Wed to the Lynx

Arranged Monster Mates #16

by Cara Wylde

I'll do anything to make her believe in us.

I can't survive another mating season without a mate. For a Lynx as old as I am, I should've been mated years ago, but I haven't had the luck to find my one and only in my community. Lynxes mate for life. I know she's out there, and if she's not of my species, then she must be human. So, I send my blood to the Temple and pray they will find my perfect match.

The Temple is never wrong, or so they say. When they find my mate and she does everything in her power to escape me, I'm starting to doubt the accuracy of the DNA test. She's beautiful, feisty, and a little bit shallow, used to being treated like a princess. I need her with all my being.

I'm ready to give her the world in exchange for a cuddle.

*This is a charity book. The proceeds will go to a cat shelter in Romania. They need all the help they can get for their cuddly and not-so-cuddly kitties. The shelter is called Friends of Cats (Prietenii Pisicilor in Romanian).

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Monster Romance, Monsters, Paranormal Romance, Novella, Forced Proximity

132 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2024

About the author

Cara Wylde loves to write about strong, feisty women and their hot Alphas who will do anything to make them happy. Her books are filled with romance and just a dash of mystery, suspense, and that eerie atmosphere she fell in love with reading too many gothic novels. With a master's degree in Comparative Literature, she can't help but play with tropes and themes from various genres, trying to come up with fresh perspectives on the paranormal characters her readers love so much. Vampires, shape-shifters, demons, witches... Cara will always make sure they get their own twists.

When she's not writing, Cara is reading, planning her next story, or daydreaming. Her idea of pure heaven is a day filled with nothing but her laptop, a huge coffee pot, relaxing music, and a new, exciting project.

Reviews

[tortured reader ࣪ ִֶָ ⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

qué envidia le tengo a la protagonista por favor, él es un gatito (literal) se deja mandar por ella y es dominante cuando se necesita (en la intimidad) 🙏🏼 QUIERO UNO

[LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is part of the multi-author "Arranged Monster Mates" series, which can be read in any order. They all take place in the world of Alia Terra, which was formed when the Shift merged the human world with portions of a variety of monster worlds. In the present, poor or orphaned women submit their DNA to the Temple in order to be matched with monster mates and thereby ensure that they and/or their families live better lives.

Marigold is a human from a wealthy, emotionally distant family. After she rejects her friend's brother, her "friend" tricks her into giving her a small sample of her blood and then submits it to the Temple without Marigold's knowledge. Marigold is shocked and horrified when she's notified that she's been matched. She and her parents try to get her out of the arranged marriage, but it isn't possible, and so she reluctantly leaves with Shadow, the Lynx she was matched with, determined to act so spoiled that he'll eventually send her home again. Shadow, meanwhile, is an introverted author who has sought out a mate in order to keep himself from growing out of control during the upcoming mating season. He's determined to do his best to make Marigold feel welcome in his home and community, even if it means going outside his comfort zone and being more social.

This was lighter in tone than the entries in this series I read by Layla Fae - Marigold didn't have the level of trauma those heroines had, although she did have some issues resulting from how emotionally distant her parents were and how she'd been raised since childhood to present a perfect face to the world.

The setup was a bit difficult to believe. I could accept that Marigold's "friend" was a horrible person, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what she'd been trying to achieve by submitting Marigold's blood to the Temple - it wouldn't do anything to help her brother. Also, it bugged me that there didn't seem to be a procedure in place for those who'd unwittingly and unwillingly had their blood submitted to the Temple.

Anyway, Shadow was a sweetheart. He just wanted Marigold to be happy and spent a huge chunk of the book wearing his heart on his metaphorical sleeve. Marigold, meanwhile, pretended to be cold, spoiled, and unaffected by the things Shadow gave her to try to make her feel welcome, all the while mentally squealing over the quality of the things available in the Lynx community. I wish a little more time had been taken to show the two of them getting to know each other and winning each other over, but what there was of their relationship-building was nice.

The sex, unfortunately, was not my cup of tea. Not only did it sound more gross than sexy, the descriptions of Shadow reminded me a bit too much of real cats and had my brain cringing away from picturing what was going on. Ick.

Anyway, this is probably my last foray into this series, since the descriptions of the other books don't really interest me.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

[Kellyythoralabatalla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mi mente todo el tiempo estuvo pensando en un gatito, nada más, así que fue raro para mí. Me moría de ternura cuando decía gatitos (para bebés), que tomaban leche o patas 🥺. Pero dejaron cosas sueltas: la "mejor amiga" que envió la muestra de sangre y los papás de ella que la abandonaron.

[Jen (Nesta's versión) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Él es un Lince y ella es humana de una familia rica, ahora por una amiga que quería vengarse de ella, su sangre es enviada al tembló y la emparejan ........

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super-short. Most of the....romance...I've been reading lately is shockingly wordy, clocking in at 375-550 pages. This was a breeze.

I feel like it suffered for it. I wanted to see Goldie warm up to Shadow more gradually, rather than all at once due to a 2-minute conversation with Shadow's neighbor. I wanted to see her work through her reaction to her friend's betrayal, her family issues. I wanted to see more of the Lynx community life. As it is, it was too far, too fast. I will say I liked that this was a FMC who wasn't given a rape-as-backstory or who needed rescuing and protection. She's quite obnoxious at first...but its absolutely understandable given her circumstances.

Very light on the amount of smut, and the smut we have is very vanilla.

[Lady Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 / 5 (rounded down)

Although this isn't the first book of the series by a long shot, it is the first book I'm reading from it, and therefore my first impression is that this clearly took inspiration from Regine Abel's Prime Mating Agency series. The premise is kind of similar: a Marriage Temple collects DNA samples from human women (virgins) and monster males, and match them up with 100% accuracy if they're meant to be mates. Where the difference comes in is that this world seems to be a bit more brutal, in that humans are subservient to different monster species and have no choice but to appease them this way.

Thus the stage is set for Marigold and Shadow's romance, which already starts off rocky from the get-go. Apparently, the women who usually submit their DNA to the temple do so willingly, but in Marigold's case she was tricked into it by someone she thought was her friend, and therefore she doesn't want any part of it. For Shadow though, who's desperate to find a mate and be complete, he's not willing to let her go just because of that--or because of how bitchy she acts to him for all of...two days.

Um...yeah.

Maybe this wasn't the ideal book to start off this series with, but...I had a couple of problems with this that kept me from fully enjoying it. And...yeah, they're all 100% Marigold's problems, or rather the problems that readers are sure to have with Marigold.

This book's not long--only 132 pages on Kindle--so whatever conflicts crop up, they're basically competing for space with the romance and smut that need to take place in this genre. Except...those conflicts are never addressed, and that's a big issue for me. Namely:

- for the person who betrayed Marigold, or even her family's reactions and everything about Marigold's past life, none of that is EVER addressed after her marriage ceremony, and we have no idea what happens. Not whether that person gets punished, or whether Marigold's family punishes that person's family, nada. Just...nothing.

- we also never get details on whether Marigold's family even tries to get her back, or whatever. Apparently, once they found out that she was set up, they try to fight it, but other than leaving her off with six suitcases of baggage, that's the last we see of them. We get hints that they were distant and uncaring because of their prestige and whatnot but...I don't know, it just felt like a plot point that was dropped, and therefore feels incomplete.

--AND, as mentioned before, the biggest problem is Marigold herself. Oh, and I don't mean how she's been a bitch to Shadow at the beginning to make him want to give her up. No, no, that's perfectly understandable, and I got that: it made SENSE. (And it also made him seem super sweet in that he was willing to put up with that.

However, what IS a problem is that all of this lasts only TWO DAYS before they wind up in bed together, and it's like....WTF?!?! I mean, if only we could've gotten a timeskip, maybe some more time to get to know this couple and how their dynamics work, maybe have Marigold warm up to Shadow gradually, it'd be believable. Not that I wanted to drag out the whole "Marigold doesn't want this" plot, but it felt unrealistic to have her switch on a total 180 just because...well, I think it's because one of Shadow's friends tells her all about his tragic backstory, which results in Marigold switching to an "aww, poor kitty!" attitude and then "petting" him in so many ways afterwards.

AFTER. TWO. DAYS.

Maybe it shouldn't be such a sore point for me, but I can't help that it is. Sure, in the PMA series, things also moved pretty fast, but that's because the whole consummation part of it was required by the agency; and even then, there was a 6 month period in which either partner could back out if they felt that things weren't going to work out.

In this, we have none of that, and maybe it's in the previous books, but it isn't detailed here whether any separation/divorce is an option if things don't work out. The way I saw it, the monsters are the overlords and humans have no choice but to do as they're told, and so Marigold would've been stuck in the marriage no matter what unless Shadow wanted to let her go. That's...not something that I, personally, would be able to get over in just two days' time.

So...maybe this wasn't a good book to start with for this series--and maybe, seeing as it's book 16 in the series, the author was even a little bit worn out with the idea by the time they got around to writing this--but my final conclusion on it is that it's just so-so for now, and definitely inferior to the PMA series.

Still, I'll give it another go with another book in the series sometime soon, and wait and see what I think then.

[Leanne ~ Tales From The Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some time in the future the world is run by monsters, humans are now a minority.
Shadow is a lynx, a lone and writer. Only the mating season is closing in and he must find a mate.
Marigold is from a rich family and has been betrayed by a friend. Her blood sent in for a match with a monster mate. There is no escape from this law.
I think they have actually both met their match for real. Her bitchiness has him amused and she is tempted.
Life has now become so different for her, will she adapt?
I really enjoyed this story and wanted more.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t believe I read all 16 of these in three days…

[espe :)]

Esta ambientado en un futuro distópico donde los monstruos gobiernan. Un lugar llamado el Templo ofrece a las humanas virgenes poder encontrar pareja entre los monstruos a cambio de una muestra de sangre. Marigold, la protagonista, no tiene ninguna intención de encontrar parej. Pero al final, por cosas de la vida, acaba emparejada con un lince. Es imposible no imaginartelo todo tierno, porque además su personalidad es un amor.

No es una super historia, y no se que me ha llevado a leerla, pero ha sido entretenida. No he conectado mucho con la protagonista y el final ha sido muy muy apresurado, pero si buscas un libro con el que entretenerte (y que quizás te saque de un bloqueo) aquí lo tienes. Si buscas una historia super original y profunda, con una pedazo de pareja y unos momentos memorables, mejor skip.

[Meagan Grauel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too terrible, but the FMC is a royal bitch. Loved the MMC and I just don’t feel like he deserved the treatment he received from her. Obviously, it all works out in the end. But it sucked he was treated like crap for so much of the book. The mating season scenes were hot as hell though, so it was kind of worth all the drama to make it to those parts. I’m sad to have come to the conclusion of this series. They were all quick and easy to read filled with loads of smut and unique monster junk. I definitely recommend reading the entire series if you’re looking for a new obsession!

[Sh]

Note : DV but h has kissed others

[Josefa]

sin comentarios, me gano el morbo jsjajs

[Ner · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐⭐

Segunda oportunidad que le doy a un libro de monstruos y, aunque es muchísimo menos misógino de lo que son por lo general, seguía estando fatal escrito. Encima dura un suspiro.

[Kate Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

un 2,5 da intendersi come una sorta di 6 politico. non è bellissimo, nemmeno brutto, ma non c'è chimica tra i protagonisti.
tuttavia si legge in fretta e, nonostante sia breve, l'autrice si è impegnata per rendere credibile la storia

[Rylee Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

He was such a sweetheart. She was so real for her attitude tho

[Serena Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadow🐱





•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.




Wed to the Lynx de Cara Wylde serie Arranged Monster Mates libro 16

Argumento:

Haré cualquier cosa para que ella crea en nosotros.

No puedo sobrevivir otra temporada de apareamiento sin una compañera. Para un lince tan viejo como yo, debería haberme apareado hace años, pero no he tenido la suerte de encontrar a mi única compañera en mi comunidad. Los linces se aparean de por vida. Sé que está ahí fuera, y si no es de mi especie, entonces debe ser humana. Así que envío mi sangre al Templo y rezo para que encuentren a mi pareja perfecta.

El Templo nunca se equivoca, o eso dicen. Cuando encuentran a mi compañera y ella hace todo lo posible por escapar de mí, empiezo a dudar de la precisión de la prueba de ADN. Es hermosa, luchadora y un poco superficial, acostumbrada a que la traten como a una princesa. La necesito con todo mi ser.

Estoy dispuesto a darle el mundo a cambio de un abrazo.



Mi humilde opinión:

La historia de Shadow y Marigold me pareció linda pero no me gustaba la heroína al principio. Era superficial y mala con el pobre lince.

Estuvo genial que la autora destacara los aspectos felinos a lo largo de la historia para esta raza. Fue gracioso que Shadow tomara un vaso de leche con hielo en lugar de una bebida con alcohol por ejemplo. La comunidad vivía en un enorme árbol, cada hogar era nombrado por un olor particular, no comían o bebían ciertas cosas de los humanos, el comportamiento, característica y los pequeños detalles me resultaron divertidos en el mundo de los linces.

Yo ame a Shadow, un minino rollo de canela y tan paciente con su novia que no podía no quererlo.

Si bien Goldie me molestó al principio, después terminó aceptando su matrimonio con Shadow y adaptándose a su nueva vida apesar de ser de mundos diferentes. Me sorprendió su cambio repentino tan empeñada estaba en caerle mal para que la regresara a casa con sus padres. Quizás hubiera querido algunos momentos para que me crea el amor pero estuvo ok. Las escenas de Shadow cediendo al apareamiento fueron candentes.

Me quedaron cosas en el aire. Qué sucedió con los padres ricos que hicieron todo lo posible por impedir su boda en el templo? No se supo más de ellos ni volvieron a ver su única hija. Y la mejor amiga que la engañó? Merecía algun castigo por lo que hizo.

Siempre es genial para mí leer los libros de esta serie, son lecturas rápidas, dulces, picantes y entretenidas.

[Nere · Rating 3 out of 5]

La historia se desarrolla en un futuro distópico donde los monstruos gobiernan el mundo. Un lugar conocido como el Templo ofrece a las humanas vírgenes la oportunidad de encontrar pareja entre los monstruos a cambio de una gota de sangre.
Marigold no busca pareja. Sin embargo, su amiga Penélope, en un acto de venganza por el desaire de Marigold a su hermano Lucian, entrega una gota de sangre de Marigold al Templo. Como resultado, le asignan a Shadow, un Lynx, como pareja.
Si bien la historia está llena de lugares comunes dentro del género, esto no la convierte en una mala lectura. Sin embargo, el final apresurado y el cambio repentino en la actitud de Marigold no convencen del todo.
Lo mejor del libro es Shadow. Se presenta como un protagonista masculino diferente a los clichés del género, lo que lo hace un personaje interesante.
En general, este libro es una lectura ligera para pasar un buen rato. Si buscas una historia original y profunda, este no es el libro para ti. Sin embargo, si te gustan las distopías con toques de romance y un protagonista masculino diferente, te puede entretener.

_______________________________________________________________________
Between common places and a different protagonist

The story takes place in a dystopian future where monsters rule the world. A place known as the Temple offers virgin human women the opportunity to find a mate among the monsters in exchange for a drop of their blood.
Marigold is not looking for a mate. However, in an act of revenge for Marigold's snub to her brother Lucian, her friend Penelope gives a drop of Marigold's blood to the Temple. As a result, she is assigned Shadow, a Lynx, as her mate.
While the story is full of clichés within the genre, this does not make it a bad read. However, the rushed ending and the sudden change in Marigold's attitude are not convincing.
The best thing about the book is Shadow. He is presented as a male protagonist who is different from the clichés of the genre, which makes him an interesting character.
Overall, this book is a light read that will pass the time. This book is not for you if you want an original and profound story. However, it may entertain you if you like dystopian novels with touches of romance and a different male protagonist.

[Karen Nastasio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow every time is read a book by the author I’m never disappointed and this one sucked me in right from the start and what a wild ride I was taken on. Marigold (Goldie) is a spoiled brat with wealthy parents and her best friend Penelope hopes she will marry her brother Lucian but she rejects him and will wait for her parents to choose a husband for her but Penelope had already decided that if she doesn’t marry her brother that she will pay. Now Penelope comes to Goldie and asks for her blood so they can wear each other blood in a necklace and she was reluctant at first but gave to her but Goldie didn’t like the necklace but took so as not to upset her friend. Shadow is a Lynx who has been looking for his mate for a long time and is lonely but he knows his only chance with a mate is with a human and so decides to take his blood to the Temple to be matched and hopes it wont take to long. Marigold is shocked when she receives a letter from the Temple saying her match has been found and by Law she has to go because she is now married but her parents try everything to get her out of it but it’s no use she tells her parents that she didn’t send in her blood but knows who did her so called best friend Penelope and she is furious at her. Now at the Temple to meet her husband Shadow who is a Lynx but to her a big cat and she tells him what happened and he is shocked but he has found his mate and asks her to give him 2 weeks if she hasn't fallen in love with him he will let her go back home and she agrees. Ive already given away to much now but I would definitely recommend book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Alia Terra where humans live under the rule of powerful monsters, Shadow, a solitary Lynx writer, realizes it's time to finally find a mate before the mating season drives him mad. He sends his blood to the Marriage Temple, hoping to be matched with his perfect mate. Meanwhile, Marigold, a party girl from a wealthy family, is horrified to receive a letter from the Marriage Temple, announcing her arranged marriage to a monster she never asked for. Despite her protests and the wealthy status of her family, she is unable to prevent the union due to the binding nature of the Temple's matches. When Marigold and Shadow finally meet, tensions are high - the hissing is too funny. Shadow is so sweet and determined to make the marriage work, Marigold, however, is resentful and resistant, feeling trapped and out of control. Shadow's attempt to win her over involves showing her the Felis Arbor, his home among the trees, hoping that time and exposure will change her mind. As Shadow tries to show Marigold the beauty of his world and win her heart, Marigold struggles with her anger and the sudden upheaval of her life. Slowly, through moments of unexpected connection and understanding, they begin to see each other in a new light. Love how dedicated and patient Shadow is with Marigold - he isn't looking to change her, but rather wants to understand her and help her see what she's been missing out on in life. Ultra-hot and steamy arranged marriage, lynx romance with a side of angst and drama, exploring love, connection, and community, as Marigold embraces her new life with Shadow.

[Laqua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Como se darán cuenta, con este ya me leí todos los libros de esta serie (excepto el de las gárgolas, que no pude pasar de las primeras páginas, directamente; están las reseñas de todas maneras).
Me gustó mucho el cambio de entorno de la protagonista. Fue refrescante. Goldie no necesita casarse: es rica, no tiene preocupaciones y es de la alta sociedad humana; es su "amiga" la que manda la sangre para "vengarse" y "arruinarle la vida". Las comillas son a propósito, porque como es la idea de esta serie, termina siendo lo mejor que le puede pasar a Marigold.
Shadow es un protagonista dulce por demás, (me hizo acordar un poco a Krampus); me gustó el mundo y la construcción de la raza que nos ofrece la autora. Gatxs que pueden caminar en dos patas, quién no querría unx? 😍😍😍 Y este, además, ama cocinar. No le falta nada 🥰🥰🥰🥰
No le pongo las 5 estrellas porque me hubiera gustado que la tensión inicial dure un poco más (si bien NO ME QUEJO respecto del cambio de actitud de la protagonista) y porque tengo una curiosidad terrible sobre qué pasó con Penny y los padres de Marigold. Me hubiera encantado que a Penny también la manden al Templo, o que alguien les diga algo a la madre y el padre de Marigold. Hubiera quedado lindo. O que Goldie se encontrara por casualidad con el hermano de Penny y la vea feliz y embarazada de un Lince... eso sería espectacular 🤩🤩 pero bueno, no pasó en el libro pero sí en mi imaginación y fue muy satisfactorio 😂😂😂
Una última (hasta ahora) novela de esta serie que ha sido una lectura más que digna y que recomiendo ❤

[Laura Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of the stories set in our future and how Earth becomes Alia Terra. Shadow is a lynx, one of the types of ‘monsters’ that can take human brides to mate. He sends his blood in and waits in Felis Arbor, where his house is at the top. Mating months are about to begin and he feels that he won’t survive it this time around, without going insane. I found it so cute, that he writes under a pen name. Marigold is not one of the poor human females that normally become Brides at the Temple. Things happen and her blood ends up there and she finds out that Shadow is her mate. She and her family are extremely upset, but once the blood ends up at the Temple it is a binding contract and so she must wed Shadow. I laughed a lot during this book because Shadow and Goldie end up bickering, arguing, etc for almost a good portion of the book. Once they admit that they are drawn to each other, things get interesting. Omg, I laughed so hard that my dad wanted to know what I was laughing at. lol. I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series. I’d like there to be more books on the lynxes. This world is fascinating.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the Arranged Monster Mates series each is read as a standalone with a different monster so don’t start until the last page has been turned. Shadow is a sexy lynx shifter (well sexy for his kind) a writer but extremely lonely he needs his mate because the next mating season may drive him mad so in hopes of finding his mate he sends in his blood to the Mariage Temple and maybe …just maybe he will be matched with his perfect mate. Marigold is from a wealthy family whose wealth has gotten her out of some sticky situation, she is sweet but sometime a little clueless due to a little too much parting and when she is betrayed by someone, she thought was her friend her family’s wealthy status can’t get her out of the arranged marriage especially one through the Marriage Temple once matched the two are bound. But their union is an up hill battle she isn’t happy with him or being in his home no matter what he does but also his patience is amazing with her but will it be enough for them to see the beauty in both of their worlds, is it enough for her to want to get to know him, will her feelings change once she gives him a real chance, and can there be happiness in their union despite how they were matched?

[JML · Rating 4 out of 5]

4&1\2 fabulous🌟's for Wed to the Lynx🔥💖

Shadow never believed his baser instincts would get the better of him but they have. He want no needs a mate to make his life complete. He does the last thing he ever thought he would he sends his blood to the temple to be matched. He just wants someone to love and have a family with. Marigold the daughter of a very wealthy humans has need of the Temple. She will marry who ever her fathers chooses. He best friends brother has been insistent and won't leave her a!one even after she has said she doesn't want him. One night at a party her "best friend" asks her to exchange a drop of blood in two necklaces that make a whole so that they would always be linked. I bet you can tell where this leads. All Hell breaks loose when Goldie is matched she's beyond distraught and vows too make whoever she's match with miserable. Can she and Shadow find away to put his they were brought together behind them and find the !I've and true belonging they are both searching for? You have yo read and find out! Its really good great characters and this world only gets more interesting with each book . give this one a shot!🔥🌟💖🌟🔥💖🌟🔥💖🔥🌟💖🔥🔥🌟💖🔥🌟🔥💖🌟🔥🌟

[neeshreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️.5/5

Wed to the Lynx was a quick, fun read, and another nice addition to the Arranged Monster Mates series from Cara Wylde. I also love that this book in the series is a charity book. By reading on KU or purchasing, proceeds will go to a cat shelter in Romania, Friends of Cats (Prietenii Pisicilor in Romanian). You get to support a good cause while you read!

This story follows Shadow (MMC), who is an older lynx, desperate to find his mate. Shadow sends his blood to discover his fated mate, as he doesn’t think he will be able to survive another heat without his mate. The FMC, Marigold, is a pampered socialite that unknowingly got her blood sent in by a “friend.” A betrayal is what ultimately leads Shadow to finding his mate, and Shadow is determined to show Marigold that she should stay as fate brought them together for a reason.

Marigold wasn’t my favorite FMC, I found her annoying at times, but I was smitten by Shadow and his realization of her “black cat” tendencies 😂. These dual virgins learned quickly how compatible they were and when Shadow experienced his first heat? 🥵 we liked his take charge presence.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow and Marigold. The world as it once was is now gone and humans are matched to the monsters by DNA matches. Earth is now Alia Terra and it now belongs to the monsters and the earthlings belong to them. He sends his blood to the Marriage Temple. Her best friends brother wants her and he wont take no for an answer. Penny her best friend is angry that she wont give her brother a second chance but seems to get over it and leaves with her and wants to cement their friendship by putting a drop of their blood in a vile on a necklace to give to each other. SEEMS SUSPECIOUS. He receives a letter they found his mate. He gets to the temple and she not there. Marigold received a letter that she was mated. WHAT she thought she didnt send her blood. Once a match was made there was no undoing it. She was waiting in the temple now with her parents and then she knew it was PENELOPE. When she got to the alter she saw him, a cat, she loved cats. But no this isnt happening. Great story as all the other monster stories at the Marriage Temple.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nina Diab · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Well, now... What could I have possibly said to that? Cat boy. Get on all fours. Yes, ma’am!'

I really enjoyed this book. I love this series with the [DNA]matchmaking Temple matching humans with a variety of monster species. I think almost every book in this series that I've read, the female going to the Temple willingly out of desperation from a myriad of circumstances. This was different in that Marigold did not send her blood to the Temple. She was betrayed by a friend she'd known her whole life and considered a sister all because she broke off a casual relationship with her pushy, horrible brother. She was angry! She's part of a rich family and had everything she could want, but not even her father's influence could get her out of the marriage. She was bossy and stuck up and it made the banter between them more enjoyable. I loved Shadow. He didn't back down and was determined to win her to him. He couldn't keep going on without a mate. Though I was sad when his feelings got hurt, because he was fun and sweet and honorable. 5 stars.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this Lynx story!

I have loved every single one of the Arranged Monster Mates books and every single one of the monsters has been my favorite. But honestly, I ABSOLUTELY loved Shadow’s character! He is a Lynx and submits his DNA to the temple to find his perfect match since he is a bit of a loaner as well as a writer and needs to find his mate before he goes mad. When the temple says that they have found his match, he is beyond excited until he realizes that his mate didn’t turn her DNA in herself. Her best friend stabbed her in the back and turned it in on her behalf after rebuffing her brother. Marigold is the daughter of a wealthy family and had no need to submit her DNA, but once its done, there is no going back. She has been pampered and spoiled her whole life, so she tries to make Shadow’s life miserable. But after some time, is living this life with a man who is so sweet and caring really too bad?

Loved this!

[Fay J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truthfully I would give this 4.5 but you can't do that here. The reason for the half is that somehow despite how well it has been written I felt that there needed to be some sort of something more happening with the family and the best friend, I feel like I missed a couple of chapters somewhere.

Marigold, or Goldie to her friends, was unaware that she had been matched at the Temple and it makes for rather a difficult start with her new husband. Not only is Shadow distinctly NOT human, he is a lynx, but he lives in a forest tree-top village which is so unlike Goldie's normal that you can forgive her for being rattled. Still I think behind the sneer and the facade you catch a glimpse of what Goldie is truly like. Shadow has his own facade which he uses to hide his insecurities and Goldie seems to be bringing them out in abundance and yet while trying to make her happy he finds his own path too. It was sweet in places and fun in others. An enjoyable read.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

MMC Shadow Browncoat is of the Lynxes species and has been unmated for all his adult life, and he has lived a long time.
Another season without a mate will be the last for him so he turns to the Alia Terra Marriage Temple as a last resort.
Submitting his DNA for matching, he waits, if a human is his mate, so be it.
Marigold receives a letter from the Temple stating she has been matched and thinks someone is pranking her.
Trouble is on the horizon!
Wed to the Lynx is an enjoyable story that is written well and a steamy, sweet, romantic addition to a series that has provided some very pleasant stories.
Shadow and Marigolds tumultuous beginnings will lead into yet another perfect and engaging fantasy read. HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marigold, human, is a socialite. Spoiled and self centered. Her friend tricks her into giving her some of her blood, which the friend sent in to a marriage temple. She's matched to a lynx. Shadow, lyxn, is lonely but also a sort of loner. He wants a mate and family of his own. He sends in a blood sample to the temple and is matched with Marigold. After much fuss from Marigold and her family, they finally marry. Marigold makes it her mission to make Shadow miserable until he sends her away.
This story reminds me of The Taming Of The Shrew. Marigold is prickly, demanding, rude, and selfish. Shadow shows her nothing but kind, patience, and loving. It's his thoughtful kind heart that won her over. I really enjoyed reading this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.