I really wanted to like this book more than I did, since the premise sounded so fun. And it still is a good book, it just didn't pull me in like I hoped it would.

It's a story of fates, mates, and shifters. Mackenzie Carter and Noah Taylor are both medical doctors, both wolf shifters, and both need each other to be in a fake relationship. And it works up to a point, until feelings get involved.

The banter is light and there are moments when my hearth squees a little bit, but overall the book didn't enrapture me. It was still fun, weird with the rules of the unmated alphas. I look forward to her next book, as the first one grabbed me from the start.

This was a fun and flirty fast paced novel. It's my first shifter romance and I think even without the wolf stuff this would be a great contemporary romance novel. I would recommend it for fans of My Roommate is a Vampire, but I enjoyed this book more! I'm looking forward to owning a physical copy for my personal collection

Lordt this was my first foray into the Omegaverse…. I have no idea what made me want to even read this? I’m gonna say it’s all the fault of these other 3 ladies, Geena, Cassie, and Sarah. We all decided to Buddy Read this and I think it’s safe to say it broke us lmao All of us were new to Omegaverse, so I knew it was going to be fun….. Or fun adjacent at least lol

Ok so the number one best thing about this book was the humor and banter. I was going through a tough spot when we finished this, so I was very happy when I ended up laughing constantly. Mack was hilarious. And the way she interacted with Noah was hilarious as well. He was the Boogeyman of the hospital and she was all sunshine and rainbows. I love the sunshine and the grump trope, and this one was spot on. And the way she cracked his code, gah, I loved it.

I also like the plot. Even though I knew who it was the whole time, I don’t think the author was trying to keep it a secret. Because this person was a fucking jerk from the beginning lol But then there was all the side plots like the person who had a crush on Mack (👀) and of course fucking nosey Jessica lmao All of them made this so much fun. I daresay hearing every time Jessica was spreading other people’s business was hilarious. I remember asking how she had a job because girlfriend was NEVER doing any damn work lol

The other thing I liked about it was the romance. Again this was my first foray into the Omegaverse and I had a lot of questions. I would have Googled A LOT for this book, but I had Tiktok and the others to consult if I needed something. And honestly I was really happy that this was my first one. It was written really easy to follow and I found it just entertaining and not like it was trying to teach me anything. I don’t know if any of them out there are like that since this is my first, but I appreciated that.

However, that was really where my like with the romance ended lol I had some real issues with him making her say Alpha and her saying it in akin to like Daddy or something. BUT I didn’t take off my rating for it because I know that’s a me thing. That’s a wolf thing and I know that if I ever read anything else like this, I’ll have to get over that. There is a power difference between the two and I know I can’t make that a bad thing in my mind. I also had a problem with the in Heat thing. I don’t want to give it away, but Idk how to explain that the lines blurred with consent there to me. Again this is a me thing, but I really need to let it go. Maybe I’m over-thinking it, but it just felt weird. She was in pain so she took care of it. But it was with him because he was there? Idk it felt weird to me.

I do wish there was more world building. Are there other species out there? Are there ONLY wolf shifters? Idk even if it was more places in the neighborhood or something would be cool. I get that it was mostly in the hospital, and they only had other wolves, but it was really lackluster. There weren’t even any cool cases that they talked about in the story. And like, there’s 2 times they’re wolves the whole book and it’s just weird to me. I guess I’m just weird because I wanted more.

This book was so much fun, but it’s not without its faults. I will say I’m ready for another Omegaverse lite novel like this one lol (I say Omegaverse Lite because Lordt Idk if I can think about a regular knot for a very long time now lmao)

Ugh, I wanted to love this one or at least like it but ultimately it just didn't work for me. I liked the author's writing style but the tropes and characters were a miss for me. The pacing was a bit slow and the story seemed all over the place. While this one wasn't for me, I do believe others will enjoy it.

This would have been a perfect five stars if only the villain would have been done a great violence. For a book about werewolves, it wasn’t as bloodthirsty as I would have liked, but maybe that’s just me and my need for vengeance. Otherwise, really cute book!

Very fast paced and fun read. I love paranormal rom coms and this one was a really fast and fun read. A touch silly at times but super cute, I really do love the entire fake dating trope. Add in a grumpy love interest and I’m sold

Holy Omegaverse! This was my first time reading the subgenre and for me, it was perfect. I toe-dip a little into paranormal/fantasy, but not a ton, so it was all very new to me. I mean, we’ve all heard of Alphas, but I knew nothing of Omegas—and KNOTS! Whew, that was hot! I will admit I had to take a (small) detour over to Google to do a little research on Omegaverse, but it was worth it. I love contemporary romance and rom-coms and this felt like those with a tinge of Omegaverse. So for a first time reader of the subgenre, I couldn’t have asked for a better intro.

3 ⭐️ This was a fun omegaverse story


I mean, it's just a few lies and a fake relationship. Nothing bad ever came from that.


WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ paranormal / shifter romance
✨ contemporary setting
✨ omegaverse
✨ doctor MCs
✨ she needs a boyfriend, he needs a mate
✨ fake dating
✨ co-workers
✨ grumpy x sunshine
✨ strangers to friends with benefits
✨ he falls first
✨ 7 year age gap
✨ teasing banter
✨ 3/5 spice
✨ "you can take it", "good girl"
✨ lack of communication because fear of rejection
✨ third act breakup
✨ groveling
✨ HEA


My Thoughts:

For anyone who isn't familiar with omegaverse, this is a great place to start. If you're not familiar with the concept at all, just do a quick google search for an explanation.


What I liked:

I really enjoyed the beginning of this story. Mackenzie and Noah are both doctors but rarely work together, so they're essentially strangers. She's very approachable and friendly while Noah is serious, standoffish, and known as the Boogeyman of Denver. These two are total opposites and it wasn't apparent how they'd be a match at the beginning, but as the story progresses and they get to know one another, Mackenzie thaws his cold heart while Noah makes hers burn. They're both a little awkward around each other at first, which was super realistic considering the situation. And they end up developing a genuine friendship, which I thought was sweet. They're romance was sweet, but of course, it was also very spicy.

There's a total of 6 explicit sex scenes that go on for quite a few pages, so this is for the smut lovers. And if you're wondering about the type of smut, just know it has a lot of the usual omegaverse stuff: scenting, praise, knotting, licking, biting, and chasing. All very primal. And even though these two are shifters (they can turn into wolves), don't worry, they only do it as humans.


What I didn't like:

There’s not a lot going on besides the romance, so once they’re together I started losing interest. Sure, there's some drama with Noah being outed as an alpha by a mysterious person, who is revealed towards the end. But, that side plot was predictable so the reveal wasn't a surprise. So around 60% of the story when the romance is established, I ended up skimming a lot of the non dialogue just to see how it all ends.

The third act breakup was also very predictable. It was also incredibly frustrating because none of it would have happened if Noah had just talked to Mackenzie, but he got scared(?) and decided to make choices for the two of them even if he knew it would make them both miserable. It was a dumb decision.

However, I will say the groveling and makeup sex afterwards was satisfying; so at least the story ended on a high note.

Priya was a random, annoying friend. All she ever did was ask Makenzie about her sex life with Noah and it just got really weird after a while.

I cannot say enough good things about this book 🥹 After reading The Nanny Lana Ferguson immediately became an auto buy author, and The Fake Mate just further confirmed for me the Lana is firmly in place at the top of my favorite authors!

Noah and Mack just truly are the absolute cutest, and this story is fake dating perfection! And with the added aspect of it being paranormal just made it even better! Fake mating instead of fake dating is such a fun fresh take on the trope, and really adds something new to the trad published romance genre! It’s so exciting to see paranormal romance from a traditional publisher, and I hope this is just the first of many!


Plus, Noah being an Alpha whose pretty beta in the streets Alpha in the sheets was PERFECT 🥵

I really hope we get a second book from Lana in this universe!

I absolutely adored this book. The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson is the perfect book for fake dating trope lovers.
Mackenzie is a doctor who agrees to be fake mates with Noah, another doctor in the hospital. Noah has recently been outed as an Alpha and if he has a mate, he won't be subject to the stereotypes of the aggressive alpha. Mackenzie's grandmother is determined to fix her up with any available man. She's also hiding the fact that she is an omega. The two see that this arrangement can be beneficial for both of them.
This was sweet and sexy and fun. I loved these characters.

This book was a steamy delight. Here for the STEM rep, here for the knots, here for the omegaverse!

Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of multiple romance tropes will love this book. There's something for everyone: fake dating, medical romance, enemies to lovers, even omegaverse done well! Mackenzie and Noah's relationship progressed naturally from the beginning of the story in a way that wasn't too rushed. The spice was also spicy! I personally loved that Mackenzie and Noah were both doctors and both respected in their fields. The secondary characters in this story are also fun and very diverse, so koodos to Lana for writing them in.

Reviewed for Shelf Awareness:

Lana Ferguson (The Nanny) turns up the heat with The Fake Mate, a scorching wolf shifter romance set at a Denver hospital. Desperate to dodge yet another terrible set-up, emergency room doctor Mackenzie Carter impulsively tells the grandmother who raised her that she's dating the "Boogeyman of Denver General," interventional cardiologist Noah Taylor. Noah ups the stakes and asks her to pretend to be his mate because someone reported him to the hospital board for not disclosing his alpha designation during the hiring process. In this alternate universe setting popular in fan fiction, shifters are classified into different group and the alpha and omega designations are both stigmatized. Alphas are said to be prone to violence without the calming effect of a mate and by pretending that he's mated to omega Mackenzie, he can avoid disciplinary action.
The fake-dating pretense gradually morphs into something very real--especially after Mackenzie proposes a "sex addendum" and an especially memorable week when Mack goes into an unexpectedly early heat. Ferguson goes full steam ahead in this opposites-attract romance, but all that sex is skillfully blended with genuine relationship-building and readers will be eager to see these two big-hearted people figure out their happily ever after.
The Fake Mate is a great example of how professional and personal obstacles can be important to a romance plot without compromising character development. This mashup of Grey's Anatomy, Ali Hazelwood and high heat Reylo fan fiction will make even the most seasoned romance reader's heart beat a little faster

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance, Netgalley, and PRH Audio for the advanced copies of this! All thought and opinions are still my own.

Look. This was fucking DELIGHTFUL 😅

The Nanny walked so this book could fly.

First of all -- this cover is a crime against the book. It in no way, even remotely accurately depicts the story inside.

But the story that is inside is a wild, delightful, STEAMY romp.

Our heroine is a secret omega who accidentally tells her meddling family that she's dating the grumpy surgeon. Who just so happens to be a secret alpha (hello drama).

We have erogenous hugging. Secret closet rendezvous. A surprise heat. And so. much. knotting.

If you're looking for a really fun, steamy, shifter romance that will leave you both laughing out loud and fanning yourself - look no further. This book is such a good time and I can't wait for more from Lana Ferguson!

🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺
I was dying to get my hands on this book from the moment it was announced! I LOVED The Nanny, so I knew I would love this one too! And I DID. 😍 This book was so unlike anything I have read before. The perfect mix of sweet, funny, and SPICY 🔥
This book was a lot of fun, and I highly recommend it 💜
⭐⭐⭐⭐

....now it's time to start the countdown for The Game Changer!!

This book is what Lana Ferguson does best! It was funny and well written. It's Lana's best book yet, I never thought I'd love a shifter novel but I was genuinely surprised!

DNF at 68%. Maybe I'll slide back in and finish this one day. I honestly feel like I've gotten all this book has to offer and if I continue my rating would be even lower. The pacing is slow but at the same time, all of the juicy bits of the story were given to us in the first 40%. Nothing was left to be desired to keep me wrapped up in the story until the end. I know that Mack and Noah will be together and Dennis will get wrecked somehow. I haven't found anything in the story that makes me intrigued enough to figure out how though.

yup!! keep bringing the omegaverse and shifter books to trad publishing!!!

not my fav book ever but i still had a good time reading it

Very first things first, I knew nothing of the omegaverse, so if you have any interest in reading this book a quick google (although be careful out there, it's a wild search term) of said term would probably be helpful for you, just as it was for me. That being said, this was a totally ridiculous, over the top steamy romance novel and I basically loved it. This review is going to be pretty short, cause I don't have a lot to say about this book other than it made me wish Ferguson was going to write more in this world, or at least more paranormal stories, because this one was wildly entertaining (as was her debut novel, in case you were wondering). It wasn't anything overly new or inventive, and it probably would have worked just a little better if it described some omegaverse things instead of just assuming people knew what they were, but seeing as that can be fixed with a quick google search it's nothing too egregious. With this book Ferguson has certainly cemented herself in my eyes as an author to keep an eye on, and I'll be checking out her next book (out later this year [2024]) because they've all been a delight and I have high hopes for her sports romance too.

Lana Ferguson could write a shopping list and I would drool over it.

I never thought I'd pick up a wolf/shifter romance, but Lana wrote one so I had to. And I loved it. But that's honestly more to do with loving her writing style. I love the way she writes characters — the connections they share, the miscommunications, the mishaps, and especially the fun shenanigans!

This book was described recently as "Grey's Anatomy...but they're wolves" and it's pretty accurate. I loved the hospital setting, the side characters (will we be getting more about these beauties??), and the overall environment. There was also a bit of a mystery and some blackmail going on which kept the suspense strong!

While this book did have a lot of spicy chapters (and trust me, I enjoyed those immensely too), I definitely just love the way Lana crafts stories — she pulls me in and makes me beg for more every time.

Tropes:
- wolf/shifter romance
- enemies to lovers
- he falls first
- office romance
- forced proximity
- fake dating
- fake marriage/"mating"