Wolf's Golden Mate

Shifter Nation: Destined Over Forty #2

by Meg Ripley

Living on a beach teeming with shifters wasn’t how I pictured retirement.
Neither was becoming one’s mate.

My daughter bought a beach house on Cape Cod,
And when she asked me to move in with her,
I never expected her to fall for the bear shifter next door.
Now that I’ve got the cottage all to myself,
My daughter thinks it’s time to play matchmaker,
Practically shoving me at the other single senior nearby.
Rick may be a 70-year-old wolf shifter,
But this hunky firefighter ignites a spark I haven’t felt in decades.
That’s not the only fire on this beach, though.
One night, I spot a young woman surrounded by flames,
Right on the shore behind my new dog bakery.
Rick and his team rush to the rescue,
But everything goes sideways once Lorelei shows up.
Rick will do whatever it takes to keep me safe,
But even he couldn’t be prepared for this.
At 66, I thought all of life’s adventures were behind me.
Turns out my golden years are just warming up.

Steamy shifter love scene and a HEA inside! No cheating or cliffhanger in this standalone romance. Readers 18+.

Genres: Audiobook, Shapeshifters, Romance

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 22, 2024

About the author

Grab a free copy of Alpha's Midlife Baby, the prequel to the Fated Over Forty series, when you sign up for Meg's newsletter ==> https://www.authormegripley.com

Meg Ripley is an author of steamy shifter romances. A Seattle native who’s relocated to New England, she can often be found whipping up her next tale curled up in a local coffee house with a cappuccino and her laptop.

Reviews

[kymagirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story: Carol (h66) moves to Cape Cod to live with her daughter, only to find herself entangled in a world of shifters, romance, and unexpected danger. Carol's quiet plans are upturned when she meets Rick (H70), a wolf shifter and firefighter, who ignites a spark of romance and adventure in her life. Their peaceful existence is shattered one night when Carol discovers a young woman, Lorelei, surrounded by flames on the beach behind her new dog bakery. Rick rushes to the rescue, revealing his protective nature. As Carol and Rick navigate their growing relationship, they are thrown into a mystery involving Lorelei, who more than just a damsel in distress. With people mysteriously disappearing, Rick and Carol have to face dangers while exploring their own second chance at love. Sweet and spicy fated mates, later-in-life romance, exploring love in one's golden years, mystery, supernatural, family, taking risks, second chances at love, and community. For me personally, this was an age demographic that was a little older (60s-70s) than I prefer - I don't reduce my rating for that as it's my personal preference, plus I didn't take the time to fully read the description for the title, having just assumed that it was more in the 40s-50s that the author more typically writes of.

Audio: Narrator D.C. Cole does a good job with Rick and other male voices, and an okay job with Carol and other female voices - I wasn't too wild on Carol's tone of voice/accent. I personally prefer duet style narrations to a single narrator. The audio quality is good and there were no issues.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

"Retirement isn’t the end. It’s just a new chapter—sometimes with fangs and claws."🐺🔥

Overall Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4 out of 5)
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3 out of 5)
Narration Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4 out of 5)

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book. A romance with shifters over 60? Sign me up! It was refreshing to dive into a love story where the characters bring wisdom, depth, and even a little sass to the table. Meg Ripley didn’t just write a book—she created a whole vibe for the “destined over forty” crowd. From the very first chapter, Carol had me hooked with her wit, charm, and undeniable chemistry with Rick. And can we talk about the gorgeous Cape Cod setting? It’s cozy but full of danger lurking around the corner!

Summary

Carol thought her golden years would be peaceful living in her seaside cottage, running her dog bakery (yes, you heard that right), and maybe a little matchmaking for her daughter. But life throws her a curveball in the form of Rick, a ruggedly handsome 70-year-old wolf shifter and retired firefighter. Sparks fly (literally) when a mysterious fire breaks out on the beach, and the plot thickens when supernatural forces threaten Carol's newfound happiness. Rick is determined to keep Carol safe, but their journey to love isn’t without its challenges, twists, and heart-pounding moments.

D.C. Cole did a stellar job voicing both Rick’s protective growl and Carol’s vibrant personality. His deep voice gave Rick the perfect edge of ruggedness, but he also handled emotional moments beautifully. I only docked a star because I’d love even more distinctiveness between some of the side characters' voices.

This book isn’t just a romance—it’s a celebration of life, love, and embracing new beginnings, no matter your age. Carol and Rick’s chemistry was undeniable, and their story left me smiling (and maybe tearing up a bit). If you’re looking for a sweet, spicy, and suspenseful paranormal romance, Wolf’s Golden Mate is a must-read (or listen)!

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Whether you’re 25 or 65, this book proves love (and adventure) has no expiration date.

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

[Sharon Akshar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked 'Wolf's Golden Mate' by Meg Ripley very much. I had already read the book about Carol's daughter Stacey, so I was happy to continue with a story about Carol. Carol is introduced to Rick by Stacey who thinks they would make a nice couple. Rick and Carol are amused by this but Rick is quickly interested when he feels that Carol is his mate. It is unusual to find a perfect mate twice in one's lifetime, so he is very surprised. Carol knows he is a wolf shifter and so that is not a surprise to her since her daughter is married to a shifter and there is a clan of them living on the beach. She is attracted to Rick, but they agree to take their relationship slowly even though it seems everyone around them is eager to see them become a couple. Carol has a dog biscuit shop she is starting and one night she Finds a beautiful young woman on the beach behind her shop tied up and surrounded by flaming logs. She calls for the fire department and the police and Rick is one of the people responding because he is a firefighter. He rushes to put out the fire and save the woman, but also to make sure that Carol is safe. Carol gives this young woman, Lorelei, a room above her shop to stay in because doesn't have a place to stay. This starts a mystery of who tied this woman up and tried to set her on fire and why. Lorelei is a singing musician trying to start her career and her beauty and voice does attract attention especially among the men. Rick often drops by the shop to see Carol but something about Lorelei bothers him. Her daughter Stacey feels that Lorelei is taking advantage of Carol when Lorelei doesn't seem to be in a hurry to move on. This is an exciting story and a romantic one.

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

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific read, wonderful characters and scenario that will hold you riveted within its pages
This has been a simply wonderful read; the main characters Rick and Carol have been brought together by their children who believe that they are well suited but of course the parents initially always believe that their children are simply poking in their noses.
At a family get together they had first been introduced but it was not until that night they had become better acquainted and his wolf had instantly recognised that she was in fact his fated mate. Who would have believed that in his lifetime he would have a chance of two fated mates, the one the mother of his two grown adult boys and now Carol a human and in her late sixties, and human which was an unexpected surprise.
When Carol had offered help to Lorelei after rescuing her from a burning, she could never have envisioned the dangers her kindness had to the tiny town. Lorelei had not believed that her secret would come to light but apparently it seemed that even Barney was suspicious of her new lodger and now that men were disappearing up and down the coat it was obvious there was someone preying on the locals.
I guarantee that you will love every moment of this wonderful read and know that you will love reading this book and will not put it down until you reach the end of the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the wonderful writing.

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

[Sara Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carol moved next door to her daughter that had gotten mated to a bear to help with the children and was starting a pet bakery. The clan dog Barney was her taste tester and also let her know what he didn’t like the smell of what she had baked. Stacy wanted her mother to be happy but Carol thought at 66 she was ok already had her love who had died. Rick and his son were out running as wolves after a bad day at the firehouse and ended at the bonfire, Stacy told Rick to take her chair they had to go to bed. Carol and Rick talked for awhile then were asked to taste test some food for one of the guys at a restaurant so they did and had a great time. Later that night she went to the bakery to make some treats and found Lorelei tied up and laying on a fire called 911 Rick and the firemen showed up. Carol let her live in apartment over the bakery for free as Lorelei was trying to make money singing. But everyone and Barney felt that there was something wrong with her and people coming up missing, Rick found the men that supposedly put Lorelei on the fire but was told that really she was a siren killing people they were hunting her. They got to the bakery and found Lorelei had turned and was attacking Carol but they finally took off her head. Carol was in the hospital for awhile and was thinking about what Rick had told her what happens they were mated ad he wanted. She decided life was too short to not be with Rick who she loved.

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

[LeMiliere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable quick story about Carol and Rick two people both in their “golden years “ he's in his 70’s and is a firefighter, he's a wolf shifter still in his "prime" when it comes to fitness. Carol moved to his community to live with her daughter and grandchildren when they moved there. But then her daughter fell in love and moved out and now she's got their cottage to herself. Carol and Rick found themselves thrown together by their children who didn't want their widowed parents to be alone.

Rick knew instantly that Carol was his mate, his second mate but how could that be he's already found and lost his mate? Carol who is 66 is finally going to be opening a business of her own and is so excited. She certainly wasn't looking for a new relationship, the memory of the pain she felt when she lost her first husband is still there and she never wants to feel anything like that again. But when she and Rick are together she can't deny that she has feelings for him.

But even though they both accept that they are meant to be, added complications could spoil their second chance at happiness. No spoilers from me though, just listen to this action-packed entertaining story to find out what happens

The narration is performed by D.C. Cole who once again has done an excellent job of bringing this story to life.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much Later-in-Life Romance

I've listened to many books by this talented author of paranormal romance featuring older couples. I have a soft spot for books featuring later-in-life romance because I believe far too many books focus on romance for the young. Romance can happen at any age! In this book, the hero and heroine are even older than normal for this author's series. I absolutely adored their interaction at the beginning of the story. They had an almost instant, yet genuine, chemistry that just warmed my heart. The heroine, I believe, is in her 60s, and the hero is in his 70s! Unfortunately, then the author kept them apart or at somewhat silly odds for too long. For me, the most satisfying romances show continuous interaction between the featured couple, even if they struggle. Interestingly, and I don't know if this was an unintentional bias by the author, but she had them sharing intimacy much later in the book—in fact, nearly at the end—than she typically has in her stories. (In fact, in most of her books, I think she has the characters get intimate too quickly. She went to the other extreme in this book!). For a book that started so well, it ultimately felt disappointing, especially as it is from an author I know can write amazing love stories.

I received a promo code for this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.

[Mia Cavaco · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid reader of Meg Ripley’s Over Forty Series, I couldn’t wait for this latest story... I was eagerly waiting for Wolf’s Golden Mate - Destined Over Forty! We had met Carol and Rick before, as we’ve followed through the storylines of Wolf, Bear, Witch and Vampire shifters... and I was waiting to see how they would connect. We now have an over-60 romance that hits all of the tenderness and understanding that comes with individuals who have lived fulfilling lives, but who are ready for the next chapter.I love the way Ripley made these leads mature, open-minded, emotional characters who saw the value of taking chances and living for both now and the future. Ripley has written excellent stories /series for those of us who love mature lead characters who know that life goes on... even after you hit 40!!

Once again, I highly recommend all of Meg Ripley’s Over Forty Series, and especially Wolf’s Golden Mate as we see love in the next decade!.

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

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding love later in life is hard. This story brings two people together who have lost the ones they loved and didn't believe they would be lucky enough to find it again.

Rick and Carol were extremely likeable characters. He was once again a firefighter after having come from working as the Chief in Eugene, Oregon and Carol was getting her business going after moving with her daughter to the cape. Both were in the previous book so no real introductions were necessary.

I loved how easy their interactions were and how comfortable they felt with one another. It was cute how their commnity and loved ones were pulling for them. Of course, like most stories, something will happen to threaten everything. You could see it coming but the actuality is a surprise. There is definitely a well earned HEA. There is an intro at the end of the book for the next book and I can't wait for it to come out too.

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

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Carol is perfectly happy living next to her grandkids and opening her dog biscuit bakery, something she has always wanted to do. She is not interested in dating, but of course her daughter thinks she has just the right guy for her mom.

Rick has recently moved to town to be by his son and his darling daughter. He had a mate and isn’t interested in dating anyone. But of course his son thinks he’s found the perfect woman for him.

These two try and resist the efforts of their children, but when the rest of the town gangs up on them they somewhat graciously accept the first date. Things are moving slowly forward, until danger threatens the town. Rick will do whatever it takes to make sure Carol is safe.

A good read, well written, with an HEA. Great addition to the series!.

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

[Cathaleen Way · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never too old

This is the second book in the new series Destined Over Forty. I am really enjoying Meg Ripleys series with older characters. It brings a new aspect to romance.

Rick Westbrook moved to be closer to his son for family and to be near his granddaughter. Carol Donovan has also lost her significant other years ago and picked up to move with her daughter. Neither of them expected to meet and have a chance at a second love in their lifetime.

I love the obsticles they work through to get to their HEA. The outside angst working against them and the pack in town. This is a heartwarming story that I couldn't put down.

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

[Lisa H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg has drawn us back into her new series Destined Over Forty.

We get to see other characters mentioned, as well as main Carol, who is finding a new path later in life, and Rick who has come to town to be with his sons and grandkids.

There is SOOO much action in this book. You get a dose of Shifters with a hefty side of paranormal drama. Its got heart, but its got reality and doubt all mixed in. Life isn't always black and white. Sometimes making the decision to give things in your life another go can be daunting, whether personal or business.

I loved the paranormal action in this book. Its got its own story that ties in so well with the main event. It's romance, but humor, real life, and action all packed into the story. You will enjoy this read!

[Barbara Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol has a great life with her daughter, grandchildren, and dog bakery she just opened. Rick is happy with his son’s family but when he sees Carol, he feels she is special.
The romance between Carol and Rick is slow and gentle, but when Carol rescues a woman on the beach, everything changes.
This was a great read: I loved Carol’s carefree lifestyle and her love for others shone through; Rich is a fantastic family man and a perfect gentleman. However, there is an evil at work in the town and people’s lives are at risk. There is romance, of course, and confusion, along with a special dog that if he’d been able to speak, could have told them all about the danger.
I voluntarily received and reviewed an ARC copy of the book.

[Goddess of Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Any man could act like a gentleman, but Rick truly was one.”

Carol moved out to this small seaside town to enjoy being a grandmother, not to start a business she never knew would fulfill a missing piece, and her dreams… but sometimes helping others helps ourselves too.

Rick is a firefighting wolf, and a grandpa… if he were merely mortal he’d probably be called a silver fox with a heart of gold. But he’s not a human, and he knows just how much more than mere love life can offer, if you are truly lucky.

This done in one book has a fabulous subplot running through it, bringing together Rick’s firefighting work with Carol’s new storefront location. What makes this story work is the genuine characters and tight knit community.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. It was nice to read about an older couple instead a bunch of youngsters. Rick and Carol are nice characters. I love the fact that they get a second chance at romance. I enjoyed how Meg wrote their dialogue. She showed his nerves at talking to a woman he liked after years of not having to advertise himself as a mate to a favorite female. I liked that Carol was independent but anchored into her family. These qualities of Meg's characters made them feel so real. Because of that, I was really entertained.

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

[Avis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked Carol. She was a live and let live kind of person. She was willing to help others who wanted to help themselves also. Of course there is Barney in the mix.
I loved when Rick realized who Carol was. He was very patient with waiting for her to accept who he was.
Lorelei was a surprise. You could sense something wasn't right. There were hints throughout about that.
I liked the slow romance between Carol ad Rick and how protective Rick was to Carol .
The twists were interesting. Action abound. And a great HEA.

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

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Wolf's Golden Mat Book 2 of Destined Over Forty. Carol never thought she would find another soulmate but then she met Rick. Their kids are pushing them together but it seems fate had other plans. Rick already had a mate so he’s surprised when he meets Carol and his wolf goes crazy. Unfortunately, while getting to know each other, something weird is going on in town. Rick can sense it but doesn’t know what it is. Will he figure it out in time to save his mate? I loved the story and the characters. I would definitely recommend this book and the series.

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

[Raecharmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol is an older woman that has a dog biscuit cafe. Her daughter introduces her to Rick, and they start dating. One evening Carol find a woman tied up with fire surrounding her. They save the woman, but weird things start happening. Carol tries to be nice and help the woman but soon sees what others have been talking about. Will they be able to figure out what the woman is up to? Will carol be in danger?

This is a great story that will captivate you from beginning to end. This is a well written and very entertaining story. Its a book that any book lover would enjoy.

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

[Karen Nastasio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was brilliant and I loved that they where an older couple getting a second chance mate with Rick being 70yrs old and a wolf shifter and Carol being 66yrs old and a bear shifter that meet and fall in love but it took so some behind the scenes pushing to get them finally together. There is a bit of drama with a woman tied up and on fire and Rick saving her and Carol giving her a place to stay temporarily but she doesn’t seem to want to leave and nobody trust her. How does it all go in the end, get this book to find out.

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

[Lara Chabot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the over forty series written by Meg. Every time, we meet someone new as well as getting back with previous beloved characters. We know Rick and Carol and they both have a lot of personality! Fun loving, no nonsense, they were absolutely destined to be together. Being older does not make things easier, but there’s no time wasted and definitely no games. They will work to have their HEA and there’s a twist that was totally unpredictable! I enjoyed every moment of it!

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

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is No Age Limit to Love -
This was a beautifully written romance story, with passion, drama, camaraderie and a brilliant twist, that gripped me from the beginning and made it difficult for me to take a break, until I read the final word. What I really enjoyed about the story was the fact that the main characters may have been Boomers, but they still had the spirit of Millennials and acted as such. This was a truly delightful shifter romance to read and I will happily recommend it to everyone.

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

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never read a story where the characters were older, they are I their 60's so I was curious. What's not to like after all it's about shifters. Honestly I enjoyed the story it's different and entertaining. I'm glad it wasn't in first person so it was nice to just enjoy the chapters and not having to go back and forth between the two main characters. The author did a wonderful job developing the characters in such a short time. The ending went a bit fast but overall was a good ending to this stand alone book.

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

[Karen Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding your fated mate can happen twice in your lifetime. Rick Sinclair, a widowed wolf shifter, found his the minute he met Carol. Of course there was a lot to convince Carol Donovan of. She had recently moved to Truro Beach with her daughter and grandchildren. Carol was in the process of opening her dog bakery but that did not stop her from wanting to see Rick. I enjoyed this story. It was fast for me to read. Ms. Ripley did a great job with her characters and storyline.

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

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol moves to Truro, Massachusetts to be near her daughter and encounters Rick.
When her daughter Stacey moved to Truro, Massachusetts Carol followed to be close to her. Then at although she is sixty-six she encounters older fireman rick who makes her heart flutter. They get talked into going out for a meal together and find they get on well. Wold shifter Rick realises that altough he has lost one mate he could have found another.

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

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol and Rick’s story has them getting together when her daughter finds her fated that lived next door to the cottage they moved to for a fresh start. These two are throw together and find out that she is his second fated mate. He is a firefighter that comes to her rescue and helps protect her against Lorelei, the lady she rescued from the fire and offered her apartment upstairs to her new dog bakery. Another good fated over forty story from this author.

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

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the chance to read about a couple who are so very much older than usually found in a romance and to see some of the challenges with finding love and your fated mate later in life. Both are interesting, rich characters with their own back stories. Added to the mix is a mysterious stranger who is more than they seem - causing challenges to the road to hea. Fascinating characters, world building and storytellling.

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

[LizJ. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolf's Golden Mate is book 2 in the Destined Over Forty series by Meg Ripley. I really enjoy Meg Ripley's writing especially the series with older characters it brings a new aspect to the paranormal romance genre and now is starting to gear it towards us older readers. It's a heartwarming story and so satisfying to read something more for me. I highly recommend Meg Ripley and ALL her stories, definitely pick this one up!!.

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

[Danee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second part of the Destined Over Forty series. We follow Rick and Carol, both of whom have changed their lives to move closer to their children. Both no longer have a partner. And what they never thought they would find again, they find in each other and they go together for a second chance at love. Their journey involves trial and error and overcoming obstacles to ultimately achieve their health. I enjoyed their story and would recommend it to everyone to read.

I received an Advance Reader sample of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review

[JLH · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a mystery in this story. For those who thought life over 50 was a dud has new inspiration with this story. Even though their shifters or at least Rick is, Carol has a lot to learn. Even though she has a history of being social and having a pass with the shifter, it is not the same as possibly finding your Forever one. Emotions. Excitement. Running on the beach. Trying to solve the craziness of the mystery. Loved it.

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

[casvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful second chance romance with a twist of danger and mystery that pulls you in.

Carol had moved to town to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. Opening her own business kept her busy. Rick moved to town to be with his family, although he was retired, he still helps out the fire department.

Rick and Carol are both very independent, meeting each other Rick realized she was his second chance, but danger and drama are close by.

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