I'm gonna go ahead and just say that fated mates/omegaverse stuff just is not for me and that is fine! This is a great book for fantasy readers and those who love a werewolf, I just was not vibing with it.

This book was fun and if you enjoy workplace fake dating, it could definitely be the book for you. I really liked all of the fake dating things but I felt like the whole point of fooling Mackenzie’s grandmother disappeared from the plot way too quickly and that the reason for needing a fake mate only showed up at the end after it was introduced as an urgent problem. I was a bit weirded out by many of the terms that were used in it and it took me out of the story because I was jarred by the icky feeling that the words gave me. Overall, I didn’t mind this book and Noah and Mackenzie’s characters were developed fine, but the plot and motivations for decisions needed to be fleshed out more.

I saw the mixed reviews going into this book so I was presently surprised how good it was. I would have liked more back story to wolf side of things. I like that this could be a start for Ferguson to move towards more fantasy. It was a nice change for a complicated love story. It is a fast read, with all the sexy vibes you are looking for.

Two wolf shifters agree to be fake mates, each having their reasons, but sometimes the line to what is fake becomes blurred. Sometimes love is more complicated then the creature within them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of this story for my honest review.

4/5 stars

this book was everything and then some

i’ve never read a book like this before so it was refreshing to see! this is the perfect blend of paranormal romance with contemporary and I would recommend it to anyone who’s interested in the two!

i BINGED this book so fast it was easy to read and their dynamic?!?? perfect example of opposites attract

there was even a floating lesson of prejudice and discrimination— which you wouldn’t expect from a romance book but it was handled nicely


✨my end notes✨
1) loved it
2) i want this to be a series pretty please
3) i think i speak for everyone when i say hunter needs to be the second book

Totally gave me a bit of Ali Hazelwood vibes with the fake dating and shifter romance. Enjoyed the dual POV (yes, I will always want to know what the main lead is thinking!) and the steamy scenes!

First I want to say I've never read an omegaverse store and man was i was not prepared for how obsessed i now am!
lets start with the tropes it's a workplace fake dating opposites attract shifter romance with duel pov and it was fantastic. The spice was top tier the tension between the couple

This was so much fun!! I loved the chaos that is the plot line. Reylo inspired fake dating co-workers who are doctors yet also wolf shifters??? Their chemistry was great. This is very Ali Hazelwood coded so that was kinda fun. I loved The Nanny by this author so I wanted to give this a chance and I’m very glad I did!

i absolutely devoured this book omg i read it in one sitting and i feel like i haven't had a book make me want to do that in so long

the grumpy x sunshine and fake dating tropes are just so good and worked together so well in this case. it's funny, it's sweet, it's deliciously smutty... what more do you need? i will say though i don't normally read a ton of paranormal romances or omegaverse type stuff (especially with this level of smut) so the, uh, mechanics (?) and the dirty talk took a little getting used to LOL but i'm not not into it? it was interesting for sure

the only thing preventing me from giving this 5 stars is that the smut happened pretty early and then it felt like after that the build up and tension was gone and it was just endless smut (which... wasn't a horrible thing but can we get some plot too?) then we went from smut after smut to a millisecond of "do we have real feelings for each other?" and straight to the dreaded third act breakup... which could have so easily been avoided with proper communication!!

anyway i definitely still enjoyed reading this and am looking forward to see what Lana Ferguson puts out next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝙏𝙬𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙡𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙮.

📍 Read if you like:
• Shifter Romances
• Fake Dating
• Workplace Romance
• Opposites Attract
• Dual POV
• Omega-verse

I absolutely loved The Nanny by this author so I was so excited to dive into this one. I was a bit hesitant though as I’m not the biggest fan of shifter romances, but oh my goodness, I really enjoyed this one.

I mostly listened to this on audio and flew through it, I finished it in one sitting as I just couldn’t put it down. There’s something about this author’s writing that I just really enjoy.

Mackenzie and Noah are both doctors who happen to be wolf shifters. They agree to “fake date” for different reasons - which benefits both of them. I absolutely loved both characters and the tropes in this were top-notch.

The spice in this was also 🥵 I knew the last book was steamy, but oh man, I forgot how steamy these books are. Also, the knotting?!?!? I have no words…

Not only did I enjoy these main characters, but there were also a few likable side characters. I loved how they placed a role in this story.

The only reason this is a four-star is because I wasn’t the biggest fan of the 3rd act breakup. I just wish Noah would’ve communicated with Mackenzie about what was going on.

The cover honestly threw me off as I wasn’t initially expecting this to be a werewolf shifter romance and I was very hesitant picking this up, but I’m so glad I did. The audiobook was perfect and I had a great time reading this one!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

•𝗧𝗪/𝗖𝗪: Sexual Content, Abandonment, Medical Content, Death Of Parent

The Fake Mate is a decently entertaining romance book with many familiar but enjoyable tropes. The flirting and banter in the beginning immediately caught my attention and I thought Mackenzie and Noah had a lot of chemistry.

However, there is very little to the story outside of the romance. The plot concerning Noah's leaked Alpha status was very obvious and, therefore, wasn't particularly interesting. Once Noah and Mackenzie got together (for real) my interest waned. The smut scenes quickly became repetitive and the third-act conflict was predictably silly. I also felt like the story lacked good side characters. The most distinct side characters were comedic caricatures meant to put Mackenzie and Noah in awkward situations and ask invasive questions.

This book is so much fun! This is my first time dipping my toes into the omegaverse and when I tell you I went in blind, I was BLIND. I will admit I did my fair share of googling haha but I really enjoyed this book. It’s your classic fake dating, grumpy sunshine but with wolf shifters! What’s not to love

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

I can safely say I have definitely never read another book like this before. I added it to my TBR based off loving the author’s debut but this book surprised me. I have never read a shifter romance! And I’m not sure if it’s the right subgenre for me…

I really don’t know how to rate this book. I did the audio and I loved the performances and the characters, but then there were moments that made me a little uncomfy and I had a hard time processing the moments. I know so many people who love Omegaverse/Shifter Romances! So there’s definitely an audience, but again, not sure it’s for me. So, please take my review with this in mind: I didn’t realize this was a shifter romance until I did more research, I have never read a shifter romance and didn’t intend to, others love it and I still will read more from this author.

Synopsis:

“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.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Work Place Setting—I love a workplace romance! I loved that this took place in a hospital and thought it was interesting that everything was so out in the open. I wasn’t expecting it!

The Side Characters—I really liked everyone in this book! The dialogue was fun and I liked their relationships.

The Protective Hero—While I wasn’t ready for an Alpha…I understand the appeal.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

The Subgenre—I don’t know if I’m this kind of romance girlie 😭

The Spice—I’m sorry, I’m sorry but it just didn’t work for me. I am not a prude or screamish reader when it comes to spice but it just did not work for me.

The Feeling Like I was Missing Something—I am a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which was kept from being scared off once I learned this was a shifter romance. But I felt like I was thrown in to world with little to no explanation (which is probably my fault!).

Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 3/5 Overall Rating: ???

Content Warnings:

abandonment, medical content, death of a parent

REVIEW FOR THE FAKE MATE

4 stars

Thank you to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the free book copy!

I will be completely honest- I did NOT like The Nanny. I thought the whole premise was creepy, and I thought the characters lacked substance. However, I ADORED this book and read it in one sitting. This was my first full shifter romance, and I learned some THINGS friends lol. I really also hope this will be the start of a series, because there are a few side characters I wouldn't mind learning more about.

The connection and chemistry Mack and Noah was just, chef's kiss. I also liked that the paranormal part of the story was woven into the natural world, very similar to the Supernatural Singles stories by April Asher. It gave it an element of reality that fantasy and paranormal stories often lack.

One of the things I felt could have been improved upon was there was a lot of internal dialogue. I tend to like stories that strike a balance between external and internal dialogue, but if I feel like I'm in the characters head too much then it can get monotonous.

Overall, this book has made me a fan of Lana Ferguson, and I vow to give any future book of hers a chance before writing it off (as long as it doesn't have a weird storyline using OnlyFans)

I absolutely loved this book. Lana Ferguson has quickly become an auto-buy author for me, and I would absolutely read anything she writes!
It's an amazing introduction to the omegaverse/shifter romance if you haven't read any before, plus tie it all up with a pretty fake dating bow and you have one incredible romance! I absolutely loved Mack and Noah, and the heat scenes were DELICIOUS.

Steamy, shape-shifting, wolfy romance. It was just okay--didn't really grab me. Predictable. Cute. 45 variations of the verb, "chuff," was overkill. I liked The Nanny better.

Okay, this book just jumped to the top of my favorite steamy paranormal romance novel list! Three of my favorite tropes all rolled up into one steamy hot book. Yes, please! Grumpy, hot, alpha doctor Noah meets sunshiny omega doctor Mackenize in this fake-dating (mating) office romance reminiscent of the best Grey's Anatomy episode. Full of tons of hospital politics, drama, and lots of neck-nuzzling foreplay, I was not prepared for the sizzling romantic scenes and burning-hot chemistry between these two shifters. This one was off-the-charts good! It's a super fast, highly entertaining read. I'd especially recommend it if you like omegaverse shifter romances.

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson is a highly entertaining fake dating paranormal romance between two doctors that also happen to be wolves. If you think Grey’s Anatomy but add in omegaverse wolves, mates & workplace drama, you get this deliciously spicy & fun romance!

The Fake Mate is great for fans of…
🌙 Paranormal Romance
🌙 Workplace Romance
🌙 Fake Dating
🌙 Forced Proximity

This is my first omegaverse book & I have to say this one started me out with a bang. It had the perfect combination of entertainment, drama, spice, humor & love.

I also listened to the audiobook for this & I thought both of the narrators did a fantastic job. Dual POV audiobooks are my favorite kind so I thought this was amazing. I highly recommend the audiobook version of this! They brought this fun story to life.

If you’re looking for a delightfully intriguing & enjoyable spicy romance that is like Grey’s Anatomy meets Teen Wolf but not in their teens, then I highly recommend The Fake Mate!

Massive thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing & PRH Audio for the gifted copies, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

I love the paranormal addition to this romance. Ferguson writes so many different types of books and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Romance for providing me with an e-ARC to review. All opinions are honest and my own.

TW: explicit sex on the page, workplace sexual harassment, workplace blackmail, hospital setting, societal discrimination, parental death (past), parental neglect

This was my first experience with the omegaverse and I think…I think I am into it. Honestly, this is not revolutionary to announce, considering that I already enjoy paranormal romance (PNR) and monster romance. I know that omegaverse fans can be intense regarding what books are and are not “technically classified as omegaverse”, therefore to ease any concerns I will include the omegie (sorry I can’t keep typing out that long word) elements here: alphas, betas, scenting, wolf shifters, mating, knotting, societal discrimination. That’s all I got, so please let me know if I am missing anything. Remember I am a novice.

So knotting, no I will not explain it here, Google is your friend, however I enjoyed it wayyy more than I thought I would. This book has A LOT of sex, maybe not as much as a sex forward, plot second dark romance indie book, but considering this is from Berkley Romance I was like actually shocked there was so much sex. I know many of you will perk up your ears at this and will be ecstatic, and as a smut lover I must admit, I wanted a little more plot progression and less sexy time. This review is a little less structured and a bit more stream of consciousness, my apologies, however, the story had a really solid conflict and while it did result in a typical third act “breakup/general chaotic-ness” everything was resolved very quickly without the full level of angst and tension Lana Ferguson could have delivered. Why, because once the sex scenes started they did not end. I’m not sure what the balance in omegie books are and I know that sex is usually a big part of the plot, but we need synergy, I needed synergy. You can’t give me this stressful conflict, which the characters are contending with the whole book to wrap things up so quickly. I feel cheated Ms. Ferguson, I know you could have made it hurt more than it did. Honestly, I made a long blah-blah TikTok going into all the specifics, because I can better articulate my thoughts on this story verbally as opposed to in written form.

If you did not know this was originally a Reylo fic, it was not hard to guess considering, Noah,our male lead, is exuding Adam Driver energy on the cover. I enjoyed Mackenzie, our female lead and Adam. They had good chemistry and this is a workplace romance, as they are both doctors at the same hospital. While Noah is older than her, late thirties, she’s no baby, considering she’s in her late twenties, the ages are specified in the book, but I can’t be too fussed to look it up for the exact number. It does have one of my favorite tropes, don’t worry I’m not a trope fanatic and the presence of the trope doesn’t mean I will automatically enjoy the book. Execution is key. However, I did like the fake dating here, basically Noah is the intelligent, high-achieving, head honcho doctor of the hospital and Mackenzie is the funny, bubbly, blonde, who is trying to show that while she is young she is capable. Noah has a secret and Mackenzie can help him out, while also getting her scheming grandmother off of her case. They’re both wolf-shifters by the way so doggies go woof. Anyway, this was a fun read, but considering the pacing issues and lack of plot development it's not going into my life-changing romance book pile. Still a solid intro into the omegaverse, for me.

I enjoyed the side character's Mack's energetic and robust Grandma, her friend, Priya, who provided comedic relief, and her BFF, Parker. Because I know people are going to ask if this book has LGBTQIA+ rep, so yes, Parker is gay. He was a good friend, even though I found him a bit too rigid, but I think his character was underdeveloped anyway.

I’m so glad this was my introduction to Lana Ferguson. This book is just the right amount of spicy and angsty, and puts a whole new twist on the “fake relationship” trope. This book was so good, I started searching out other omegaverses, and honestly this and “Bride” by Ali Hazelwood are the best I’ve found!