love. Lana knows how to write charming feel-good romances and The Fake Mate is another prime example!

I've never even ventured into the OmegaVerse because it didn't particularly interest me before, but when he was like call me alpha I had to find a list of recommendations because that GOT me. This book is incredibly FUN and HOT. The heat cabin moment...will go down in rom-com iconic history. I'm so so excited to read more by this author and I'm desperate to enter this universe longer!

This was the paranormal rom com of my dreams! I loved everything about Mackenzie and Noah. The fake dating trope is one of my absolute favorites and when you pair it with their personalities it was dynamite. I loved reading about Noah, who is normally more reserved, start to lose more and more control around Mackenzie. The story was hilarious, heartwarming and sexy. I am a total Lana Ferguson stan and will read anything she writes!